Kolibri Expeditions - Peru Birding Tours and Birdwatching Holidays Worldwide
TOUR LENGTH
1/2 DAY
AREQUIPA
Arequipa half day birding Chiguata Polylepis
A short trip to the Polylepis scrub above Chiguata at 3600-3800m helps prepare against altitude problems later. Good chance of seeing Tamarugo Conebill and White-throated Earthcreeper.
Arequipa half day birding Lago Salinas
The trip serves as altitude training as it is only a short exposure to altitude of 4300m. We'll look for Puna Flamingo, James's Flamingo and Chilean Flamingo and Andean Avocet
CUZCO
Cusco or Sacred Valley: Half day birding tour.
A very short morning or afternoon trip for people on cultural tours with a half day off in Cusco area. You can choose to do two different half day tours with different content.
LIMA
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: 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: Ventanilla Lagoons - a few hours to kill near airport

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

 
 
 
 
1 DAY
AREQUIPA
Birding Arequipa 1 day.
The best full day birding tour one can make in Arequipa is to Laguna Salinas and Chiguata to see all three species of flamingos and birds of the Polylepis scrub, as well as Tamarugo Conebill and White-throated Earthcreeper. .
CUZCO
Cusco day trip. Chonta Condors and Apurimac Endemics at Sorayapampa
Two new areas visited during a LONG day trip from Cusco, with best place to watch Vilcabamba Tapaculo, Apurimac Spinetail and Apurimac Brush-Finch, as well as a fairly strenuous 3.5km hike (and 3.5 km back of course) at 3400m for spectacular views of Andean Condor over the breath-taking Apurimac river.
Cusco/Ollantaytambo birding day trip: Abra Malaga
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.
Cuzco altitude adaptation. Birding Cuzco-Ollantaytambo
Arriving at 3400 meters from sea level, and stay there, is a bit too much for many people. Therefore, to fight altitude sickness it is a good idea not stay in Cuzco the first night, but rather bird and sightseeing your way down to Ollantaytambo.
Cuzco Birding Day trip: Huacarpay and San Salvador full day
We visit two sites. The Huacarpay lake near Cusco good for waterbirds and the Andean slopes above San Salvador good for various passerined. Targets include Giant Coot and Bearded Mountaineer.
Machu Picchu: Independant one day or two day trip
Machu Picchu in just one day or two day. A budget version for very small groups and those with limited time.
LIMA
Bird photography in Lima
A program specifically directed to bird photographers.Close ups of Inca Tern and the use hides at the Villa wetlands. Many other tours in the Lima area can be adpated to suit bird photographers. Just let us know.
Junin Grebe twitch
If you want to get the Junin Grebe but have little time and worry about altitude sickness, a fast way to do it is to start at midnight in Lima and go to Junin, see the Grebe and the Rail and then come back down to Lima again.
Lima days Tinajas valley close to Lima
Endemics Cactus Canastero and Thick-billed and Grayish Miners
Lima days: Daytrip to Santa Eulalia Canyon
A one day birding trip into the Andes concentrating on the endemics and specialities of the west slope such as Great Inca-Finch, Rusty-bellied Brush-Finch, Thick-billed Miner, Black-necked Woodpecker, Bronze-tailed Comet, Peruvian Sheartail and Rufous-breasted Warbling-Finch.
Lima days: Daytrip to Ticlio and Marcopomacocha area
Diademed Sandpiper-Plover and White-bellied Cinclodes
Lima days: Lomas de Lachay and Paraiso Lagoon.
Endemic or near-endemic birds: Cactus Canastero, Thick-billed, Coastal and Grayish Miners. Also interesting flora with many endemic fog adapted plants and cacti. At Paraiso lagoons sometimes Peruvian Tern and Chilean Flamingo are seen.
Lima days: Pantanos de Villa, Pucusana, Puerto Viejo, Lomas de Asia and Cañete valley
One of our Lima favorites.
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!!.
PIURA
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
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 Day Trip: Cocha Tres Chimbadas
Visit an oxbow lake during a daytrip to see Giant Otter and a multitude of birds. Good Bamboo available with Peruvian Recurvebill and Rufous-headed Woodpecker possible.
TRUJILLO
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.
 
