Initial Birdwatching in Bolivia

Where to Watch Birds in Bolivia

By Bennett Hennessey and Lawrence Rubey

This guide covers five central hubs: Santa Cruz, Beni, Cochabamba, La Paz, and Rurrenabaque. Each is connected by main roads, daily buses, and flights (especially La Paz → Santa Cruz). We recommend starting in the lowlands (Santa Cruz, Beni), acclimating via Cochabamba (mid-altitude), and finishing in high-altitude La Paz. American Airlines offers multi-city fares (land in Santa Cruz, depart La Paz).

Santa Cruz Area

City of Santa Cruz de la Sierra: Ideal first stop with hotels and birding spots accessible by taxi. Visit:

• Lomas de Arena Municipal Park
• Viru-Viru Airport
• Santa Cruz Botanical Garden (for Bolivian Slaty)

Old Road to Cochabamba

Hike the dry Andes starting from Santa Cruz → Siberia (~900 m):

• Los Volcanes Lodge
• Laguna Volcan (Andean Ducks)
• Samaipata ruins and Yungas forest
• Quirusillas for Tucuman Parrot
• Red-fronted Macaw Reserve in the Andean Dry Valley
• Cloud forest near Siberia

New Road to Cochabamba

Via Montero → Buena Vista (~3 hrs): visit:

• Buena Vista pumping station
• Hotel Flora and Fauna
• Southern-horned Curassow site (arranged via Buena Vista)

Chaco (south of Santa Cruz)

• Lagunillas del Chaco
• Boyiube Chaco
• Neotropical parks: Neol Kempff Mercado National Park (cerrado), Pantanal (near border)

Beni Area

• Blue-throated Macaw at Barba Azul Nature Reserve
• Visit Trinidad for Beni endemics
• Santa Rosa savannas from Rurrenabaque
• Riberalta: Masked Antpitta and flooded forest
• Los Lagos Lodge on Beni grasslands

Cochabamba Area

• Lake Alalay and Polylepis forest at San Miguel
• Chapare Yungas/cloud forest along Cochabamba–Villa Tunari road: Tablas Monte (~2,900 m), Miguelito (~1,900 m), Villa Tunari (~500 m)
• Dry valleys and Red-fronted Macaw near Río Caine, Torotoro National Park
• Machaca watershed (Bolivian Spinetail)
• Andean Condors near Cochabamba–La Paz highway

La Paz Area

• Mecapaca (dry valley site, 1 hr from city)
• UMSA Botanical Gardens, Huni Pass (Palca Road)
• Zenón Iturralde Park ravine
• Coroico Road transect: La Cumbre → Upper Coroico → Cotapata → El Choro trail
• South Yungas Road: Chojlla, Apa-Apa Reserve, Takesi Trek
• Lake Titicaca region: Huatajata lakeshore, Yampupata Peninsula, Sorata
• Altiplano Polylepis & puna: Sajama, Laguna Huanakota, northern Chile border areas

Apolo

A remote Andean-Cerrado area (~3,500–2,000 m). Endemic: Palkachupa Cotinga. Also explore Apolo Yungas and Machariapo valley.

Valle Towns (SE La Paz Department)

• Urmiri/Sapahaqui circuit
• Inquisivi valley

Rurrenabaque & Amazon Lowlands

• Local disturbed sites, but better birding with custom transport
• Guided tours to Wattled Curassow Lodge, Mapajo Lodge, Chalalan Ecolodge
• Side trips: Santa Rosa, Serranía Pilón, Sadiri, Alto Madidi, San José de Uchupiamonas
• Beni Biological Station

Madidi National Park

Almost 2 million hectares from highland forest to Amazonian lowlands. Chalalan Ecolodge is the best-structured lodge; more remote spots include Alto Madidi, Serranía Sadiri, San José de Uchupiamonas, Apolo semi-humid forest, Machariapo Valley dry forest.

Acknowledgments

Victor Bullen, Claudia Coca, Isabel Gomez, Sebastian Herzog, Jon Hornbuckle, Alvaro Jaramillo, Charles Hesse, Michael Kessler, Barbara Knapton, Tim Miller, Douglas Mason, Preston Motes, Manuel Olivera, Carmen Quiroga, Jonathan Rossouw, David Recalde, Joe Tobias, Jim Turner, Melinda Walton, Bret Whitney, Brian Woods.