Peru Part 1 – the north, braving the altitude
Flying in to Lima from Sao Paulo Brazil we had amazing views of snowy mountains and an active volcano.
Lima – a great start with some amazing Thai and local food, plus an interesting historic area to wander around. Love all the street art – it is everywhere and very good.
The one interesting thing is that the locals get around with Tuk Tuk’s but we tried to get one and apparently they are not allowed in the main tourist area so you need to use Uber or Taxi, shame.
There are some grand old buildings around this area – apparently this was a family residence – huge.
We start our journey into the North of Peru with a birding trip over the mountains. The bus route’s highest point is 4811 metres above sea level, but we travelled along some scary narrow, steep, 4×4 roads topping at 4890 metres. At one point we passed what to me would be far too scary a bridge to cross – but it is used.
We have a driver/guide as it’s not really possible to drive these roads without knowledge and we are very glad that we have one, there is no way we could drive at the speed he does – no seatbelts, looking at phone etc round narrow roads with steep drops. Sometimes it is best just to shut your eyes and trust.
While on the driving aspect, it does appear that road signs here are just decorative, not for actually following. In saying that though I found the driving here not as chaotic as in Brazil with far less mad trucks which is a bonus. A lot of trucks have Jesus on the rear doors, not sure why, but a bit off putting.
As we always leave early in the morning for birding our breakfast is taken in some unusual but also scenic areas.
At one point we went off track at about 3000 m to find some birds and up an even worse road only to get blocked by a truck who had driven up there just to dump a truck load of rubbish – dreadful.
So sad for the wildlife (and people) when it all breaks down to micro plastic and prior to that looks horrid.
No-one seems to care anymore about rubbish, it is overwhelming in so many places.
We passed a massive rubbish dump, metres deep in what was once a very scenic mountain area.
A couple of times we got stopped by Police – no problem the driver just pay’s them money and all good…..
It is so sad to see people – mostly old sleeping on the streets in the small towns at over 4000 metres – this is spring and it is freezing I am amazed they survive in winter.
Of course up high the scenery is not always visible, many times it is so misty you can not see far, but we learnt an unusual trick for the windscreen steaming up – rub it over with coconut oil – it really did help surprisingly but not sure what would happen to visibility in full sun with oil on the windscreen?
Some parts of these scary windy roads have machinery that appears permanently there for clearing landslides of which there are many along the road. At one point on our way to a hummingbird garden – in the rain we got to one point where the rocks were coming off the cliff face onto the road. I suggested to the driver we skip it, turn round and go back but he just sat watching for a while then put his foot down and went. (I did wonder if we would get back later).
Further along we hit a traffic jam – road either blocked by falls of collapsed apparently. Luckily we were far enough along to get into the back gate of the garden – not that there was a lot of bird activity in the rain but it was a beautiful place anyway and did bring out a lovely (although poisonous) frog.
Near the end of this amazing scenic pass there is a whole load of mining, this apparently is the major factor in why there are so few Grebe’s left (and no doubt other wildlife). As the mines are polluting the water ways and lake.
A morning out on Junin Lake at just over 4000 metres to find the grebe was freezing. It rained all the way driving to the lake but luckily stopped just as we were going out – and started again as we landed back (lucky). It was so cold we had 3 thermal layers on under clothes and the boat gave us a blanket each. Poor Grebes, down to about 20 left now because of the mining pollution. Locals were having a festival while we were on the lake, blokes slipped out the back for a quick drink or 2.
Now for a trip that until a couple of years ago took 6-8 hours but the road is now improved and it is down to 3, good for us as we really wanted to find the barbet which is only in this area.
Of course as we find out with the road improvement comes destruction.
Funny local little village we are staying in with some kind of very loud festival going on – and the inflating and letting off of a pink cow.
Not really sure about a fire in a cow being good for whichever bit of forest or land it ends up on – hope it does not cause a bush fire.
The restaurant also has a wild Pecary wandering around trying to cadge food – different…. Other local birders we met here told us that 4 months ago many more kilometers were still forest and 2 years ago it was hundreds of kilometers of more forest. We were looking for a particular bird and had to climb over a field of still hot burning forest – poor bird – there will be no forest left for it in months I reckon.
Another funny thing at this guest house is our room has a one way mirror over what was a window – trouble is they put it the wrong way round so people outside can see in but we could not see out – best to undress in the dark.
