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Peru
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© Kevin Boddington/Nature Portfolio  Machu Picchu |
With an optional extension to the High Andes, our Peru tour offers something for everyone. From condors soaring on high and a two-night stay at a delightful hotel at Machu Picchu - the legendary 'Lost City of the Incas' - to boat trips off Lima and deep into the remote Amazonian rainforest at Manu.Our Peru tour has been refined to provide the perfect holiday - one that will satisfy the needs and abilities of every birdwatcher and wildlife enthusiast. By separating out our visits to the High Andes as an optional extension, those for whom the highest altitudes might present difficulty will still be able to fully enjoy the main portion of what is an extraordinary South American tour.It's an adventure that begins at Lima, on the Peruvian coast, from where we fly to the old Inca capital, Cuzco (3,300m). After looking for Andean Lapwing, Giant Hummingbird and the stunning Many-coloured Rush-tyrant here, an onward flight will carry us up, over the high eastern range of the Andes, and down into the steamy lowland basin of Amazonia. Transferring to motorised canoes, a two-hour boat trip takes us on to our remote lodge at the heart of the magnificent Manu Biosphere Reserve. Possessing the highest diversity of life anywhere on Earth, Manu is without equal and can justifiably claim to be the one place anyone with an interest in the natural world should strive to visit. Incredibly, more than 1,000 bird species have been recorded at this one site alone - with over half of them from the area around the lodgings where we stay! Just sit back and let the dazzling array of star-spangled tanagers and hummingbirds wow you with their scintillant shades and vibrant hues. Still reeling from the bewilderment of Amazonia's fantastic birdlife we return to Cuzco and, from there, embark on one of the world's greatest rail journeys, up towards one of the world's greatest archaelogical sites - Machu Picchu, the fabled 'Lost City of the Incas'. Perched high upon a narrow ridge far above the Urubamba River, this remarkable place is perhaps the only marvel of the man-made world capable of capturing our imagination after such a fantastic array of birds, wildlife and scenery seen elsewhere. To enhance our visit still further, our hotel at Machu Picchu is an absolute haven, with extensive gardens graced by a rich variety of birds, butterflies and orchids. And unlike most bird tours, we spend two nights at Machu Picchu. It's a fitting finale to our main tour, on what is surely one of the world's most inspirational wildlife holidays! For those that wish, we offer an optional High Andes extension - one that will certainly live up to its claim to carry us to new heights! Driving from Cuzco to the spectacular Sacred Valley of the Incas, our destination is famous Abra Malaga, a lofty pass that gives access to mist-shrouded, high-altitude forest that's the haunt of Giant Conebill, Creamy-crested Spinetail and the fabulous Sword-billed Hummingbird. Our travels conclude at Arequipa, in the altiplano - the high plateau that sits atop the Andes - where we'll go in search of Andean, James's and Chilean Flamingos, Crested Duck and the awesome Andean Condor. Steve Madge is a veteran of more than 20 years leading bird tours across the globe. This will be his fourth visit to Peru. We'll be accompanied throughout by an expert on Peruvian birds from Manu Expeditions, the specialist eco-tour agency. Itinerary Days 1 - 2 We take a flight from London with onward connection to Lima, for a two-night stay. Our birding begins on day two with a visit to Villa Marshes, a small reserve near Lima. Great Grebe, White-cheeked Pintail, Andean Coot and Red-backed Hawk occur and, along the way, we can try for Peruvian Thick-knee. Later, a boat trip around the bay at Pucusana may reward us with Humboldt Penguin, Red-legged and Guanay Cormorants, Peruvian Booby and the lovely Inca Tern. There are also colonies of South-American Sea-lions to enjoy as we watch for Peruvian Seaside Cinclodes. Two nights Lima Day 3 An early morning flight carries us up to historic Cuzco. From here we visit Huacarpay Lakes, a bustling wetland that holds White-tufted Grebe, Puna Ibis and Andean Lapwing. Wren-like Rushbird and Many-coloured Rush-tyrant haunt the reeds, while the adjoining valley slopes will see us hunting for Rusty-fronted Canastero and checking the flowers of the Tree-tobacco for Giant Hummingbird and the endemic Bearded Mountaineer. Overnight Cuzco Day 4 We fly on this morning to reach the confluence of the Manu and Madre