Andean birding + trekking
Experience the amazing biodiversity of Limas central Andes
Birding and trekking off the beaten path – Hummingbirds and Condors
Just a few hours by road from Peru’s capital Lima you can experience the amazing landscapes off the Andes off the beaten path. Here Andean condors are
soaring and Hummingbirds are rocket-shooting in-between the flowers. The valley with its river vegetation and numerous habitats in different altitudes offers an amazing bird diversity, with several being endemic species of Peru. Go birding and trekking with Nature Expeditions in the high valley of the River Chancay. Over 40 bird species, Pumas, Vicuñas and deer have been sighted in the area. While birding discover the amazing lost cities of Rupak and Chiprak from the pre-inca Atavillos culture with their intact two story buildings being glued to the mountain tops and overseeing the entire valley. And in the evening relax in the thermal baths of Collpa.
Trekking in the upper valley of the Chancay River in an altitude of 3000 to 4000 meters (= 9800 – 13.100 ft) is a great alternative for people that have only little time. You can visit the Thermal Bath of Collpa and the ruins of Chiprac or Rupac in only two days. And with a few more days of time you can fully explore the amazing beauty of the area.
Experience the real, wild and amazing Andes, far off from mass tourism. You can go there any time of the year but of-course the best time is between April to early June, when the mountains are covered with a carped of colorful flowers.
The valley of the river Chancay is located north of Lima and can be reached in only about two hours by car northwards on the Panamerican Highway. From the city of Huaral we will be driving up the valley on a dirt-road: four-wheel-drive trucks are required from here on. After another two hours you will reach the town of Acos, where we will accommodate us in a simple local hostel.
The Thermal Bath of Collpa: Starting from Acos a visit of the Thermal Bath of Collpa is a must for our stressed city-dwellers mind and body. It is the perfect start for a few days of high-altitude trekking and of course an even better end of our 
trekking adventure. In order to get there we will drive up the valley for another two hours from Acos on dirt road, now following the river within a tight valley of steep mountains, passing by a great number of beautiful water falls.
Ruins of Rupac: About 90 minutes by car from Acos up the steep serpentines you will find the ghost-town of Pampas, being the starting point for your five-hours trekking tour to the ruins of Rupac. The Rupac and Chiprac archeological sites belong to the pre-inca culture of the Atavillas.
Ruins of Chiprac: Chiprac is a huge city of the Atavillos culture, overseeing the valley from an altitude of 3740 m (12.270 ft). Hundreds of buildings are grouped together in different sectors separated by plazas. From the town of La Florida we will continue half an hour more climbing up the mountain in our four-wheel-drive car. The following trekking tour takes 3-4 hours.
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2 days tour: Rupak or Chiprak + thermal bath of Collpa
Program
Day 1: Terrestrial transfer from Lima to Acos and visit of thermal bath of Collpa – overnight at Acos
Day 2: Trekking to Rupak or Chiprak ruins – Return to Lima
Includes:
- Overnight
- Entrance fees
- English, German and Spanish speaking guide
- All meals
- All terrestrial transports
- Visit at Rupak or Chiprak ruins
- Visit of thermal bath of Collpa
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Prices (Valid till 31.12.2013) (not including tax)
- Number of trip participants: 1 = 1998 Nuevos Soles per person
- Number of trip participants: 2 = 1190 Nuevos Soles per person
- Number of trip participants: 3-5 =929 Nuevos Soles per person
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3 days tour: Rupak + Chiprak + Baños de Collpa
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Program
Day 1 – Terrestrial transfer from Lima to Acos and visit of thermal bath of Collpa – overnight at Acos
Day 2 – Trekking to Rupak ruins, overnight in Acos
Day 3 – Trekking to Chiprak ruins and return to Lima
Includes:
- Overnight
- Entrance fees
- English, German and Spanish speaking guide
- All meals
- All terrestrial transports
- Visit at Rupak and Chiprak ruins
- Visit of thermal bath of Collpa
Prices (Valid till 31.12.2013) (does not include tax)
- Number of trip participants: 1 = 2775 Nuevos Soles per person
- Number of trip participants: 2 = 1569 Nuevos Soles per person
- Number of trip participants: 3-5 =1297 Nuevos Soles per person
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4 days program: Rupak + Chiprak + Baños de Collpa + Lampian
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Program
Day 1: Terrestrial transfer from Lima to Acos and visit of thermal bath of Collpa – overnight at Acos
Day 2: Trekking to Rupak ruins, overnight en Acos
Day 3: Trekking to Lampian village, Overnight en Acos
Day 4: Trekking to Chiprak ruins – Return to Lima
Includes:
- Overnight
- Entrance fees
- English, German and Spanish speaking guide
- All meals
- All terrestrial transports
- Visit at Rupak and Chiprak ruins
- Visit of thermal bath of Collpa
- Trekking to Lampian village
Prices (Valid till 31.12.2013) (does not include tax)
- Number of trip participants: 1 = 3657 Nuevos Soles per person
- Number of trip participants: 2 = 2025 Nuevos Soles per person
- Number of trip participants: 3-5 = 1621 Nuevos Soles per person
Birding and trekking with Nature Expeditions in the Chancay valley
Birding and trekking in the Chancay valley with Nature Expeditions
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Travel with biologist Stefan Austermühle, Executive Director of the Peruvian nature conservation group Mundo Azul and founder of Nature Expeditions. Stefan is deeply involved in nature conservation and biological research in Peru since 1998. Originally a cetacean researcher he has become an experienced and dedicated birder while working all over the country. He carries on ecological research on bird populations and trains bird guides at the Peruvian Institute for Tourism Education (CENFOTUR). To read more about his work click here.
To see his bird life list click here.
To see his bird videos click here.
To see his bird pictures click here.
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Related links:
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Stay in touch: Follow Nature Expeditions on Twitter - Nature Expeditions Facebook Page - Be a Facebook-friend of Stefan Austermühle, Manager of Nature Expeditions
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