We have really noticed both in Brazil and Peru how fast and how much natural land is gone and going. Burning everywhere – not even chopping it down and using the wood, just set fire to it, push it aside and plant crops. The planet has no hope whatsoever as far as I can see. Even up at nearly 4000 metres the hills are mostly bare of natural vegetation.
Most restaurants open here around 6pm so we found it interesting in one place that at 6.15 I ordered a chicken and vegetable stir fry to be told they had run out of vegetables……
After some more amazing birding locations and lovely stays in forest’s we are going to a “tourist” town to see a waterfall and other stuff. Cute town with paintings of birds and other stuff on many of the houses. The waterfall here is one of the longest in the world at 771 metres – and a lot of water too, very powerful. We did not go right too it as had not registered how far and steep the hike was and did not have time, but it was impressive even from a distance.
The next was a horse ride to see the Sarcofogus on the cliffs. I would not normally ride an animal, preferring to walk but it was hot and steep and as the horses looked really healthy with shiny coats etc and rested after one trip which is only 15 mins each way it seemed fine to do. They are obviously very well cared for.
Amazing feat to have got the bodies onto the cliffs and then build the structure around them.
I was impressed with our local guide as he picked up rubbish he saw along the route – no idea why people have to drop it as there are bins near by (and they have pockets…).
Lots of interesting churches every where, I especially liked the 2nd one – apparently still used although it does not look like it.
The next place in this area is Kuelap Ruins on a ridge at 3000 metres built around 900 – 1100 years ago- older than Machu Pichu which was only built around 600 years ago.
To get there used to be a 1.5 hour windy road trip but now there is a cable car – well there should be but the day we were going we waited and waited – apparently no electricity so in the end we drove. Scariest road yet, rock falls about every 20 metres for a good half of the road, some small and some with massive rocks. We are told it only happens when raining so lucky it is sunny today.
Back to some birding and looking for Inca Finches. Yet again destruction is so fast the guide tried 3 different roads he knows and all the forest very recently burnt and cleared, we did find a spot in the end but such a small area I do not think that will be there for long either. Our guide is equally surprised everywhere on this trip how fast the forest has gone.
1 year ago about 20 – 30km is now like this that was all forest.
There are a number of Ventanillas around this area (rock holes that serve as burial sites), the one we visited has over 337 holes which are like little passageways up to 10 metres in length. They make an interesting rock feature.
Another interesting dish in a restaurant – Cooked chips added into and cooked again with stirfry. Alternate menu had Guinea pigs on menu, People sell them on the streets.
Some lovely old buildings in this town.
Along this whole route so far we have seen a lot of political rallies, parties and all sorts. October is local government elections and it is taken very seriously. Music, dancing, parties etc. Houses everywhere painted with candidates and if house not suitable for painting then a plastic banner.
We have had fun making up party names to go with the symbols each party has (over 211 parties throughout the country).
Below are a few symbols, who can come up with the most interesting idea of what pretend party it could represent. ie could the “tree” symbol be the green party or the destruction lets get rid of trees party. Post your ideas on the facebook post.
I love the transport for work and school, looks like fun if you are young, maybe not so comfortable when older.
Our last stop in this section is a reserve where they are trying to save not only the habitat but re-introduce native species and care for rescue animals. They have a native spectacled bear that was rescued and it has now mated with a wild bear and has 2 cubs. Great work. The reserve is home to many other mammals and reptiles most of which are almost never seen – apart from the foxes that come begging for food.
Some great land, scenery and birds – it is also a cultural heritage site. Although it was sad to see the local guide who works for the reserve walk right past rubbish on the ground till our own guide told her to go back and pick it up. More education needed.
Peru part 2 a bus journey starts after a couple of days in Lima.
