My husband and I wanted to see the birds of southern Peru so we choose Peru Birding Tours, operated by Omar Diaz. There were many combinations of places and length of time, so we did a 19-day trip which included Machu Picchu, Manu Road and the Amazon basin. Omar did not disappoint us as the birds abounded wherever we went. We stayed at comfortable lodges and in some cases, quite remote, where the only way to reach the lodge was by motorized boat. There was limited electrical power in these areas so candle light was necessary in the evenings, but we did not mind since we were tired birders by then. Meals were also good as we enjoyed Peruvian cuisine. Omar is a fantastic guide and with a somewhat flexible schedule, he tried to maximize the opportunity and experience of our trip.

I took the Tambopata birding tour Peru Birding Tours this last May. This company never conducts a tour with a complement of more 5 people so that the value for money is exceptional. On this occasion I was the only participant, and although I had to pay a supplement of 20% for the price for the tour, it was well worth the extra cost to have one-on-one personal guidance. From age 18 and now retired, I have birded off and on in the U K, North America (with, Audubon chapters), Sri Lanka, East Africa, South and Central America. But never have I experienced such intensive skillful birding. My guide Omar Diaz, an ornithologist with extraordinary expertise, did the up-most to get me so see as many birds as possible. He has made his own vocal recordings of all the species found in this part of the Peruvian Amazon. Despite unseasonable wet weather throughout the tour, Omar made it his business that I add as many species as possible to my life list. Of particular value were the 2 days spent surveying the mixed habitat in and around Puerto Maldonado. Most travelers coming to Madre de Dios want to make a ‘bee line’ for the rain forest and the Tambopata Nature Reserve. But it is also essential to check out open country around this river town if one is a serious birder seeking to extend their life list. Oh, and by the way, Omar coached me in bird photography, I being a total novice with new untested equipment was able to take a few creditable pictures.

A group of 6 friends took the Machu Picchu Manu Road Classic 13-day tour in late September. It was fantastic. We were never disappointed. Everything was great. We were able to spot over 460 bird species in a variety of habitats--ocean, cloud forest, jungle, high Andes. we saw a number of endemics and Omar Diaz, our guide, made sure that we were able to see these incredible birds. The accommodations were very comfortable from a variety of remote mountain and rustic Amazonian lodges to three star hotels in the cities. The food was tasty and gave us an opportunity to taste Peruvian cuisine. The vans we traveled in were clean and safe and our drivers were always concerned with our safety. Omar is an excellent guide and is very patient and informative about the birding experience. He took extra efforts to make sure that all of us saw the birds that we were interested in seeing. He took to time to assure that all of our needs were met and that we were gaining the experience that we wanted. Omar was flexible with our tour and he arranged for tickets for us to climb Huayna Picchu while at Machu Picchu. This was an exciting add on for us. We all were very satisfied with our tour and I would heartily recommend Peru Birding Tours to anyone who is looking for a good tour. Being that this is a Peruvian company, the value for money spent is well worth going with this operator.

We contacted Omar a few months ago to add on a two-day birding trip to Santa Eulalia, after a group birding tour to Northern Peru. Omar emailed us two days before our scheduled trip date and informed us some landslides on the road due to heavy raining, he would not be able to completed the tour as planned. But he still met us at Lima airport as scheduled, explained the situation, offered alternative plan. Although we declined his alternative plan and decided to head home early, we are deeply impressed by his professionalism and honesty. Knowing he is someone you can count on, we would not hesitate to schedule birding trip with Omar and Peru Birding Tours in Peru and other destinations in South America. Thank you Omar, we will see you next time.

