Advanced Search Login | Sign Up
 
    Peru   |  South America   |  Photography   |  USA   |  ASIA  
BIRDING MACHU PICCHU:
Birdwatching tours that include Machu Picchu.
BIRDING MANU & TAMBOPATA:
Various birdwatching tours to the Amazon rain forest in South East Peru.
BIRDING NORTH PERU:
Land of Marvelous Spatuletail.
BIRDING CENTRAL PERU TRIPS:
Birdwatching in Carpish, Unchog and Satipo road. Good price as no internal flights are involved.
CALIFORNIA ENDEMICS AND SEABIRDS 9 DAYS.:
This nine-day tour is a pelagic birder’s dream trip to California! We will focus on pelagics, endemics, near-endemics and specialties along the beautiful coast of southern and central California.
 
 Peru Tours

Where do I start? There are too many trips to choose from!

Which trip is best for you to choose? We have the largest amount of different trips for birders to Peru. It is hard to choose. The following short summary will help you.

  • BIG DAY. Break 300 in 24 hours - no promise but quite possible at Amigos Research Center.
  • Long list. High biodiversity: GRAND CENTRAL PERU, Manu road, North Peru with its extensions, North Peru and Southen Ecuador
  • For the beginner. Slow pace, birds easy to find, alternatives for the non-birding spouse. Southern Circuit.
  • Endemics. Central Peru, Carpish, North Peru 2, North Peru 4, Tumbes. Not necessarily the longest lists but many restricted range species.
  • New species to science and undescribed species. Iquitos, Central Peru (Satipo road).
  • Pelagic birds. Pelagics and Southern Circuit.
  • Wildlife. Manu Jaguar Safari,Amigos research Station
  • Archeology and birding. MST archeology and birding, Southern Circuit.
  • Hummingbirds. Hummingbird programs on MST (North and Machu Picchu and Manu)
  • Comfort. Marvelous Spatuletail Tours: Southern Circuit, MST archeology and birding, Amigos Research Station, Tambopata, Short North 9 day and Machu Picchu and Manu Hummingbird trip.
  • Limited time. Short North 9 day, North Peru 2, Carpish, Concise Manu road Light, Amigos research Station in SE Peru.
  • North Peru. NEW PROGRAMS. With the new lodge at Abra Patricia and Kolibri Expeditions''''''''s committment to support local communities to become part of the itineraries when their vicinity harbour very rare birds, our North Peru programs called for re-writing. Most birders should realize that there are simply too many birds in North Peru to see them all. Therefore we have produced a circuit that starts in Tumbes and ends in Lima. If you do the whole circuit it takes 43 days. Nobody has all this time, but since this shall be our core itinerary for years to come, you may always come back and do another stretch at a later date.
    There are basically 2 core trips. One is Piura to Tarapoto, with a 4 day Tumbes section offered as a pre-trip that includes a pelagic, Tumbes forest and mangroves, featuring White-winged Guan, Abra Patricia Lodge and Marvellous Spatuletail and the other core trip is Tarapoto to Cajamarca, working more trails looking for endemic primates such as YellowYellow-tailed Woolly Monkey and Alto Mayo Titi Monkey, as well as Antpitttas and Long-whiskered Owlet and featuring Abra Patricia Lodge, Marvelous Spatuletail, Leimebamba, Gray-winged Inca-Finch and Gray-bellied Comet with the possibility to add Purple-backed Sunbeam and Russet-bellied Spintetail (the last bit offered as an extension). The first core trip is offered in two versions, a 7 day trip (no camping) or a 15 day trip with camping and supporting local awaruna indean communities when searching for Orange-throated Tanager. The second core trip gives the option to make a 6 day hike for Yellow-browed Toucanet, Pale-billed Antpitta and Carpish endemics.