BIRD & WILDLIFE IDENTIFIED:
Birds:
Amazilia Hummingbird
Amazonian Umbrellabird
American Kestrel
Amethyst Woodstar
Amethyst-throated Sunangel
Andean Condor
Andean Duck
Andean Emerald
Andean Flicker
Andean Goose
Andean Guan
Andean Gull
Andean Lapwing
Andean Negrito
Andean Solitaire
Andean Swallow
Andean Swift
Ash-breasted Sierra Finch
Ashy-headed Greenlet
Atuen Antpitta
Azara’s Spinetail
Baird’s Flycatcher
Baird’s Sandpiper
Bananaquit
Band-bellied Owl
Band-tailed Pigeon
Band-tailed Seedeater
Band-tailed Sierra Finch
Bare-faced Ground Dove
Barred Becard
Barred Fruiteater
Bar-winged Wood-Wren
Bay Antpitta
Bay-headed Tanager
Belcher’s Gull
Beryl-spangled Tanager
Bicolored Hawk
Black Metaltail
Black Phoebe
Black Siskin
Black Vulture
Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher
Black-bellied Tanager
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Black-billed Thrush
Black-billed Treehunter
Black-capped Hemispingus
Black-capped Sparrow
Black-capped Tyrannulet
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle
Black-crested Tit-Tyrant
Black-crested Warbler
Black-faced Dacnis
Black-faced Tanager
Blackish Antbird
Black-necked Stilt
Black-necked Woodpecker
Black-tailed Trainbearer
Black-throated Flowerpiercer
Black-throated Mango
Blue Dacnis
Blue-and-white Swallow
Blue-backed Conebill
Blue-black Grassquit
Blue-browed Tanager
Blue-capped Tanager
Blue-crowned Trogon
Blue-fronted Lancebill
Blue-grey Tanager
Blue-headed Parrot
Blue-naped Chlorophonia
Blue-necked Tanager
Blue-rumped Manakin
Blue-tailed Emerald
Blue-winged Mountain Tanager
Bluish Flowerpiercer
Bluish-fronted Jacamar
Boat-billed Flycatcher
Brazilian Teal
Bright-rumped Yellow-Finch
Bronze-green Euphonia
Bronze-tailed Comet
Bronzy Inca
Brown Violetear
Brown-backed Chat-Tyrant
Brown-bellied Swallow
Brown-capped Vireo
Brown-chested Martin
Brown-flanked Tanager
Buff-bellied Tanager
Buff-bridled Inca-Finch
Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaner
Buff-rumped Warbler
Buff-tailed Sicklebill
Buff-throated Saltator
Cajamarca Antpitta
Canyon Canastero
Capped Conebill
Chestnut-backed Thornbird
Chestnut-bellied Mountain Tanager
Chestnut-bellied Seedeater
Chestnut-bellied Seed-Finch
Chestnut-breasted Coronet
Chestnut-capped Brushfinch
Chestnut-collared Swallow
Chestnut-collared Swift
Chestnut-crowned Antpitta
Chestnut-crowned Gnateater
Chestnut-eared Aracari
Chestnut-headed Crake
Chestnut-tailed Antbird
Chestnut-tipped Toucanet
Chiguanco Thrush
Chilean Flamingo
Chivi Vireo
Cinereous Conebill
Cinereous Finch
Cinereous Ground-Tyrant
Cinereous Tinamou
Cinnamon Flycatcher
Cinnamon Teal
Citrine Warbler
Cobalt-winged Parakeet
Cocoi Heron
Collared Antshrike
Collared Inca
Collared Warbling Finch
Comb Duck
Common Chlorospingus
Common Gallinule
Common Squirrel-Cuckoo
Common Tody-Flycatcher
Coppery Metaltail
Cordillera Azul Antbird
Cordilleran Parakeet
Correndera Pipit
Cream-winged Cinclodes
Crested Duck
Crimson-crested Woodpecker
Croaking Ground Dove
Curl-crested Aracari
Deep-blue Flowerpiercer
Diademed Sandpiper-Plover
d’Orbigny’s Chat-Tyrant
Double-toothed Kite
Drab Hemispingus
Drab Seedeater
Dull-colored Grassquit
Dusky-capped Flycatcher
Dusky-capped Greenlet
Eared Dove
Ecuadorian Ground Dove
Ecuadorian Piedtail
Elegant Crescentchest
Equatorial Greytail
Euler’s Flycatcher
Fasciated Wren
Fawn-breasted Tanager
Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl
Fiery-capped Manakin
Flame-faced Tanager
Foothill Schiffornis
Forest Elaenia
Fork-tailed Woodnymph
Fulvous-faced Scrub-Tyrant
Giant Coot
Giant Hummingbird
Gilded Barbet
Glacier Finch
Glittering-throated Emerald
Golden Grosbeak
