Spotlight on Northern Peru One of the most overlooked, but arguably beautiful regions of South America is the unspoilt wilderness of Northern Peru. An ornithologist’s delight, this diverse landscape dissected by the mighty Maraňon River, is home to thousands of bird species including the elusive White-Winged Guan which was thought to be extinct for over 100 years. Yet, our feathered friends give only a hint of the extraordinary wealth of wildlife found in this part of the world. The sound of the Pacific surf crashing on the beach of Cabo Blanco in Northwestern Peru gives a clue to the hidden treasures found within. Famous in the ‘50s for its big-game fishing (Ernest Hemingway caught a 700 pound marlin here while filming The Old Man and the Sea), today visitors come to observe and swim with the sea life that teems in this unique spot where the frigid Humboldt Current collides with the lukewarm El Niňo current. Here you can spot South American Fur Seals, Marine Turtles, Humpback Whales (from June to November) and if you’re brave enough, take the plunge with the Bottle-Nosed Dolphins. At the other end of the spectrum, the arid forests of Chaparri, a 34,412 hectare private reserve, an hour and a half’s drive from Chiclayo, is home to the elusive Spectacled Bear and the other 186 species recorded in the area so far. Not a high total by South American standards, but a remarkable result here in the dry Tumbesian forests. Sit quietly and you can see birds such as the White-Tailed Jay, Andean Condor and King Vulture, or spot the white-tailed deer and Sechuran Foxes. As for the mighty Puma and Spectacled Bears, time and patience is sometimes rewarded with a little luck. Chaparri is the base of a remarkable rescue and rehabilitation programme for