Peru | Birding the Amazonia, Andes, and Desert Coast with the Maryland Ornithological Society

Arrive in Lima and transfer to your hotel. Check in starts at 2 pm.

Following breakfast and orientation take a field trip to Lomas de Lachay National Reserve, an oasis of mist in the Peruvian desert. Receive a lecture on 'the desert birds among the mist.' The reserve covers an area of 5,070 hectares (12,528 acres) in the foothills of the Huaral Province, and its unique geography and resulting climate have created a special ecosystem where dwarf forests and small birds and mammals thrive. Species often spotted in the area include the Vermilion Flycatcher, Cactus Canastero, Andean Tinamou, and Burrowing Owl, as well as a variety of hummingbirds. This afternoon return to the hotel for a lecture overviewing the birds of Peru before dinner.

After breakfast transfer to the airport for a flight to Puerto Maldonado. Upon arrival, transfer to the Infierno River Port to board your boat for a 45 minute trip to the lodge, stopping along the way to search for Pied Lapwing, Collared Plover, King Vulture, Bat Falcon, Olive and Russet-backed Oropendola, Ringed Kingfisher, and Amazon Kingfisher. The lodge is a short walk from the river's edge and is located within the territory of the Infierno Community, adjacent to the Tambopata National Reserve. A welcome orientation and dinner will be provided at the lodge. All rooms are open wall rooms facing the Amazon Rainforest. Electricity is available in common areas three times per day from 6 am - 8 am, 12 pm - 2 pm, and 5 pm - 10 pm. Wifi available but connection varies based on number of guests connected and weather.

After breakfast, take a walk (about 30 minutes) to the 98-foot canopy tower for bird observation. This area offers the best chance to see hawk-eagles, and on a lucky day perhaps even a Harpy Eagle. The flocks here are composed mainly of tanagers (Paradise, Green-and-gold, Flame-crested, Turquoise, Opal-rumped, and others), as well as Cream-colored Woodpecker, Gilded Barbet, Plum-throated Cotinga, and Western Striolated-Puffbird. Macaws and toucans are often seen flying along the horizon, including Chestnut-eared, Lettered, Curl-crested, and Ivory-billed Aracaris. From the canopy tower, venture toward a small clay lick that attracts Dusky-headed, Black-capped, and Cobalt-winged Parakeets. Return to the lodge for lunch. Afternoon birding along the Shahue Trail may turn up Fiery-capped Manakin, Round-tailed Manakin, Pale-winged Trumpeter, and Pavonine Quetzal.

This morning, enjoy a 30-minute boat ride followed by a walk to an oxbow lake. Search the palm swamp and grassland vegetation for species such as the Pale-vented Pigeon, Azure Gallinule, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Gray-breasted Crake, Rufous-sided Crake, and the unusual-looking Hoatzin. Lunch at the lodge will be followed by afternoon birding in secondary forest. Secondary forest can be created in a number of ways, such as degraded forest recovering from selective logging, or areas cleared by slash-and-burn agriculture that have been reclaimed by forest. Generally, secondary forest is characterized by a less developed canopy structure and smaller trees. This means we will focus on Barred Antshrike, Short-tailed Pygmy-Tyrant, Streaked Flycatcher, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Solitary Black Cacique, Gray-fronted Dove, and Ruddy Ground Dove. After dinner this evening, venture out near the lodge to spotlight Common Pauraque, Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl, Great Potoo, Long-tailed Potoo, Ocellated Poorwill, and if lucky a Mottled Owl or Crested Owl. There is also the possibility of taking macro shots of horned frogs, tree frogs, and other nocturnal wildlife.

After breakfast at the lodge, walk to the river to board the boat back to Tambopata River Port and transfer to the Puerto Maldonado airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival in Cusco you can watch for a variety of hummingbird species during your transfer to the Sacred Valley. This afternoon, take an excursion to the famed Pisac Market before heading to the hotel for dinner and a lecture on Andean birds.

Early morning birding around the hotel will be followed by breakfast and transfer to Ollantaytambo train station. The scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes follows the meandering Urubamba River on a journey through the Peruvian Andes. Upon arrival, your journey continues with a bus transfer to Machu Picchu. Known as "The Lost City of the Incas," Machu Picchu is probably the best-known yet least understood of all Incan sites. The quality of the stonework and the abundance of ornamental sites indicate that Machu Picchu must have been an important ceremonial center, but knowledge of the city's history has been lost over time. While here, look for the endemic Inca Wren and Cuzco Brushfinch among the ruins. Dinner will be at the hotel. Note: there is a strict hand luggage only policy on Peru Rail, so be prepared to pack a backpack weighing less than 11 lbs for the journey to Machu Picchu and the rest of your luggage will be stored until you return.

After early morning birding in the cloud forest, travel by train to Ollantaytambo Station. The journey to Cusco includes a visit to the town of Chincheros, an early Inca center. Enjoy an opportunity to tour a local weaving cooperative and learn about the styles and techniques of this ancient tradition. After the late afternoon arrival in Cusco, check in at the hotel and spend the rest of the afternoon at leisure. Dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel before a field trip to Huacarpay Lagoon, a small highland lake and a favorite birding spot near Cusco. Receive a lecture on the birds of the area and some time to seek out a variety of Andean birds including ducks, herons, and grebes. The reed beds harbor species such as Wren-like Rushbird, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, and Yellow-winged Blackbird. Eat a picnic lunch on site, then have the rest of the afternoon at leisure to explore the city of Cusco or continue birding. Dinner is at a local restaurant for a taste of the regional fare.

After breakfast transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Lima. Transfer by bus to Paracas, stopping en route to enjoy a birding field trip to Pantanos de Villa, a protected area recognized by the Ramsar Convention as a Wetland of International Importance for aquatic birds. After a box lunch continue the journey to Paracas and walk to the salt marsh observation tower to view flamingos and shorebirds. Later transfer to the hotel for a lecture on the Peruvian desert and the Humboldt Current, followed by dinner.

This morning take an early morning boat excursion to the Ballestas Islands, a breeding site for seabirds such as Humboldt Penguin, Peruvian Booby, and Inca Tern. Other target birds are the near-threatened Peruvian Diving-Petrel, skuas, and even albatrosses. Continue towards the continental shelf, possibly spotting shearwaters, petrels, storm-petrels, and other pelagic birds. After lunch at the hotel visit Paracas Reserve to see the cathedral, shorebirds, and the Mirador sea lion colony. Dinner at the hotel.

Breakfast at the hotel is followed by a morning exploration of dunes and desert for birding (includes a boxed lunch). This afternoon, enjoy birding in agricultural fields before a late afternoon arrival in Lima. Upon arrival to Lima you will connect with your evening flights (that depart late 6/28 or early hours of 6/29) out of Jorge Chávez International Airport to the U.S.

Arrive to the U.S.