Peru - Northern: Cordillera Azul to the Marañón Valley & Tumbes 2025

24 Aug 2025 - 17 Sep 2025 (25 days)

USD9,495 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Lev Frid

Tour price (Per person): USD9,495 * GBP7,265 * EUR8,676 * AUD14,073

Single Supplement: USD640 * GBP490 * EUR585 * AUD949

Peru - Northern: Cordillera Azul to the Marañón Valley & Tumbes I 2026

16 May 2026 - 09 Jun 2026 (25 days)

USD9,900 - Spaces Available

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Tour Leader: Dušan Brinkhuizen

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*

Tour price (Per person): USD9,900 * GBP7,575 * EUR9,046 * AUD14,673

Peru - Northern: Cordillera Azul to the Marañón Valley & Tumbes II 2026

23 Aug 2026 - 16 Sep 2026 (25 days)

USD9,900 - Spaces Available

Book Now

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Tour Leader: Lev Frid

Pricing notes : *Prices are estimated and dates may change*

Tour price (Per person): USD9,900 * GBP7,575 * EUR9,046 * AUD14,673

Northern Peru hosts an abundance of highly sought-after endemic avifauna which combined with spectacular scenery, makes for one of the worlds definitive birding destinations. Our specially crafted Northern Peru tour will seek out more than 50 endemics and several future endemic splits.

We begin with two of the worlds 'newest' and most rarely seen species, Scarlet-banded Barbet and Cordillera Azul Antbird. While no longer a dedicated expedition, the Plataforma area offers the chance at some spectacularly rare and attractive species.

We’ll then explore the Tarapoto area, where we’ll search for the tricky Dotted Tanager and rare Koepcke's Hermit. We move slowly northwards, taking in Moyobamba and the highly localised endemics Painted Manakin and Mishana Tyrannulet before spending a good number of days in the brilliant, and little-known forests of Abra Patricia. Top bird species here include Bar-winged Wood Wren, Lulu's Tody-Flycatcher, Royal Sunangel, the scarce Yellow-scarfed and White-capped Tanagers and the enigmatic Long-whiskered Owlet.

Near Pomacochas, we deliver one of the great highlights of the trip, Marvelous Spatuletail! Heading into the drier Marañón Valley, we’ll seek Little Inca Finch, Maranon Crescentchest and Maranon Spinetail. Coppery Metaltail and the scarce Russet-mantled Softtail await at Abra Barro Negro before we descend once more into the stunning Marañón Valley searching for the beautiful Buff-bridled and Grey-winged Inca Finches and Yellow-faced Parrotlet. Near the town of Cajamarca, we are likely to add the recently rediscovered Grey-bellied Comet, critically endangered Cajamarca Antpitta, and the dazzling Black Metaltail.

After Cajamarca, we journey to the Pacific Coast, and the town of Pacasmayo, stopping to search for the endemic Great Spinetail, Rufous Flycatcher and Peruvian Planctcutter en route. Having reached the coast, we travel north to our base at Chaparri, deep in the Tumbes region. From here, we shall explore several habitats, targeting White-winged Guan (with as little as 300 birds estimated to survive in the wild), near endemic Tumbes Hummingbird, Henna-hooded Foliage-gleaner, beautiful Elegant Crescentchest and Cinereous Finch. We end the tour in Trujillo after searching for some of Peru’s most poorly known endemics such as Russet-bellied Spinetail and Piura Chat Tyrant near Sinsicap.

 

 

Top Birds

White-winged Guan; Koepcke's Hermit; Grey-bellied & Bronze-tailed Comets; Coppery & Black Metaltails; Marvelous Spatuletail; Spot-throated Hummingbird; Long-whiskered Owlet; Koepcke's Screech Owl; Scarlet-banded Barbet; Speckle-chested Piculet; Black-necked Woodpecker; Yellow-faced Parrotlet; Ash-throated Antwren; Cordillera Azul Antbird; Pale-billed, Rusty-tinged, Chestnut & Ochre-fronted Antpittas; Unicolored, Large-footed, Neblina & Rufous-vented Tapaculos; Coastal Miner; Striated Earthcreeper; Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail; Chestnut-backed Thornbird; Russet-mantled Softtail; Cactus Canastero; Great, Chinchipe & Russet-bellied Spinetails; Painted Manakin; Masked Fruiteater (rare); Peruvian Plantcutter; Inca & rufous Flycatcher; Lulu's Tody-Flycatcher; Mishana & Peruvian Tyrannulets; Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant; Piura Chat-Tyrant; Maranon Gnatcatcher; Peruvian Wren; Rufous-eared Brushfinch; Little, Buff-bridled, Grey-winged, Rufous-backed & Great Inca Finches; Huallaga Tanager; Cinereous Finch; White-browed Hemispingus; Plain-tailed Warbling Finch; Yellow-scarfed Tanager.

