Jungles of Peru: Birds and Wildlife

The Trip

After spending two nights and one day in Lima, where we will explore the nearby marshes for birdlife and visit the fascinating Larco Museum, we will fly to Puerto Maldonado to begin our exploration of the southern jungles of Peru. The lowland, humid forests of the area are one of the most mysterious and intact ecosystems in the world. The area is so diverse -- with numerous birds, butterflies, insects, reptiles and amphibians -- that it is impossible to know what we will see each day. Even the experienced and well-trained guides that will accompany us are often surprised by unusual sightings of birds and other fauna that are rarely seen. The diversity of the flora, even for South America, is astonishing with a complex assemblage of flowering plants, giant trees, ferns, and more.

We will spend time hiking in the jungle on mostly flat trails or riding in small riverboats (motorized and non-motorized) on the Madre de Dios and Tambopata Rivers. Although we cannot guarantee wildlife sightings, we often see raptors, toucans, and howler monkeys. On excursions to oxbow lakes, which hold their own types of wildlife, we have good chances of seeing black caimans and giant river otters. Each night we will stay at comfortable lodges that are deeply immersed in the forest, where we will be able to hear the distinctive sounds of birds such as the unique oropendolas. We will enjoy excellent native cuisine at the lodges, and will have time to relax in the heat of the afternoon. Other planned activities include taking optional night walks and visiting the local indigenous village, where we will learn about medicinal plants of the forest.

Our schedule allows for a nice mix of activities, as well as time to just relax and take in the intricacy and beauty of the jungle. Our main activity will be birdwatching, but we will also keep an eye out for all flora and fauna. You will learn about the natural history of the region, as well as the threats facing it and programs to save this globally significant environment. The trip is suitable for people in good physical shape who can walk up to three or four miles a day, get in and out of large riverboats, and handle the heat of the humid forests.

Day 1: Our trip begins in Lima, Peru, the vibrant capital of 10 million people. You will be met at the airport and transferred to our hotel, where we will meet, have dinner, and get acquainted. This will serve as our pre-trip orientation session, where we will go over the trip. Includes lodging and dinner.

Day 2: The next morning after breakfast we head out in a van to the Pantanos de Villa Marshes and spend the morning birding, looking for such possible species as great grebe, Peruvian thick-knee, burrowing owl, and more. After lunch at the hotel, we visit the Larco Museum, which curates nearly 5,000 years of Pre-Columbian Peruvian history. We spend the night at the same hotel. Includes lodging, B, L, D.

Day 3: We fly in the morning to Puerto Maldonado, have lunch at a local restaurant, and then head to the impressive Madre de Dios River. There we travel by motorized riverboat to our comfortable lodge deep in the jungle. The afternoon will be spent relaxing, exploring the nearby area, and birding with local guides. Includes lodging, B, L, D.

Day 4: After a nice breakfast, we will hike for two or three hours in the early morning, heading to a canopy walkway that is one of the longest in South America. Possible birds seen from the canopy include black-tailed trogon, curl-crested aracari, Amazonian motmot, screaming piha, and more. We will have lunch at a field guide station, spend the afternoon birding and return via river to our lodge. Includes lodging, B, L, D.

Day 5: On this day, we head into the Tambopata National Reserve and spend time at Lake Sandoval, one of the characteristic oxbow lakes of this area. We will take a leisurely two- to three-hour hike to the lake, looking for animals such as capuchin monkeys and red-bellied macaw, red-throated caracara, and other deep forest birds. Once on the lake we will have the chance to see black caiman, giant river otter, turtles, the prehistoric-looking hoatzin, sunbittern, and more. That evening after supper we will look for owls, nightjars, bats, and other nocturnal creatures. Includes lodging, B, L, D.

Day 6: We leave our lodge in the morning, head back to Puerto Maldonado, and transfer to the Tambopata River. We will have time to bird on the way and then travel by river to our next lodge, looking for kingfishers, herons, and other river animals along the way. After settling into the lodge we will have time to stroll the grounds and take in the surroundings. Includes lodging, B, L, D.

