Advice on Peru Trip (1 Viewer)

[ebirder]

I am planning to go to Peru Autumn 2009 and was hoping for some info, this is for my 40th Birthday and will be alone, Bit sad travelling alone but this is a big one, family not interested and too big for friends.
I can only really stretch to two weeks, the wife won't approve any longer.

So I am looking to get on a tour, would like to take in Manu and Machu Picchu but limited by the time.
Also not wanting to upset anyone I want this to be quite fast paced to do as much as possible, not a Saga tour.

Any suggestions?

 

[martinf]

Can be done by yourself
Read http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=65919 for a very good account.

Would also recommend you get this book to pick the sites to see the birds you want
http://www.nhbs.com/title.php?tefno=137220

 

[Vectis Birder]

Bit sad travelling alone but this is a big one, family not interested and too big for friends.

It's not sad at all, plenty of us travel alone, usually for the same reasons as you cite in your post.
There is a Birding Peru Yahoo Group (you need to register) and they have useful info on there. As with all Yahoo Groups (bad lay outs) you need to hunt around in there a bit.

 

[Iceberg slim]

A good alternative is a long circuit Lima-lima via "satipo road", contact Gunnar Engblom @
http://www.kolibriexpeditions.com/,just a thought.PM me for some info

 

[Simon M]

Lots of UK based tour companies run regular trips E.g

http://www.papyrustours.co.uk/americas/peru.shtml
http://www.naturetrek.co.uk/wildlife-holidays-in-americas/country.asp?ID=59
http://www.ornitholidays.co.uk/holiday_detail.asp?details_id=180

I can particularly recommend the first of these (though I might be a bit biased). Certain companies cater for birders of different levels of keeness (some are more relaxed and take in some culture etc where others aim to maximise ticks). It's worth talking in person to a few to get the one that is most suited to what you want.
Alternatively Peru is a comparatively easy country to do yourself. Buy a good map and the where to watch book (by A. Vaqui?) and learn some spanish. Myself and a friend did four weeks in 2006 which was fantastic (and very economical)

 

[Illapa]

Hello, My name is Steve Sanchez and I am bird guide, in two weeks can be a good journey in Peru, you can see Lagoon Wacarpay (1 day)where there are more than 100 species, Abra Málaga, there are many endemic species here (1day). Machu Picchu (3 days), Cloud Forest in Manu (4 days), then return to Cuzco and fly to Maldonado (Tambopata Reserve) (4 or 5 Days). It is a good way to see birds of different heights. You can write me if you need help or information about the routes.
[email protected]
Greetings.
Steve