[Cost: $7,275/person]
From the snow-peaked Andes Mountains to arid desert lowlands, and from steamy cloud forests to sun-kissed Pacific shores, Peru’s tremendous range of ecosystems and the consequent diversity of its endemic species make it a favorite among birders. Join Gail Garber, Holbrook Travel, and Hawks Aloft members for a unique birding opportunity and to explore some of the country’s natural and cultural highlights—including the Amazon basin, Machu Picchu, and the Ballestas Islands. As you traverse different landscapes, you’ll cross more than just birds off your life list: take a boat ride through the rainforest on the Amazon River, walk among the ruins of the Inca civilization, and marvel at the coastal desert of the Paracas Reserve.
Highlights
- Spot some of the 400-plus species of birds found in the Machu Picchu complex and surrounding areas.
- Explore the Amazonian lowlands by boat and on foot to look for colorful macaws, tanagers, and the enigmatic Hoatzin.
- Discover the mist-fed ecosystem of Lomas de Lachay, home to an oasis of dwarf forest in the Peruvian desert.
- Visit Pantanos de Villa, a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance that provides critical habitat for waterfowl and migratory shorebirds.
- Witness the seabirds of Ballestas Islands, including species such as the Humboldt Penguin, Peruvian Booby, Inca Tern, and the near-threatened Peruvian Diving-Petrel.
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