Golden Tanager
Golden-billed Saltator
Golden-eared Tanager
Golden-headed Manakin
Golden-headed Quetzal
Golden-naped Tanager
Golden-olive Woodpecker
Golden-plumed Parakeet
Golden-rumped Euphonia
Golden-tailed Sapphire
Gould’s Jewelfront
Grass-green Tanager
Great Egret
Great Inca-Finch
Great Jacamar
Great Kiskadee
Great Spinetail
Great Thrush
Great-billed Hermit
Green Hermit
Green Honeycreeper
Green Jay
Green-and-black Fruiteater
Green-and-gold Tanager
Green-backed Trogon
Greenish Puffleg
Green-tailed Trainbearer
Grey-and-white Tyrannulet
Grey-bellied Comet
Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan
Grey-breasted Sabrewing
Grey-breasted Wood-Wren
Grey-fronted Dove
Grey-rumped Swift
Grey-winged Inca-Finch
Groove-billed Ani
Guayaquil Woodpecker
Harris’s Hawk
Hepatic Tanager
Hoatzin
Hooded Mountain Tanager
Hooded Siskin
Hooded Tinamou
Hook-billed Kite
House Sparrow
Inambari Woodcreeper
Jelski’s Chat-Tyrant
Jet Manakin
Johnson’s Tody-Flycatcher
Junin Grebe
King Vulture
Koepcke’s Hermit
Lacrimose Mountain Tanager
Lafresnaye’s Piculet
Large-footed Tapaculo
Lemon-throated Barbet
Lesser Elaenia
Lesser Violetear
Lettered Aracari
Leymebamba Antpitta
Limpkin
Lineated Woodpecker
Line-cheeked Spinetail
Lined Antshrike
Little Blue Heron
Little Inca-Finch
Little Woodstar
Long-tailed Mockingbird
Long-tailed Potoo
Long-tailed Sylph
Long-tailed Tyrant
Magpie Tanager
Many-colored Rush Tyrant
Marañon Antshrike
Marañon Crescentchest
Marañon Gnatcatcher
Marañon Spinetail
Marañon Thrush
Marañon Tyrannulet
Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant
Marvelous Spatuletail
Masked Crimson Tanager
Masked Flowerpiercer
Masked Tanager
Masked Trogon
Metallic-green Tanager
Mishana Tyrannulet
Mitred Parakeet
Montane Woodcreeper
Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet
Mountain Cacique
Mountain Caracara
Mountain Parakeet
Mountain Velvetbreast
Mountain Wren
Mournful Long-tailed Woodcreeper
Mourning Sierra Finch
Mouse-colored Thistletail
Mouse-grey Flycatcher
Muscovy Duck
Necklaced Spinetail
Neotropic Cormorant
Northern Slaty-Antshrike
Oasis Hummingbird
Ochre-bellied Flycatcher
Ochre-fronted Antpitta
Ochre-naped Ground-Tyrant
Ochre-throated Foliage-gleaner
Oilbird
Oleaginous Hemispingus
Olivaceous Thornbill
Olivaceous Woodcreeper
Olive-backed Woodcreeper
Olive-faced Flatbill
Opal-crowned Tanager
Orange-backed Troupial
Orange-bellied Euphonia
Ornate Flycatcher
Ornate Tinamou
Pacific Elaenia
Pacific Hornero
Pacific Parrotlet
Painted Manakin
Pale-billed Antpitta
Pale-breasted Thrush
Pale-edged Flycatcher
Pale-vented Pigeon
Palm Tanager
Paradise Tanager
Parrot-billed Seedeater
Pearled Treerunner
Pearly-vented Tody-Tyrant
Peruvian Booby
Peruvian Meadowlark
Peruvian Pelican
Peruvian Pigeon
Peruvian Plantcutter
Peruvian Pygmy-Owl
Peruvian Screech-Owl
Peruvian Sheartail
Peruvian Sierra Finch
Peruvian Slaty Brushfinch
Peruvian Thick-knee
Peruvian Tyrannulet
Peruvian Warbling-Antbird
Peruvian Wren
Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant
Piratic Flycatcher
Plain Antvireo
Plain-breasted Ground Dove
Plain-colored Seedeater
Plumbeous Pigeon
Plumbeous Rail
Plumbeous Sierra Finch
Plushcap
Powerful Woodpecker
Puna Ibis
Puna Teal
Puna Tinamou
Purple Gallinule
Purple Honeycreeper
Purple-collared Woodstar
Purple-throated Euphonia
Purple-throated Sunangel
Rainbow Starfrontlet
Red-billed Parrot
Red-capped Cardinal
Red-crested Cotinga
Red-crested Finch
Red-crowned Ant-Tanager
Red-masked Parakeet
Red-ruffed Fruitcrow
Red-rumped Cacique
Roadside Hawk
Rock Dove
Rose-fronted Parakeet
Royal Sunangel
Ruddy Ground Dove
Ruddy Pigeon
Rufous Flycatcher
Rufous Spinetail