    There is also the Comfort MST style, short North Peru program for 9 days that starts in Chiclayo and ends in Tarapoto, featuring Chaparri and Abra Patricia Lodge. 
    Also one may combine Northern Peru and Southern Ecuador to get specialities on both sides of the boarder. 
  • Inexpensive. Gran Central Peru and Cerros de Sira - both for only 99 US/day when group size is six or more.
  • Expedition birding points. Iquitos,, Abra Malaga and Machu Picchu, Scarlet-banded Barbet (strenuous), White-masked Antbird, Cerros de Sira.
  • Photography. Southern Circuit, Machu Picchu and Manu (Hummingbirds), Amigos Research Station.
  • First time in South America. Peru is overwhelming. You cannot do it all on one trip. Chose a trip that gives you the flavour of Peru triggering the desire to come back. Don''''''''t kill yourself with a Megalist the first time in South America. Southern Circuit, Abra Malaga and Machu Picchu, Lima days (see below), Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra. Carpish is also good but very endemic concentrated. Tambopata is probably the best lowland alternative, but the lowlands are really too species rich and it is difficult to see the birds well. It would not be my first choice for someone that never spent any time in South America and is not familiar with the families.
  • Rainy Season. January-April. This is the time of year when it is most difficult to visit i.e. Manu road (but it is not impossible) due to East slope rains. These rains are usually most severe in the south. In the North during the same period there is also considerable amount of rain on the west slope, but rarely too much to spoil your birding –after all they are xerophytic areas. During Niño years there is more rain in the north and central Peru and probably less so in the SE. Now for the recommendations. During normal conditions we recommend North Peru, Tumbes (January and beginning of February), Iquitos, Southern Circuit (you can do this any time), and surprisingly also Tambopata and especially Amigos research station. Puerto Maldonado  is served by jet-planes and there are many good lodges nearby, but add a few days to compensate for possible rain.
  • Time to kill in Lima. Quite a few people come on very short trips to Lima for business or passing through on a more extensive trip and may have a spare day.
    Along the coast there are Pucusana and Puerto Viejo to the south and Lomas de Lachay and Paraiso to the north. If you have more time in Lima any of the above can be made more extensively. More time allows you to trips into the Andes. A day trip to Santa Eulalia Canyon offers many pacific slope endemics including Rufous-breasted Warbling-Finch and Great Inca-Finch, as well as good possibilities to see condors, but you do need to make a very early start from Lima. Ticlio and Marcapomacocha road at extreme altitude above 4000m gives an almost 100% hit-rate for Diademed Sandpiper Plover and White-bellied Cinclodes. Santa Eulalia and Marcapomacocha road can be combined in a two or three day trip to also allow time to look for White-cheeked Cotinga
  • Cruises. If you are on a cruise, by the time you get off the boat, the most important part of the morning may have been lost. I would recommend a program consisting of Pantanos de Villa and Pucusana in combination. Some goodies that may be seen are Peruvian Thickknee, Humboldt Penguin and Peruvian Seaside Cinclodes.
    If you are very keen on endemics one could make a go for Cactus Canastero at Lomas de Lachay 100km north of Lima - but it can sometimes be difficult to find the Canastero it if its very hot. July-September, during the mist season, it should be easier however. Also in this area are Grayish, Thick-billed and Coastal Miner. Most of these species you will not get in Arica, Chile if you plan also to go birdwatching there later on your cruise.
    Many cruise ships also dock in Salaverry
    near Trujillo in the North. We have sites for Peruvian Plantcutter that may be reachable in the time you have available.
    We can also arrange guides and transport in Arica and Valparaiso (see Batuco-Lampa for high diversity and pre-cordillera for endemics in Chile and in Guayaquil in Ecuador if you want to go birding here.

 


 NATURAL HISTORY TOURS
Birding Heath River Lodge
A new itinerary. Our scouting starts in January 2012. Eventually, this trip will be offered with a bird guide. As for now it is a great trip for photography as you get close to the macaws and gives a decent chance to see jaguars on the river bank of Rio Heath that seperates Peru from Bolivia. Trip leaves every Monday and Thursday.
Butterfly watching Satipo
Butterfly watching near Satipo at famous collecting sites.
Manu Reserved Zone 7 days Natural History
This short tour has fixed departures on Fridays. It is not a birdwatching trip but more concentrated on wildlife and a natural history experience.
Southern circuit - Classic Peru culture and natural history

A tour not only for birders but for anyone that wants to see a lot of Peru. Natural History and culture are equally important.

