The Cordillera Blanca (White Mountains), a veritable Andean Switzerland, are an impressive range of snow-capped and glacier riddled mountains some 200km north of Lima. Popular amongst the adventure sports fraternity for the excellent granite rock faces, we however will remain rather more tethered to the ground. During this extension we take in both the arid desert coast en route to higher ground, and then bird through stunning Polylepis forests and paramo grasslands before returning to Lima for a host of endemic coastal species. Aside from the spectacular scenery, a number of restricted species occur here including White-cheeked Cotinga, Ancash Tapaculo, Giant Conebill, Black Metaltail, Stripe-headed Antpitta and a host of endemic coastal species.
Puna Teal, Tawny-throated Dotterel, Peruvian Thick-knee, Black-necked Woodpecker, Mountain Parakeet, Stripe-headed Antpitta, Giant, Oasis, Amazilia & Spot-throated Hummingbirds, Shining Sunbeam, Peruvian Sheartail, Purple-collared Woodstar, Black Metaltail, White-browed & Giant Conebills, White-cheeked Cotinga, Coastal, Thick-billed & Greyish Miners, Ancash (Pale-tailed) & Canyon Canasteros, Striated & Plain-breasted Earthcreepers, Least Seedsnipe, Peruvian Thick-knee, Dark-faced Ground Tyrant, Black-crested Tit-Tyrant, Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail, Baron’s Spinetail, Ancash Tapaculo, Blue-mantled Thornbill, D’Orbigny’s & Piura Chat-Tyrants, Rufous-webbed Tyrant, Tit-like Dacnis, Scrub Blackbird, Great & Rufous-backed Inca Finches, Rufous-eared Brushfinch, Band-tailed Sierra Finch, Rufous-breasted & Plain-tailed Warbling Finchs, Raimondi’s Yellow Finch, Band-tailed Seedeater, Yellowish Pipit, Peruvian Meadowlark, Hooded Siskin, Peruvian Seaside Cincoldes, Blackish Oystercatcher, Peruvian Pelican, Red-legged & Guanay Cormorants, Humboldt Penguin, Peruvian Booby, Grey & Belcher’s Gulls, Inca Tern
Taruca, South American Sea Lion, South American Fur Seal, Marine Otter
Polylepis forests, cactus-studded scrubland, agricultural lands, mountains, lakes, coastal
8 with 1 Rockjumper leader
moderate to relaxed
comfortable
comfortable, some high altitude areas
exceptional scenery including Nevado Huascarán (Peru’s highest mountain at 6,768m (22,200 ft) and the world’s highest tropical peak).
good to excellent
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.
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.
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.
Our guide, Rob Williams, was exceptionally well qualified, good humoured in all circumstances and remarkably diligent in accommodating all levels of birding skills within our group. He went out of his way to make sure that each member of the group realised their expectations for the trip. We would welcome the opportunity to join him on additional trips; he is a quality individual with sound values and a superb representative of Rockjumper Birding Tours.
Guides were awesome. Found lots of birds; guide was way too knowledgeable about the bird species and taxonomy.
18 May 2025 - 24 May 2025 (7 days)
USD4,000 - Spaces Available
Tour Leader: Adam Walleyn
Peru - Northern: Marañón Endemics & Marvelous Spatuletail 2023 - October 2023
Peru - Southern: Machu Picchu Extension 2023 - April 2023
Peru - Southern: Classic Andes & Manu Road 2023 - April 2023
Peru - Southern: Lima & Ancash Extension 2023 - April 2023
Peru - Northern: Marañón Endemics & Marvelous Spatuletail 2021 - September 2021
Peru - Northern: Marañón Endemics & Marvelous Spatuletail 2018 - September 2018
Peru - Northern: Marañón Endemics & Marvelous Spatuletail 2016 - September 2016
Peru - Northern: Marañón Endemics & Marvelous Spatuletail 2015 - September 2015
Peru - Northern: Marañón Endemics & Marvelous Spatuletail 2014 - September 2014
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