Rufous-backed Inca-Finch
Rufous-breasted Antthrush
Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant
Rufous-breasted Hermit
Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail
Rufous-browed Peppershrike
Rufous-capped Antshrike
Rufous-capped Nunlet
Rufous-chested Tanager
Rufous-collared Sparrow
Rufous-crested Coquette
Rufous-crested Tanager
Rufous-fronted Thornbird
Rufous-rumped Foliage-gleaner
Rufous-tailed Tyrant
Rufous-vented Tapaculo
Russet-backed Oropendola
Russet-crowned Warbler
Russet-mantled Softtail
Rusty-bellied Brushfinch
Rusty-crowned Tit-Spinetail
Rusty-tinged Antpitta
Saffron Finch
Saffron-crowned Tanager
Sapphire-spangled Emerald
Savanna Hawk
Scaled Pigeon
Scaly-breasted Wren
Scaly-naped Amazon
Scarlet-backed Woodpecker
Scarlet-banded Barbet
Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager
Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater
Scarlet-rumped Cacique
Scrub Blackbird
Scrub Nightjar
Sharpe’s Wren
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Shining Sunbeam
Shiny Cowbird
Short-crested Flycatcher
Short-tailed Antthrush
Short-tailed Field Tyrant
Short-tailed Woodstar
Sierran Elaenia
Silver-beaked Tanager
Silvery Grebe
Silvery Tanager
Slate-colored Coot
Slate-colored Grosbeak
Slate-throated Redstart
Slaty-backed Nightingale-Thrush
Slaty-capped Flycatcher
Smoke-colored Pewee
Smoky Bush-Tyrant
Smooth-billed Ani
Snowy Egret
Social Flycatcher
Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet
Southern Emerald-Toucanet
Southern House Wren
Southern Lapwing
Southern Rough-winged Swallow
Sparkling Violetear
Speckle-breasted Wren
Speckle-chested Piculet
Speckled Chachalaca
Speckled Hummingbird
Spectacled Redstart
Spot-billed Ground-Tyrant
Spotted Barbtail
Spotted Sandpiper
Spotted Tanager
Spot-throated Hummingbird
Streaked Flycatcher
Streaked Saltator
Streaked Tuftedcheek
Streaked Xenops
Streak-headed Woodcreeper
Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant
Striated Earthcreeper
Striated Heron
Striped Cuckoo
Stripe-headed Antpitta
Subtropical Doradito
Sulphur-throated Finch
Superciliaried Hemispingus
Superciliated Wren
Swallow Tanager
Swallow-tailed Kite
Sword-billed Hummingbird
Thick-billed Euphonia
Thick-billed Siskin
Three-striped Warbler
Thrush-like Wren
Torrent Duck
Torrent Tyrannulet
Tropical Gnatcatcher
Tropical Kingbird
Tropical Parula
Tschudi’s Nightjar
Tufted Tit-Tyrant
Tumbes Chat-Tyrant
Tumbes Hummingbird
Tumbes Pewee
Tumbes Sparrow
Tumbes Swallow
Tumbesian Tyrannulet
Turkey Vulture
Turquoise Tanager
Tyrian Metaltail
Unicolored Tapaculo
Uniform Antshrike
Utcubamba Tapaculo
Variable Hawk
Variegated Flycatcher
Vermilion Flycatcher
Versicolored Barbet
Violaceous Jay
Violet-fronted Brilliant
Violet-headed Hummingbird
Violet-throated Starfrontlet
Wattled Guan
West Peruvian Dove
Western Cattle-Egret
Western Fire-eye
White-banded Tyrannulet
White-bellied Cinclodes
White-bellied Hummingbird
White-bellied Woodstar
White-browed Antbird
White-browed Chat-Tyrant
White-browed Gnatcatcher
White-capped Dipper
White-capped Tanager
White-cheeked Cotinga
White-chinned Thistletail
White-collared Jay
White-collared Swift
White-crested Elaenia
White-crowned Tapaculo
White-eared Solitaire
White-edged Oriole
White-eyed Parakeet
White-flanked Antwren
White-fronted Ground-Tyrant
White-fronted Nunbird
White-fronted Tyrannulet
White-headed Brushfinch
White-lined Tanager
White-necked Jacobin
White-shouldered Antshrike
White-tailed Jay
White-tailed Tyrannulet
White-throated Quail-Dove
White-throated Spadebill
White-throated Toucan
White-throated Tyrannulet
White-throated Woodpecker
White-tipped Dove
