The best birding routes in Cajamarca in northern Peru

Due to its geographic location within the Andes Mountain Range, the Cajamarca region, located in the north of Peru, has impressive places for bird watching. We invite you to know these spaces that house wonderful and unique species. Here are some of the places that are within our itinerary: 

Marañon Valley 

The paradise of endemic birds

 

Due to its geographical characteristics, environmental conditions and isolation the birds present in this place are very appreciated by many bird watchers, here you can see:Yellow-faced Parrotlet, Chestnut-backed Thornbird, Gray-winged Inca-Finch, Buff-bridled Inca-Finch, Black-necked Woodpecker, Spot-throated Hummingbird, White-winged Black-Tyrant, among others. 

Cochecorral waterfall

A unique and very special waterfall

 

The presence of Andean scrub and water sources in this place makes it ideal for bird watching, here you can see: Rufous-eared Brushfinch, Unicolored Tapaculo, Black Metaltail, Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail, Striated Earthcreeper, among others. 

Chonta river canyon

One of the last areas with Andean scrub near the valley of Cajamarca

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The mythical place near the city of Cajamarca where you can register one of the most peculiar hummingbirds in the world, "Gray-bellied Comet",you can also see: Black Metaltail, Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail, Striated Earthcreeper and sometimes you can see Rufous-breasted Warbling-Finch, among others. 

Abra Gavilan 

At 3200 meters high the entrance gate to the valley of Cajamarca

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The high zone of Cajamarca presents fragile and diverse ecosystems, to be registered to: Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail, Black Metaltail, Rufous-backed Inca-Finch, Unicolored Tapaculo, among others.  

San Nicolas Lagoon

The largest lagoon in Cajamarca

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With its more than 60 hectares of extension, in this lagoon you can register many species of aquatic habits and some of Andean dry scrubland, among them: Great Spinetail, Buff-bridled Inca-Finch, Spot-throated Hummingbird, Yellow-billed (Speckled) Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, Ruddy Duck, among others. 

Alto Peru Lagoons

The set of more than 200 scattered lagoons in the highest point of the Jalca in Cajamarca

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Is a space that can be considered a Ramsar wetland, is a site that provides many environmental services to protect wildlife, especially birds, here you can register:Black Metaltail, Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail, Striated Earthcreeper, Ruddy Duck, Crested Duck, Puna Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, among others.

Jesus valley

A beautiful valley 30 minutes from the city of Cajamarca

 

With warm temperatures and presence of relicts of dry forest, this is a perfect place to observe: Great Spinetail, Buff-bridled Inca-Finch, Spot-throated Hummingbird, Black-necked Woodpecker, White-winged Black-Tyrant, Dull-colored Grassquit, Tropical Gnatcatcher,  among others. 

Llanguat valley

A fertile valley connected to the dry forests of the Marañon

 

Only 45 minutes from the city of Celendín can be made important bird records, within them, are: Yellow-faced Parrotlet, Chestnut-backed Thornbird, Gray-winged Inca-Finch, Buff-bridled Inca-Finch, Black-necked Woodpecker, Spot-throated Hummingbird, White-winged Black-Tyrant, Marañón Crescentchest, among others.

Jequetepeque valley

A biodiverse valley with a good altitudinal gradient

 

With elevations that go from 140 to 3200 meters, and approximately 120 kilometers of route, it is a perfect route to observe a good amount of birds, can register: Burrowing Owl, Ringed Kingfisher, Elegant Crescentchest, Purple-throated Sunangel, Unicolored Tapaculo, Rufous-backed Inca-Finch, among others. 

San Pablo route

A relict route of the Pacific montane forest

 

A new route where you can observe birds of the Pacific montane forest, such as: Bay-crowned Brushfinch, Black-cowled Saltator, Black Flower-piercer, Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager, Silvery Tanager, Blue-and-black Tanager, among others.