Birding in Eastern Venezuela

This itinerary is ideal for Venezuela veterans, to supplement visits to the better-known birding sites in the centre and west of the country.

Highlights include Harpy Eagle, Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock, Capuchinbird, an exceptionally wide range of forest and tepui species plus no less than 15 species of cotinga. It  combines La Escalera at the edge of the Gran Sabana for tepui endemics, the Imataca lowland rainforest reserve for Harpy Eagle, Caño Colorado (várzea forest), Guácharo Cave (oil birds), and Paria’s Cerro Humo for its endemics.

You can choose to have a local English-speaking ornithologist guide to escort you throughout, or an English speaking driver who knows the key birding sites—you find your own birds.

Caracas

Day 1 You are met at the airport and transferred to a seafront 3-4* hotel in nearby Macuto.

La Escalera

Day 2 BLD Fly to Puerto Ordaz and drive south to the La Escalera region below the Gran Sabana for 4 nights at Barquilla de Fresas, a birding lodge. There are Red-billed and Channel-billed Toucan in the garden.

Days 3-5 BLD Three full days for birdwatching at La Escalera  for Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock, Sapphire-rumped Parrotlet, Sharpbill, Spangled Cotinga, Ruddy Tody-flycatcher, Fiery-shouldered Parakeet, White-chinned Saphire, Peacock Coquette, Velvet-browed Brilliant, White-tailed Goldenthroat, Red-banded Fruiteater, Scarlet-horned Manakin, Roraiman Antwren, Black Nunbird, Greater Flower-piercer, Guianan Red Cotinga, Dusky Purpletuft, Spotted Antpitta, Red-and-black Grosbeak, Orinocan Saltator, Crimson Topaz, Capuchinbird and Great Elaenia, and hear the ringing calls of White and Bearded Bellbirds. 23 of the 34 endemic pan-tepui birds can be found here. (Ask us about special birding trips to the tepuis themselves.)

Imataca Forest Reserve / Río Grande

Day 6 BLD A final early morning at the very productive La Escalera before heading north to the Imataca Forest Reserve (Río Grande), a wet tropical lowland rainforest at the edge of the Orinoco Delta. Stay 3 nights at a simple guesthouse, in El Palmar with private bathrooms.

Days 7 & 8 BLD Two full days for birding in the reserve, home to several spectaculars including Harpy Eagle, our main focus. You can also find Crested Eagle, Agami and Zigzag Herons, Red-fan Parrot, Grey-winged Trumpeter, Long-tailed Potoo, Golden-winged and Painted Parakeets, Paradise Jacamar, Waved Wood-pecker, Short-tailed Pygmy-tyrant, Rose-breasted Chat, Rufous-winged Antwren, White-bellied Antbird, Cinnamon Attila, Chestnut-rumped Woodcreeper, Musician Wren, and Rufous-tailed Foliage-gleaner.

Day 9 BL A final morning’s birding in the forest before driving north to Maturín. Stay 2 nights at a 3* motel.

Caño Colorado

Day 10 BL Early start to reach Caño Colorado for dawn. Spend the whole day birding this area on the edge of the Delta, for species characteristic of várzea forest, humid forest and woodland edge: Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Black Hawk-eagle, Green Oropendola, Black-dotted Piculet, Yellow-crowned Elaenia, Little Cuckoo, Scarlet-shouldered Parrotlet, Swallow-wing, Velvet-fronted Grackle, Jet Antbird, Greater Yellow-headed Vulture, Groove-billed Ani, Chestnut Woodpecker, Red-billed, Black-Mandibled and Channel-billed Toucans, White-chested and Blue-tailed Emerald,  Steely-vented and Copper-rumped Hummingbird and Blue-chinned Saphire.

The road to Caño Colorado is impassable in the wet season (May–Oct), alternative sites are available.

Day 11 BLD A second morning’s birding Caño Colorado before driving to a lodge at Caripe, near Humboldt’s Guácharo Cave to see the Oilbird exodus at dusk.

Oilbirds and Caripe

Day 12 BLD Explore inside the cave to see most Oilbirds fast asleep on their ledges, while others shriek noisily. Bird the lush coffee and citrus plantations around Caripe for a wide range of possibles. Transfer to Claus Muller’s Finca Vuelta Larga for 3 nights.

Finca Vuelta Larga

Days 13-14 BLD Finca Vuelta Larga is a super birding base with Orange-winged Parrots, Ruby-topaz Hummingbirds, Black-throated Mango, White-tailed Goldenthroat, Cream-coloured Woodpecker, Cinnamon Attila and Crimson-hooded Manakin with wading birds such as Anhinga, Horned Screamer, Black-crowned Night-heron and night excursions for Potoos.

From here you will also bird Cerro Humo on the Paria Peninsula which boasts four rare endemics: Scissor-tailed Hummingbird, White-throated Barbtail, Yellow-faced Redstart, Venezuelan Flower-piercer and the near endemic White-tailed Sabrewing.

Day 15 B Fly from Carúpano to Caracas for flights home.

Guide prices

with logistical guide only £2,100

with ornithologist guide £2,800

15 days/14 nights. Starts & ends in Caracas.

The guide prices are per person based on 2 people travelling together and sharing twin/double accommodation.

They include all travel in Venezuela, private services of an English speaking local ornithologist guide (or just a logistical guide if preferred), all accommodation (3N x hotels, 11N x lodges), most meals: 7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners).