Peru Birding and Culture Tour - Nazca, Titicaca and Machu Picchu
This slow pace 16-day Peru birding and culture tour includes archaeology, history and culture. We explore the classic Southern circuit from Lima to Cuzco, with Nazca, Titicaca and Machu Picchu as the cultural highlights as well as some of the best birding in Peru.
On this Peru birding and culture adventure, we will combine fantastic birding experiences with the history and Inca Culture of Peru. We will explore the most famous archaeological site in the world, the awe-inspiring Machu Picchu citadel - the lost city of the Incas. Birding in and around Machu Picchu is a highlight not to miss whilst in Peru. Birding highlights include Torrent Duck and Andean Cock of the Rock, moving on to the Colca Canyon to see the mighty Andean Condor.
Explore
Our adventure takes us into the Amazon rainforest including the Amigos Research Station. This complete tour delivers fantastic birds, ancient world heritage sites, breathtaking scenery, extensive plant and wildlife opportunities, culture and arguably some of the best cuisines in the world.
Costing
Kolibri Expeditions introduces a totally novel approach to pricing birding trips. There are three different price categories on this trip.
- Cheap. Looking at the cheapest possible flight and offers with airlines that charge less if you don't require all the services such as checked-in luggage, prebooked seats, extra leg space, meals onboard, free liquor etc.
- Standard Economy class with normal airlines. You get the service that you expect. You could certainly have had a more pleasant trans-continental flight, but this beats the dirt cheap, and the price tag of Business class can convert to more birds and more fun at the destination.
- Business Class. Wonderful comfort that you certainly would choose if money was not an issue.
In order to have a greater chance of getting all sorts of clients on this Peru birding and culture trip (minimum 5 people), without having to pay the surcharge, we are testing the idea of tiered pricing. You get what you pay for!
- Kolibri Flex! (Cheap-Budget-DIY) you take a larger part yourself making your own choices about hotels, dinners at night and domestic flights and a much cheaper overall price. Use online resources to make reservations for hotels, skip dinner when you want or find a romantic place for only yourself and your partner. You don't have to be with the group 24/7.
- Kolibri Pro (Standard Economy). Many birders feel that birding trips spend too much of the cost on lodging. After all, one will unlikely use the pool, the gym, the spa and cocktail bar anyway because you are out birding the whole day. Why not just use clean hotels with a hot shower and a good bed. It doesn't take that much. On this particular tour, however, we are spending extra money on the amazing Peruvian food including also some exquisite restaurants. Domestic flights are included. For the best value of the tour, you'd choose Kolibri Pro.
- MST Premium (Business Class). Carefully chosen 4-5 star hotels in most cases when it is warranted to spend a bit extra on comfort. A number of perks such as water bottle, coffee mug and other merch. Also including a unit of bottled non-alcoholic or beer/glass of wine for lunch and dinner except on Day 6.
If you would like to learn some photography tips to make your trip even more special, have a look at this brilliant Manu Road and Photography Tour.
Most people will use this day for arrival (especially those coming from Europe), but if you arrive early check out the excursions available from Lima. Kolibri Pro and MST have transfer included.
Rendezvous for everyone at 19.30 at the MST hotel for briefing and a welcome drink.
Meals: Not included
Kolibri Flex: Book yourself (Airbnb, Booking or Hostel or similar)
Kolibri Pro: Inca Frog Hotel (or similar)
MST: Hotel Dazzler by Wyndham (or similar)
In the morning we take a short boat trip to the Ballestas Islands, later exploring the Paracas Peninsula. On the islets we shall encounter Guanay and Red-legged Cormorants, Peruvian Pelican, Peruvian Booby, perhaps a few overwintering Blue-footed Boobies and Humboldt Penguin. We should also spot the small passerine Peruvian Seaside (Surf) Cinclodes and Blackish Oystercatcher. On the southern shores of the peninsula there are pelagic species, as well as South American Fur Seals. The Paracas desert is a play with sunlight on the different colored sand formations. Flocks of Gray Gulls are often seen roosting in the desert.
The north side of the Bay of Paracas attracts hundreds of Chilean Flamingos and Black Skimmers. There is a small museum on the site that we can visit.
On the way to Ica about an hour away, we will visit a vineyard where we learn about the wine and pisco industry, which in many cases are still artisanal. In Ica we visit the small, but excellent municipal museum, which has nice displays of the Paracas, Nazca and Wari cultures that were important civilisations of Ica department. We will be shown the art of trepanation and skull deformation (elongation) practiced by the ancient cultures in this region. There is a small model of the Nazca Lines that gives an idea what the lines will look like from the air.
We continue to Nazca. We stay at a nice hotel where it is possible to relax by the pool in the afternoon or take an excursion to the interesting pre-inca aquaducts outside of town. Always good chance to do some birdwatching. Birds possible include Pacific Parrotlet, Mountain Parakeet, Drab, Chestnut-throated and Parrot-billed Seedeaters. Slender-billed Finch and Peruvian Pygmy-Owls have been seen here.
Meals: Breakfast,lunch and dinner
Kolibri Pro: Hotel Agucho
MST: Hotel Casa Andina
In the morning we take a short boat trip to the Ballestas Islands, later exploring the Paracas Peninsula. On the islets we shall encounter Guanay and Red-legged Cormorants, Peruvian Pelican, Peruvian Booby, perhaps a few overwintering Blue-footed Boobies and Humboldt Penguin. We should also spot the small passerine Peruvian Seaside (Surf) Cinclodes and Blackish Oystercatcher. On the southern shores of the peninsula there are pelagic species, as well as South American Fur Seals. The Paracas desert is a play with sunlight on the different colored sand formations. Flocks of Gray Gulls are often seen roosting in the desert.
The north side of the Bay of Paracas attracts hundreds of Chilean Flamingos and Black Skimmers. There is a small museum on the site that we can visit.
On the way to Ica about an hour away, we will visit a vineyard where we learn about the wine and pisco industry, which in many cases are still artisanal. In Ica we visit the small, but excellent municipal museum, which has nice displays of the Paracas, Nazca, and Wari cultures that were important civilizations of Ica department. We will be shown the art of trepanation and skull deformation (elongation) practiced by the ancient cultures in this region. There is a small model of the Nazca Lines that gives an idea of what the lines will look like from the air.
We continue to Nazca. We stay at a nice hotel where it is possible to relax by the pool in the afternoon or take an excursion to the interesting pre-Inca aqueducts outside of town. Always a good chance to do some birdwatching. Birds possible include Pacific Parrotlet, Mountain Parakeet, Drab, Chestnut-throated, and Parrot-billed Seedeaters. Slender-billed Finch and Peruvian Pygmy-Owls have been seen here.
Kolibri Flex: Book yourself (Airbnb, Booking or Hostel or similar)
Kolibri Pro: Hotel Agucho (Dinner at Hotel Casa Andina or Rest Gula)
MST: Hotel Casa Andina (Dinner at Hotel Casa Andina or Rest Gula)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Kolibri Pro: Lomas Beach
Marvelous: Hotel Caprichos de Verano
We shall do some bird-watching in the early morning looking for Slender-billed Finch, Collared Warbling Finch, and Peruvian Pygmy-Owl. Back to the hotel for breakfast and check-out. You may fly over the Nazca lines (cost not included). While waiting for our turn to fly, we'll visit a nearby pottery, where we are shown how the Nazca ancestors made their polychromatic ceramics. After the morning activities we continue to Puerto Lomas, where we stay at a beautiful hotel overlooking the sea at Puerto Lomas. We can look at shorebirds such as: Blackish Oystercatchers and Guanay Cormorants, from the hotel.
Kolibri Flex: Hard to make deals on the internet. Our office will help with the booking on an inexpensive hostel - the same as for our driver.
Kolibri Pro: Lomas Beach or similar (Dinner at hotel).
Marvelous: Lomas Beach or similar (Dinner at hotel).
The next stop will be to bird the Lomas de Atequipa an area with lomas vegetation and the possibility to see Least Seedsnipe, Common (lomas form), and Coastal Miner, Raimondi's Yellow-Finch as well as Sechura Fox. It is a long travel day to Arequipa along the wild Peruvian desert coast. But sometimes we make rare encounters. In 2012 we spotted a Marine Otter playing near the coast.
Most of today is a travel day. In the afternoon we will arrive in Arequipa. The Santa Catalina cloisters are one of Arequipa's finest tourist attractions. Serenity and calmness reigns here and it makes a fine afternoon stroll with volcano Misti in the background. Often the hummingbird Peruvian Sheertail is seen in the gardens.
Kolibri Flex: Book yourself (Airbnb, Booking or Hostel or similar)
Kolibri Pro: Hotel Casa de mi Abuela. (Dinner at Rest Hantunpa)
MST: Hotel Casa Andina Private Collection. (Dinner at Rest Hantunpa)
Today is a rest day for an easy day in Arequipa visiting the Cathedral and the Compania church of the Jesuit order. Arequipa also gives an excellent opportunity for shopping for high-quality alpaca goods.
Should you want to spend the time birding however there is an optional excursion to Lake Salinas. (Cost $190/person - minimum two people - field breakfast and lunch snacks included).
Above Chiguata there is Polylepis scrub that holds the local White-throated Earthcreeper, Tamarugo Conebill, and Dark-winged Canastero. Continuing to the backside of the Misti Vulcano the high plains of the altiplano unfold onto an immense area stretching towards Lake Titicaca and south through Bolivia. Here we find the Salinas salt lake - a good site for the three species of Flamingos of the Peruvian highlands. Andean Avocet, Red-backed Sierra-Finch, and Puna Plover are other specialties in this area. Flocks of alpacas gives a characteristic touch to the scenery.
At night we pay a visit to star chef Gaston Acurio's renowned restaurant, Chichas. This is Peruvian Cuisine at its best (included in Kolibri Pro and MST).
Kolibri Flex: Book yourself (Airbnb, Booking or Hostel or similar)
Kolibri Pro: Hotel Casa de mi Abuela. (Dinner at Chichas)
MST: Hotel Casa Andina Private Collection. (Dinner at Chichas)
Early morning start to Chivay at Colca Canyon. We will pass beautiful scenery with wild vicuñas and plenty of birds.
There are spots where we can search for Flamingos and the enigmatic Diademed Sandpiper-Plover. If time permits we will do a trip to the condor lookout in the afternoon. Since most tour groups come here in the morning to catch the short window when the condors take off from their night roost, we would like to experience the mighty Colca Canyon in complete serenity without crowds. It is quite likely with some perseverance that we will also get fantastic views of Condors. Should we not, then we could always come back the next day.
Night at Hotel Kuntur Wasi in Cabanaconde. This hotel option places us just below 3300m rather than at 3700m of Chivay and is much closer to the Condor lookout point. A 3-star hotel, the service has been excellent in past tours here why we use the same for both Kolibri Pro and MST.
Kolibri Flex: Book yourself in Cabanaconde (Airbnb, Booking or Hostel or similar)
Kolibri Pro: Hotel Kuntur Wasi (Dinner at Hotel Kuntur Wasi)
MST: Hotel Kuntur Wasi (Dinner at Hotel Kuntur Wasi)
Colca Canyon is not only one of the best places in Peru to observe Condors, but it is also an area of exceptional beauty and an area where the locals have taken pride in conserving their traditional ways. Here terraces are prepared by the whole community and the women dress in traditional clothing. The scenery is awe-inspiring. Birds and Andean plants are plentiful and there is lots to explore.
After an early start with some additional exploring of the Colca region we will set off for LakeTiticaca. We will make many stops en route. It is in part, a rough road, but the scenery is breathtaking. We should see herds of vicuñas and possibly viscachas (rabbit like rodents with long tails) that live in rocky areas. In the early afternoon we will reach the Colla burial site of Sillustani with the tall chullpa burial towers that overlook the bird rich Umayo lagoon. Some interesting plants can also be seen here including the beautifull red Loasa.
Kolibri Flex: Book yourself (Airbnb, Booking or Hostel or similar)
Kolibri Pro: Hotel Tierra Viva, Plaza, Puno. (Dinner at Restaurante Mojsa)
MST: Hotel Tierra Viva, Plaza, Puno (Dinner at Restaurante Mojsa)
We shall explore birdwatch the shore of Titicaca Lake in the early morning before breakfast and after breakfast make a visit to the famous floating islands of the Uros. The star bird to look out for today is the Titicaca Flightless Grebe. There is time to do an additional excursion in the afternoon after lunch.
Kolibri Flex: Book yourself (Airbnb, Booking or Hostel or similar)
Kolibri Pro: Hotel Tierra Viva, Plaza, Puno (Dinner at Rest La Casona or Mojsa)
MST: Hotel Tierra Viva, Plaza, Puno (Dinner at Rest La Casona or Mojsa)
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Kolibri Pro: Best Western Los Andes de Americas
MST: Casa Andina Private collection.
Despite being a travel day, there are several interesting stops and the route is very scenic. The main attractions are history and cultural and we will stop at Raqchi where there are the remains of a grandiose temple attributed to the creator god Viracocha. In Andahuaylillas there is the small St Peter's church, that has a quite unique interior interior and is often is called "the Sistine chapel of South America". Not far away and just before reaching Cusco there is also good bird-watching to do at the Huacarpay lake. The star bird is the endemic Bearded Mountaineer, but many waterbirds can also be seen.
Kolibri Flex: Book yourself (Airbnb, Booking or Hostel or similar)
Kolibri Pro: Hotel Antares
MST: Casa Andina Cuzco Plaza or similar - very close to the main square and quite adequate also for MST. But let us know if you want a 4-5 star hotel
After an early breakfast and passing the main plaza of Cusco to reach the area in the vecinitiy of the Sacsayhuaman fortress that overlooks Cusco we shall do some birding. at Cusco before we leave for Urubamba and the sacred valley. On the way to Urubamba we pass Laguna Huaypo for some marshland birding including Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, Puna Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, Andean Lapwing, Andean Gull, Andean Flicker and Andean Duck. Above Urumbamba there is a new resourse that have feeders that attract Sword-billed Hummingbird and other bird. We shall have a picnic lunch here beefore descendigng to Ollanta to board the train to Machu Picchu. From the train we will look out for Torrent Duck which can often be seen along the Urubamba River. Both Kolibri Pro and MST categories will stay at the exclusive and comfortable Pueblo Hotel which has a fantastic garden with hummingbird feeders, fruit feeders for Tanagers and Euphonias and sometimes an Andean Cock-of-the-Rock may be seen, There is also a collection of orchids in the garden. Birdwatching here is very rewarding.
Note that you will most likely not be able to bird the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel unless you stay there.
Kolibri Flex: Book yourself (Airbnb, Booking or Hostel or similar)
Kolibri Pro: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. (Exclusive dinner included at Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel)
MST: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel. (Exclusive dinner included at Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel)
Birdwatching in the morning and then a visit at the citadel of Machu Picchu. The setting on a saddle between two mountains with the Urubamba river running in a half circle about 500 meters below and with many peaks all around make Machu Picchu a magical place. It is obvious that the site has been carefully selected for ancient astronomical observation and the surrounding mountain peaks that the Incas considered sacred.
The bird-watching neat Machu Picchu Pueblo can be rewarding with species like Inca Wren (endemic), Masked Fruiteater (endemic), White-eared Solitaire, Black-streaked Puffbird, Highland Motmot, Gould´s Inca and others. In the late afternoon we return to Ollantaytambo for an overnight stay.
Kolibri Flex: Book yourself (Airbnb, Booking or Hostel or similar)
Kolibri Pro: Hotel Munay Tika
MST: Hotel Pakaritampu
You can have a rest day if you like to explore the wonderful little village of Ollantaytambo or visit the impressive Inca fortress overlooking the town. The gardens of the hotels are very good for photographing hummingbirds, including the endemic Bearded Mountaineer.
Those taking the optional birding excursion (Cost $190 minimum two people including trail fee) to Abra Malaga along the road to Quillabamba shall leave predawn to have breakfast on the moist slope where one may see flocks with tanagers such as Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Hooded Mountain-Tanager and Golden-crowned Mountain-Tanager, and other birds such as Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant, Violet-throated Starfrontlet, Tit-like Dacnis, Cuzco Brushfinch, Rufous-bellied Bush-Tyrant, Marcapata Spinetail, Diademed Tapaculo and Parodi's Hemispingus. Sword-billed Hummingbird is also seen in this area.
Midmorning we move up to the pass where a patch of Polylepis woodland can be visited holding some of the rarest birds of Peru including Royal Cinclodes, White-browed Tit-Spinetail and Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant. We may walk down the valley to be picked up at the other side. The walk is strenuous but it is downhill.
Lots of interesting plants may be seen on the walk and the people of the area preserve their ways and traditional customs, cultivating potato and taking care of Alpaca herds.
On the bushy dry slope as we continue back to Ollantaytambo the endemic White-tufted Sunbeam and Creamy-crested Spinetail can often be seen. We will travel back to Cuzco, picking up the people at who remained in Ollantaytambo on the way and arriving just after sunset.
Kolibri Flex: Book yourself (Airbnb, Booking or Hostel or similar)
Kolibri Pro: Hotel Antares (Dinner buffet and Peruvian Danses Show at El Truco)
MST: Casa Andina Cuzco Plaza or similar, (Dinner buffet and Show at El Truco)
This morning there will be sometwhat like a sleep in, or you can explore town on your own before we fly to Puerto Maldonado in mid morning. If we arrive before noon to Puerto Maldonado (depending on flight times), we shall continue straight away to Amigos, but more likely we shall have to stay the night in bustling and somewhat chaotic Puerto Maldonado.
Don't despair. It is not as bad as it sounds. The hotel Cabana Quinta is quite nice, with AC for MST and good fans for Kolibri Pro.
There is also good birding to be done in the Cachuela area with birds such as Puru's Jacamar and White-throated Jacamar, Hoatzin, Brazilian Teal, Southern Lapwing and many more. We may also search for some nightbirds including ZigZag Heron, Striped Owl and Spot-tailed Nightjar.
Kolibri Flex and Kolibri Pro: Hotel Cabana Quinta with fan. (Dinner at Restaurante Burgos).
MST: Hotel Cabana Quinta superior room with AC. (Dinner at Restaurante Burgos).
We start the morning again at La Cachuela to look at a Macaw lick with Blue-headed Macaw, continue to Laberinto by road and later with motorized canoe on the Madre de Dios upriver to the mouth of Rio Amigos for 4 hours where our lodge is.
This is an outstanding place in the Peruvian rainforest with a 7m Anaconda staked out at Pozo Don Pedro and recent sightings of Tapir and Jaguar on the trails. Rio Los Amigos Research Station is a vey modern set-up in the rain forest with good trails, electric light and even internet and it has all the specialities of SE Peru even such rare species as Long-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Black-faced Cotinga, Rufous-fronted Ant-thrush and Peruvian Recurvebill. There are 10 species of monkeys regularly seen including Emperor Tamarin and Monk Saki Monkey.
Kolibri Flex and Kolibri Pro. Private rooms with cold shower.
MST. Private cabins with fan and hot water.
We do a hike to an Oxbow lake and with some luck try to locate the resident group of Giant Otters. Also at the lake we look out for Sungrebe, Snail Kite and Hoatzin. Other trails are good for bamboo specialists. Large-headed Flatbill, Goeldi's Antbird, Black-spotted Bare-eye and many more.
During the last hours before sunset we may climb the 40m tower to see the forest from above. It is a magical experience to see parrot and macawflocks flying at eyelevel.
Kolibri Flex and Kolibri Pro. Private rooms with cold shower.
MST. Private cabins with fan and hot water.
We continue birding the next morning until 10 or so, and then take the boat bacl to Puerto Maldonado. Depending what time we arrive, but we may be able to do some additional birding along the road in savanna like habitat before reaching the airport to fly back to Lima. Here we may spot Point-tailed Palmcreeper, and Red-bellied Macaw. Flight to Lima at 17:30 arriving at 19:05 and end of service.
The 5 best birds on the Southern Circuit Peru Birding and Culture tour are:
- Andean Condor
- Humboldt Penguin
- Bearded Mountaineer
- Blue-headed Macaw
- Titicaca Grebe
The five best cultural experiences on the Southern Circuit Peru Birding and Culture.
