Descriptions

Culture and History make it a country rich in traditions and Peru has much to show to our customers not only in Culture and History but also in bird watching all this makes to Peru one of the great tourist destinations of the world.
If you’re a birdwatcher and loves Culture, this trip is for you because our target is to enjoy the architectural and cultural wonders combined with the enigmatic bird watching activity and nature of Peru. during this tour we visit several places along Peruvian coast visiting some natural reserves – Paracas, Ballestas island, Nazca lines, Colca canyon and Puno area, where still reminds Pre-Inca culture “Urus”, this last one is floating island where people still keep their traditions.

Day 1: Arrive in Lima international flight.

Most of the our costumers arrive in evening at Jorge Chavez international airport our staff will be waiting for you and will transfer to our hotel in the Miraflores district of Lima.

Night: Lima.

Day 2: City Tour Lima.

You will star with a relax breakfast you will have a free morning to enjoy the district and after lunch you will the opportunity to visit the beautiful cultural Lima town also knows as the City of Kings. You’ll see classic historical sights, colonial and Inca influenced architecture, residential neighborhoods, beautiful shrines and churches and incredible panoramic seascapes.

Night: Lima. B:L:D.

Day 3: Pucusana Puerto viejo Paracas.

We start the day by heading south to Puerto Viejo and Pucusana; between these two sites we should see nearly all of our targets: Peruvian Thick-knee, Coastal Miner, Surf Cinclodes, Blackish Oysteratcher, Inca Tern, Humbolt Penguin, Red-legged Cormorant, a boat trip give the best chance photography for all species mentioned uplines, with a good luck we could find Peruvian Martin difficult bird but impossible and a variety of more common species then we’ll continue on to Paracas.

Night: Paracas B:L:D.

Day 4: Islas Ballestas (pelagic trip)

After breakfast we drive to Paracas Bay for a trip to the Ballestas Islands which will produce immense nesting colonies of Peruvian Boobys, Guanay cormorant, Red-legged Cormorants, Peruvian Pelicans, Sea-lions. also Inca Tern, Surf Cinclodes in this excursion gives us very small opportunity offshore trips and depending on the time of year we can see some Albatross, Storm Petrels, Chilean Skua, In the afternoon we’ll explore the Peninsular and see a variety of shorebirds, Chilean Flamingo, Elegant Tern and look for the endangered Peruvian Tern also we’ll visit Paracas in-situ museum.
if you are passionate border we can arrange a pelagic trip actually this the only place from where officially its allowed. please contact us and we can provide you some options.

Night: Paracas. B:L:D.

Day 5: Ruta del Pisco – Knowing about Pisco.

Pisco is a «designation of origin» for the alcoholic drink belonging to a variety of grapes, produced in Peru since the late 16th century. It is the typical destillate of this country, elaborated from fermented wine of certain grapes, during this day we’ll visit wineries and destilations centers where we learn how to elaborate Pisco and variety of peruvian wines, we’ll have chance to taste every single drinks including our National drink Pisco Sour and several local cocktails.

Night: Nasca. B:L:D.

Day 6: Nazca Lines (by plane).

After a breakfast we’ll drive to Nazca airport and we’ll take an airplane to flight over Nazca lines around 1/2 hour, to see Nasca lines, the only way to see this lines its from aircraft, it size a perfections are amazing, during your flight you will enjoy a spectacular opportunity to see 12 of the most famous Nazca Lines, including the hummingbird, dog, hands, astronaut, tree, spider, whale, lizard, shark and more. After a fantastic views we’ll enjoy Lunch and we’ll visit  Cahuachi the mayor ceremonial center of Nasca culture.

Night: Nasca. B:L:D.

Day 7: Cantalloc Aqueduct and Chauchilla Cementery.