 
 
 
2 DAYS
LIMA
Lima days: Junin Grebe twitch 2 days
Main target: Junin Grebe and birds often missed in the Santa Eulalia Canyon.
Lima days: Santa Eulalia valley and Marcopomacocha
Classic Lima excursion for two or three days up into the Rimac drainage wiht 18 endemic species possible including White-bellied Cinclodes and White-cheeked Cotinga. Also one of the best places in South America to see Diademed Sandpiper Plover.
 
 
 
 
3 DAYS
CUZCO
Abra Malaga - Acclimatization for the Inca Trail. 3 days.
Bird watching 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
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.
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. And it is accessible all year around.
LIMA
Archeology and birding: Nazca lines and Paracas 3 days
A short excellent trip over 3 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.
Nazca days with Pelagic
Since Pelagics in Lima have been suspended, we have created a new tour that includes the Punta Lomas pelagic, which replaces the one in Lima. It also allows observations of many other birds including difficult birds such a Peruvian Tern, and newly split full species Rufescent Flycatcher and Tschudi's Nightjar.
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.
PUERTO MALDONADO
Bird photography at Chuncho Macaw Lick and birding at Chuncho Lodge. 3 days.
This is a great alternative if you want a very short but massive rainforest experience in only 3 days. The impressive macawlick attract all of the big macaws and a number of other parrot species. Days.
 
 
 
 
4 DAYS
CAJAMARCA
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.
CHICLAYO
Chiclayo-Tarapoto Birding Connection 4 days
A very fast trip 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.
PUERTO MALDONADO
Birding at Explorers Inn
Birding at classical Explorer's Inn.
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.
TARAPOTO
Scarlet-banded Barbet extension
Scarlet-banded Barbet was discovered in 1995 on an isolated peak in the Cordillera Azul in the headwaters of Rio Cushabatay and was formally described to science in 2000. For many years the only way to see it was doing a 10 day expedition with a 2-3 day grueling hike to reach the peak. Recently a new site has been discovered very near an extremely rough - but nonetheless - road allowing much easier access. This is still a rough trip with camping and extremely bumpy 4WD ride to get to the base, but the rewards are high with a number of other seldom seen birds in the same area.
White-masked Antbird twitch at San Lorenzo
Recently the rare and little known White-masked Antbird was found at San Lorenzo. Accessible by light aircraft from Yurimaguas. There are also many other good birds here such as Black-necked Red-Cotinga and Black Bushbird
 
 
 
 
5 DAYS
CIUIDAD GUZMAN
Birding Colima Mountains
Many endemics in Colima mountains.
CUIABÁ
Birding Brazil. Chapada de Guimaraes and Harpy Eagle
We run this tour principally when there is a good chance of seeing Harpy Eagle at Serra das Araras. The birding and wildlife is great regardless, so we can certainly run this tour as an extension to our Pantanal program any time you like.
CUSCO
5 day Manu Road Birding and Photography
A 5 day trip covering the best sites on the Manu road. Immensely diverse and loads of hummingbirds.
CUZCO
Archeology and Birding at Machu Picchu, Cuszco and the Sacred Valley.
Your non-birding spouse wants to go to Peru and see Machu Picchu. Offer him/her this. Archeology and birding. The best of both worlds
Machu Picchu and Abra Malaga - Birding program
5 days recommended, but shorter trips are possible. Excellent birding in the magic environment of the Incas.
HUANUCO
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.
IQUITOS
5 days Birding Canopy walkway, river islands and white sand forest.
A great Iquitos combo giving you many species of birds that are hard in other parts of the Amazon, visiting ExplorNapo and Allpahuayo-Mishana reserve.
LIMA
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.
Carpish, Unchog and Junin Lake 5 days.
A short 5 day trip which aims to see Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager at Bosque Unchog and the other Carpish endemics, Paty trail, and Junin Grebe and Junin Rail at Lake Junin. On the way back to Lima we stop for White-bellied Cinclodes and Diademed Sandpiper-Plover.
Satipo Road and Colibri Cloud Forest - Short 5 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 which can not be seen on a short Carpish/Unchog trip.
MAZATLAN
Durango Highway, Classic Mexico birding
Endemic rich Durango HIghway with Tufted jay is a Mexico classic that should not be missed.
NEW DELHI
India: Birding, Tigers and Taj Mahal
A special tour designed to see some of the best locations in India, including Rahthambhore for Bengal tigers, birding at Keoladeo and Chambal, and the historic city of Agra including the Taj Mahal.
PUERTO MALDONADO
Lowland SE Peru specialties at Los Amigos Research Center
Incredible diversity with good bamboo, varzea and terra firme. Thus you can get all Manu and Tambopata specialists at a very decent price. Departures from Lima on Thursdays. Perfect for someone who only wants a short stay.
PUERTO VALLARTA
Birding San Blas
Incredibly biodiverse with many regional endemics.
TUMBES
Birding Tumbes and North Peru pelagic
A great 5 day pre-trip to any of our North Peru trips that commence in Chiclayo. It includes birdng in Amotape National Park, the Tumbes mangroves and a Pelagic from Los Organos.
 