Tambopata Research Center and Posada Amazonas

This program is the standard TRC and Posada Amazonas program. The local guide from the lodge is provided.

Trekking and Birding: Choquequirao and Machu Picchu 10 days
Incredible and breathtaking scenery when trekking through some of the most remarkable mountain scenery in South America. Two of the most spectacular Inca sites are visited: Choquequirao and Machu Picchu. Birding and wildflower watching as we trek.

 KOLIBRI EXPEDITIONS TRIPS   
Abra Malaga - altitude preperation for the Inca Trail. 3 days.
Birdwatching at Abra Malaga while you get accustomed to altitude before hiking the Inca Trail. Don't stay in Cusco feeling miserable at 3450m before Inca Trail. Better to work high and sleep low as the pro mountain climbers. Birding at Abra Malaga
Abra Malaga & Machu Picchu
5 days recommended, but shorter variants are possible. Excellent birding in the magic environment of the Incas.
Abra Malaga (1 day) - Day trip from Cusco/Ollantaytambo
Day trip to Abra Malaga to sample some of the best birds of Peru. Trip starts preferably from Ollantaytambo, but if needed be it can also start from Cuzco.
Apurimac endemics
Apurimac is only a stone-throw away from Cusco, yet very few birders bird there. At Bosque Ampay the key birds are Apurimac Spinetail and Apurimac Brush-Finch. High altitude and some strenuous hiking.
Archeology and birding: Nazca lines and Paracas 2 days
A short excellent trip over 2 days for anyone wanting to experience the Nazca lines combining culture and nature. It can easily be added as a post Cusco trip with flights that arrive in Lima before 2 pm.
Birding at Explorers Inn
Carpish and Colibri Cloudforest on Satipo road. 8 days
Bloggers, Facebook users and non-bloggers come together to raise money for the benefit of the local communities on Satipo road and Carpish.birding for Less - 8 days.
Carpish and Junin Lake 8 days.
Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager at Bosque Unchog and all the other Carpish endemics, Paty trail, the oilbird cave in Tingo Maria and Junin Grebe at wonderful Lake Junin. A great (and very affordable) trip
Chiclayo-Tarapoto Birding Connection 4 days
Connecting Chiclayo with Tarapoto in a fast 4 day trip with highlights such as Peruvian Plantcutter, Rufous Flycatcher, White-winged Guan, two species of Crescentchest, Piura Chat-Tyrant, Long-whiskered Owlet etc.
Complete Manu Birding Tour 17 days
17 days birdwatching in South East Peru on the famous Manu road and lowland Manu lodges with the famous Macaw lick and Giant Otter lake.
Cusco to Puerto Maldonado BIrding Overland
Birding the Interoceanica. road between Cusco and Puerto Maldonado. Many of the same species as the more famous Manu road occurs here.
Hummingbirds: Manu and Machu Picchu Budget
Best trip for the person who wants to see as many of SE Peru's Hummingbirds as possible and inlcude a visit to Machu Picchu. We have chosen basic but adequate lodging. At Cock-of-the Rock Lodge we sleep in rooms wall to wall next to the diningroom. It is possible to upgrade to private cabins. 30US per person. Also possible to upgrade the hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Iquitos Specialties White-sand forest, river islands, Canopy Walkway and Wattled Curassow
9 days. This trip concentrates on the birds that are difficult to see elsewhere in the Amazon basin. It is possible to add days for other lodges. One can easily spend up to 3 weeks in the Iquitos area
Lima days: Daytrip to Santa Eulalia Canyon
A shorter trip concentrating on the endemics of the west slope such as Rufous-breasted Warbling-Finch and Great Inca-Finch.
Lima days: Daytrip to Ticlio and Marcopomacocha area
Diademed Sandpiper-Plover and White-bellied Cinclodes
Lima days: El Olivar Park and Pantanos de Villa
Good introduction to the birds of LIma
LIMA DAYS: La Punta and Pozo Arenillas
Good introduction to the birds in Lima. The trip can be run almost anytime. A short trip to do very close to the airport. Perfect  for a short trip to kill time. Especially good for North American waders, gulls and terns - September-April is the best time migrating birds, but it is always something to see.
Lima days: Lomas de Lachay and Paraiso Lagoon.
Endemic or near-endemic birds: Cactus Canastero, Thick-billed, Coastal and Grayish Miner and Peruvian Tern. Chilean Flamingo and Shorebirds. .
Lima Days: Palomino Islets and La Poza Arenilla en La Punta
Visit South American Sealions, Humboldt Penguin and the Palomino guano islands off La Punta, Callao with a good bird guide.
Lima days: Pucusana, Puerto Viejo and Cañete valley
One of our Lima favorites.
Lima days: Santa Eulalia valley and Marcopomacocha
This trip can be run almost anytime.
Lima Days: Ventanilla Lagoons - a few hours to kill near airport