We start our tour after a delicious breakfast, on the way we are going to stop in a place called Needles to have a ground perspective of Nazca lines from the top of a little hill.
Nazca channels of Cantayoc are huge spirals holes connected by channels. this transport water that comes from the Andes, here we’ll explain how the ancient Nazca people could build all these channels, all of them still working until now, around we can see surrounding fields with different crops produced in this Nazca valley.
our next stop its Chauchilla Cemetery, late in day we drive to southern Peru on the we have some birding.

Night: Chala. B:L:D.

Day 8: To Arequipa.

In the morning we’ll have relax walking birding along the beach then we’ll drive to Arequipa this is long way along the coast and inter mountain valley in afternoon we arrive to Arequipa we have some chance on the way for Cactus Canastero and Slender-Billed finch.

Night: Arequipa. B:L:D.

Day 9: Arequipa Ciudad Blanca.

Arequipa is Know like Ciudad Blanca – «The white city» mostly of constructions are made by Sillar – ashlar stone,this town has a lot of colonial buildings and is located at the foot of three volcanoes: Misti (5825m), Pichu Pichu (5571m), and Chachani (6075m). and after breakfast we visit the beautiful Monastery of Santa Catalina de Siena is a monastery of nuns of the Dominican Second Order, then we will take a City tour.

Night: Arequipa. B:L:D.

Day 10: Colca Canyon.

Leaving Arequipa early, we will stop at the national reserve «Salinas and Aguada Blanca». Here we find vicuñas, one of the two wild members of South America´s camels. From now on we will look for high altitude species our target is Diademed Sandpiper-Plover also Mountain Caracara, Plain-Breasted Earthcreeper, Canastero´s, Yellow-Finches among others, we’ll pass by marshy area with good chance for Crested Duck, Puna Ibis, different Ground-Tyrants and Andean Negrito for instance. we have nice scenery with look out points from where we can see all volcanoes.

Night: Chivay. B:L:D.

Day 11: Colca Canyon to Puno.

Colca Canyon is famous by Cruz del Condor look out every day are coming hundred of people to see the spectacle of huge condors flying nearby, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle. At the same spot we look for: Canyon Canastero. Andean Hillstar, Giant Hummingbird, Andean Swifts, Slender-billed Miner and more.
In late morning we go back toward the main road passing the same high pass of yesterday we will have a second chance for Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, a rare wader of the highlands.
Back on the paved road we continue in the direction of Juliaca-Puno, making two birding stops on the way. Our targets here are Giant Coot, Andean Avocet, Puna Plover and Flamingos are the most wanted species.

Night: Puno. B:L:D.

Day 12: Uros island – Sillustani.

We are going to visit Titicaca Lake, this lake is the only place where we can encounter the Short-winged (or Flightless Titicaca) Grebe. Often we see it on the boat ride to the floating islands of the Uros Indians. People still keep their ancient traditions cultivating to get some crops like potatoes on this floating island. in the afternoon wehave  an excursion to Sillustani, which is a pre-Incan cemetery located around Lake Umayo near Puno, here we’ll find several tombs, which are built above ground in tower-like structures called chullpas, these are the vestiges of the Qolla people, who are Aymara conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century.

Day 13: Polylepis forest to Cusco.

On this day we leave Puno to drive toward Polylepis forest  above Lampa town our targets is Puna Canastero, Streak-Fronted Thornbird, Black siskin and several andean species like Darwin´s Nothura, this is a very interesting scenery drive through high altitude country along the route we’ll see Andean Ibis, Puna Ibis, mountain Caracara, lot of Great, snowy, and cattle Egrets, arriving in Cusco Late in the day.

we conclude the tour dropping you at your hotel around the main town in Cusco.

additional to this tour you can complement by Cusco Magic and Machupicchu Cultural tour or any other tours that we have.

Night. Cusco. B:L.

