Birding Lima. Birdwatching in Santa Eulalia Canyon

Santa Eualia Canyon is truly spectacular. It is one of Lima's hidden secrets. The birding starts about 1.5-2 hours from Lima along a dirt road that snakes along the steep hillside. Birdwise we shall concentrate on the endemics of the west slope such as Rufous-breasted Warbling-Finch and Great Inca-Finch. This trip can be run at any time.

Introduction to Lima days:

Given below are a couple of very easy Lima one day trips. After a long and dusty trip in interior Peru it may be a good idea to have a few days to spare in Lima. If you don´t want to do biridng all day, you can check out our half day trips, which can be combined with some of the great archeological museums in Lima, which should not be missed. During the Lima days, hotel and dinner in Lima are not included. We have several hotel possibilities which we can book for you in a wide range of prices and comfort. 

Half day trips.

Perfect tours if you are short of time, want to do other activities in Lima as well, or perhaps have a plane to catch and some time to kill. 

• El Olivar Park and Pantanos de Villa
  Good introduction to the birds of LIma

• La Punta and Poza La Arenilla

  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 for migrating birds, but there is always something to see.

• Palomino Islets and Poza La Arenilla en La Punta

  Visit South American Sealions, Humboldt Penguin and the Palomino guano islands off La Punta, Callao with a good bird guide.

• Ventanilla Lagoons - a few hours to kill near airport

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

Full day tours.

• Bird photography in Lima
  A program specifically directed to bird photographers.Close-up shots of Inca Tern and the use hides at the Villa wetlands.
• 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. .
• Daytrip to Ticlio and Marcopomacocha area
  Diademed Sandpiper-Plover and White-bellied Cinclodes
• Pantanos de Villa, Pucusana, Puerto Viejo and Cañete valley
  One of our Lima favorites.
• Lima Pelagic
  There are monthly departures. This is a Kolibri Expeditions special. The first regular departures of Pelagics in Peru were organized by us in 2001. No one has such a long track record of organizing pelagics in Peru.

Two day trips: 

• Condor watching trips to Santa Eulalia Canyon - only 3 hours from Lima
  Daily condor watching trips. This is a shorter, inexpensive and time efficient alternative for those that had considered to go to Colca Canyon to see condors.
• Junin Grebe twitch
  Main target: Junin Grebe, Junin Rail (distinct ssp of Black Rail listed as species in HBW) and birds often missed in the Santa Eulalia Canyon.
  Santa Eulalia valley and Marcopomacocha road
  It is preferred to do Santa Eulalia and the Marcapomacocha road as a two or three day trip with overnight in the Andes to save driving time. One may also add on the Junin Grebe twitch and make it a 3-4 day trip in total. 

Day trip to Santa Eulalia Canyon
We shall make a 4 AM or 4.30 start straight for Santa Eulalia Canyon to be in position when the rare Rufous-breasted Warbling-Finch is more active. There are many west slope specialties here, such as Black-necked Flicker, Oasis Hummingbird, Purple-collared Woodstar, Peruvian Sheartail, Bronze-tailed Comet, Great Inca-Finch, Peruvian Pygmy-Owl, Canyon Canastero, Rusty-bellied Brush-Finch, White-winged Cinclodes, Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant, Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail, Streaked Tit-Spinetail, Peruvian and Mourning Sierra-Finch and many others.
Andean Condors are often spotted.