Great wetland area just north of the airport. Combine with La Punta.

Long-whiskered Owlet and Marvellous Spatuletail 5 days get-away.
A short only 5 day trip, perfect as an extension to a longer trip or just a short escape. Main targets as the name implies Long-whiskered Owlet and Marvellous Spatuletail, but loads of other birds will be seen on this short trip
Machu Picchu - independant one day or two day trip
Machu Picchu in one day and time for birding.
Machu Picchu and Abra Malaga overland
We are looking at a birdier slightly less expensive version of Machu Picchu and Abra Malaga that does not use the train service to Machu Picchu. It should give some additional species in the end.
Machu Picchu and Quillabamba birding
The upper Urubamba area is opening up with a new road that connects to San Francisco and Ayacucho at cuts over Cordillera Vilcabamba at its lowest point. Birding here will be full of surprises. By combining with Machu Picchu going there and Abra Malaga on the way back it shall give a long list of species.
Manu mammals and birds - the Jaguar Safari.
A new trip that takes you into Manu National Park, where you have your best chances of spotting mammals.
North Peru 1: Tumbes and pelagic
A great 4 day pre-trip to our main North Peru 2 program of 7 or 15 days that includes Amotape National Park, the Tumbes mangroves and a Pelagic from Punta Sal.
North Peru 2 with Orange-throated Tanager, Marvelous Spatuletail and Long-whiskered Owlet.
This is our new core North Peru program, which features an option of visiting Orange-throated Tanager and White-masked Antbird every other month. We also run it on request. Connect with pre-tour to Tumbes with pelagic (4 days) and extensions in Tarapoto (2 days) and the megadiversity trip back to Cajamarca (9 or 15 days) that explore more trails and makes it possible to look for rare endemic primates and birds, as well as a hike to see Yellow-browed Toucanet.
North Peru 4: MEGADIVERSITY TRIP. Tarapoto-Cajamarca 9 or 15 days with trekking
This route can have a different focus apart from birds if the clients request so, such as Orchids, Butterflies, Endemic Primates and Yellow-browed Toucanet and Pale-billed Antpitta for those that do the trek from Leimebamba. The upper Maraon is also home of several Maraon endemics that are difficult elsewhere.
North Peru 4b: Tarapoto-Cajamarca - Extremely short version 4 days.
Focusing on the endemics en route to complement a Chiclayo/Piura-Tarapoto program.
North Peru 5: Purple-backed Sunbeam and Russet-bellied Spinetail extension.
Short, quite rough trip with lots of driving, to get the very rare Purple-backed Sunbeam and Russet-bellied Spinetail.
North Peru 6. Peruvian Martin and Cordillera Blanca Extension
Short extension overland to Lima
North Peru: Budget Birding Chiclayo to Tarapoto 8 days
A short trip that concentrates on seeing the Long-whiskered Owlet. Lodging on this trip will be basic why we can offer a super price and special price for young birders.
North Peru: Marvelous Spatuletail display tour
An easy tour with bird photography and videography as prime objectives. But also general easy birdwatching. No strenuous hikes except the specific search for Pale-billed Antpitta and Long-whiskered Owlet. Marvelous Spatuletail leks principally between November and April. The full plumaged males of the Marvelous Spatuletail can be found all year around.
NORTH PERU?SOUTHERN ECUADOR with Jocotoco Antpitta and Tumbesia endemics 22 days
