Bolivia: Red-Fronted Macaw Reserve

This was a totally unexpected find as we climb up the Andes mountains in the way to Sucre. Apparently, this small reserved is home to the rarest species of macaw – red-fronted macaw – with only around 800 remaining and only found here in Bolivia and nowhere else. While the landscape was stunning all around – red mountains, cactuses and succulents of all shapes and bizarre sizes, river U-bend – it was the macaws (Ara rubrogenys )we really hoped to spot. And – drumroll – we got lucky to see a pair flying and then landing near a nest – stunning birds! The entire world population of the species is confined to several narrow pre-Andean valleys in Cochabamba, and the reserve is home to the largest group of 30 breeding pairs.