Peru Birding Tours

Peru is a land of contrast, history, and some of the most beautiful scenery in South America. Peru birding tours are particularly exciting as the country boasts a country list 1,890 species and 113 endemic birds, making it the second-richest country for avian diversity on the planet. Peru is also one of the 17 megadiverse countries in the world as defined by the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) of the United Nations Environment Program, and home to 84 life zones out of the 104 classified on the planet and an incredible variety of plant and animal life. This probably explains the presence of such incredible birding diversity, making a Peru birding tour a dream activity for birders all over the world.

Peru receives a large number of visitors. Each year many tourists come to Peru to visit the famous city of Cusco, the capital of the ancient Inca Empire, and the breathtaking Incan citadel of Machu Picchu nearby. Several adventures are on offer, like hiking great mountain trails such as the Inca Trail or the Ausangate trek, flying over the mysterious Nazca Lines, visiting Lake Titicaca, or enjoying the tasty gastronomy present everywhere.

However, if your goal is bird watching, Birding Ecotours have a number of intriguing Peru birding tours for you and 20 years of experience in organizing Peru birding trips. The most adventurous visitors might love a trip to Southern Peru, and visit the pristine Amazon rainforest with the Manú Road/Manú National Park and Tambopata National Reserve, getting overwhelmed with the large number of species in this area, including Pale-winged TrumpeterBlue-crownedCollaredGreen-backed, and Black-tailed TrogonsRazor-billed CurassowHoatzinHorned ScreamerRufous-headed WoodpeckerWhite-throated ToucanGolden-collared ToucanetLemon-throated BarbetWhite-throated JacamarMusician Wren, and a large number of secretive forest skulkers including antwrens and antbirds.

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In addition to this list the Madre de Dios state in Southern Peru offers the best access to some of the best parrots and macaw clay licks in South America, where everyday species like Scarlet MacawRed-and-green MacawBlue-and-yellow MacawChestnut-fronted MacawBlue-headed MacawOrange-cheeked ParrotBlue-headed ParrotSouthern Mealy Amazon, and Yellow-crowned Amazon can be seen observed during one of nature’s most remarkable spectacles.

Cusco hides history behind each corner, and our eight-day trip offers an exquisite list of endemic and range restricted bird species such as Masked FruiteaterInca WrenBearded MountaineerCusco BrushfinchParodi’s HemispingusAndean CondorAndean GooseAndean Cock-of-the-rockRusty-fronted CanasteroMany-colored Rush TyrantVilcabamba TapaculoRoyal CinclodesAsh-breasted Tit-TyrantTorrent Duck, and White-capped Dipper. From dry rocky slopes to snow-covered mountains and lush cloud forest mountains our Cusco and Apurímac Jewels birding tour will definitely meet your expectations.

Which area of Peru to visit for your first Peru trip is a hard decision; with so many places and tours on offer you might need our help to start planning. It will depend of course on your taste, but our experts truly love the outstanding two-week Northern Peru birding tour, which generally yields a list of over 500 species in one of the less-visited areas of Peru that holds holy grails of ornithology such as Marvelous Spatuletail and Long-whiskered Owlet. Traveling from the cold waters of the coast of Peru to the Pacific desert to the lower northern mountains to the xerophytic Marañon Valley to the lush cloudforest of Abra Patricia and to the upper Amazonian cloudforest in Tarapoto you will be rewarded with birds such as Peruvian Thick-kneeInca TernHumboldt PenguinPeruvian PlantcutterRufous FlycatcherTumbes Tyrant, and White-winged Guan. A long list of owls including Long-whiskered OwletBand-bellied OwlStygian OwlStriped OwlCinnamon Screech OwlWest Peruvian Screech OwlTropical Screech Owl, and even Black-banded Owl and Crested Owl make this one of the best owl trips in South America. However, if you prefer those jeweled feathers that take our breath away as they beat their hearts to 1,000 times per minute, you will be amazed to hear that our Northern Peru bird watching tour can give you the chance for more than 50 species of hummingbirds in only five days! Marvelous SpatuletailRufous-crested CoquetteWire-crested ThorntailBlue-fronted LancebillRoyal SunangelSword-billed Hummingbird, and Emerald-bellied Puffleg will be the stars of this show.

