Highlights of Southern Peru

Peru is one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth. Over 1800 bird species have been recorded in this tropical nation, more than the total for all of Europe! On this 12-day exploration, we visit coastal areas, the luxuriant Amazon basin of the interior, and the Andean highlands.

We begin in the Lima area to discover interesting nooks in the surrounding desert environment. The lush wetlands at Pantanos de Villa are surprisingly located within the city limits! Along the coast at Lomas de Lachay, we also get to explore an unusual landscape of lushly vegetated hillsides nestled in the desert.

Going from the coast to the Peruvian Amazon is like visiting another world. We are staying at a world-class lodge within the renowned Tambopata Reserve. Through a combination of walks, leisurely boat rides, and canopy-tower watches, we can expect an alluring palette of natural sights and sounds. We could see caimans; six species of monkey; many parrots (including macaws!); and an astonishing abundance of other birds, amphibians, and butterflies, not to mention the flora.

We then move up into the Andes and the Sacred Valley to meet the Incas’ descendants still living among the mountains of their ancestors. We have numerous excursions to highland ecosystems, each with distinct communities of bird life and flora. We have also arranged for visits to carefully chosen cultural sites like Moray and Salinas de Maras. We conclude on a high note at the fabled lost city of Machu Picchu, where we get to wander amongst the enigmatic stone ruins.

*To complement your experience, consider our optional post-tour extension to Northern Peru in search of endemic birds like Marvelous Spatuletails and other dazzling hummingbirds, not to mention colourful tanagers and toucans.