Central Birding Peru Tour

Meet your guide and depart from Lima. Passengers will be picked up at the airport or their hotel in Lima. You will then be taken to an office to provide your details and prepare everything you need for the trip, as your luggage will be in safe hands. You will travel in a private 4×4 vehicle for approximately 30 minutes. Then we will head to the Pantanos de Villa and enjoy the scenery.

Typical Full-Day Itinerary (Birding Pucusana + Surroundings)

Early Morning: Depart Lima early (often around 5–6 AM) to avoid traffic and maximize bird activity.

• Option A — Villa Wetlands (Pantanos de Villa): Before reaching Pucusana, many tours stop at Pantanos de Villa, a protected Ramsar wetland. Look for freshwater and marsh species here.

Mid-Morning — Boat Trip Around Pucusana Bay: Board a boat at the cove in Pucusana and cruise along the bluff and offshore waters. This is the highlight for marine birds and special coastal species.

Lunch in Pucusana: Enjoy seafood or a picnic lunch in town.

• Marine & Coastal Birds: Often seen from boats or shoreline
• Humboldt Penguin – the only breeding penguin on the Peruvian coast.
• Peruvian Pelican
• Peruvian Booby
• Guanay Cormorant
• Red-legged Cormorant
• Inca Tern – striking black-plumed tern endemic to Peru/Ecuador coasts.
• Blackish Oystercatcher
• Belcher’s (Band-tailed) Gull
• Gray Hooded Gull & Gray Gull
• Surfbird / Ruddy Turnstone / Royal & Elegant Terns (seasonal or offshore)
• Waterfowl & Marsh Birds

If you visit wetlands like Pantanos de Villa:

• Great Grebe
• Pied-billed Grebe
• Cinnamon Teal
• White-cheeked Pintail
• Andean Duck
• Plumbeous Rail (secretive but sometimes seen)
• Wren-like Rushbird & Many-colored Rush-Tyrant (in reed beds)
• Peruvian Thick-knee (open grass)
• Land / Valley Birds

Seen near Pucusana town or neighboring valleys:

• Croaking Ground-Dove
• Amazilia Hummingbird / Peruvian Sheartail / Purple-collared Woodstar (hummingbird trio)
• Long-tailed Mockingbird
• Scrub Blackbird
• Blue-and-White Swallow & Barn/Cliff Swallow
• Additional Wildlife (Often Seen on Birding Trips)

Although not birds, many birders also report seeing:

• South American Sea Lions on rocky outcrops.
• Marine mammals like dolphins (seasonal sightings) during pelagic extensions.

Arrival in Santa Eulalia and Dinner: You will arrive at your hotel or lodge in Santa Eulalia in the mid-afternoon (around 4:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m.). Dinner: Dinner is served at the lodge (Santa Eulalia Bungalow or similar). It is an early dinner (7:00 p.m.) because the next day’s departure is at dawn. This is where the day’s checklist is made: the guide and passengers write down all the birds they have seen since the morning.

• We will leave Santa Eulalia very early to avoid traffic and take advantage of the first light of the morning.
• 4:30 a.m. departure from Santa Eulalia to avoid traffic and take advantage of the first light of the morning.
• 7:30 a.m. stop at 2,500 meters above sea level for breakfast (box breakfast). (Sandwich, fruit, hot drink) to be consumed during the trip, depending on the departure time.
• Morning (Marcapomacocha): Search in high altitude wetlands. We will make stops along the route to observe birds in Andean scrubland, agricultural areas, and riverbanks. Gradual ascent to facilitate acclimatization.
• Lunch: Picnic in front of the Cordillera de la Viuda mountain range. Or you can choose a local restaurant in Santa Eulalia.
• Rufous-breasted Warbling Finch.
  • We will focus all our efforts looking for this tricky fellow, but in the same area we could have views of Canyon Canastero and several Peruvian endemics such as Black-necked Woodpecker, Bronze-tailed Comet, Rusty-bellied Brushfinch, Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail, and Great Inca Finch. Other juicy birds include Giant Hummingbird, Sparkling Violetear, Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant, Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Mourning Sierra Finch, Streak-throated Bush Tyrant, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Aplomado Falcon, Torrent Duck, White-capped Dipper, Peruvian Pygmy Owl, Greenish Yellow Finch, and Bare-faced Ground Dove. legendary Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, and we will also be looking for some Peruvian endemics like Black-breasted Hillstar, Junin Canastero, Dark-winged Miner, and the rare, localized, and endemic White-bellied Cinclodes, listed as Critically Endangered (IUCN). Other birds here include Andean Lapwing, Andean Goose, Crested Duck, Variable Hawk, Puna Ibis, Giant Coot, Puna Teal, White-winged Diuca Finch, Black Siskin, Olivaceous Thornbill, Plain-breasted Earthcreeper, Streak-throated Canastero, Grey-breasted Seedsnipe, and Puna Snipe, and, hopefully, Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe
  • Overnight in Junin.

