Per person ?The price listed above is based on a minimum of 4 people in double occupancy. If you have any questions please refer to FAQ of send us a message.
Explore a full day Birding in Lima with a tour that starts in the quaint fishing village of Pucusana and concludes in the ecologically vibrant Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge. We will begin your journey with a scenic drive to Pucusana, where a guided boat tour awaits to take you along the coastline and nearby islets. This area is a haven for seabirds; look out for the graceful and endemic Inca Tern or Peruvian Pelican. You might also catch a glimpse of the rare Humboldt Penguin and the stunning Red-legged Cormorant nesting among the cliffs. After your marine adventure, continue to the Pantanos de Villa, a crucial wetland ecosystem just south of Lima. Here, the focus shifts to different bird species such as the Many-colored Rush Tyrant, the Wren-like Rushbird, and the endemic Peruvian Thick-knee. The marshes also attract migratory species, offering seasonal surprises depending on the time of your visit. This combined birding itinerary offers an unparalleled opportunity to observe both marine and freshwater birds in their natural habitats, providing a thorough overview of the birdlife that Peru’s coastal region has to offer.
Discover a diverse range of bird species with a day-long birdwatching tour that includes visits to Pucusana and the Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge in Lima. Start the tour in Pucusana, a small fishing village known for its abundant seabird population. Board a boat to navigate the rocky inlets and islets off the coast, an ideal setting for observing species such as the Inca Tern, Peruvian Pelican, Peruvian Booby, Humboldt Penguin, Surf Cinclodes, Guanay Cormorant and Red-legged Cormorant among many more. The rocky cliffs provide excellent nesting grounds for these birds, allowing for close-up views. After exploring the marine bird habitats, the tour heads to the Pantanos de Villa, a key wetland reserve near Lima. This area supports a different ecological community, including the beautiful Many-colored Rush Tyrant, Wren-like Rushbird, White-cheeked Pintail, Yellow-hooded Blackbird, White-tufted Grebe and the Peruvian Thick-knee, along with migratory birds that visit seasonally. The tour provides a comprehensive look at the bird species inhabiting Lima’s coastal and wetland environments, making it a valuable experience for birdwatchers interested in the variety of Peru's avian life.
This is a light-activity birding day designed to maximize observation time with minimal physical effort.
Duration: Walks are short and relaxed covering flat terrain.
Trail Conditions: Mostly easy and accessible. At Pantanos de Villa, trails are flat but can be dusty or slightly muddy near the marshes.
👟 Tip: Comfortable walking shoes or light hiking shoes are sufficient.
The tour combines a scenic coastal drive with a short boat excursion.
Driving Time:
Boat Ride (Pucusana):
This tour offers a great introduction to Peru’s coastal birdlife, combining marine and wetland habitats in a single day.
Marine Birds (Pucusana):
Wetland Birds (Pantanos de Villa):
🌎 Highlight: A unique opportunity to experience two completely different ecosystems in one day.
For a one-day coastal tour, keep things light and practical.
Clothing: Light layers (mornings can be cool, midday warmer)
Footwear: Comfortable walking shoes
Weather Protection: Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
Boat Gear: Windbreaker recommended for the boat ride
Accessories: Reusable water bottle, small backpack
Birding Gear:
The Lima coast has a mild but humid desert climate.
Temperature: ~15–25°C (59–77°F)
Conditions: Often overcast (garúa), especially in winter months
🌫️ Note: Light mist is common but rarely affects birding activity.
Yes, the boat excursion in Pucusana is operated by experienced local fishermen/tour boatman.
Conditions: Generally calm waters
Safety: Life jackets are provided
⚠️ Tip: If you are sensitive to motion, consider taking precautions for seasickness.
Minimal compared to rainforest or jungle tours.
Pantanos de Villa: Some mosquitoes may be present near the wetlands
🧴 Advice: Bring light insect repellent, though it’s not essential.
Included: Lunch during the tour
Not Included: Breakfast and dinner
🥗 Note: Please inform us in advance of any dietary restrictions.
This is a full-day tour without extended indoor stays.
⚡ Suggestion: Bring a power bank if needed
We maintain small groups to ensure a personalized birding experience.
Group Size:
🎯 Benefit: Better views, flexibility, and more time on target species.
