16 Days I Southern Peru

Tour Features

• Habitats: Andean puna, cloud forest, intra-Andean valleys, lowland rainforest
• Birding Facilities: Feeders, hides, canopy, lakeside photography, canopy towers
• Species Count: 1000+ potential, including many endemics and rarities
• Endemics: White-tufted Sunbeam, Bearded Mountaineer, Green-and-white Hummingbird, Rusty-fronted Canastero, Creamy-crested Spinetail, Chestnut-breasted Mountain Finch, Parodi’s Hemispingus, Masked Fruiteater, Cusco Brushfinch, Vilcabamba Thistletail, Red-and-white Antpitta, Urubamba Antpitta, Vilcabamba Tapaculo, Inca Wren
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Itinerary

Day 1: Lima - Cusco

Fly to Cusco, the historic Inca capital. Explore cityscapes, colonial architecture, and local markets. Optional birding in nearby areas for Andean species. Great opportunity for street photography and cultural shots. Night at Birds Hotel Molino near Ollantaytambo.

Days 2-3: Sacred Valley and Cloud Forest

Morning hummingbird birding at Birds Hotel Molino, midday transfer to Tunkiwasi Lodge situated in highland cloud forests. Afternoon and night at Tunkawasi with feeders attracting hummingbirds and tanagers. Explore forest trails for elusive foliage-gleaners and canopy species. Next day at Ipal for more tropical species. Night back at Birds Hotel Molino. 

Target Bird Species: 

White-tufted Sunbeam (E), Bearded Mountaineer (E), Green-and-white Hummingbird (E), Rusty-fronted Canastero (E), Creamy-crested Spinetail (E), Chestnut-breasted Mountain Finch (E), Golden-billed Saltator, Shining Sunbeam, Gould's Inca

Violet-throated Starfrontlet, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Mountain Velvetbreast, Great Sapphirewing, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Green-tailed Trainbearer, Tyrian Metaltail, White-bellied Woodstar, Undulated Antpitta, Andean Parakeet, Mitred Parakeet, Taczanowski's Tinamou, Bronzy Inca, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Giant Hummingbird, Speckled Hummingbird, Andean Motmot, Summer Tanager, Green Jay, Red-crested Cotinga, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Thick-billed Euphonia, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Slate-throated Whitestart, Chestnut-capped Brushfinch, Golden-naped Tanager, Red-crested Finch, Blue Dacnis, Silver-beaked Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager, White-lined Tanager, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Blue-gray Tanager, Versicolored Barbet, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Parodi’s Hemispingus (E), Masked Fruiteater (E), Golden-headed Quetzal.

Day 4: Abra Malaga & Sacred Valley

From early morning, birding at high-elevation puna and elfin forest. Stunning high-altitude Andean landscapes with snow-white peaks provide both photographic backdrops and opportunities to spot rare highland species. Trails vary from short walks to gentle hikes. Night at Birds Hotel Molino.

Target Bird Species: 

Chestnut-breasted Mountain Finch (E), Cusco Brushfinch (E), Rust-and-yellow Tanager, Rusty-fronted Canastero (E), Vilcabamba Thistletail (E), Red-and-white Antpitta (E), Urubamba Antpitta (E), Vilcabamba Tapaculo (E), White-browed Spinetail, Stripe-headed Antpitta, Undulated Antpitta, Spectacled Redstart, Slate-throated Whitestart, Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant, Sierran Elaenia, White-crested Elaenia, Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Blue-mantled Thornbill.

Days 5-6: Machu Picchu & Ollantaytambo

Early morning train departure from Ollantaytambo to visit the iconic Machu Picchu ruins with opportunities to photograph both wildlife and historic Inca architecture. Night back at Birds Hotel Molino. The next day, explore Ollantaytambo’s terraces and local markets. Birding in surrounding forrests or garden birding for hummingbirds at Birds Hotel Molino. Night back at Birds Hotel Molino for early morning departure. 

