Cajamarca is the central town of the department and is reached on a good road from the coast. It has several hotels and restaurants in all price-ranges. Continuing east from Cajamarca is, however, a slow process as the road is rather poor and traverses several mountains and valleys before reaching Leimebamba and later Pedro Ruiz.
Not far from the airport in the rio Chonta valley is the key site for the rare Gray-bellied Comet which is rather easy to see here. Other birds at this site includes Giant Hummingbird, Black Metaltail, Baron´s Spinetail, Rusty-crowned Tit-spinetail and White-winged Cinclodes.
Some 50 kilometres south of Cajamarca is San Marcos. The road is now paved and good but it still takes more than an hour to drive there from Cajamarca. About three kilometres before coming to San Marcos there is a big ravine on the left and this is the easiest accessible site for Great Spinetail. It is however, not common and very secretive. Other birds to look for here includes Buff-bridled Inca-finch, Black-necked Woodpecker and Spot-throated Hummingbird.
While driving from Cajamarca to Celendin any patch of scrub can be birded. The valley around Cruz Conga and the forest patches here can be rewarding. The cajamarcae-race of Rufous Antpitta lives here and will certainly be elevated to species status. Also the rare White-tailed Shrike-tyrant can be found around here but note that Black-billed Shirke-tyrant is much more common. Other birds to look for includes Striated Earthcreeper, Tawny-rumped Tyrannulet, Rufous-webbed Tyrant, Black-crested Tit-tyrant and Baron´s Spinetail.
| 