Western Peru: Feathers and Traditions

Amazilia Hummingbird © ErreChPhotos/Shutterstock

A BIRDS, NATURE & CULTURE TOUR

A combined-interest tour to Western Peru visits an array of fantastic cultural sites against a backdrop of varied and spectacular landscapes; excursions to habitats from sea level to above treeline promise a wonderful diversity of birds.

This exceptional journey through Peru’s western deserts and Andes blends world-class birding with encounters from ancient civilizations. Starting in Lima, the “City of Kings,” we explore colonial mansions, elegant plazas, and Spanish-era art. A highlight is lunch at Casa Aliaga, the oldest continuously inhabited colonial house in the Americas. Our birding begins at Olivar Park, where centuries-old trees host Peruvian Pygmy-Owl and Amazilia Hummingbird.

North of Lima lies Caral, the oldest city in the Americas and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dating back to 3,000 BCE, its pyramids, sunken plazas, and artifacts, like bone flutes and textile quipus, reveal a sophisticated early society. Around the site, Pacific dry forest offers sightings of Coastal Miner, Streaked Saltator, Parrot-billed Seedeater, and Fulvous-faced Scrub-Tyrant.

Heading south, we explore the Lomas—fog-fed oases that bloom between April and October. These rare ecosystems support endemic plants and birds such as Short-tailed Field-Tyrant, Collared Warbling-Finch, Cactus Canastero, Raymond’s Yellow-Finch, and Thick-billed Miner.

At Paracas National Reserve and the Ballestas Islands, the desert meets the sea. A boat trip reveals South American Sea Lions, seabirds, and specialties such as Inca Tern, Humboldt Penguin, and Seaside Cinclodes. Nearby, a scenic flight over the Nazca Lines offers views of iconic geoglyphs like the hummingbird and monkey. On the return to Lima, we’ll visit Pachacamac, a pre-Inca ceremonial center and coastal oracle.

A short flight takes us to Arequipa, the “White City,” known for its volcanic stone architecture. In nearby Chiguata, birding in Polylepis and Escallonia forests may yield Andean Tinamou, Creamy-breasted Canastero, Andean Hillstar, Mountain Parakeet, and Black-hooded Sierra-Finch.

We then journey to Colca Canyon, one of the world’s deepest canyons, with terraced fields and traditional villages. At Cruz del Condor, we’ll watch Andean Condors soar. Other canyon birds include Black Metaltail, Streaked Tit-Spinetail, Canyon Canastero, and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle.

En route we pass through Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve, a high-altitude landscape of puna grasslands and wetlands, home to wild Vicuñas and Chilean and Puna flamingos. Returning to Arequipa, we’ll visit the Santa Catalina Convent and the Juanita Mummy, whose discovery on Ampato Volcano revealed ancient Inca sacrificial rituals.

Peru’s celebrated cuisine is a highlight of this journey—an irresistible fusion of indigenous traditions, global influences, and bold flavors that transform every meal into a cultural experience.

Good to excellent accommodations and food; travel via comfortable, air-conditioned transport, with two longer drives of about three hours each; birding takes place along roadsides and trails on easy to moderate terrain; elevations from sea level to 16,000 feet (briefly); weather varies from warm and dry on the coast to pleasantly cool in the Andes.

Nazca Lines Hummingbird, Peru © chamski/Shutterstock