 
 
 
1 WEEK
CANCUN
Best Birding of Yucatan
One week birding of Yucatan includes all endemics and the best Mayan archeological sites such as Chichen Itza and Calakmul
CHICLAYO
Hummingbirds Hummingbirds of the North.
Marvelous Spatuletail, Royal Sunangel and Grey-bellied Comet .
North Peru Birding Blitz: Hummingbirds and Endemics
Our most intense North Peru program trying to get more birds at a faster pace. Particular focus on hummingbirds and endemic species.
North Peru getaway (10 days) featuring White-winged Guan and Marvelous Spatuletail
The perfect trip for those with little time. Good hotels and no camping.
CUZCO
The Highlights of Manu

Manu with limited time. If this 10 day itinerary is placed to start on Friday or Saturday, it would allow you do to this program with only 6 days off from work.

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.
DENVER
Colorado Chicken Race
During a long week we shall cover the main sites in Colorado to enjoy displays of Lesser and Greater Prairie-Chickens, Gunnison and Greater Sage-Grouse and Sharp-tailed Grouse. Also Dusky Grouse and perhaps Black-tailed Ptarmigan will be seen during this trip.
IQUITOS
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
Butterfly watching Satipo
Butterfly watching near Satipo at famous collecting sites.
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.
PANAMA CITY
Darien Panama - It is now or never.
Darien is a trip one should do while one is fit enough. Pristine rainforest with Harpy and Crested Eagle and bunch of endemic birds that can be seen nowhere else.
PUCALLPA
Photo-Video Safari: Macaw-lick and Red Uakari 8 days.
Close to Contamana, one of the most beautiful villages in the Amazon, there is clay/mineral lick of sulfurous waters, known as collpa, where hundreds of Red-and-Green Macaws visit. Close by are the hills of Sierras del Divisor Reserved Zone, where troops of monkeys such as the rare Red Uakari can be found. This is one of the few places where this species is protected and is in relative abundance. At the top of these hills the newly described Acre Antshrike possibly occcurs. A photography expedition to the rain forests of central Peru to photograph Macaws and Red Uakari.
SAN FRANICISCO
Coastal California: Endemics and Pelagics 9 days
This tour begins in San Francisco and ends in Ontario and will be moderately paced. Birding on land will be mostly leisurely and relatively easy, while birding at sea can be quite difficult. With two full days at sea and one channel crossing, we will have lots of time to study pelagic species. The other part of the tour will be focused on finding the California "near-endemic" species. These are species that, within the US, are found either only along the pacific coast, or strictly within California. Check our Pinterest for some photos of California birds.
SÃO PAOLO
Jaguar Safari and Birding in Pantanal
SÃO PAULO
Bird Photography in South East Brazil 8 days
This is a shorter version of our 11 day trip to SE Brazil which concentrate our effort to great places for bird photography, especially hummingbirds and tanagers. But there is also good general birding.
TARAPOTO
Marvelous Spatuletail, 40 hummingbirds and Long-whiskered Owlet.
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 are Marvellous Spatuletail and Long-whiskered Owlet, but loads of other birds will be seen on this short trip between Tarapoto and Jaen.
TOKYO
Winter Birding and Bird Photography in Japan
A very attractive and affordable one week winter bird watching trip to Japan including the epic and photogenic birds, such as Steller's Eagle and Japanese Crane.
TUCSON
Birding Arizona 1 week
A short one week clean up birding Arizona trip over two weekends.
TUXTLA GUTIERREZ
Triunfo and Horned Guan
Triunfo hike with Horned Guan, Resplendent Quetzal and Tody Motmot is a birding classic that everyone needs to do once. One hikes from the Atlantic slope to the Pacific Slope in beautiful cloud forest.
 
