Peru - 'Surf & Turf'

Tour Code: PER03

A 10-day birding holiday to Peru's western Andes and Humboldt Current ecosystem in search of the spectacular endemic and range-restricted species of the region.

10 days from
£3,895 (Inc flights)
Land only price from
£2,895
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

This is an exciting birding holiday to Peru with direct BA flights to Lima and involving no domestic flights! During the 10-day tour we’ll make a thorough, ‘endemic-strewn’ exploration of Peru’s western Andean slopes and Humboldt Current ecosystem in search of a host of interesting species. Beginning on the Pacific seaboard, we will search around coastal lagoons, scrub and marshes near Lima for species such as Great Grebe. Next, we drive east into the rugged Andean foothills in search of highly prized arid west-slope endemics including Bronze-tailed Comet and Rusty-bellied Brush-finch. We then explore the high-altitude páramo before travelling south to the Reserva Nacional de Paracas where we’ll go in search of pelagic birds including gulls, boobies, penguins and skuas as well as the resident sea lions.

  • Look for Many-coloured Rush-Tyrant & Peruvian Thick-knee near Lima
  • Rufous-breasted Warbling Finch & Great Inca Finch among west-slope endemics
  • White-bellied Cinclodes & Diademed Sandpiper-plover in high-altitude bogs
  • Endemic White-cheeked Cotinga in Polylepis
  • Roosting Andean Condors taking to air
  • Enjoy the Ballestas Islands spectacle – thousands of Southern Sea Lions
  • Humboldt Penguin, Inca & Peruvian Terns 
  • Led by expert Peruvian birding guide well known to Naturetrek

Grading

Day walks only. Altitude is a factor - see itinerary for details.

After arriving in Lima (on BA’s new direct flight from London Gatwick), we begin our holiday on Peru’s expansive Pacific seaboard, under the southern hemisphere’s bright blue summer skies. Here we will search for Great Grebe, Many-coloured Rush Tyrant, ducks, herons, waders and Peruvian Thick-knee in and around Lima’s coastal lagoons and marshes. We next drive east along the spectacular Santa Eulalia road, which takes us up into the rugged Andean foothills high above Lima. Here we will search for several highly-prized endemics including Rufous-breasted Warblingfinch, Bronze-tailed Comet, Black-necked Woodpecker, Great Inca-finch, Thick-billed Miner and Rusty-bellied Brush-finch. Tall stands of introduced Eucalyptus trees often hold the diminutive Peruvian Pygmy-owl and, if the weather is favourable, Andean Condor may take to the air. Higher still, we will explore patches of threatened Polylepis forest at sunrise in search of the beautiful endemic White-cheeked Cotinga.

We then continue our journey, driving 100 miles east of Lima to the desolate, windswept páramo at Marcapomacocha, where we’ll wrap up warmly to scour these high-altitude cushion plant bogs for two charismatic species: the endemic White-bellied Cinclodes and the beautifully patterned Diademed Sandpiperplover. Dark-winged Miner and Junin Canastero are two further target endemics, along with more widespread birds such as Streak-throated Canastero, Plain-breasted Earthcreeper and White-winged Diuca-finches.

We next drive back down the central Andean highway to Lima before turning south to the Reserva Nacional de Paracas, the most important wildlife sanctuary on the Peruvian coast. Pelagic birds nest on the offshore islands in such impressive numbers that their nitrogen-rich droppings (guano) collect in quantities large enough to be commercially exploited for fertiliser. During a morning excursion to the islands we will hope to see Humboldt Penguin, Chilean Skua, Peruvian Tern and the beautiful Inca Tern, as well as up to four gull species, Peruvian and Blue-footed Boobies, Peruvian Diving-petrel and the resident sea lion colony. Jose Antonio Padilla, known to many of our clients for his expert guidance in Peru and Bolivia, will lead this exciting new tour.

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Fly Lima
Day 2
Santa Eulalia
Day 3
Huachupampa
Day 4/5
Marcopomacocha; San Mateo
Day 6
Return Lima
Day 7/8
Paracas
Day 9
Lima
Day 10
Arrive UK
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation: All accommodation is included in the cost of the holiday.
  • Food: All meals are included except for the evening meal in Lima on the day of departure.
Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2024

Departures Availability Cost
Tue 14th May – Thu 23rd May 5 £3,895
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£2,895
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£395
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Jose Padilla
Jose Anotonio

Tour Leader: Jose Padilla

Jose Antonio Padilla was born in Lima, Peru, four decades ago. He first began working in ecotourism when he was 21 at Tambopata National Reserve in south-eastern Peru in the pristine Amazon region of Madre de Dios. In 2003 he was invited to go to Glasgow, Scotland, where he lived for over two years, studying English, and working in the hospitality industry.

In 2005 Jose Antonio returned to Peru, birding and guiding extensively around his home country. In more recent years he has travelled and worked widely around South America, birding and guiding in Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil (where he has spent extended periods), as well as in Peru.

Jose Antonio speaks Spanish, English and Portuguese and he lives in Cusco with his family. He expertly leads Naturetrek groups in Peru and Bolivia, where his easy-going style and sense of humour, as well as brilliantly-sharp field skills, are always popular with groups.

Fri 18th Oct – Sun 27th Oct SPACES £3,895
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£2,895
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£395
Tour Leader:
Please note that, whilst we assign leaders to particular tours well in advance, we reserve the right to make changes if necessary
Jose Padilla
Jose Anotonio

Tour Leader: Jose Padilla

Jose Antonio Padilla was born in Lima, Peru, four decades ago. He first began working in ecotourism when he was 21 at Tambopata National Reserve in south-eastern Peru in the pristine Amazon region of Madre de Dios. In 2003 he was invited to go to Glasgow, Scotland, where he lived for over two years, studying English, and working in the hospitality industry.

In 2005 Jose Antonio returned to Peru, birding and guiding extensively around his home country. In more recent years he has travelled and worked widely around South America, birding and guiding in Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia and Brazil (where he has spent extended periods), as well as in Peru.

Jose Antonio speaks Spanish, English and Portuguese and he lives in Cusco with his family. He expertly leads Naturetrek groups in Peru and Bolivia, where his easy-going style and sense of humour, as well as brilliantly-sharp field skills, are always popular with groups.

Wed 13th Nov – Fri 22nd Nov SPACES £3,895
Book Tour Show Details
Flights:
Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.
Flights are included in the tour cost
Regional Departures:
On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.
Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051
Land only cost:
The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.
£2,895
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£395

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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

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Why Naturetrek?

Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

  • The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
  • Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
  • Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!