- Machu Picchu
- Colca Canyon
- Uros floating islands on the Titicaca Lake
- Nazca Lines
- Erotic pottery at the Museums of Lima
The five most mindblowing scenery on the Southern Circuit Peru Birding and Culture.
- Paracas bird colonies
- Colca Canyon
- Amazon rainforest at Amigos
- Atacama desert
- The cloud forest at Abra Malaga and Aguas Calientes
What is included?
- transport
- guiding
- excursions as indicated in the text
- breakfasts and lunch throughout, except for lunches in Arequipa and Ollantaytambo during the free days.
- train to Machu Picchu
- entrance fees when indicated in the text
- bus to ruins at Machu Picchu
- safe drinking water (bring a water bottle to fill up)
- bird and mammal checklist
- Daily eBird lists
- Hotels and Food for all categories in the Amazon Days 14-17
- For Kolibri Pro and MST categories: Domestic Flights
- For Kolibri Pro and MST categories: Dinners
- For Kolibri Pro and MST categories: Hotels as indicated
- For MST Premium category: Premium Lodging
- For MST Premium category: A number of perks such as water bottle, coffee mug, and other merch.
- For MST Premium category: A unit of bottled non-alcoholic or beer/glass of wine for lunch and dinner except on Day 6.
What is not included?
- Flights over Nazca lines (Approximately $90-100/person)
- dinner in Lima day 1
- Lunch on day 6 and 13 for those not doing the excursions
- Excursion to Lake Salinas from Arequipa on Day 6 and excursion to Abra Malaga on Day 13 (cost: $190/person),
- drinks with meals (except MST),
- personal expenses.
- tips
- Kolibri Flex! does not have domestic flights and dinners and hotels included (except Day 14-16),
We are the only birding company that provided flexible pricing depending on the comfort level you require. This is a slow pace birding trip that also takes you to archeological sites, splendid scenery, plants, wildlife, Peruvian culinary experience, and more, along the most popular route of Peru. On this trip you do not have to be an expert birdwatcher. You may just have started looking at birds at your feeder back home. Bring with you your explorer's spirit and the desire to learn more than you thought about Peru. This is NOT an ordinary birdwatching trip, It has much more that. Still some 300-400 bird species will be seen well by all participants on this trip including most endemics and regional birds. Even if you are not a birder, join this trip for splendid scenery and historical sites, and if you are only a novice, the birds are easy to see and our guides are very patient. You should have a general interest in nature. Some participants will have very little experience of South American birds or may only just have got into birds by watching birds at their feeders back home. We follow principally the same circuit followed by most visitors to Peru each year. To contemplate the Andes and experience the land of the Incas and their ancestors. Lima, Paracas, Nazca, Arequipa, Colca, Titicaca, Cuzco, and Machu Picchu. On this trip we go a bit further; Kolibri Expeditions is unique in offering this trip as a natural history and cultural experience with expert guides. The key ingredient on these trips is the exploratory spirit. "What is the name of the lizard?", "Is that a dragonfly? What possible species are in range?", "An interesting church, is that churrigueresque baroque?", "Do you prefer the pisco made of the Quebranta or the Italia grape?" No question is too strange to ask or to try to find an answer to. While traveling in the bus there will be briefings on history, archeology, politics such as the Fujimori Phenomenon or The Shining Path, the mating biology of sea-lions, continental drift and the formation of the Andes, wine and pisco making, Peruvian cinema and authors, Peruvian food and much more. When looking at the birds, the animals and the plants, we will not just tell you what they are, but we will tell you something about them. We will pay attention to behavior. In general pace is slow, but we do start with early mornings. We try and reach our overnight destinations while it still is daylight. even though we cover more than 2200 km (1370 miles). Lunches may be served on the bus or as roadside picnics not to lose precious daylight time, when we have to cover a lot of ground.
Peru has gotten much better in recent years to provide services for disabled travelers. So, yes, we can provide services for the disabled. In some places we have to adapt somewhat and make special arrangements, but for the MST category it should not be a problem at all.
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