• We will get up very early and depart around 4:30 a.m. We will have a box breakfast during the trip (hot drink, sandwich, and fruit). We will explore the shores of Lake Junín and the wetlands of the Bombón plateau.
• Activity: boat trip, weather permitting, to search for the rarest species.

Where & Why Bird Lake Junín

Lake Junín is the second largest lake in Peru, sitting at ~4,080 m in the high Andean puna. It’s surrounded by extensive wetlands, totora reeds, marshes and puna grasslands — making it one of the most important birding hotspots in the Andes with ~140+ species recorded.

The lake is famous for endemic and threatened species — especially:

• Junin Grebe (Podiceps taczanowskii) — flightless and found only here.
• Junin Rail / Junin Crake (Laterallus tuerosi) — restricted to marshy edges.
• Other restricted high-Andean birds associated with puna and wetland edges.

Suggested Full-Day Birding Itinerary

Early Start (Sunrise around 5:30 – 6:30 AM)

• Arrive at the lake edge near Ondores or nearby marsh channels.
• First light is best for waterbirds on open water and active passerines on marsh edges.

Morning – Lake & Boats

• If available, take a light boat further into reedbeds and open water to search for Junin Grebe — the star species (often near emergent vegetation)
• Watch for ducks, grebes, rails, and coots cruising and feeding on the lake.

Midday – Wetland Edges & Bofedales

• Bird the extensive fringes of reeds, small pools, and wet grasslands.
• Use your scope to scan large flocks of waterfowl and rails

Afternoon – Puna Grasslands

• Explore high puna grasslands around the lake edge for endemic/near-endemic passerines and specialized high-altitude species.
• Late Afternoon
• Return to your starting point or linger by productive marsh margins as birds move toward roosts.
• This time can be good for shorebirds and raptors riding thermals.

Key Birds You Can Expect to See

Below are species grouped by priority — from most iconic to common waterbirds and puna specialties.

Top Target Species (Endemics & Specialties)

Waterbirds & Ducks

Overnight stay: Junín.

Early morning drive to San Ramon we will visit the Hacienda Harmorique, which is now famous for Key Target Birds at Hacienda Armorique

Signature & Special Birds: (These are species that birders specifically go to Armorique to find)

• Cerulean-capped Manakin (Lepidothrix coeruleocapilla) — Peruvian endemic manakin.
• Round-tailed Manakin (Pipra chloromeros) — local foothill manakin.
• White-crowned Manakin (Pseudopipra pipra) — another manakin species.
• Creamy-bellied Antwren (Herpsilochmus motacilloides) — restricted range antwren.
• Cloud-forest Screech-Owl — tricky but possible nocturnal target.
• Rufous-capped Nunlet — secretive but often vocalizing near forest edges
• Bluish-fronted Jacamar — flashy woodpecker-like forest bird.

Colorful Forestand Edge Birds

• (these are great year-round sightings)
• Chestnut-eared Aracari — small colorful toucan.
• Southern Emerald-Toucanet — common forest toucanet.
• Yellow-crested Tanager — vibrant tanager.
• Black-faced Dacnis — striking small tanager.
• Blue-necked Tanager & Spotted Tanager — assorted colorful tanagers.
• Inambari Woodcreeper — good forest understorey species

Overnight at San Ramon.

Full Day Tour This area, reminiscent of the famous Manu Road but with a distinct set of species, offers incredible birding opportunities. Above Apalla Calabaza, we’ll search for Bay Antpitta, Eyering Thistletail, Marcapata Spinetail, and Junín Tapaculo. Mixed flocks in the humid montane forest may include Inca Flycatcher, Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, and Grass-green Tanager. At lower elevations, we’ll look for Paradise, Golden, Blue-necked, and Bay-headed Tanagers, as well as Ocellated Piculet and the rare Lanceolated Monklet.

