Northern Peru is one of the most thrilling birding destinations in South America. Over 12 days, this tour explores the rich mosaic of habitats found in the northeast: misty cloud forests, dry inter-Andean valleys, lush tropical foothills, and vibrant riverine woodlands. The diversity is astonishing, the pace rewarding, and the birding—simply unforgettable.

From your first sightings on the coast of Lima to the last feeders buzzing with hummingbirds in the upper Utcubamba Valley, each day brings lifers, surprises, and moments of awe. Whether it’s a tinamou creeping through the forest floor or a coquette flashing its iridescence midair, the birds are the stars of the journey—but not the only ones.

We begin along the Pacific coast, where Humboldt Penguins, Inca Terns, and Peruvian Thick-knees offer a striking prelude. From there, we head into the eastern Andes, where humid foothill forests and riverine habitats host specialties like Dotted Tanager, Koepcke’s Hermit, and Plumbeous Euphonia.

The Alto Mayo Valley around Moyobamba becomes our base for several days of exceptional birding. We visit a network of private reserves with excellent feeders and trails: Waqanki, Arena Blanca, and Morro de Calzada. Highlights here may include Rufous-crested Coquette, Wire-crested Thorntail, Point-tailed Palmcreeper, Mishana Tyrannulet, and Black-bellied Tanager.

As we ascend to Abra Patricia and the Alto Mayo Protection Forest, the forests turn mossy and cool. Here, birders enter a realm of cloud forest endemics—species found nowhere else on Earth. These include Rusty-tinged Antpitta, Ochre-fronted Antpitta, Johnson’s Tody-Flycatcher, Bar-winged Wood-wren, and the rarely seen Long-whiskered Owlet.

And of course, one day is set aside for the pilgrimage to “Huembo” and “Refugio del Colibrí Cola Espatula” reserves to see the spectacular Marvelous Spatuletail—a bird that alone makes the trip worth it.

This tour is made for birders who appreciate both discovery and comfort. You’ll travel with expert local guides, stay at lodges where the forest begins at your door, and enjoy private transfers that make the experience smooth and relaxed. Though the days are active, the atmosphere is never rushed. There is time to observe, to photograph, and simply to enjoy.

If you’ve ever dreamed of exploring the places where endemics still thrive and the feeders never go quiet, Northern Peru belongs on your list.

And once you’ve been there, it will stay with you.