Target Bird Species: 

White-tufted Sunbeam, Green-and-white Hummingbird , Rusty-fronted Canastero, Creamy-crested Spinetail, Chestnut-breasted Mountain Finch, Golden-billed Saltator, Shining Sunbeam, Gould's Inca, Violet-throated Starfrontlet

Sword-billed Hummingbird, Mountain Velvetbreast, Great Sapphirewing, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Green-tailed Trainbearer, Tyrian Metaltail, White-bellied Woodstar, Undulated Antpitta, Bronzy Inca, Gould's Inca, Violet-throated StarfrontletAndean Parakeet, Mitred Parakeet, Taczanowski's Tinamou, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Giant Hummingbird.

Day 7: Pisac and Paucartambo

Drive through dry intermontane valleys with stops for roadside birding. Pisac offers scenic Inca terraces. Trails are suitable for easy photography and spotting endemic finches.

Target Bird Species: 

Bearded Mountaineer (E), Giant Hummingbird, endemic finches and brush-finches.

Day 8: Wayqecha

Transition from Andean highlands to lower-elevation cloud forest. Visit world-class feeders attracting hummingbirds and tanagers. Walks along forest trails provide excellent photographic opportunities.

Target Bird Species: 

Gould’s Inca, Scaled Metaltail, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Inca Jay, Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, Versicolored Barbet.

Day 9: Manu Road

Drive the famous Manu Road, stopping at strategic points for forest photography. Cock-of-the-Rock lek offers unique behavior shots. The area is rich in diverse bird and mammal species across multiple forest strata.

Target Bird Species: 

Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Rufous-crested Coquette, Slaty Tanager, Silver-beaked Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager, King Vulture, White-necked Jacobin, Gould’s Jewelfront, Hoatzin, Green Honeycreeper, Spotted Tanager.

Days 10-11: Pilcopata

Two days of intensive photography at lowland feeders. Focus on manakins, cotingas, antbirds, nunlets, and other tropical species. Trails are excellent for capturing detailed bird behavior in natural habitats.

Target Bird Species: 

King Vulture, Amazonian Antpitta, Rufous-crested Coquette, Buff-tailed Sicklebill, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Gould’s Jewelfront, Green-and-gold Tanager, Blue-headed Macaw, Peruvian Recurvebill, Dusky-cheeked Foliage-gleaner, Bamboo Antshrike.

Day 12: Paucartambo

Morning photography at Pilcopata feeders, then scenic drive back to Andean foothills to Paucartambo and Cusco. Opportunities for roadside bird species along the way. 

Day 13: Lagoons & Puerto Maldonado

Visit high-altitude lagoons near Cusco for waterfowl and Andean birds. later in the day, fly to Puerto Maldonado, gateway to the Amazon lowlands. 

Target Bird Species: 

Yellow-billed Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, Crested Duck, Peruvian Torrent Duck, Andean Duck, Ruddy Duck, Cinnamon Duck, Puna Teal, American Golden Plover, Black-necked Stilt , White-rumped Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Andean Coot, Many-coloured Rush-tyrant, Great Egret, Western Cattle Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, Chilean Flamingo, Silvery Grebe, White-tufted Grebe.

Day 14: Tambopata

Visit the world-famous Chuncho Macaw Clay Lick on the Tambopata River. Observe and photograph multiple macaw species in action. Afternoon forest walks for additional Amazonian species.

Target Bird Species: 

Scarlet Macaw, Red-and-green Macaw, Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Mealy Parrot, Orange-cheeked Parrot, White-eyed Parakeet.

Day 15: Tambopata Canopy Tower & Forest Trails

Morning from the canopy tower for aerial shots. Afternoon walks along forest trails to photograph toucans, barbets, aracaris, and a variety of tanagers and woodpeckers.

Target Bird Species: 

Black-spotted Bare-eye, Peruvian Warbling Antbird, Green-and-rufous Kingfisher, Crested Owl, Sungrebe, Agami Heron, Opal-rumped Tanager, White-necked Puffbird, Gilded Barbet, Curl-crested Aracari.

Day 16: Lima

Return to Lima for final flights home.

Tour Timing

• While we aim to optimize your birding experience during the dates provided, please note that some species may not be observable on certain days or weeks due to seasonal or environmental factors.
• Contact us in advance if you’re aiming to see specific bird species.

Photos:  Holmes Pantoja