de Dios rivers, deep within Amazonia. The Boca Manu airstrip is surrounded by forest and soon a new extravagance of lowland birds will unfold before us, as we thrill to Green-and-gold Tanager, Blue Dacnis, Troupial and Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet. After lunch, we board motorised dugouts for a two-hour trip downriver to the Manu Wildlife Centre. The journey itself should reveal a fine selection of riverside birds as we savour our first views of Cocoi and Capped Herons, Ringed and Amazon Kingfishers, Sand-coloured Nighthawk and White-winged and White-banded Swallows. As we near our destination in the late afternoon, a variety of parrots - among them parties of Chestnut-fronted Macaws - perform their noisy pre-roost flights. Despite its isolation, Manu's accommodation is rated the best in the Peruvian Amazon, with its simple en-suite bungalows and spacious dining and bar facilities. Overnight Manu Days 5 - 8 The magnificent forests within Manu National Park constitute one of the world's last great wildernesses. Though it would take a lifetime to do such a wonderland justice, our lodge at Manu has been sited where there is the greatest diversity of forest types, and we should encounter a fantastic number of bird species. One undoubted highlight will be a morning visit to the famous Blanquillo macaw 'mineral-lick'. The spectacle of hundreds of parrots and macaws here will long remain in our memories, as we delight in a positive rainbow of birds - including Blue-and-yellow, Red-and-green and Scarlet Macaws, Orange-cheeked Parrot and Mealy Amazon. With luck, we may see the tiny Amazonian Parrotlet (only recently described). We could encounter almost anything as we explore Manu's pristine forest trails: Pavonine Quetzal, Razor-billed Curassow, Pale-winged Trumpeter, Black Hawk-eagle, Yellow-ridged and White-throated Toucans, Bluish-fronted and Purus Jacamars, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Cinnamon-throated and Spix's Woodcreepers, Purple-throated Fruitcrow, the rare endemic Black-faced Cotinga... and many more await! Marshside vegetation and areas of open water are home to the peculiar Sungrebe and Hoatzin, Rufescent Tiger-heron and the furtive Agami Heron. If we are lucky, we could see Giant Otter here too! Nearby are several bamboo specialists, including Flammulated Bamboo-tyrant, Ornate Antwren and Peruvian Recurvebill. By spotlighting after dark, Manu's chorus of weird night sounds could be transformed into the likes of Ocellated Poorwill, Long-tailed and Great Potoos, and Spectacled Owl. Those that wish can take an optional night excursion to the world's only known Brazilian Tapir lick. Though rarely seen, Jaguar occur too. Four nights Manu Day 9 An early start for our boat ride back to Boca Manu, giving us one last look for riverside birds. A short but spectacular flight then lifts us from the steamy Amazon basin, up and over the rugged ramparts of the mighty Andes, to Cuzco. After lunching here, the afternoon is free to relax and explore this historic city. Overnight Cuzco Days 10 - 11 Leaving early from Cuzco, a four-and-a-half hour train journey leads to our final destination: Machu Picchu, the 'Lost City of the Incas'. Accompanied by the vivid sights, sounds and smells of rural Peru, the slow-moving train follows the banks of the rushing Urubamba river and affords ample time in which to look out for Torrent Ducks and White-capped Dippers. On arrival at Machu Picchu, we transfer by bus to the quiet ruins of this remarkable Inca city, for so long hidden from the rest of world atop the spine of a jungle-clad granite peak - 800 metres above an entrenched meander of the roaring river below. White-tipped Swifts will be flying overhead - but, for once, our birding will take a back seat as we explore this mystical site. Bamboo thickets below Machu Picchu are home to the fabulous Inca Wren (an endemic first described in 1985). Nearby, flashes of bright orange might transform into a gorgeous Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, whilst a host of dazzling tanagers - Beryl-spangled, Saffron-crowned, Golden-naped, Blue-capped and Blue-and-yellow - crowd the mixed feeding flocks. As feisty Collared Incas, Black-tailed Trainbearers, Violet-fronted Starfrontlets and the endemic Green-and-white Hummingbird buzz all about, we may well be further distracted by the likes of Highland Motmot, Azara's Spinetail and Dusky-green Oropendola. We spend two nights here, staying at the lovely Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, with its delightful bird-rich gardens and hummingbird feeders. Two nights Machu Picchu Day 12 It will be hard to tear ourselves