Day 1. Caracas-Mérida.
 Arrival to Maiquetía International Airport, Caracas. Transfer to Mérida. Reception by Tour Leader. Hotel registration. Personal introduction of tourists and guides with comments on respective interests. Slide show of sites and species that you will most probably get to know in the survey.

Day 2. Mérida-Maracaibo lake.
 The team will head to southern area of Maracaibo lake, the largest lake in South America and main axis of oil industry in Venezuela. We will navigate within mangrove coves, where there is a dense population of red howler monkey (Alouatta senicula). Capucin monkeys (Cebus) are also possible to observe. A varied array of bird communities are also conspicuous, including Amazon Parrots, Chestnut fronted Macaws, large Rhamphastos toucans, and one of the rarest birds in Venezuela, the Northern Screamer (Chauna chavaria). It is almost guaranteed to see estuarine Dolphins (Sotalia fluviatilis) playing close to us. Even much rarer, but not impossible would be to see the Caribbean Manatee (Trichechus manatus), one of the most endangered mammals in the country. Green Iguanas (Iguana iguana) are going to be faithful companions during all visits to the lowlands. At night, in an additional boat trip we will see how nocturnal life takes over. This is time to see Caimans (Caiman crocodylus fuscus), the Mangrove Boa (Corallus ruschenbergerii), Boa constrictor and endemic frogs such as Hyla vigilans.

Day 3. Maracaibo Lake basin.
 We will go to an Hacienda in the savanna, used primarily for raising cattle. In the myriad of lagoons, we will be able to easily see two species of freshwater turtles, one endemic to Maracaibo basin, Rhinoclemys diademata, and the other that is widespread in the Neotropics, Kinosternon scorpioides. A further species is also endemic to a localized lagoon area nearby, but it is a rare sight, Phrynops zuliae. In the savanna there is also Red footed Tortoise, Geochelone carbonaria, but it is progressively becoming rarer due to uncontrolled human poaching. Water Snakes in the genus Helicops as well as other serpents typical of the savanna are easy to observe: Mastigodryas, Liophis melanotus, Spilotes pullatus, Oxybelis aeneus, Imantodes cenchoa, Leptodeira annulata, as well as Iguanas, Ameiva and Cnemidophorus lizards, diurnal Gonatodes Geckos... among many other reptiles. At night, and around human housings, we could be surprised to see the largest Gecko in America, Thecadactylus rapicauda, and a variety of Anurans, Bufo marinus, B. granulosus, Hyla crepitans, H. microcephala, Phrynohyas venulosa, Leptodactylus bolivianus, Pseudopaludicola pusilla, the endemic Pipa parva, as well as adults and huge tadpoles of Pseudis paradoxa. The zone is also home of other hard to find amphibians, like Ceratophrys calcarata, and the Caecilian Nectocaecilia haydeeae.

Day 4. Maracaibo basin-Andes.
 Now it will be time to survey the alluvial zone of the Chama river, where we could find Basilisks lizards (Basiliscus basiliscus), and perhaps Cocodrylus acutus. Perhaps this is also the finest place to see South American otter (Lontra longicaudis). Afterwards, we will move to an important migratory pass for birds that come from or return to North America, where it is possible to see, at the appropriate time, thousands of birds belonging to hundreds of species. This is the habitat of one of the largest and most beautiful Tarantula species in the Neotropics, Xenestis monstrosa. Later, we will ascend to the Andes, where we will witness the transition into the cloud forest at 1400 meters. At night we will search for frogs like Hyla minuta, H. luteoocellata, H. crepitans; and Atractus snakes. With some luck we will see Onycophorans, Peripatus the living arthropod fossil, under logs, stones and debris.

Day 5. Andes.
 In the morning, we will continue herping. Back to Mérida, we will stop in a Colonial Hacienda, where we will learn ancestral techniques for the processing of coffee, a long time important economical item of the region. Riding back into the Andes, through the arid valley of the Chama river, we will stop to see local herps, within the forest of huge Candlestick Cacti. There, Micrurus meridensis is a worthwhile finding, although Drymarchon corais melanurus, Pseudoboa neuwiedii, Crotalus sp., Green Iguanas, Ameiva bifrontata and Cnemidophorus lizards are amongst the pretty elements of fauna in the region. Also, this is a site where Tamandua anteater (Tamandua mexicana) is not particularly rare to see. Finally, we will stay overnight at the peaceful and picturesque Mérida, the Andean capital city lying below perennial snow capped mountain peaks surpassing 5000 meters (15000 ft).

Day 6. Andes
 Visit to Teleférico de Mérida, the longest (12 ½ Kms) and highest (4765 m) cable car in the world. During the ascent, it is possible to see four different types of ecosystems:
 1. Cloud forest, 2. Dwarf high altitude forest, 3. Páramo, and 4. Andean nivel belt. Once at the summits, we will trek for Páramo recognition. Back to Mérida. Off duty afternoon for free-will activities (shopping, cinema, salsa and merengue dancing ...). Optional herping in a nearby pristine cloud forest, where local species are worthy: Hyla jahni, Eleutherodactylus vanadisae, Gastrotheca nicefori and some glass-frogs (Centrolene and Hyalinobatrachium).

Day 7. Andes
 Depart to explore the Andean cloud forest, habitat of Andean Salamander Bolitoglossa orestes, among other herps. We will continue to Páramo environment, where walking silently alongside enchanted and beautiful glacial lagoons, where Páramo Rabbits (Sylvilagus brasiliensis meridanus) and Andean deer (Odocoileus goudotti) thrive. This is the habitat of frogs highly adapted to cold weather, namely Eleutherodactylus ginesi (an evolutionary convergent of high tepuian Bufonid in the genus Oreophrynella), E. lancinii, Colostethus leopardalis and Atelopus mucubajiensis. This last species, as well as all Venezuelan Harlequin Toads, has suffered severe population declines, to the point, where no one has reported any living animal in the past five years, thus scientific community fears that this species has become extinct. One of our goals will be to systematically survey the area, with the hope to rediscover and report it. We will continue our exploration in the Páramo, paying particular attention to the decomposing matter of Espeletias (Rosette-like bush with oblong leafs covered with plenty cotton-like coating, native to high altitude Andes in Venezuela south to Ecuador). Within these, several amphibians takes refugee, and also Microteiids Anadia lizards. Later in the day, we will take a chance to visit the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) reintroduction and conservation facilities, and we will explore its habitat to admire the magnificent and majestic flight of the largest flying bird of the world.

Day 8. Andes
 During the morning we will freshen ourselves up, and recover energies, while bathing in a hot spring with magnificent views. Back on duty, a wild river will flank us along the road, stopping to see an endangered bird, the Torrent Duck (Merganetta armata colombiana). A splendid cloud forest will be the stage to see one of the Neotropics most magnificent spectacles, the nuptial display of fiery red Andean Cock-of-the Rock (Rupicola peruviana). Herps are also abundant here and it is possible to find Micrurus mipartitus, Erythroplamprus bizona, Lampropeltis triangulum andesina... We will witness the abundance of the diurnal dendrobatid Mannophryne collaris. Some anurans are very abundant at the foothills of the Andes and surroundings, notably Bufo marinus, B. granulosus, Pleurodema brachyops, H. microcephala, Hyla lanciformis, Hyla punctata, Scinax rostrata, Physalaemus pustulosus, Leptodactylus macrosternum and maybe Phyllomedusa hypocondrialis.

Day 9. Departure
 Farewell meeting. Flight to Caracas and connection to origin or link to the Llanos tour.
 
 

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