Discover Peru’s Best Bird Watching Locations – Unforgettable Destinations for Bird Lovers
Publicado en Alain K04/12/2025Verificada Thank you, Manakin Expeditions. There were six of us in the van plus Danny and our driver Hilmar. We did the two week southern Peru birding and culture trip except we did not visit Machu Picchu. November is the start of the rainy season, and we had a bit of rain during the first few days. This trip was terrific. There was real mix of lodging situations but all were friendly with comfortable beds and lovely gardens. Danny’s expertise in birding (371 species for us!) Inca culture, and Peruvian history made him a terrific guide for our Peru trip. Hilmar’s driving was expert, too. He usually had to back up around curves with steep sides in order to get past a large truck. There can be nervous-making water crossings during rainy season, too. Hilmar was up to the very delicate task.Publicado en 740janetw17/02/2025Verificada Awesome expedition to birding locations Manakin Expeditions is a wonderful company with an amazing 13 day tour of Northern Peru. Our small group of 4 adults had Danny Vargas as trip leader with his brother as assistant and a driver of the van. This was a great ratio of Guides to Tourists! We traveled from east to west and crossed a variety of habitats and were able to see many diverse birds and animals. The ecolodges were terrific to stay in and the food was great. I highly recommend this company and its staff.Publicado en CtheworldCtheworld26/06/2024Verificada Amazing birding adventure with guide from Manakin Expeditions We were whisked away from Cusco with Danny a few years back for an epic birding adventure prior to the formation of Manakin. I recall that he would hear a bird and identify it while driving, without even seeing the species. We spent time viewing the Cock of the Rock and then we spent almost a week in Manu, exploring the vast and magnificent untouched beauty. We were quite remote and we had the most wonderful time. Danny led a wildlife count each evening accompanied by photos, we played games, ate wonderful food, and basked in the wildness and remoteness of the area. We also stopped in many highland areas to view hummingbirds and ruins. We saw many species of monkeys, saki, tamarin, capuchin troops, spider, woolly monkey (left me breathless), sloth, tapir, caimans, hoatzin, and too many birds to mention. This was one of the most memorable trips I have been on, and I would book time with Danny again in an instant. I always felt safe and he is extremely knowledgeable about all creatures great and small.Publicado en christopherjoel13/06/2024Verificada Great Sights, Great Birds We met Danny Vargas at our beautiful hotel in Cuzco to embark on a trip to the Manu Wilderness Lodge. On the way, Danny had the driver stop several times to see rare birds and we saw a beautiful troop of wooly monkeys. I'm a serious birder and I studied my field guide, "Birds of Peru," for at least a year prior to the trip but Danny proved to be highly competent. I quit keeping notes when I discovered how good Danny was about putting together a list of sightings each evening from memory. We saw the much sought after Andean cock-of-the-rock and Vanessa, a mostly wild tapir. We soon came to share his love of what I call chicken restaurants where chickens come in until the owner chases them out. They're great places to have indigenous Peruvian food.I've had excellent birding guides all over the world and Danny was one of the greatest of the great. I got 176 life birds on my life list, due in no small part to Danny's competence as a birder.Publicado en Janan A02/06/2024Verificada Birding & cultural tour in Peru We went on a birding and cultural tour with Danny as our guide and leader in 2019, when he was working for a different company. Danny is so knowledgeable, engaging, caring, and patient. With Danny's guidance, my birding & photography skills improved. It was the trip of a lifetime. We got to experience diverse ecosystems and encounter rare species that are a part of the delicate web of life specific to each region. We also got to see historic cultural sites, meet artisans and craftspeople, and tour the salt spring and learn about the community. I highly recommend Danny as a guide and trip leader!Publicado en Steven L31/05/2024Verificada Great Day at Abra Malaga I spent an entire day with Danny from Manakin Expeditions. We went to Abra Malaga and had a great day of birding. We saw spectacular vistas and over 31 species. Food was provided which was a nice unexpected surprise.Danny is personable, reliable and knows where to go to find the birds.I wouldn't hesitate to use him again.Publicado en James P15/05/2024Verificada Professional, dedicated, and completely customizable! Danny and the team at Manakin Expeditions are professional and beyond comparison in terms of their ability to create customized tours to suit your individual interests. I took a 16-day tour with Danny that was specifically catered to tracking down an extensive list of target bird species throughout northern Peru, and he put together an amazing itinerary that allowed us to see nearly every bird on my list! His expertise in the field and knowledge on local spots is unparalleled, and his dedication and patience for tracking down even the most elusive birds for a client is impressive. I'm a fairly experienced birder that has had many bird guides around the world and Danny is among the best I've had. The drivers we had were also professional and very friendly. The accommodations and food were great and were picked based on my budget. If you are looking for someone who will go above and beyond to give you a customized experience rather than just a one-size-fits-all bird tour, this is absolutely the company to do it with.Publicado en Alexandra H14/05/2024Verificada Amazing experience! We had an incredible experience with Manakin Expeditions. We were staying in the Sacred Valley and wanted to see some cloud forest birds, so we took a day tour to Abra Malaga. Miguel, who helped us set up the tour, was incredibly helpful. Danny Vargas, our guide, was an expert ornithologist, a conservationist, and a source of knowledge about the Sacred Valley and its surrounds. The tour was both extremely professional and very personalized, and we learned about the birds (and even picked up some birding techniques), the history, and the biology of the area. Our box lunches were delicious, our driver was friendly and professional - just an amazing experience with an extremely professional operation. I would recommend Manakin Expeditions to anyone travelling to the Cusco area or beyond, for any reason, but particularly for those wanting to spot some of Peru's amazing birds.Carga más
Publicado en Robert Shackleton21/12/2025Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. Danny Vargas and his crew hosted six of us for a 13-day trip devoted mainly to birding in the region around Cusco, including Huacarpay, Abra Malaga, Vilcabamba, and Urubamba in the high Andes but also down the Manu road to Manu biological station in the Amazon basin. The travel arrangements, lodging, and food were all excellent. Danny’s expert knowledge not only of the birds and other wildlife but also of the archaeology and history of the region contributed to making the entire trip an extremely entertaining, educational, and memorable experience. The group saw over 370 species of birds altogether, including 44 species of hummingbirds and nearly 30 species of tanagers; and as an aging birder with declining eyesight, I was especially grateful for Danny’s solicitous care in ensuring that every member of the group had a good chance of seeing every bird. In addition to the birding, Danny provided extremely interesting tours of several key Inca sites, including Sacsayhuamán near Cusco as well as Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Vilcabamba. I unreservedly recommend Danny and Manakin Expeditions to anyone planning a similar trip.Publicado en Alberto17/10/2024Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. I recently had the incredible opportunity to visit northern Peru thanks to the expert guidance of Manakin Expeditions. This trip was everything I had hoped for and more! I was able to check off so many lifers from my list, including some of the most sought-after species. Among the highlights were the stunning Marvelous Spatuletail, one of the most unique hummingbirds I’ve ever seen, and several other endemic species that made this trip truly unforgettable. If you're a serious birder looking to expand your list and experience Peru's rich ecosystems, I highly recommend booking with Dannny. They know their birds, and they certainly know how to deliver an exceptional birding adventure!Publicado en Moses M03/06/2024Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. Amazing Birdwatching Tour at Machu Picchu! I recently went on a birdwatching tour at Machu Picchu with Manakin Expeditions, and it was an incredible experience! The organization was flawless, and the guides were extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic about birdlife. We were able to spot a variety of bird species, including some rare and beautiful ones. The backdrop of Machu Picchu made the experience even more magical. The guides shared fascinating insights about the birds and the unique environment of this iconic location.Publicado en Rubén Vargas02/06/2024Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. Our trip to Manu was unforgettable. From the moment we reached out, their responsiveness and attention to detail stood out. We spent five wonderful days in Cusco and then head to Manu, guided by Miguel and Danny. They were attentive to our interests and customized our itinerary, making sure we experienced everything to the fullest. Their dedication truly enhanced our visit.Publicado en Alexandra Heatwole13/05/2024Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. Manakin Expeditions is an incredible operation. Miguel and Danny are knowledgeable and accommodating. Our tour with Danny was a revelation; he is a true birding expert and a conservationist. We learned so much and saw some incredible sights along the way. Anyone booking with Manakin will have an amazing experience.Carga más
The most most outstanding aspects of Peru in a week. Including accesible birding in remote areas, impressive Inca monuments like Machupicchu and Manu Park counted as the most biodiverse place on earth. Representing the essence of the country.
Culture and Nature !!
The most most outstanding aspects of Peru in a week. Including accesible birding in remote areas, impressive Inca monuments like Machupicchu and Manu Park counted as the most biodiverse place on earth. Representing the essence of the country.