away from the magic of Machu Picchu but, after a final morning here, we catch the tourist train back to Cuzco. Overnight Cuzco Day 13 Those not taking the High Andes extension catch a morning flight to Lima. Arriving in time for a relaxing lunch at a seafood restaurant overlooking the sea, our birding concludes with the prospect of seeing Inca Tern and other seabirds. Evening flight home, arriving London on Day 14. High Andes ExtensionDays 13 - 15Leaving Cuzco, we drive to the spectacular Sacred Valley of the Incas, home to the amazing archaeological sites of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Situated at an elevation of more than 3,000m, it was here, in 1536, that the conquistador Hernando Pizzaro suffered defeat at the hands of Manco Inca. Following our arrival, we have two full days to sample a breath-taking range of High Andean birds. By starting early, we may witness the strange aerial display of Andean Snipe. Patches of bamboo are the haunt of the endemic Parodi's Hemispingus and Puna Thistletail, and others we could see include Golden-collared Tanager, the endemic Unstreaked Tit-tyrant and Marcapata Spinetail and the recently described Diademed Tapaculo. With the towering snowy peak and glaciers of Nevado Wakaywilca towering above us, there's a wealth of fabulous hummingbirds to look for too: from Amethyst-throated Sunangel and Sapphire-vented Puffleg to Shining Sunbeam and the fantastic Sword-billed Hummingbird. On our second day here, we'll explore the Polyepsis woodland amidst the quite stunning scenery of Abra Malaga. At 4,050m, this lofty pass grants rare access to the high-altitude habitats of both the Andes' dry east and moist west slopes. Andean Condors sail on high as the likes of Giant Conebill, Junin Canastero, Tit-like Dacnis, Blue-mantled Thornbill, Thick-billed Siskin and Chestnut-bellied Mountain-finch vie for attention in our binoculars. If we are lucky, we may see the rare Royal Cinclodes. Three nights in the Sacred Valley of the Incas Days 16 - 17 Returning to Cuzco, we take a flight to Arequipa. Opposite our hotel is the historic Santa Catalina Convent, where the impressive Peruvian Sheartail can be seen. Our destination next day is the beautiful Lake Salinas. Magnificently situated at an altitude of over 4,200m, if water levels are suitable, we may find all three South American flamingos: Andean, James's and Chilean, plus an array of waterfowl including Andean Goose, Crested Duck and Puna Teal. Andean Avocet and Puna Plover grace the shore, while the surrounding plains and scrub are the haunt of Grey-breasted Seedsnipe, Black Metaltail, Andean Hillstar, Straight-billed and White-throated Earthcreepers, Cordilleran Canastero and Hooded Siskin. We also have a good chance of finding a herd of attractive Vicuņa, although more certain will be the feral flocks of Alpaca. Two nights Arequipa Day 18 We catch a flight back to Lima, arriving there in time to enjoy a relaxed farewell lunch at a seafood restaurant overlooking the sea - and the exciting prospect of watching Inca Tern and other seabirds as we eat. Evening flight home, with arrival back in London on Day 19. Accommodation is at comfortable hotels and lodges throughout - including an extended, two-night stay at the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. All rooms have private facilities. Please note that single rooms not usually available at Manu Wildlife Centre - but the birding is superb! Meals: all included; some lunches and breakfasts will be picnics. Walking: Easy-moderate (mainly due to the altitude in the Andes), but always taken slowly. On the main tour, we reach a maximum height of around 3,300m (Cuzco). On the High Andes extension, at Arequipa and Abra Malaga, we shall be birding up to an elevation of about 4,050m; the Polyepsis woodland walk is moderately strenuous, but optional. Transport is by private bus, boat, train and flights as described. |
| Leaders: Steve Madge & local guides |
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| Numbers: Max. 12 clients | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The price is per person, and is fully inclusive of scheduled return flights London-Lima, with meals on-board as appropriate, all domestic flights within Peru (as outlined above); all accommodation, meals, surface transport (inc. boat trips, & rail journey to Machu Picchu), entry fees/permits, tips to local drivers/guides, airport taxes, bird checklist & services of the leader/s.
The price excludes travel insurance, drinks and other personal expenses. This trip will be operated in conjunction with Limosa Holidays. |
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