I know this is probably not the best time to talk about birding trips, and what I am to suggest will not resonate with over 99% of those who get this email, please bare with me. I am just trying to make a difference for the people that work in the birding sector.
If you in contrast are among those few <1% who are looking for a trip in the coming days, you may wonder if this means that Peru is out of the question?
No. There are some time limited options.
Let me explain!
We were hoping that the condor project should sustain us through February, but that looks very difficult right now. As I have mentioned when I talk about these things on my Facebook profile and in the vlogs, I can survive this.
But what about the staff of Kolibri Expeditions? What about the people in the field that we support with our mere presence? What about the local guides and lodge staff that needs us?
If you lived in Peru and you are looking at the map above, where would you rather be on Jan 31 onwards?
The North or the South East, of course!
So here is my idea. It is a bit desperate, but it would help many guides and lodges in the North and the South East. I will connect you with them.
You will find the best value guided Peru birding trips ever. I will connect you with guides and transports in different regions. You should plan to bird either area for two-three weeks and not expect to go through to Lima within this time.
You have to arrive on Jan 30 in the morning at the latest to transfer by domestic air to either Tumbes, Chiclayo, Jaen, Tarapoto, Cusco, or Puerto Maldonado.
You also have to bring a negative PCR or Antigen test not older than 72 hours.
The quarantine requirement for arrivals ends on Jan 31, anyway, and there will be no enforcement in Peru’s regions where there is no lockdown. It is allowed to transfer to your final destination, but if you have to stay overnight in Lima, you are probably stuck by the quarantine rules.
Is this irresponsible?
First of all, I am not encouraging anyone in the risk groups to travel at all. I believe the big reason we have this scenario now is not because we got a new strain from the UK or Brazil, but because internal travel was not as strict as international travel. Had everyone who left Lima or entered Lima from the provinces, have to prove that they are not infected, this could have been avoided.
Again, it is not the arriving tourists who are tested who are the problem.
I am not judging anyone's thoughts on these topics. You are entitled to your opinions. The reality here for many people in the tourism business is that their livelihood is taken away from them despite that everyone in this field is complying with all security protocols.
Loreto - the Iquitos area - is, for instance, totally devoid of COVID cases, and there are virtually 100s of lodges... all empty now. The same with hotels in Cuzco and lodges in Manu and Tambopata. Why should they be empty when there is absolutely minimal risk of obtaining Covid in such an open environment?
I am naturally concerned for sick people, and I think it is extremely irresponsible for people to have big gatherings and fiestas. Still, birding is, in reality, as far from a rave party that one can imagine.
