Lima Birding Tours: Pucusana & Mini-Pelagic Tour

If you’re looking for one of the top Lima Birding Tours with a strong pelagic component—without the long offshore distances and steep-price of a full pelagic trip—this experience offers the perfect blend of seabirds, coastal species, marine mammals, and relaxed birding in the fishing town of Pucusana.

We begin very early at 5:00 AM, picking you up directly from your hotel in Lima. After a scenic one-hour drive south, we reach Pucusana, where we board our boat for a 3–4 hour nautical journey along Peru’s productive Humboldt Current.

Coastal Birding & Classic Seabirds of Southern Lima

As we navigate out of the harbor, we start observing the iconic coastal species that make Lima birding tours so special. Regular sightings include:

• Humboldt Penguin

• Red-legged Cormorant

• Peruvian Booby

• Peruvian Pelican

• Guanay Cormorant

• Inca Tern

• Blackish Oystercatcher

• Surf Cinclodes (Endemic)

Depending on the season, we may also encounter migratory species such as Surfbirds, Ruddy Turnstones, Whimbrels, Royal Terns, and Elegant Terns—all commonly enjoyed by birders visiting Lima’s coast.

Mini Pelagic Extension 

After clearing the coastline, we head about one hour offshore, entering an area known for productive upwellings. This is where the mini-pelagic portion of the tour truly shines.

Typical species observed include:

• Peruvian Diving-Petrel

• Sooty Shearwater

• Pink-footed Shearwater

• Wilson’s Storm-Petrel

• Swallow-tailed Gull

• Sabine’s Gull

• Chilean Skua

• Parasitic Jaeger

Marine mammals are frequently encountered here as well. It is common to see large groups of Dusky Dolphins, Common Dolphins, and Bottlenose Dolphins feeding along the current line.
From July to October, we often spot Humpback Whales, and though rare, species such as Blue Whales and Sperm Whales have been recorded on this route.

Return to Pucusana & Coastal Valley Birding

After several hours at sea, we sail back toward the Pucusana Islands to observe the resident South American Sea-lion colony. We then enjoy lunch in the town before continuing with relaxed birding along the nearby coastal valley, where we often encounter:

• Croaking Ground-Dove

• Amazilia Hummingbird

• Peruvian Sheartail

• Purple-collared Woodstar

• Long-tailed Mockingbird

• Scrub Blackbird

• Harris’s Hawk

• Peruvian Meadowlark

This combination of oceanic, coastal, and valley habitats makes the Pucusana mini-pelagic one of the most diverse Lima birding tours available in a single morning.

Important Notes

Specialties such as Waved Albatross and Hornby’s (Ringed) Storm-Petrel are rare on this tour because we only travel about 10 nautical miles offshore. For deeper waters and a higher chance of true pelagic specialties, consider our Full Pelagic Birding Trip, which reaches up to 25 nautical miles.

Pricing Per Person

1 PAX – 1000 USD
2 PAX – 600 USD
3 PAX – 480 USD
4 PAX – 350 USD