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Yesterday, I sent you an email about me celebrating 25 years in Peru and a little story how Lima was then. Lima was not a safe then. But that was 25 years ago. Today, in spite that the same perception about Peru exists, it is a modern town with shopping malls and litter boxes for dog-poo. And it is as safe as a big city can be. Could you picture yourself living in Lima? Would you leave your home to settle in another part of the world?

This message is just a follow-up with more info on our tours and the special discount for you. Although you can find everything on the Kolibri Expeditions Calendar I thought I’d share a few words on the upcoming trips to give you a useful overview. You find this overview lower down. 

But first, here is another memory from those early days:

THE JOYRIDE!
If you think Lima is chaotic now, it is nothing compared to the early 90s. In 1990 there were hardly any modern cars. The public transport was often extremely cramped VW mini-buses, big american cars fitting two passengers in the front (apart from the driver) and four in the back serving as line taxis between the center and Miraflores, and small VW Beetle Taxis where the front passenger seat was taken out and only serving one - max two passengers. But when Fujimori became president imports of used cars less than 5 years became much more frequent with less strict import rules. So little by little the Lima car park got more modern. Traffic was still chaotic and more chaotic for every day. A lot of people were jobless and became taxi-drivers by driving their own cars. In the street corner anyone could by a TAXI sticker and put it on the windscreen of their car and Voila... another taxi was born. No one asked for taxi permits. Not surprisingly, it was very difficult to calculate how long a taxi ride would take to, for instance, the airport. 

In 1993 I found myself in central Lima very late for my international flight.  I would most certainly miss my plane. Two taxis were parked on the street. A newer import and an old VW  beetle with only one front seat. Which one would you take if you wanted to get to the airport reliably and fast?

Surprise! The correct answer is the old VW.

"Get me to the airport as fast as possible!", I instructed the driver. 

Man, that was some ride. This guy took the Beetle between the lanes creating his own lane, he'd race through a corner gas-station to make a right turn and even went up on the sidewalk to navigate through the crammed traffic, always with a hand firmly on the horn alerting people to get out of his way. And even though I was somewhat scared, I was also fascinated. This guy was a genius the way he navigated Lima traffic. He had developed crazy driving to perfection. He was an artist!  He wasn't prudent, but he was a genius - and he got me to my flight in time.

Traffic in Lima is less dramatic today, but still wild compared to Stockholm. People do not drive on  the sidewalks any more, but they do cut through gas-stations and if they are to turn right and there is no gas station then they make sure they are in the left lane, so they can cut in front of the minibuses that often clog the right lane, before the traffic light becomes red again.  A simple rule to stick by in Lima traffic is to leave way for vehicles that are bigger and older than yours.  

UPCOMING TOURS WITH 10% DISCOUNT.

Let me give you some arguments why you should come to Peru. 
If you are not interested in celebrating the big holidays like Christmas and Thanksgivings - take a tour and celebrate with me instead. If you hate the rush, the shopping crowds and the stress of  December, jump on a plane and come visit the Central Andes and Iquitos. If you are DREAMING OF A GREEN CHRISTMAS and You want to see a lot of birds - Come to Peru.  Peru is safe. Peru is modern and ancient at the same time.  Peru is close  - only 5h40min from Miami. Flights are inexpensive right now. You don't need to take a lot of time off. For example the Christmas/New Years trip to North Peru you can do with only 3 days off from work. 
Myself and the guides that work for Kolibri Expeditions are very patient and will show experienced as well as new birders the birds they want to see, and help bird photographers get the best images. The birding can be a bit overwhelming on your own, but we are there to assist you. Our drivers are experts and our vehicles in excellent conditions. Finally, our trips are not expensive. And of course, choosing a short tour only, the overall cost is not very high. And remember: 10% discount. 

Nov 23. The Last Pelagic.

It is possibly the last Lima pelagic ever.  Or at least for a very long time. The only commercial boat in Lima which is able to go to deep waters will not be doing any more deep sea Pelagics. The last pelagic is on Nov 23.  The owner has decided that he makes more money letting people bob around in orange life-wests right in front of the huge Palomino sea lion colony a.k.a. “swimming with the sea-lions” and does not want to make the extra effort of going out 32-35 nmiles.  Take advantage of this opportunity with 10% off and an extra-long pelagic with 3 hours of chumming.

Nov 24 Pelagic contingency day. Lima Excursion.