Finally the most ardent birders will no doubt want to explore our fabulous Central Peru birding trip, an expedition across the very heart of the Andes. On this trip wonderful species such as Great Inca FinchWhite-bellied Cinclodes, the sought-after Diademed Sandpiper-PloverRufous-bellied SeedsnipeGrey-breasted SeedsnipeBlack-breasted HillstarOlivaceous ThornbillEye-ringed ThistletailFire-throated MetaltailBlack-spectacled BrushfinchCreamy-crested SpinetailBlack-necked WoodpeckerAndean FlickerPeruvian WrenGolden-backed Mountain TanagerParduscoCloudforest Screech OwlJunin Grebe, a distinctive subspecies of  Black Rail (“Junin Rail”), Andean Avocet, and Puna Plover will delight you. Not to mention Blue-headed MacawBluish-fronted Jacamar, and Yellow-throated Toucan which will definitely make your trip very rewarding.

Whatever your interest is in the birds of Peru, either joining one of our exciting set departures or requesting a private, tailor-made trip to focus on photography or just looking to fill gaps between business days in Lima (see Peru birding day tours), Birding Ecotours’ 20-year experience will accommodate your requirements.

Download Peru Itineraries

1-day Pucusana and Lima Wetlands Birding Tour

4-day Diademed Sandpiper-Plover and Lima Highlights tour

Central Peru August 2024/2025

Comprehensive Northern Peru May 2024

Owls of Northern Peru

Peru: Cusco & Apurímac Jewels June 2024

Peru: Northwest & Abra Patricia Mountains May 2025

Peru: The Manu Road & Lowlands September 2024

South Peru - Birding the Inca Empire, Andes & Amazonian Rainforests July 2024/2025

Peru Gallery

Testimonials from our Peru birding tours

Peru was extraordinary!!!!!! My to do list includes a message to Eduardo with some images that we captured and a tally of the last day’s birds seen with Dennis near Lima, so he can prepare a complete trip report. Wil and I completed our tally while he was still here visiting after our trip and it came in at a staggering 430+ species seen, and a trip total of 460 species either seen or heard by the Taylor brothers. Your guys delivered BIG TIME on this trip, with three stellar guides and nearly flawless logistics, including two excellent drivers as well. Can’t thank you enough, Chris. Eduardo, as you no doubt already know, was top notch. It was tough saying good bye to him and Raul when they dropped us at the Cusco airport. We could not have had a better guide/driver combo for the core of the trip. Wil and I have never hesitated to recommend you and BE to our acquaintances, and we now know that our unconditional recommendation can be extended to your Peruvian office as well. Thanks a million for your help in getting the Peru trip arranged. We’ll be in touch. I attach a photo of satisfied customers with their weary guide near the lower end of the Manu Road, with the Rio Union in the background. For my part, the tour with you was the best overall of all the tours we’ve taken; most memorable, rewarding, and enjoyable.

John - On Eduardo and Peru

Birding Peru for the first time in July 2012 with Eduardo, a professional and very knowledgeable local Peru guide, ensured a smooth, safe and hassle-free trip filled with south Peruvian endemics such as Junin Canastero, White-bellied Cinclodes, Great Inca-Finch and Inca Wren. Eduardo, with the assistance of Raul, were quick to spot birds and ensured that all in the group got onto the birds as fast as possible. While birding, Eduardo also enlightened and amused us with his vast knowledge of birds and other fauna of the area. At the end of each day Eduardo assisted the group to complete a list of birds seen and heard for the day. A briefing each evening prepared participants on what to expect the next day. The accommodation was clean and safe, even in off-the-beaten-track areas. I can highly recommend the Birding Ecotours bird guide in Peru.

Lisl - On Eduardo and Peru

Eduardo, thanks so much for all your efforts to make this a fantastic , superbly well organised, entertaining, comfortable, informative , comprehensive and safe tour through Southern Peru. The Peru you showed me is indeed fabulous. It was a trip of a lifetime for me, which Sue and I can now enjoy remembering together.

Owen - On Eduardo and Peru

I have recently taken a trip with four friends to northern Peru with Eduardo Ormaeche, Birding Ecotours. I have no hesitation in recommending Eduardo and his co-guide Giancarlo Ventolini to anyone wanting to take a birdwatching trip to Peru. Eduardo was an outstanding bird guide. His knowledge of birds and ability to quickly and easily identify birds was truly exceptional. This includes all those very tricky flycatcher types that are so difficult to ID. Eduardo was extremely helpful, patient, and was excellent company. I am an extremely experienced bird watcher having travelled the globe extensively and Eduardo proved to be one of the very best bird guides I have ever experienced. If you are considering bird watching in Peru then think no further than using Eduardo!

Rolland - On Eduardo and Peru

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