Top Mammals

Rio Mayo Titi; Saddleback Tamarin; Common Squirrel Monkey; Andean Night Monkey; Black Agouti; Northern Amazon Red & Guayaquil Squirrels; Sechura Fox; Tayra;

Habitats Covered

cloud forest, dry deciduous forest, lowland forest, coastal desert, unique Marañon valley

Expected Climate

Climate ranges from hot & humid to cold, even very cold at high altitudes. Rain is to be expected at any time. Thick cloud can impact time in cloud forests.

Max Group Size

8 with 1 Rockjumper leader

Tour Pace & Walking

This is a moderate to difficult tour. You should have a VERY GOOD level of fitness & stamina, as well as being in good health. Not suitable for dedicated photographers; inexperienced birders; or anyone with mobility or health challenges. Early starts on almost all days, many long days in the field.

Accommodation

Mostly comfortable to good, some nights at a basic lodge at Plataforma.

Ease of Birding

Moderate to demanding. Bird density is low, some visuals in high canopy, many skulking species (antpittas & tapaculos), several difficult/low density target species.

Other Attractions

exceptional scenery, amazing pristine forests, unique, seldom-explored habitats

Photographic Opportunities

worthwhile to good

What our clients say about us

Robert Williams
GW, Peru 2022

This is my first birdwatching tour organized by a company such as Rockjumper, but I have been on tours organized by my local Naturalist Society. Both Rob and Miguel were excellent. They worked extremally hard to keep everyone happy, find as many species as possible and get everyone onto each sighting.

Forrest Rowland
JB & KB, Peru 2018

This was an excellent tour! We saw so many great birds, and had many delicious meals from pizza to ceviche. The time spent birding and touring Kuelap was a highlight. To top everything off, Forrest Rowland is an awesome leader. In addition to hearing, seeing and getting everyone on the birds, he told wonderful stories and kept everyone laughing. All in all, we had a terrific time.

Robert Williams
MK, Peru 2022

Successful and enjoyable. Rob proved his already high reputation. Special thanks to our driver Miguel - always helpful, always smiling.

Lev Frid
GM, Peru 2023

This tour and the extension tour were exceptional. Of course the birds were a real pleasure to view, scenery was unbelievable, food and lodging were excellent. The main highlight were the people. A wonderful, fun group to be with. Hope I see everyone on another trip. The driver not only carried us many miles safely, he did so many other things for us, making certain getting out of bus safely, setting up for meals, and on and on. The local guide got us onto so many birds with his x-ray vision (seemed that way) and was helpful in so many ways. He and the driver were simply put, very nice people. I addition to his obvious bird locating and identification skills, Lev has exceptional people skills with his attentiveness and humor. I had a problem with the altitude one day. I wa., to put it simply.. very slow..lots of breaks. Lev was with the whole way and made certain I was OK. I am very appreciative for that. Thanks again. Its things like that, to me, that makes a guide exceptional. Lev is an exceptional guide. Now to the office team. Wow. Tia and Sarah were so helpful to me with all the questions I had. Not only do they have the answers. the answers come quickly. And I thank them for their patience. As usual, a wonderful job. Thanks again. Lastly, to the Peruvian people, the tour group, the guides, drivers, cooks, office staff and to many others. Thank you. Take care everyone.

Forrest Rowland
GR, Peru 2018

The tour was fantastic. Forrest Rowland, did a terrific job spotting birds, giving us clear directions to actually sight the birds and displayed plenty of patience in the process.

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