Day 7: We will spend the morning birding first on Tres Chimbadas oxbow lake. From a catamaran we will look for lakeside wildlife such as horned screamers, scarlet macaws, and other birds. Then we will explore a bamboo forest with its own set of creatures that prefer this environment, such as pheasant cuckoo, dot-winged and ornate antwrens, red-billed scythebill, and many others. In the afternoon you will visit a second canopy tower that takes us into the upper realm of the forest, with trees as tall as 100 feet. We will search for species of colorful tanagers, jacamars, parrots, macaws and others. Local guides familiar with the numerous birds of the forest will accompany us. On the ride back to our lodge, we will keep our eyes open for jaguars, which are occasionally spotted in this area. Includes lodging, B, L, D.

Day 8: The morning will be spent at a nearby clay lick, visited by 7 to 10 species of parrots and parakeets that come for the minerals. Watching from a blind, we should have good opportunities to see these birds up close, making for an excellent photo opportunity. In the afternoon we head downriver to Centro Nape, a traditional community clinic that administers medicines from rainforest plants. An Eseeja native guide will tell us about the medicinal plants, offering us the opportunity to sample them. We end the day with a night walk, looking and listening for the creatures that become active in the night such as beautiful tree frogs, shy snakes, and multifarious insects. Includes lodging, B, L, D.

Day 9: We spend the day heading back to Puerto Maldonado by riverboat, flying back to Lima, and spending a relaxing evening at the hotel talking about our adventures. If time permits, we can stroll around the MiraFlores district of Lima. Includes lodging, B, L, D.

Day 10: After breakfast at the hotel, we go to the airport and fly home. Includes hotel transfer and B.

Getting There

The trip begins in Lima on the evening of the first day. You will be responsible for your flight arrangements and payment. Once in Lima, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel for the night, where you will meet the guide, leader, and other participants. There are regularly scheduled flights to Lima from several international airports and air carriers in the U.S. Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

All food on the trip, snacks, and water will be provided, with most meals being in nice restaurants serving fresh and traditional Peruvian cuisine. Occasionally, on travel days, there may be a box lunch. All lodging is in comfortable hotels and eco-lodges with private bathrooms and several amenities. Wi-Fi may or may not be available once we leave Lima.

Trip Difficulty

The trip is suitable for fit people in decent shape who can walk two or three miles in a humid forest, even if it rains, which is possible. There will be some getting in and out of riverboats, but there will be help from the guides for people who need it. Participants should be prepared to sit on boats and in vans for a period of an hour or two several times during the trip. The leader will carefully go over the physical and mental demands of the trip during a phone call.

Equipment and Clothing

Participants should bring good binoculars for birding and clothing appropriate for moderate walks in a humid forest. Light hikers would be the best footwear and a raincoat and/or small umbrella might be handy, too. The leader will send out a complete gear and clothing list prior to the trip.

References

Conservation

Can ecotourism save the world? Peru has staked much of its future and the future well-being of its astonishing biodiversity on the promise of ecotourism. Local guides often from local communities have gained a stake in preserving the natural riches through employment taking people on hikes and wildlife tours. Formerly, many were hunters or gold miners, or worked in the pet trade. Large tour companies and smaller entrepreneurs are buying tracts of pristine rainforest -- not to log or exploit, but to protect for perpetuity for local and international visitors to enjoy. How much can ecotourism achieve? What are its limits? We will also talk about other threats to the area such as logging, gold mining, the pet trade, and more.

Evacuation and Travel Insurance

The Sierra Club provides evacuation insurance to all participants on international trips. Since this coverage does not include any trip cancellation or interruption insurance, we suggest you purchase another policy separately to provide coverage for your trip and other travel costs. This policy also does not cover pre-trip and post-trip travel. Please note the evacuation insurance provided does not cover claims resulting from any pre-existing condition that occurs within 60 days of the trip departure. If you have specific questions about this exclusion, please review the insurance brochure. For information on purchasing a separate policy, please see our travel insurance page.