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The holiday was excellent. Our tour leader, Jose, had excellent knowledge and total and tireless commitment to birding.
HR, Glamorgan, Nov 19
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Peru - 'Surf & Turf'
Tour Code: PER03A 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
£3,995 (Inc flights)
£3,995 (Inc flights)
Land only price
from
£2,995
£2,995
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
During this exciting 10-day birding 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.
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
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
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It was a successful but eventful trip due to landslides and the associated diversions, but our very able drivers managed to ferry us safely throughout the entire tour - including dangerous mountain single track roads with no edges and the chaotic traffic jams in Lima. They also, incidentally, cooked some of our breakfasts and lunches from the back of their vehicles - all of which were superb! The Peruvian guide - Jose - that Naturetrek provided was excellent, knowing his birds thoroughly, translating continually and generally looking after us and explaining exactly what was going on the entire time. All in all, a brilliant trip.
D.L. West Sussex -
Jose Antonio was an excellent leader.... but of course you already know that. His knowledge of the local birds was exceptional (as you would expect from a Naturetrek leader) but his considered manner, energy and determination to ensure all members of our party got onto target birds puts him up there with some of the best tour leaders I have travelled with. Omar's driving was exceptional and given the mountain roads and chaotic driving in Lima it is a credit to him that I never once felt unsafe.
M.M. Dorset
Dates & Prices
2025
Departures
Availability
Cost
Tue 13th May – Thu 22nd May
SPACES
£3,995
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.
£2,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£395
Wed 12th Nov – Fri 21st Nov
SPACES
£3,995
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.
£2,995
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£395
2026
Departures
Availability
Cost
Tue 12th May – Thu 21st May
SPACES
£4,195
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.
£3,195
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£395
Wed 11th Nov – Fri 20th Nov
SPACES
£4,195
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.
£3,195
Single Room Supplement:
Single Room Supplement.
£395
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Our bargain birdwatching tours suit keen birders who want an active, fast-paced birding holiday with a dedicated focus on searching for birds rather than on looking at the area’s other wildlife or cultural highlights.
We offer a wide selection of long-haul holidays to many destinations in South America, Africa, Asia, Australia and elsewhere.
What can I expect?
- An expert English-speaking local ornithologist leader
- Outstanding value for money
- Dawn-to-dusk birding with limited time for rest, relaxation and outside interests
- Enviable bird lists
- Focused searches for endemics and regional specialities
Who are these tours best suited to?
- Keen & active birders – whether expert or making their first visit to a country or continent
- People looking for an action-packed bird-focused tour
Where can I go?
Naturetrek's selection of birdwatching holidays includes many South and Central American countries including Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela and Panama.
In Africa our selection includes Malawi, Ethiopia and South Africa, while in India and Nepal we offer a choice of 17 bargain birdwatching tours! Here are a few more choices:
- Endemics of Western Australia
- Argentina's Mar Chiquita
- Birds of Brazils Atlantic rainforest
- Colombia – home to the world’s richest avifauna
- Sri Lanka’s endemic birds
Our specialist recommends...
"I’d recommend our ‘Nepal’ holiday visiting Chitwan National Park and Koshi Tappu Reserve, and ‘India – Bharatpur & Chambal’ within Asia. Try ‘Ecuador – Cock-of-the-rock’ for a superb introduction to Andean birding, while, if you want a bit of luxury, the accommodation we use on our ‘Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park’ tour is top class.”
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
All Bargain birdwatching Tours
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The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
"Try Coto Doñana & Extremadura for an excellent introduction to Europe's wetland and steppe birds. I would recommend our bargain holiday, 'Nepal – A Birdwatching Tour' for those interested in Siberian rarities and Ibisbill, while Costa Rica offers a chance to search for arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal."
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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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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