Peru - Macaws & Machu Picchu

Tour Code: PER04

A 17-day holiday combining Peru's rich Pacific coast, the ancient Inca capital of Cusco, the classic trek through the Andes to Machu Picchu, and one of the world's finest wildlife spectacles: an isolated macaw clay-lick on the upper Tambopata River in the south-eastern rainforest.

17 days from
£6,995
Land only price from
£5,895
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Highlights

Summary

Summary

A birdwatching and wildlife adventure of a lifetime. When designing this tour to Peru back in 1999 it was difficult to know what to leave out, such are the multitude of possibilities! The highlights for us, we decided, were the spectacle of the Humboldt Current ecosystem, the world's biggest macaw clay-lick (in Tambopata, not Manu!) and one of the world's great treks, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, walking and birdwatching from one stupendous Inca ruin to the next under the watchful eyes of our superb trekking guides and porters, themselves Quechua-speaking descendants of the Incas. Such is the richness and diversity of the ecosystems we visit, this tour is almost like three separate once-in-a-lifetime events rolled into one unforgettable holiday.

  • Thousands of Humboldt Current seabirds and Southern Sealions
  • The world's biggest Macaw clay-lick, surrounded by pristine upper Amazonian rainforest
  • A sprinkling of exciting mammals including an outside chance of Jaguar or Tapir
  • A unique opportunity for serious birdwatching along the Inca Trail - no day trips and bus fumes for us
  • Condor, Cock-of-the-Rock and Sunbittern among many other avian specialities
  • Short historical tours of Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu - we don't ignore the culture

Grading

Easy day walks only, though Inca Trail is fairly strenuous (Grade B+).

Peru epitomises what, for many of us, are those unique characteristics which make South America so fascinating: a profoundly rich history and culture; wonderfully varied geography and topography, including some of the most spectacular scenery and biodiverse ecosystems on Earth; and, of course, an immense bird list comprising over 1,800 species!

This tour focuses on three of the most rewarding sites in Peru. First, we visit Islas Palomino along the Pacific coast, then the south-eastern rainforest and an isolated macaw clay-lick on the remote upper Tambopata River. Finally, we visit South America’s best known and most spectacular archaeological site, Machu Picchu.

We begin our tour from Lima, with a boat trip out from Callao, Peru’s principal port. A short distance offshore lie the Palomino Islands. Bathed in the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the Humboldt current these small but rugged islands are home to thousands of raucous and inquisitive Southern Sea Lions, as well as Inca Terns, Peruvian Boobies, Peruvian Pelicans, Guanay and Red-legged Cormorants, and Humboldt Penguins. Keeping a close eye on the sea, on the journey to and from the islands, we may also see White-vented Storm Petrels, Sooty Shearwaters and Peruvian Diving Petrel. Occasionally, Bottlenose Dolphins put in an appearance too. Later in the day, after lunch, we will explore the quiet wetlands of Pantanos de Villa on the southern outskirts of Lima, looking for species such as Wren-like Rushbird, Many-coloured Rush-tyrant and Peruvian Thick-knee.

Next, a domestic flight takes us high over the majestic Andes and down into the Amazon Basin and the jungle boom-town of Puerto Maldonado. Following a short bus ride to the native Eséeja community of Infierno, a 45-minute motorised canoe journey takes us up the Tambopata River to a comfortable jungle lodge, our base for one night. From here we strike out upstream, away from civilisation, and stay beside one of nature’s most spectacular sights; at dawn the next day, with dry weather, we hope to see hundreds of Scarlet, Red-and-green and Blue-and-yellow Macaws descending onto an almost vertical bank of red clay to take advantage of the high mineral and salt content of the soil. It should be a sight to behold, and one of the highlights of our holiday. Our days will be spent on the trails that take us through virgin floodplain rainforest as we search for inner forest birds, such primates as Red Howler, Dusky Titi, Brown Capuchin, Squirrel Monkeys and, with luck, the endangered Black Spider Monkey. On red-letter days, the sighting of a Brazilian Tapir or a Giant River Otter is not out of the question. A handful of our groups in recent years have also had magnificent views of Jaguar. After three nights in this remote, pristine setting at Tambopata Research Centre, we journey downriver to Puerto Maldonado to catch a flight to Cusco in the heart of the Andes for the final leg of the holiday.

Our first evening will wisely be spent acclimatising to the altitude in Cusco with a gentle city tour. Next, we will enjoy a day at leisure, followed by a day exploring the area, including a visit to the Huacarpay lakes. We will look out for Andean Negrito, Wren-like Rushbird, Many-coloured Rushtyrant, Bearded Mountaineer and Cinereous Harrier. Moving around to the north of Cusco and the Pisac ruins, we hope to see Chestnut-breasted Mountain-finch and Bearded Mountaineer amongst a fine selection of Andean birds.

Our group then splits, with some choosing to visit Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge in the Kosñipata Valley, 102 miles by mountain pass from Cusco. Over a stay of three nights we will enjoy the peace and simple comfort of this lodge, close to the world's largest and most accessible group of displaying Andean Cock-of-the-rocks which delight visitors with their twice-daily courting antics. Meanwhile, others will complete a stunning 4-day trek to Machu Picchu, with the group convening again at Aguas Calientes, the village below the ruins.

Our final highlight is the World Heritage site of The Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. Far too many people visit this spectacular area on a day-trip from Cusco and miss out on the time needed to fully appreciate this unique location. Ours will be an experience never to be forgotten.

Finally, we must take the train along the Urubamba Valley back to Cusco, where we stay overnight before our return to Lima and our onward flight to London.  

 

 

DETAILED INFORMATION
Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1
Fly Lima
Day 2
Islas Palomino; Lima
Day 3/6
Tambopata rainforest
Day 7/9
Cusco and Sacred Valley
Day 10/13
Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
Day 14
Machu Picchu
Day 15
Return Cusco by train
Day 16
Lima and depart
Day 17
Arrive UK
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What's Included

What's Included?

  • Flights
  • Accommodation:

    A mixture of comfortable lodges and hotels (all with private facilities). Fully serviced camping on trek.

  • Food:

    All food included in the price except evening meals in Cusco. Allow £70.

Reviews
Dates & Prices

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost
Wed 1st Oct – Fri 17th Oct FULL £6,995
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.
£5,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£695
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.

2026

Departures Availability Cost
Thu 10th Sep – Sat 26th Sep 6 £6,995
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.
£5,895
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£695
Thu 1st Oct – Sat 17th Oct 3 £6,995
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.
£5,895
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£695

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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!

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