Trogon Photo Tours

NORTH PERU BIRDS

June 25-July 7, 2020

June 28-July 10 2021

Machu Picchu Extension

July 7-13, 2020

July 10-16, 2021

Photo Tour:  This tour goes through Northern Peru which is a wild region which includes many endemic and spectacular species.  On this trip we will see up to 50 species of hummingbirds and photograph most of them.  It includes 2 nights at the best location to photograph the incredible Marvelous Spatuletail hummingbird.  You should have a total of about 12 hummingbird multi-flash photo sessions at 4 different locations.  We spend the first afternoon in Lima photographing the Amazing Inca Tern.  The extension features Machu Picchu and we will continue to seek out native birds.   

Tour Leaders and Guides: Ken Archer and Jose Avendano.   Ken and Jose Luis will help you get amazing images.   Ken is an award winning photographer who will help you with instruction.  Jose Luis is a top notch bird photography guide who has been guiding all over Peru for the past 10 years. He is also very knowledgeable about the Inca ruins and archaeological sites.

Cost: $5,500 with a $600 single supplement.  Cost for a nonphotographer spouse/companion is $4,900.  Deposit to reserve your spot is $1,500 per person.  It includes all meals, lodging, transportation within country including in country flights, guiding, entry fees, drinking water and instruction.  It does not include international flights to arrive and depart to/from Lima, Peru.  It also does not include other beverages, tips and items of a personal nature such as phone calls laundry etc.  The cost of the Machu Picchu extension is $2,950 each with a $400 single supplement.  Cost for nonphotographer spouse is $2,700 and includes in country flights, meals, lodging, transportation, entry fees and guiding. Deposit for the extension is $800.

Maximum Participants: 6 photographers and 10 total participants.



Itinerary:

June 25th - Arrival to Lima International Airport, transfer to a 4 star hotel in the Miraflores district near the coast. For those who arrive by mid afternoon we will have an outing and dinner at Rosa Nautica restaurant on the waterfront.  This is a great place to get close ups of Inca Terns.

June 26th -  Today we will have a morning flight to Tarapoto in Northern Peru.  We will check in to our hotel and then head to a location for multi-flash hummingbird photography which attracts great species like Koepcke's Hermit and Gould's Jewelfront along with many others.  This is also a good spot for Golden-collared Toucanet. Hotel: A nice lodge in Tarapoto. 

June 27th - We will spend the morning at the hummingbird location from the previous afternoon, then we will check out, have lunch and drive about 3 hours to Fruiteater Lodge.  This afternoon we will focus on photographing the Rufous-crested Coquette and other birds which are around the tower at Fruiteater.  Fruiteater Lodge

June 28th - We will spend the full day today photographing at Fruiteater Lodge, this is the best location to photograph the amazing Rufous-crested Coquette.  We will do some multi-flash hummingbird photography here.  Some other species of hummers in the area include the Napo Sabrewing and White-necked Jacobin.  Fruiteater Lodge   

June 29th - Morning photography at Fruiteater at Fruiteater.  Then we will drive about 3 hours to Huembo Lodge, home of the amazing Marvelous Spatuletail hummingbird.  Huembo Lodge 

June 30th - Full day photographing the hummingbirds including Marvelous Spatulatetail and other species at Huembo Lodge.  Huembo Lodge   

July 1st - Morning photography at Huembo Lodge followed by afternoon transfer to Owlet Lodge, the best ecolodge in Northern Peru. Owlet Lodge

July 2nd and 3rd - We have 2 full days of photography at and around Owlet Lodge.  It's feeders attract lots of hummingbird species including Sword-billed Hummingbird and Long-tailed Sylph.  We will do multi-flash photography here with sessions each morning and afternoon.  There are endemics such as the Royal Sunangel to be found in the area as well.Owlet Lodge

July 4th - Morning photography at Owlet Lodge followed by check out and drive about an hour east to a location that is full of hummingbirds including Rufous-crested Coquette, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Wire-crested Thorntail and many others.  We will spend most of the day doing multi-flash hummingbird photography there.  Lodge: A nice local hotel in the area.   

July 5th - Morning photography at the local reserve which also has tinamous and other difficult to see species followed by check out and drive to Tarapoto. We will do some photography at a wetland near town where Comb Ducks and other interesting species can be found. Lodge: A nice lodge in Tarapoto.    

July 6th - Today we visit the same location that we did on June 28th and 29th and do multi-flash photography.  In the afternoon we will fly from Tarapoto back to Lima, Peru.  Evening at the hotel which is attached to the Lima airport.  Those not doing the extension can fly out anytime on the 7th. 

July 7th - Morning flight to Cusco, Peru.  Our van will pick us up and take us to our hotel in Ollantaytambo.  We will have an afternoon visit to a local wetland which attracts many species including Andean Goose.  Hotel: 4 star hotel in Ollantaytambo.

July 8th - Today we will spend the full day at a special location near Ollantaytambo which has some great hummingbirds.  We will have a full day of multi-flash photography here. Hummingbirds include Sword-billed Hummingbird, Giant Hummingbird, Bearded Moutaineer, White-tufted and Shining Sunbeams.  Hotel: 4 star hotel in Ollantaytambo.

July 9th - We will photograph in the hotel gardens this morning.  This is a good spot to look for the rare Bearded Mountaineer hummingbird.  White-bellied Hummingbird and Sparkling Violetear are more common.  Around noon we will board our scenic train ride to get to Aguas Calientes, the gateway town to Machu Picchu.  We will have an afternoon to walk along the river in Aguas Calientes, do some shopping and relax.  Hotel: 4 star hotel in Aguas Calientes

July 10th - We will take an early bus to Machu Picchu and spend the full day there.  Our guide, Jose is an accredited cultural guide as well as a great bird guide.  We will photograph the ruins as well as the local wildlife there including llamas and chinchillas. In the late afternoon we will return to Aguas Calientes.  Hotel: 4 star in Aguas Calientes

July 11th - We will have a morning bird walk along the river stopping at a feeding location for tanagers.  Silver-backed, Saffron-crowned and Blue and Yellow Tanagers are a few of the regular species.  We will also look for Torrent Ducks, Andean Motmots and other species followed by a train ride back to Ollantaytambo.  Afternoon hummingbird photography in the hotel garden.  Hotel: 4 star hotel in Ollantaytambo.

July 12th - We will head back to the hummingbird location for more multi-flash photography.  In the late afternoon we will return to Cusco and fly back to Lima.  Hotel: 4 star hotel near the airport.

July 13th - Fly home with a lot of great photos and memories.