Talk of Peru may conjure images of Incan ruins, vast, ever-changing landscapes and a distinctive culture that will stick with you long after you arrive home. But did you know you can also expect to find a plethora of incredible wildlife? Peru’s slice of the Amazon is a great place to start, but the rest of the country is also home to some fascinating creatures, big and small. Read on to hear all about the weird and wonderful wildlife of Peru.
Peruvian Amazon
There’s no better place to begin than with South America’s iconic wildlife stronghold: the Amazon. Protected by a number of reserves in Peru, it is home to an incredible menagerie of birdlife — over 500 species can be identified within a 5,500-hectare area! As you explore by foot or canoe, look out for banana-billed toucans, the prehistoric-looking hoatzin, harpy eagles (one of the largest birds of prey in the world), iridescent hummingbirds and macaws. Watching them gather to dine, court and chatter at a clay lick is a real spectacle.
In the water, you’ll likely come across giant river otters, caimans, wallowing tapirs, and the surreal pink river dolphin, whilst on land, cute capybaras doze along the river banks and long-limbed sloths dangle from branches. If you’re really lucky, you might even spy the lithe figure of a jaguar… The Peruvian Amazon is also home to a host of incredible tree frogs, butterflies and spiders. And your soundtrack? The distinctive calls of howler monkeys echoing through the trees.
Paracas National Reserve
This coastal region of Peru is a haven for birdwatchers with around 216 species including the Peruvian booby, Inca tern and flamingos. Enjoy a boat ride to the Ballestas Islands where you can spy colonies of Humboldt penguins and sea lions, leatherback and hawksbill turtles, humpback whales and various species of dolphins.
The Southeast
The expansive Lake Titicaca is home to a number of species of birdlife native to the region, including Andean gulls and geese as well as an impressive population of flamingos. As you explore the lake, look out for vicuñas and guanacos, the lesser known cousins of the llama.
To the west, the Colca Canyon is one of the best places in the world to see the Andean condor as they ride high on the thermal winds. Also be on the lookout for other birds of prey like eagles and hawks. Vizcachas (that look like very large rabbits!) can be spotted amongst the rocks and highland grasses.
Machu Picchu
On your journey to the iconic citadel in the mountains, you’ll have the chance to encounter the region’s beautiful wildlife. Along the Inca Trail, keep a lookout for the vivid Cock-of-the-Rock, flitting hummingbirds, toucans, and the iconic Andean condor. You may also see vizcachas, Andean foxes and the spectacled bear – and what’s a trek without spotting at least a few llamas and alpacas?