Based on excellent reviews for PBT 19-day birding tour, we booked the same for May 2017. The entire trip was fantastic, covering a cross section from the dry west coast to the highlands, Andes, and Amazonia. Best of all, we saw more than 350 bird species, photographed 274 species, of which 213 were new to us!!! Top of the list were Andean Cock of the Rock, Horned Screamer, Hoatzin, countless hummers, trogons, and parrots galore. We also saw 13 species of mammals, including giant river otters, tayra, and 5 species of monkeys. Lodging and food were first-rate, even gourmet, which was surprising in remote lodges in Amazonia that could be reached only by boat. We were happy to see that PBT owner Omar Diaz limits the tour size to 6 people. Since 4 would-be participants on our tour canceled, my spouse and I ended up with a private tour! Omar led the first half of the trip, followed by Saulo Lima. Both guides were excellent and customized the tour for our photography interests, working hard to find the birds and maximize our chances of taking quality photographs. Omar handled all the logistics perfectly, including 2 plane flights, 2 train trips, van drivers, and all the boat trips. Oops - almost forgot about the bus trips to and from Machu Picchu. The World Heritage site surpassed all our expectations.

Our group of 6 went from the Pacific to Machu Picchu to the Amazon jungle. In all, we saw over 550 species of birds, 5 types of monkeys, a tapir, sloth, ant eater along with many other creatures. Omar was a wonderful guide and made sure that everyone had an opportunity to see everything. Make sure you bring your camera and plenty of insect repellent. I would highly recommend using this company if you are planning a trip to Peru and would like a guide.

Our group of six just returned from a 16-day birding tour starting in Lima through Machu Picchu, Manu Road, cloud forest, Amazon and ending in Puerto Maldonado. What a fabulous adventure!!! Omar, our guide, was the best - friendly, patient, energetic and SO KNOWLEDGEABLE! He knows his birds and where to find them. Our schedule was intense, but worked out flawlessly. We had nice accommodations and great food. Logged in over 550 bird species. I would without hesitation recommend Omar and Peru Birding Tours to any birders. We had a great time and lots of fun. Peru is an amazingly beautiful and diverse country!

My wife and I went on a Manu Cloud Forest 5 Day tour with Omar and Peru Birding Tours this past June-July. It was spectacular. We saw 215 lifers in five days, plus plenty of birds we did seen previously but were happy to see again. Bird highlights included Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Andean (Yungas) Pygmy Owl, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Fiery-Capped Manakin, Barred Fruiteater, Red-crested Cotinga, and Lyre-tailed Nightjar. Mammal highlights included Andean fox, Tayra, and two species of monkey. Omar is a truly expert guide. He is one of the only guides in Peru who knows all of the species of Peru. He knows them all by sound, by sight, by location. In addition to being as knowledgeable a guide as you could find, he is also extremely personable, kind, and accommodating. He is just a pleasure to hang out with. The logistics of the trip went perfectly. He picked us up at our hotel in Cusco, and dropped us off there at the end of the trip. In the meantime, we stayed at Cock-of-the-Rock lodge, and Wayqecha lodge, both of which are really nice places to stay. We also saw lots of birds between Cusco and the Manu road. It is a long drive, but Omar planned stops in beautiful places that allowed us to see more birds and take nice breaks. My only regret is that we did not plan a longer trip, so we could get into the lowlands. I highly recommend Peru Birding Tours.

! Buenos Dias, Omar ¡ I wanted to express my sincere thanks for the great trip you provided Karl and me.  It was the best biding trip I have ever had in my life. I am now in the middle or sorting out and editing all my photos. I miss Peru already! and I miss seeing all of Peru colorful birds. Muchas GraciasDoug Harr

Dear Omar: An excellent and honest birder running a high quality birding tour, if you plan to birding in Peru, that is - Simon - Chairman of ITBA

I am a pretty good birder, but Omar Diaz spotted at least 200 species that I probably would have overlooked! He knows his birds by sight and sound and is very passionate about his chosen profession. My Dad is not a birder but was extremely impressed by how well organized and professional the trip was. Thanks Omar and Americo! I hope you and your family are doing well. RegardsKen Simonite

Thank you Omar for a wonderful time in Peru. You made it all happen for us & took such good care of us throughout the whole trip! California USASusan Gerling Gonzales

Many thanks to César, Amerigo, Omar and the entire Peru Birding Tours team for an unforgettable trip to u and Manu Road! USALance Lack