Peru
Ballesta Islands, Cusco, Amazonian basin and Machu Picchu
When you mention Peru, the first things which spring to most people's minds are the Inca civilisation and the fabulous citadel of Machu Picchu. But this country has far more to offer. In our relatively short holiday we will explore three completely different habitats from the coastal waters south of Lima, to the cloud forest of Machu Picchu, to the Amazonian basin.
After a night close to Lima airport (we arrive in the late evening), we drive down the coast to Paracas for a two night stay including a boat trip to the Ballesta Islands to enjoy the excellent pelagic birding brought about by the meeting of the Humboldt and Niño currents. We return to Lima for our flight to Puerto Maldonado from where we transfer to the wonderful Reserva Amazonica. The lodge is located on the shores of the Madre de Dios river - a tributary of the Amazon. Here we'll spend four nights, going out each day to enjoy the birds of the river and the forest - such dramatic species as macaws and parrots plus monkeys galore. We could write an entire book on what you will see here!
In total contrast to the rainforest the city of Cusco, 12,000 feet up in the Andes, is a bustling place with remnants of Inca history and plenty of reminders of the Spanish who conquered them. Here we'll take a day to acclimatise so that we are fit and able to enjoy the wealth of experience which lies ahead of us. Having got used to the altitude, we'll spend the next morning birding at a superb RAMSAR site - Huacarpay Lake - which is just a short drive from the city.
The final stage of our journey finds us heading down to Machu Picchu on a wonderful train journey through spectacular scenery and fertile valleys to the cloud forest. We will be based at the excellent Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel - a sister establishment to the Reserva Amazonica - where strong conservation ethics combine with pure comfort and excellent food to give an outstanding experience. Here we'll see rescued Spectacled Bears, walk through a wild orchid "garden" and enjoy the excellent birding in the hotel's extensive grounds. During our three-night stay we'll take time to enjoy the citadel itself and then go birding in the high mountains looking for such lovely species as the Inca Wren and the Andean Condor. We'll also walk in the cloud forest to look for the Cock of the Rock and hopefully spot Torrent Ducks along the river. The holiday finishes with a last night in Cusco before returning to Lima for our homeward flight.
