Birding Peru
Well-known member
Even though most birders that I have been in contact with are waiting for the vaccine, some birders are still traveling. And while this may seem irresponsible to some, there is a lot of variations in different countries in active virus occurrence, as well as local COVID policies, so let us not shame those who are traveling and instead provide some information about the current situation for each place.
Questions needed to be answered include:
I'll go first to let you know the current situation in Peru. I just came back to Lima after 25 days of birding in Central Peru with Pete Shen (US) and Jules Eden (UK). All well there with some great birding.
PERU
So all in all. Peru is a good destination to visit right now. Air travel and airport policies are very strict so traveling here seems not to be a risk factor.
For my own foreign travel within the next couple of months, I am watching Japan and Egypt.
Saludos
Gunnar
Questions needed to be answered include:
- What are the COVID policies in the country and how are they enforced?
- Is there a quarantine when you arrive? What other requirements on arrival?
- What restrictions are there in local travel?
- Are natural areas open and is the whole country open to travel?
Are there any curfews? - What are the tendencies in how COVID is spreading?
I'll go first to let you know the current situation in Peru. I just came back to Lima after 25 days of birding in Central Peru with Pete Shen (US) and Jules Eden (UK). All well there with some great birding.
PERU
- Since October the number of new cases has been going down and right now the number of active cases is decreasing. We are at levels as in mid-April.
- COVID policies are in place. You have to wear a mask at all times. All restaurants, stores, and shopping malls are open at reduced capacity. Cinemas, gyms, churches and sports events are still not open to the public. Your temperature is being measured almost everywhere you go, and there is enforced sterilizing hands as you enter any business.
- Flights to Peru are available from all American hubs at present, and from mid-December also direct from London, Amsterdam, Paris, and Madrid.
- You have to present a health declaration and a negative PCR test less taken max 72h before boarding the flights to Peru.
- You need a facemask and a face screen
- There is no quarantine
- Travel is unrestricted almost throughout the country.
- A few lodges have still not resumed, but most have opened or will do in January 2021. Practically all reserves are open again.
- There is a curfew between 00-04 (mainly enforced in the larger cities).
So all in all. Peru is a good destination to visit right now. Air travel and airport policies are very strict so traveling here seems not to be a risk factor.
For my own foreign travel within the next couple of months, I am watching Japan and Egypt.
Saludos
Gunnar