If the weather for any reason does not allow for a pelagic on the 23rd we shall use this day. And if the pelagic does fall into place, we will do a Lima excursion. Let us know your Lima targets. Perhaps a trip to Diademed Sandpiper Plover and White-bellied Cinclodes?

Nov 25-29. 5 day Manu road.  Thanksgivings Special.

It is unlikely that anyone will come to Peru only for one day of Pelagics although we have had a few dedicated pelagic lovers who have done so in the past. To complete the week, we offer a short trip to the Manu road over Thanksgivings.  In five days we shall visit Cock-of-the-rock-Lodge in the subtropics, Amazonia Lodge in the lowlands – the most bird species rich lodge in the world with over 600 bird species – and Waqanki in the subtropics. It is an extremely species rich five days with many possibilities.

Nov 30-Dec 4. Central Peru. 5 day Unchog, Carpish and Junin

The star targets on this 5 day trip are Junin Grebe, Junin Rail and Golden-backed Mountain-Tanager.

Dec 5-9 Central Peru. 5 day Satipo road and Oxapampa

The second Central Peru trip goes to Satipo road and Oxapampa with a number of endemics species and some that are not even described to science yet. Here are “Pasco Antpitta”, Cloud-forest Screech-Owl, Creamy-bellied Antwren, Black-spectacled Brush-Finch, Junin Tapaculo, “Mantaro Wren”, “Mantaro Thornbird”, “Millpo Tapaculo”, Fire-throated Metaltail and Eye-ringed Thistletail.

Dec 10-11. Santa Eualia, Marcapomacocha road and Ticlio.

A two day add-on to Central Peru with many endemics and special birds such as Great Inca-Finch, Rufous-breasted Warbling-Finch, White-cheeked Cotinga, Bronze-tailed Comet, Diademed Sandpiper-Plover and White-bellied Cinclodes and many more.

Dec 12-20. Iquitos program. Three modules.  10 days in total or in parts.

We visit three different parts of the Amazon rainforest near Iquitos each with special set of birds.  Near Iquitos is White-sand forest with many unique species, North of Iquitos is ExploreNapo with a canopy walkway and the best place for Black-necked Red-Cotinga and Nocturnal Curassow. South of Iquitos has a different set of birds, such as Great Curassow.  We shall also be visiting many river-islands for specialists of this young habitat with Gynerium cane, Tessaria shrub and Cecropia trees.

Dec 21-24. Scarlet-banded Barbet Expedition

The newly described Scarlet-banded Barbet which used to be extremely inaccessible and included a three day river trip and a two day hike, can now be seen a couple of hours from Tarapoto battling a muddy 4WD track with specially prepared 4x4s.  This stunning bird is the cover species of the Birds of Peru Field Guide.

Dec 25-Jan 3. Christmas and New Year’s North Peru. 10 days.

Christmas is a time for family and joy, but for those who does not have a family to share Christmas or those with other cultural or religious background, Christmas can become quite annoying, stressful and mentally painful. Therefore it is also a good time to go birding. Join us on an epic trip from Tarapoto to Chiclayo over 10 days sampling some of the most exciting birds in Peru including the Long-whiskered Owlet and the Marvelous Spatuletail.

Jan 4-12. More birding in Piura and Tumbes

For best flight prices you could do more birding in January, 2016. We have loose plans of making an extension to Piura and Tumbes to sample birds that are not usually part of the Kolibri Expeditions itineraries.  The exact  details are not set yet, but we would like to include a search for Gray-headed Antbird in Canchaque, Peruvian Martin at Isla Foca near Piura, Peruvian Tern at Manglares de Vice, do a North Peru Pelagic from Los Organos (to target Galapagos Shearwater and other birds from the Galapagos and North Pacific) and finally a 3-4 full days in Amotape National Park, which is fantastic this time of year with Ochre-bellied Dove, Pacific Royal Flycatcher and Black-and-White Tanagers everywhere, as well as specialties such as Gray-backed Hawk and Blackish-headed Spinetail. Let us know if you have the time. 

If you are interested in a tour in 2016, write me at kolibriexp@gmail.com. There are tours in the planning that are not yet up on the calendar for 2016. Check back in a week or so for more trips there. 

Tomorrow,  I will tell you another story related to my 25 years in Peru and the birding or the life here. 

Until then. 

More Birds!

Gunnar