Peru Wildlife Highlights

Areas such as the Sacred Valley, Colca and Titicaca have incredible scenery in which to hike, raft, walk, or boat and gain an overall appreciation of the stunning Peruvian environment, but there are often Incan settings that hold equal significance and interest that it would be a travesty to overlook.

Jaguar

Jaguars are one of the most beautiful big cats, and can sometimes be seen with rosettes so dark, they look almost solid black. These big cats, the largest found in the Americas, can be spotted resting in the shadows of trees, or even swimming or playing in the wild waters. Head to Manu Biosphere Reserve, one of the world’s best wildlife-viewing platforms, and keep your eyes peeled on the river banks, where jaguars can best be spotted.

Amazon River Dolphin

Travel to the heart of the Peruvian Amazon basin from the base-town of Iquitos to see the revered ‘pink dolphin’, one of the wildlife highlights of the Amazon. The dolphin’s translucent skin reveals capillaries that are very close to the surface, so these dolphins almost appear to ‘blush’ the more active and excited they get.

Andean Condor

The largest flying bird with a wingspan of up to 10.5 feet, the Andean condor is one of Chile’s most distinctive species. Andean condors are found in mountainous regions, as their name suggests, but also live near coasts replete with ocean breezes and even vast deserts with warm breezes. Condors are vultures, so always keep a sharp eye out for carrion for which they can scavenge on. Although the Andean condor is considered threatened, reintroduction programs are working to grow populations of these South American birds.

Spectacled Bear

Known locally as jukumari, the Andean spectacled bear is the last remaining short-faced bear in the world and the only bear in all of South America. Their prime habitats are the humid forests clinging to the sides of the Andes Mountains, and although they prefer to roam areas above 4,000m in altitude, they have been found scouring for food as low as the coastal deserts regions. Although sightings are rare, the only remaining population now lives in high-altitude border areas of northern Peru (near the border with Ecuador), it is an unforgettable highlight to see.

Giant Otter

Known for its playful nature, the giant otter is one of the world's largest and most endangered otter species and can reach length up to 6 feet long. They primarily inhabit freshwater ecosystems such as rivers, streams, lakes, and oxbow lakes in the Amazon rainforest of Peru and are especially associated with clearwater and blackwater rivers. Giant otters are highly social animals, typically living in family groups called "rafts." A raft consists of an alpha breeding pair and their offspring from previous years. They are known for their complex vocalizations, which help them communicate with each other while hunting and maintaining group cohesion.