 
 
 
2 WEEKS
CHICLAYO
Northern Peru Complete Standard Birding Route in 16 days.
The 16 day tour that covers all the main birding sites and the species along the Northern Peru territories.
CUZCO
Complete Manu Birding Tour 18 days
17 days birdwatching in South East Peru on the famous Manu road and the best lowland Manu lodges with the famous Macaw lick and Giant Otter lake.
Hummingbirds: Manu and Machu Picchu Budget 12 days
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.
Manu Road Bird Photography
Here is the best bird photography itinerary for mega diverse South East Peru with Macaw licks and Cock of the Rock. A trip of a lifetime. Both mobile bird photographers who want to get many species photographed as well as those who want to shoot with tripods near feeders, will find ample possibilities here.
South East Peru ENDEMICS. Manu road and Abra Malaga 13 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 13 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 and in the foothills (on Manu road).
LIMA
Complete Central Peru
An epic birding trip to the backyard of Lima, with no need for internal flights and a good price. Some of the best birds of Peru can be seen on this trip. Birding Central Peru: Star birds include Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager, Cloud-Forest Screech-Owl and Black-spectacled Brush-Finch, Diademed Sandpiper-Plover and White-bellied Cinclodes. Visiting Cordillera Blanca, Satipo road, Junin Lake, Unchog, Marcapomacocha and Santa Eulalia.
Fågelskådning i sydöstra Peru-Manu och Machu Picchu

Fågelskådning i Manu National Park i sydöstra Peru för skandinaver.

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, food and culture are equally important. Now also including the Amazon rain forest.
SAO PAOLO
SE Brazil - Short slow pace itinerary. 11 days

We shall concentrate our birding in three areas. Intervales State Park, Ubatuba-Angra dos Reis and finally the great Itatiaia National Park.

 
 
 
 
3 WEEKS
GEORGTOWN
Guyana with Roraima hike and Suriname extension
This is the complete Guyana trip all categories and the full trip should be taken for people that has lots of South America experiences and want to fill holes in their South America list, but it can also be suited as a first visit to South America combining the first week with a more standard adventure trip down river searching for Jaguar and Harpy Eagle. (PRICE TBA)
SALVADOR, BAHIA
Birding North East Brazil 3 weeks
Kolibri Expeditions pilot trip to NE Brazil. Gunnar spend 10 days in NE Brazil in 2018, and this time will expand to three weeks, with the help of local guide. It shall be an intense trip around North East Brazil for the endemics and the top birds.
SANTA CRUZ
Birding Bolivia endemics incl Blue-throated Macaw and Pakachulpa Cotinga
Endemic birds in Bolivia 29 days. Can be made into shorter legs if requested.
TARAPOTO
Antpitta and Ground Cuckoo Twitch in Peru and Ecuador 20 days.
An epic tour starting in Tarapoto, Peru ending in Quito, Ecuador. We have selected an itinerary that will visit all the best places for Antpittas in Northern Peru and Ecuador. Apart from Pale-billed, Jocotoco, Ochre-fronted, Giant, Moustached and Rufous-crowned Antpittas, we shall also be looking for Banded Ground-Cuckoo which is currently staked out at Un Poco de Choco reserve, Marvelous Spatuletail and Long-whiskered Owlet.
 
 
 
 
CATEGORY TOURS KOLIBRI EXPEDITIONS
5 DAY BIRDING TOURS
BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY
EASY BIRDWATCHING
MODERATE BIRDWATCHING
PELAGIC TOURS
BIRDING AND CULTURE/ARCHEAOLOGY
EXTREME BIRDING
HIKING, BIRDS AND PLANTS. NATURE TREKKING.
BUTTERFLIES AND OTHER INSECTS
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