White-tipped Swift
White-tufted Grebe
White-vented Euphonia
White-winged Becard
White-winged Black-Tyrant
White-winged Cinclodes
White-winged Guan
White-winged Parakeet
White-winged Tanager
White-winged Tapaculo
Wilson’s Phalarope
Wire-crested Thorntail
Wood Stork
Yellow-backed Tanager
Yellow-bellied Elaenia
Yellow-bellied Seedeater
Yellow-bellied Tanager
Yellow-billed Nunbird
Yellow-billed Teal
Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant
Yellow-breasted Brushfinch
Yellow-browed Sparrow
Yellow-crowned Tyrannulet
Yellow-faced Parrotlet
Yellow-lored Tanager
Yellow-olive Flatbill
Yellow-rumped Cacique
Yellow-scarfed Tanager
Yellow-tailed Oriole
Yellow-throated Chlorospingus
Yellow-throated Tanager
Yellow-tufted Woodpecker
Yungas Long-tailed Woodcreeper (undescribed form)
Yungas Manakin
Zimmer’s Antbird
Butterflies, Moths, Insect:
88 Butterfly
Arctiinae Moth
Argent Moth
Baronte Butterfly
Box Tree Moth
Brown Satyr Butterfly
Clearwing Mimic Queen Butterfly
Conehead Mantis
Dead-leaf Butterfly
Eurema Butterfly
Fabricius Bent-skipper Butterfly
Fig Sphinx Butterfly
Four-spot Sailor Butterfly
Harmonia Tiger Butterfly
Heliconius Longwing Butterfly
Hermes Satyr Butterfly
Hornworm Caterpillar
Inchworm Caterpillar
Ithomiini Glasswing Butterfly
Julia Heliconia Butterfly
Large Longhorn Beetle
Leaf Katydid
Leucanella Moth
Longhorn Beetle
Madyes Swallowtail Butterfly
Milionaia Day Flying Moth
Monkey Grasshopper
Mottled Scrub-Hairstreak Butterfly
Neotropical Giant Silkmoth
Pedaliodes Butterfly
Peruvian Blue Tiger Beetle
Peruvian Dragon Mantis
Pink-banded Sister Butterfly
Red Skimmer Dragonfly
Sable Moth
Sara Longwing Butterfly
Saturniid Moth
Satyrine Butterfly
Satyrini Butterfly
Scarlet Peacock Butterfly
Sexton Beetle
Silver-studded leafwing Butterfly
Skipper Butterfly
Smooth-banded Sister Butterfly
Soldier Beetle Larvae
Stick Insect phasmatocea
Tailless Whip Spider
Telesiphe Longwing Butterfly
Thaos Swallwtail
Tiger Beetle
Tiger Leafwing Butterfly
Tiger Moth
Tropical Buckeye Butterfly
Violet Tanbark Beetle
Warriner Wasps
Yellow Spotted Milipede
Reptiles, Amphibians, Crustaceans
Blue-headed Whiptail Lizard
False Monitor Lizard
Green Iguana
Three-stripe Poison Frog
Tropidurid Lizard
Wildlife
Andean Fox
Brown Capuchin Monkey
Chinchilla
Guayaquil Squirrel
Llama
Pecary
Sechuran Fox
Spectacled Bear
Tayra
Titi Monkey
White-tailed Deer
THINGS TO DO
Private reserves
For birdwatching, swimming and waterfalls.
Historic
Kuelap Fortress
Sarcofagos de Karajia
Ventanillas de Otuzco & Combayo
Adventure
For those who like a thrill plenty of hiking, rock climbing and other daring sports.
WHERE TO STAY
Our favourite places
Gocta Miradors in Cocachimba, great view of waterfall and great location for restaurants and falls walk. 100 Soles per night
Ekokuelap Lodge in Kuelap – cute alternative type place with lovely owners
Rey Palace Hotel, Cajamarca – big rooms and at 60 soles per night, great value.
Really there are so many choices you can find something in any budget and style.
Lima
El Patio Miraflores – lovely garden courtyard in the middle of the tourist area
WHERE TO EAT
We self catered 90 % of the time so no real recommendations, when we did eat out it was in local places with typical local food.
The thing I liked best is the Asian influence and you can get a stir fry in almost every restaurant.
COSTS
PRIVATE RESERVES:-
Very varied, but mostly quite cheap, some from 2 soles others up to 100 soles.
FUEL:-
6 soles per litre for petrol on average.
ALCOHOL:-
5 soles and up for beer in local supermarkets
20 soles and up for 750ml local vodka, 30 soles for imported in supermarkets.
