Lima Birding Tour
Lima Birding Tours: Marcapomacocha & Ticlio
The classic Diademed Sandpiper-Plover day trip from Lima — high-puna cushion bogs above 4,500 m and the rarest of Andean waders.
Duration
Full day (~14 hours)
Departure
Pre-dawn from Lima
Elevation
~4,000–4,800 m
Group size
1–4
Fitness level
demanding— Birding at 4,400–4,800 m: short walks feel hard at this altitude. Acclimatize first.
Overview
Marcapomacocha & Ticlio
Our Marcapomacocha birding tour is the classic high-Andes day trip from Lima, and the single most reliable place on Earth to find the exquisite Diademed Sandpiper-Plover. In a few hours we climb from the coast to the roof of the central Andes, crossing the Ticlio pass — one of the highest road crossings in the world at nearly 4,800 metres — to spend the morning working the cushion bogs and glacial lakes of the Marcapomacocha plateau, at the edge of the Junín puna above 4,500 metres. It is a long, thin-air day, but the target birds are as good as high-Andean birding gets.
The bofedales — the spongy, emerald cushion-plant bogs fed by glacial melt — are the heart of the day. We walk them slowly for the Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, a small, improbably beautiful wader found only on these high bogs, and for the critically endangered White-bellied Cinclodes, arguably Peru's most beautiful ovenbird, which feeds along the same wet flushes. Olivaceous Thornbill hovers low over the cushions, Grey-breasted Seedsnipe crouches among them, and Junín Canastero and Dark-winged Miner work the drier tussock nearby.
The glacial lakes and open puna add a strong supporting cast: rafts of Giant Coot and Silvery and White-tufted Grebes on the water, Andean Goose, Puna Teal and Crested Duck, Puna Ibis and Andean Lapwing on the shores, and Black-breasted Hillstar and Puna Tinamou on the slopes, with Andean Condors and other raptors patrolling the ridgelines. Chilean Flamingos and a scatter of high-Andean waterfowl round out a list that, on a good day, tops fifty species without ever dropping below 4,000 metres.
Our free Marcapomacocha & Ticlio checklist — compiled from the plateau's eBird hotspots — runs to 155 species with the region's high-Andes endemics marked. It is run in a small group with an expert guide who knows exactly which bogs hold Diademed Sandpiper-Plover and White-bellied Cinclodes territories. Dress warmly, take the altitude gently, and let us get you onto some of the continent's most wanted birds — we leave Lima pre-dawn and are back in the city in the evening.
Highlights
- ✦The Diademed Sandpiper-Plover on its high-puna cushion bogs
- ✦The critically endangered White-bellied Cinclodes
- ✦Olivaceous Thornbill, Black-breasted Hillstar and Grey-breasted Seedsnipe
- ✦Giant Coot and Silvery Grebe on the glacial lakes
- ✦Andean Condors over the Ticlio pass
- ✦A true high-Andean day, four hours from the capital
Pricing
4.9(28)Per person by group size
- 1 traveller$660per person
- 2 travellers$365per person
- 3+ travellers$275per person
Book now with a 50% deposit — pay the balance later.
Prices in USD. Custom & private departures available.
Day by Day
Itinerary
Pre-dawn — depart Lima up the Central Highway
We leave Lima at around 3:00 AM and drive up the Carretera Central in the dark, climbing steadily out of the coastal desert into the high Andes. Timing the drive this way puts us on the puna at first light, when the bogs are at their most active and the wind is still down.
The Ticlio pass
We cross the Ticlio pass at nearly 4,800 metres — one of the highest road crossings anywhere in the world — pausing for the thin air and to scan the first high-Andean specialties. From here the road drops onto the Marcapomacocha plateau and its lakes and bogs.
The cushion bogs (bofedales)
We work the bofedales on foot, slowly and quietly, for the day's star birds — the Diademed Sandpiper-Plover and the critically endangered White-bellied Cinclodes, both cushion-bog specialists. Olivaceous Thornbill, Grey-breasted Seedsnipe and Andean waterfowl feed among the cushions, and your guide knows exactly which flushes hold territories.
Lakes & open puna
We scan the glacial lakes and surrounding puna for Giant Coot, Silvery and White-tufted Grebes, Puna Ibis, Black-breasted Hillstar, Dark-winged Miner and Junín Canastero, with Chilean Flamingos on the shallows and Andean Condors along the ridgelines. This is big, wild high-Andean scenery, and the birding stays productive all morning.
Afternoon — descent to Lima
In the early afternoon we begin the long descent back down the Central Highway toward the coast, dropping through the elevational zones as the puna gives way to desert. We arrive back in Lima in the evening.
What's included
- ✓Private transportation from Lima
- ✓Expert bilingual birding guide
- ✓Boxed breakfast and lunch
Not included
- –Personal expenses and tips
What You'll See
Target species
Species shown in red are Peruvian endemics.
- Diademed Sandpiper-Plover
- White-bellied Cinclodes
- Olivaceous Thornbill
- Black-breasted Hillstar
- Dark-winged Miner
- Junín Canastero
- Grey-breasted Seedsnipe
- Giant Coot
- Silvery Grebe
- Puna Ibis
- Andean Condor
- Andean Goose
Free downloadable checklist
All 155 species recorded here on eBird across 13 hotspots, in taxonomic order with endemics marked. Tap the boxes on your phone or print it for the field.
Gallery
From the field
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Travellers on Wild Andes
Rated 4.9 out of 5
from 28 verified Google reviews
“I had a wonderful day out with Alfredo along the coast south of Lima, first targeting some lesser known wetlands that gave some unexpected surprises, then heading to Pucusana for a boat trip out to see the boobies, cormorants, and penguins.”
Chris Paci
Google review
“Alfredo with Wild Andes provided a wonderful vacation for my sister, cousin, and myself. He volunteered to coordinate all the tour including the Amazon and Lima environs. We are birders and he ensured that we had the best birding experience. We saw over 240 species of birds!”
Debbie Jacquez
Google review
“I did a morning birding tour of Ventanilla Marshes which was very well organised by Alfredo including good advice on travel around Lima. The guide Alejandro was very knowledgeable and did his best to find as many of my target birds as possible. I highly recommend Wild Andes Tours.”
Robert Hamilton
Google review
Good to Know
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Marcapomacocha & Ticlio tour?
Full day (~14 hours).
Where and when does the tour depart?
Pre-dawn from Lima.
How big are the groups?
1–4. Small groups keep the experience unhurried and photography-friendly.
How much does the Marcapomacocha & Ticlio tour cost?
Prices start at $275 per person and depend on group size — see the pricing table for details.
What is included in the price?
Private transportation from Lima, Expert bilingual birding guide, Boxed breakfast and lunch.
Which species can I expect to see?
Key targets include Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, White-bellied Cinclodes, Olivaceous Thornbill, Black-breasted Hillstar, Dark-winged Miner, among others. 4 of the tour's target species are Peruvian endemics.
How high does this tour go — do I need to prepare for altitude?
The bogs sit above 4,500 m and the Ticlio pass tops 4,800 m — higher than Cusco. The birding is gentle walking on flat ground, but it is serious altitude, so acclimatize if you can, dress in warm layers, drink plenty of water, and tell your guide if you feel unwell so we can pace the day.
How do I book this tour?
Reserve directly on this page with the Reserve Now form — we accept PayPal. A 50% deposit secures your tour date, and the remaining balance is payable up to two weeks before departure. See our Terms & Conditions for the full policy.
Have a different question? Get in touch — we answer quickly.
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