Combine the Chinguela ridge with the key species in SOuthern Ecuador and end in Tumbes for the ultimate Tumbesian clean-up trip. Jocotoco Antpitta will be a main target duiring this trip.
Pelagic
There are monthly departures. This is a Kolibri Expeditions special. The first regular departures of Pelagics in Peru is organized by us in 2001 we found three new species for Peru!!.
Piedras River - Macaws and Wildlife
A new destination accessible from Puerto Maldonado that can be run throughout the year and with considerbly easier access than Manu with similar birdlife and wildlife. The lodge is very comfortable. It is possible to add days at Tipishca and Iberia for special birds there (more for hard-core birders). For best price minimum 2 people.
Piura-Chiclayo connection
Leisurely open area birding adding some localities which are not visited extensively on other Kolibri Expeditions itineraries such as Manglares de Vice and Puerto Eten. Perfect to add some less intense birding while traveling between Tumbes-Piura-Chiclayo.
Puerto Maldonado - Birding
Puerto Maldonado have some very special birds that can be easily looked for in the vicinity. It is worth to spend a morning before the flight looking for White-throated and Purus Jacamar and savanna birds such as Brazilian Teal and Southern Lapwing. With a full day other localities can be included.
Puerto Maldonado-Cuzco or Puno.
Birding along the transoceanic highway from the lowlands of Puerto Maldonado to the puna of Puno or Cusco with a stop overnight in Mazuko.
Salaverry Cruise-ship special - Peruvian Plantcutter and Rufous Flycatcher
This day trip will make the most of birding wise of your stop at the port of Salaverry south of Trujillo. The key species to look for that you will not find in Guayaquil or Lima are Peruvian Plantcutter, Rufous Flycatcher, and an undescribed (s)sp of Neclaced Spinetail (without neclace!).
Different cruiships will have different length of stay, so time will limit exactly what will be done this day.
Satipo road - short 7 day tour
Promoting the recent community project at Satipo road we introduce this short trip that contains both excellent cloud forest birding and the endemic specialties that can not be seen on a short Carpish/Unchog trip.
Satipo Road and Carpish (17 days)
17 days. Endemic dense and extremely birdy. more than 500 species when combined with Lima excursions.
South East Peru ENDEMICS. Manu and Machu Picchu 12 days
We recommend to do SE Peru in 22 days for Manu and 4 days for Abra Malaga and Machu Picchu if SE Peru is to be done properly. However, if you want to concentrate on the species you cannot see elsewhere you may strip down the trip to only 12 days, and keep a very high pace. The reason why this is possible is that there are relatively few endemics and specialities in the lowlands apart from the bamboo birds. Since many of the bamboo birds can be gotten near Pilcopata relatively close to the road, it is possible to skip lowland Manu completely and still get most of the special birds.
The other SE Peru species are found in high Andean forests (Abra Malaga), in the cloud forest (Machu Picchu) and in the foothills (on Manu road).
The Biggest Day Amazonian Birding Workshop
A 14 day tour to Explorer's in which include a 9 module workshop to learn Amazonian birdcalls, a lot of time birding with world experts in Amazonian birding, on day 10 you'd aim for personal Big Day record as you will be paired up with an expert leader. There will be max 3 people per leader.

Looking for trips with very high levels of comfort: Check our Marvelous Spatuletail Tours - trips instead.


