LOMAS DE LACHAY
FULL DAY TOURTOUR SUMMARY
Lachay National Reserve is a refreshing burst of nature located only one hour north of Lima along the coast. The area is subject to well-marked seasonality, which has a strong influence on the vegetation and wildlife. During the Austral winter (May to October), the mist from the ocean reaches the western hillside of the mounds and turns this otherwise desertic habitat into an oasis. This is the best time to visit the area. This tour concentrates on the endemic species found in the area, including: Cactus Canastero, Thick-billed and Coastal Miners and Raymondi Yellow-Finch. We will also be on the lookout for others such as Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Least Seedsnipe, Oasis Hummingbird, Peruvian Sheartail, Amazilia Hummingbird, Mountain Parakeet, Peruvian Thicknees, Masked Yellowthroat and Collared Warbling-Finch, among others.
About Lomas de Lachay
Lachay is part of a unique habitat that used to be more abundant along the Peruvian Coast. This is basically an oasis of special vegetation created by the humidity that comes as mist from the ocean and hits the hillsides between 500–2297ft of elevation. Lachay was declared National Reserve in 1977 and protects 12,529 acres.
There are two well-defined seasons. The wet season, which coincides with part of the Austral winter and spring and ranges between June to November. And the dry season, which goes from December to May and includes part of the Austral summer and fall. The seasonal change is very dramatic on the landscape since areas that are green and lush during the wet season will be totally brown and dry during dry season.
55 species of birds have been recorded in the area, of which 3 are endemic: Coastal Miner, Cactus Canastero and Thick-billed Miner, all belonging to the Furnaridae family. Other species occurring at Lachay are: Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Least Seedsnipe, Mountain Parakeet, Andean Swift, Purple-collared Woodstar, Oasis Hummingbird, Grayish Miner, Coastal Miner, Thick-billed Miner, Grassland and Raimondi’s Yellow-Finch, Tawny-throated Dotterel, Peruvian Sheartail, Cactus Canastero, Collared Warbling-Finch, and Chestnut-collared Swallows among others.
# Recorded Bird Species: 55
Habitats Visited: Arid lowland scrubland, Lomas vegetation (oasis)/wetlands
6:00 AM – Hotel pickup and begin drive to Lachay (1 hour drive)
7:00 AM – Arrival to Lachay Reserve. During our exploration of the reserve we will concentrate our efforts on the endemic species: Cactus Canastero, Thick-billed and Coastal Miners and Raymondi Yellow-Finch (not an endemic anymore. It was recently found in Chile).
We will be paying special attention to locate the Yellowish Pipit of the race peruvianus, which occurs on the coast of Peru and Chile and has a very different vocalization as well as appearance of its congeners and it has been elevated to the status of species (Peruvian Pipit) by the latest revision of Neotropical Pipits by Paul van Els and Heraldo V. Norambuena.
Also we will be on the lookout for others species such as Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle , Least Seedsnipe , Oasis Hummingbird , Peruvian Sheartail , Amazilia Hummingbird , Mountain Parakeet , P eruvian Thicknees , Masked Yellowthroat and Collared Warbling-Finch , among others.
12:30 PM – Picnic Lunch.
1:00 PM – We will continue birding, paying special attention to those species we may have missed in the morning.
3:30 PM – We will begin our drive back to Lima. Depending on time, traffic, and interest, we may squeeze in a quick, additional stop to explore the coastal marshes of Ventanilla.
5:00 PM – Arrival to hotel.
*Times stated are approximate and will be adjusted based on our pace and the wishes of the group.
TOUR GALLERY
PRICES 2019 (per person)
1 – $720
2 – $440
3 – $345
4 – $280
5 – $260
6 – $240
*Please submit a request for pricing on groups with more than six people.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Private transportation (incl. driver) from/to your hotel
- Professional, English-speaking birding guide
- Breakfast and Lunch (boxed/picnic)
- Unlimited snacks and bottled water
- Reserve entry fees
- Printed destination checklist
WHY PR BIRDING
+ Peruvian-owned company founded on 20+ years experience guiding international tours
+ Custom-designed birding itineraries & small-group tours
+ Secure and easy online booking process
+ Personalized customer service with 24/7 emergency travel support
+ Commitment to supporting local communities through birding tourism