What to Bring:

• Please do not bring too much luggage. For domestic flights you can hold 23 kg. ( 50.7063 lbs.) and 8 kg. (17.637 lbs.) in hand luggage. Extra costs run by yourselves.
• Lightweight comfortable clothing is recommended, i.e. standard field pants and shirts for the
  entire trip, some jackets, gloves, for cold places is enough, at least for the Colca, Puno and Cusco area.
• You will need a fleece or other light jacket – NOT a heavy winter type coat/jacket.
  This is noted for the high elevations. We will be in all kinds of weather, but no special clothing is
  necessary. If you are a person that gets cold easily – perhaps a little more clothing, like a warm hat or
  light-weight gloves would be in order.
• Sunblock and hat or cap.
• An umbrella and rain poncho, remember even if you have a good weather forecast, this can change suddenly.
• Please using camouflaged clothing would be OK, not really any military clothing avoid the second.
• Shower thongs / rubber flip flops will be useful.

Recommendation:

• Camera.
• Binoculars.
• Extra Batteries.
• Telescope (Optional).

General:

• We’ll visit protected national Archaeological sites and birding will primarily be on forested roads and some trails – difficulty is totally easy level.
• We will be moving between 0 – 4800 meters, asl (0 – 14435.7 feet), this just on the way to Colca. 
• We will experience all kinds of weather, but no special clothing is necessary.
• We will have electric power at all our destinations. There are sockets inside all rooms with 220 volt
  electricity.
• Wifi service is provide in your hotel.
• Please note be sure and bring extra batteries sometimes one single battery is not enough for one day
• Additional memory card would be OK, please remember to download your previous day photos.

Medical and Health Information:

High altitude information you may find useful. Arriving in Lima is not a problem because we are at sea level, our Cultural is relaxing, highest point during the tour is 4400 meters, but we will gradually acclimate, adjusting to higher altitude is a very individual thing.
Some may feel no effects at all, some may have minor effects, and others may experience great difficulty.
You may feel the lack of oxygen, and will easily get “out of breath” You may feel a little nauseous, have a headache, or tire easily.. You will acclimatize to it by producing more red blood cells, so you should make sure you stay well hydrated, avoid physical effort as the extra cells thicken your blood. and Coca Tea its very helpful.

Drink lots of water, while avoiding alcohol or caffeine. Dehydration can make any effects of altitude worse. Try to avoid overeating the first day.

your safety and well-being is of first importance above all else.

Therefore, I will be making frequent checks to make sure everyone is feeling well.
If someone in the group isn’t feeling well easily we can visit and small hospital to be sure that you are OK at the same time we can ask for some medicine at the drugstore after doctor diagnostic.
There are medications available for altitude sickness. Please check with your doctor. For the headache, you can take an over-the-counter medicine, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (Aleve).

Travel insurance.

Our suggestion is that you use travel insurance service. The normal price of this tour not cover travel insurance.

Books:

Birds of Peru is the best field Guide.
If you consider you can bring some other field guide are welcome.

+ Prices Include:

• Private transport in all the way.
• All accommodations in all the tour (Lima/Cusco).
• Three meals per day (breakfast, lunch/ picnic or box lunch depending where we are, dinner, snacks, water available all the time).
• Bird guide specialist.
• Bird checklist per person.
• Entrances to all Archaeological sites and Birding spots.
• Boat trip in Paracas
• Flight tickets in Nasca.
• Boat trip in Puno to get Urus islands
• Transfers in Cusco.
• Basically full board in a private tour.
• Oxygen Bottle.

– Not included:

• Laundry, calls, medical costs or hospitalization, excess baggage charges, insurance, or other items of personal nature.

What I (guide) will have with me

• Recording stuff Roland R-05/Microphone SENNHEISER ME66/K6.
• Two iPods- speakers.
• A Swarovski ATX 80 scope 20-60 zoom
• Green laser pointer
• Owling light.
• GPS.
• Personal Swarovski Binoculars.
• I will be carrying the new field guide Birds of Peru this can be found on www.amazon.com.

At the moment just working on Private tours but if you are interested please let us know.

Tour Calendar 2023:

• Mostly we run  Private tours but if you are interested please let us know.

If you need private or customized tour please contact us for more information:

• • • • https://www.tanagertours.com
      • info@tanagertours.com