Over the last two decades, I’ve been contacted countless times by indy birders like you wanting to plan, book, and manage their own private birding tours to Peru. At this point, you’ve probably already spent hours (days?) combing through information online: birding forums, blog posts, trip reports, and itineraries listed on tour company websites.  And while you might have pretty good idea of where you could go, there are so many route possibilities and supplier options that it’s impossible to know where you should go.  Answers you might be searching for:

Does the itinerary I’ve created maximize my time and my list? What changes would you suggest? (or)

Here is my list. Can you design me a 15-day itinerary to match?

Can you recommend skilled local guides / best-value lodging options / reliable driver contacts for each destination on my trip?

Have there been any recent rare/unusual bird sightings, such as harpy eagle nests, that I can incorporate into my itinerary?

What happens if I get into a jam while traveling independently – can you offer me travel support while in Peru?

If you’re asking these questions on birding forums, be warned: logistics contacts, travel conditions, and bird habitats are constantly changing, and recently-posted information may already be outdated. Also, consider that responses and information posted by tour operators, lodges, and other suppliers are likely to be biased towards their own businesses. Combine this with the fact that Peru is a massive and complex destination that requires some combination of planes, boats, and cars to get around. This means careful timing and management of logistics providers is crucial, are you up for that? And then there’s the local effect. A lot things in Peru happen through word-of-mouth and personal contacts alone. Peruvians are much more likely to help someone they know or even a friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend, versus a complete stranger. This is why you may have trouble getting local providers to respond to your emails. Or you may receive mixed responses on pricing, availability, and booking terms. It can be frustrating as an outsider, and while persistence is sometimes the key, that’s not always the case and you may hit some dead-ends in your communication. The good news? Planning a DIY birding tour to Peru doesn’t have to be frustrating, complicated, or risky. You don’t need to worry whether or not you’re booking the best providers for your checklist, budget, and timeframe. And you can even tap into those local relationships that can mean the difference between a “lost” reservation and room upgrade.

For a DIY birding trip to Peru to be successful, you need the right kind planning.