Drive to Oxampampa Ulcumano EcoLodge, first chance for Cloud Forest screech owl.

Dawn for Cloud forest screech owl, after lunch transfer to Huanuco and overnight.

LOWER & MID-ELEVATION UNCHOG

Early Morning (07:30–10:30) – Focus: Forest edge & Polylepis patches

This is the most productive period of the day.

Target strategy

• Slowly bird edges of Polylepis woodland
• Listen carefully — many species are more often heard than seen
• Mixed flocks move through mid-canopy

Late Morning (10:30–13:00) – Focus: Interior forest & sheltered gullies

• Search deeper forest for skulking endemics
• Playback (used carefully) can help with tapaculos and canasteros

Afternoon (14:00–17:00) – Focus: Puna grassland & forest margins

• Bird activity slows, but puna specialists become more visible
• Good light for scanning slopes and ridges

DAY 1 KEY TARGETS

• High-priority endemics
• Chestnut-throated Cotinga
• Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager
• Buff-bridled Inca-Finch
• Ancash Tapaculo
• Rufous-backed Inca-Finch
• Other good possibilities
• White-cheeked Cotinga
• Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant
• Tufted Tit-Tyrant
• Baron’s Spinetail
• Black-crested Tit-Tyrant

Early Morning (07:00–10:00) – Focus: Highest Polylepis & elfin forest

This is the most important time to connect with the hardest species.

Strategy

• Stay in areas with dense, mature Polylepis
• Be patient — some birds appear suddenly after long quiet periods

Midday (10:00–13:00) – Focus: Ridges & open puna

• Watch for finches feeding on the ground
• Scan bushes for perched cotingas and tanagers

Afternoon (13:30–16:30) – Focus: Revisiting missed targets

• Revisit spots where you heard birds on Day 1
• Late afternoon sometimes works well for cotingas

DAY 2 KEY TARGETS

• Must-see Unchog specialties
• Coppery Metaltail
• Unchog Tapaculo (sometimes lumped/treated locally)
• Grey-bellied Comet
• Giant Conebill
• Additional species
• Streaked Tit-Spinetail
• Puna Thistletail
• Andean Flicker
• Mourning Sierra-Finch
• Plumbeous Sierra-Finch

Today we will drive toward the eastern lowlands of Tingo Maria. On the way, we might stop along the Carpish Mountains if we see some good mixed flocks, as we have found on previous trips. Unfortunately, there is a lot of habitat destruction and access to the site from the road is difficult. The place is not as attractive as it used to be. On the way to Tingo Maria we might see Crested Oropendola, Russet-backed Oropendola, Magpie Tanager, Blue-headed Parrot, and even Fasciated Tiger Heron and Andean Cock-of-the rock. One of the main attractions of Tingo Maria is the famous Oilbird cave, where we could see many of these strange-looking birds. The Tingo Maria lowlands are also good for Blue-headed Macaw, another of our targets. Some classic lowland species are always present, such as Great and Lesser Kiskadee, White-eyed Parakeet, Cliff Flycatcher, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Rufous-breasted Hermit, Yellow-throated Toucan, Green-backed Trogon, and the endemic Huallaga Tanager. At night we will try for Tropical Screech Owl and Band-bellied Owl around our lodge.

Overnight: Villa Jennifer Farm & Lodge, Tingo Maria

After breakfast we will explore the grounds of Villa Jennifer, where we can see a good set of species, like Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Lineated Woodpecker, Cream-colored Woodpecker, Blue-crowned Trogon, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Plumbeous Kite, Spot-winged Antbird, Grey-crowned Flatbill, Yellow-throated Toucan, Golden-collared Toucanet, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Amazonian Motmot, and Lafresnaye’s Piculet. In addition, we could have good views of Gilded Barbet, Bluish-fronted Jacamar, Yellow-olive Flatbill, Mouse-colored Tyrannulet, Rufous-fronted Tody-Flycatcher, Limpkin, Capped Heron, Crested Oropendola, Blue-headed and Military Macaws, Reddish Hermit, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Grey-breasted Sabrewing, Masked Tityra, Pale-legged Hornero, Dark-breasted Spinetail, Thrush-like Wren, and Ferruginous Pygmy Owl.

Birding around Tingo Maria and return to Huanuco. Overnight.

Long drive back to Lima, Birding.