 KOLIBRI PHOTO & VIDEO SAFARI
Safari Photo Video: Cloud forests
The cloud forests of Carpish and Unchog in central Peru, is the transition of the high Andes and the Amazon rain forest and a strategic location for a variety of colorful fauna such as the Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager, Yellow-scarfed Tanager, Band-tailed Fruiteater and Bay-vented Cotinga etc, as well as dream-like scenery.
Safari Photo-Video: Nor-Yauyos-Cochas Reserve and the Inca Trail (Qapaq Ñan)
One of the most beautiful scenic areas of Peru which includes the Scenery Reserve of Nor Yauyos-Cochas, part of the ancient Inca trail (Qapaq Nan) and the sacred Pariaqaqa glacier areas. A variety of wildlife lives among the spectaculars turquoise lagoons, waterfalls and Polylepis woodlands.
Photo-Video Safari: Macaw-lick and Expedition to the Scarlet-banded Barbet.
Close to Contamana one of the most beautiful villages in the Amazon rain forest, there is a natural area that is part of the Sierras del Divisor Reserved Zone, with hills that hide collpas of sulphurous waters where hundreds of Red-and-Green Macaws visit, and troops of monkeys such as the rare Red Uacari (This is one of the few places where this species is protected and is in relative abundance), as well as possibly finding the newly described Acre Antshrike. This route can be part of a spectacular http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/manager/default.aspexpedition to the Cordillera Azul National Park and the habitat of the rare and beautiful Scarlet-banded Barbet.
Photo-Video Safari: Where the condors fly
The spectacular Andes of Santa Eulalia Canyon and Milloq bog and lagoon, near Lima, are habitats for 14 species endemic to Peru, such as Great-Inca Finch, Black-necked Woodpecker, Rufous-breasted Warbling-Finch, White-cheeked Cotinga, White-bellied Cinclodes etc, that can be photographed. These mountains provide water to Lima?s desert climate and also represent a natural refuge where the Andean Condor flies.
Safari Photo Video , A toda costa - Perú
A journey through the scenic desert settings of southern Peru, where the only two inland-marine reserves in the country are located: The Paracas National Reserve and the San Fernando Reserve. A variety of species native to the cold Humboldt Current can be found here, as well as others that descend from the high Andes like the Andean condor and the Guanaco. All this surrounded by the enigmatic figures of the Nasca lines, which the ancient Peruvians have drawn on the desert.

 EXPEDITION BIRDING EXTREME

We´re introducing a new concept. Or rather developing one of the principle driving forces of Kolibri Expeditions. In 1998 were we the first to see Orange-throated Tanager and Great Spinetail for at least 15 years and later that same year we found several new localities for Peruvian Plantcutter. In 1999 we discovered the Montañita site. In 2000 we rediscovered Kalinowski´s Tinamou after 100 years. Montañita held its promise and produced the Golden-backed Mountain Tanager and most of the other Carpish endemics. Millpo Tapaculo was relocated at a new site. In 2001 we found a new taxon of Thrythorus wren near Otuto in Junin, and we have the first observations of eye-ringed Thistletail in over 15 years. Furthermore in the Apurimac Valley we recorded the voice of a new Otus owl and a the local form of Peruvian Pygmy-Owl, which is vocally distinct from the coastal form and consequently may be split in the near future. In 2002 we learnt that Rufous Antpitta in Canchaque Piura sounds very different from Grallaria rufula rufula which has been collected in this area. It seems that when considering the voice a new taxon is invloved. It sounds like the Rufous Antpitta from Cajamarca (cajabambae), but looks more than the Rufous Antpitta from Ecuador (rufula). We also found Little Woodstar near Pedro Ruiz - a species that had no confirmed recent records in Peru.

During 2007 we will offer a couple of extremes. There may be surprises out there.


Also see the discussion group for Expedition Birding.
Trip reports Check out past trips to Peru with Kolibri Expeditions on our trip report page.
Safe birding in Peru Are you worried about the safety in Peru? Terrorism and Guerilla? Check out or updated page with recommendations to people who are not on a Kolibri Expedition trip. Most of the country is OK to travel in...some areas require care and common sense. Kolibri Expeditions have those qualities.
The Condor fiesta Read about the filming of the condor and the bull fiesta featured in the tv-series Giants.
Birds of Peru mentions 1817 species, but there are several candidates for species level which yet are to be described or "officially" split. Be sure you’ll get your armchair ticks. Look at the 28 potential additions.
 
Scarlet-banded Barbet
probably the toughest trip on program. You need to be extremely fit to undertake this expeditions. Conditions are hard, but you may be rewarded with one of the best birds in South America.
Sira Tanager and Horned Curassow
This trip is best run May to December.

Click Here to Visit!
World - Birding
Copyright © 2012 Kolibri Expeditions. All rights reserved.