Dan Lane was an active birder in his home state of New Jersey until he moved to Louisiana to pursue a master's studying Neotropical birds at Louisiana State University. By 1999, he'd received his degree and participated in three LSU expeditions to Peru and Ecuador, discovering a new species of bird (Scarlet-banded Barbet) along the way. His increasing experience with Peruvian avifauna landed Dan coauthorship on the Birds of Peru--alongside his childhood heroes Ted Parker and John O'Neill. Meanwhile, his continuing fieldwork has resulted in uncovering additional new species to science. His favorite areas are in tropical Latin America (Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia), but on occasion he leads tours to other corners of the globe and of course near his home in Louisiana.
Scroll down to see Dan's current schedule of tours.
Client comment
"A fantastic experience. I have no complaints. All good. I thought guide Dan Lane did a great job. Very personable, friendly and patient. Office service was very good! In general, a great tour. Dan, along with Field Guides, did an excellent job. We will be doing another tour soon." K.C., MACHU PICCHU & ABRA MALAGA, PERU
Dan's Upcoming Tours
NEW ZEALAND
Status: One space available
Nov 9-27, 2024 ($8575) with Dan Lane & local guide
Tour Limit: 12
Beautiful landscapes as a backdrop for nearly 50 endemic birds plus a great selection of seabirds.
Nov 9-27, 2024 ($8575) with Dan Lane & local guide
Tour Limit: 12
Beautiful landscapes as a backdrop for nearly 50 endemic birds plus a great selection of seabirds.
COLOMBIA'S SANTA MARTA MOUNTAINS & CARIBBEAN COAST
Status: Provisionally full; waitlist available
Feb 1-9, 2025 ($4575) with Dan Lane & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
A short tour to an endemic-filled region reached by a direct flight from Miami.
May be combined with Colombia's Marvelous Magdalena Valley
Feb 1-9, 2025 ($4575) with Dan Lane & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
A short tour to an endemic-filled region reached by a direct flight from Miami.
May be combined with Colombia's Marvelous Magdalena Valley
MEXICO: OAXACA'S ATLANTIC & PACIFIC SLOPES
Status: Open
Mar 8-19, 2025 ($4475) with Dan Lane & Chris Benesh
Tour Limit: 14
A new itinerary exploring Oaxaca's Atlantic (Gulf) and Pacific Slopes and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, with a long list of additional species for anyone who has already taken our long-running and popular Oaxaca Valley tour.
May be combined with Mexico: Oaxaca Valley
Mar 8-19, 2025 ($4475) with Dan Lane & Chris Benesh
Tour Limit: 14
A new itinerary exploring Oaxaca's Atlantic (Gulf) and Pacific Slopes and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, with a long list of additional species for anyone who has already taken our long-running and popular Oaxaca Valley tour.
May be combined with Mexico: Oaxaca Valley
PERU'S MAGNETIC NORTH: SPATULETAILS, OWLET LODGE & MORE
Status: Open
Jun 14-26, 2025 ($6995) with Dan Lane & Jesse Fagan
Tour Limit: 12
A 12-day taste of northern Peru's east-slope Andes, including six nights at Owlet Lodge.
May be combined with Machu Picchu & Abra Malaga, Peru
Jun 14-26, 2025 ($6995) with Dan Lane & Jesse Fagan
Tour Limit: 12
A 12-day taste of northern Peru's east-slope Andes, including six nights at Owlet Lodge.
May be combined with Machu Picchu & Abra Malaga, Peru
MACHU PICCHU & ABRA MALAGA, PERU
Status: Open
Jun 25 - Jul 4, 2025 ($5295) with Dan Lane
Tour Limit: 9
Southern Peru's east-slope, temperate birding at its best featuring several endemics and scenic Andean puna; also Machu Picchu and great subtropical birding on and near lovely hotel grounds.
May be combined with Peru's Magnetic North
Jun 25 - Jul 4, 2025 ($5295) with Dan Lane
Tour Limit: 9
Southern Peru's east-slope, temperate birding at its best featuring several endemics and scenic Andean puna; also Machu Picchu and great subtropical birding on and near lovely hotel grounds.
May be combined with Peru's Magnetic North
MOUNTAINS OF MANU, PERU
Status: Open
Jul 31 - Aug 11, 2025 ($5875) with Dan Lane & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
Our in-depth transect birding tour of the higher-elevation half of the Manu Biosphere Reserve.
Jul 31 - Aug 11, 2025 ($5875) with Dan Lane & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
Our in-depth transect birding tour of the higher-elevation half of the Manu Biosphere Reserve.
BOLIVIA'S AVIAN RICHES
Status: One space available
Sep 5-21, 2025 (Fee TBD / 2024=$7925) with Dan Lane
Tour Limit: 8
The special bird life of the Bolivian Andes; wonderful mountain scenery.
Sep 5-21, 2025 (Fee TBD / 2024=$7925) with Dan Lane
Tour Limit: 8
The special bird life of the Bolivian Andes; wonderful mountain scenery.
CENTRAL PERUVIAN ENDEMICS: THE HIGH ANDES
Status: Open
Oct 5-22, 2025 (Fee TBD) with Dan Lane
Tour Limit: 8
High-Andean endemics of central Peru on our birding tour to extraordinarily scenic settings, including Huascaran National Park, Lake Junin, and the Carpish Mountains.
Oct 5-22, 2025 (Fee TBD) with Dan Lane
Tour Limit: 8
High-Andean endemics of central Peru on our birding tour to extraordinarily scenic settings, including Huascaran National Park, Lake Junin, and the Carpish Mountains.
LOUISIANA: YELLOW RAILS & CRAWFISH TAILS
Status: Open
Oct 30 - Nov 3, 2025 ($2325) with Dan Lane & Alex Sundvall
Tour Limit: 14
Late-autumn tour on the Gulf Coast targeting Yellow Rails and other migrants and wintering species of the region.
Oct 30 - Nov 3, 2025 ($2325) with Dan Lane & Alex Sundvall
Tour Limit: 14
Late-autumn tour on the Gulf Coast targeting Yellow Rails and other migrants and wintering species of the region.
NEW ZEALAND
Status: Provisionally full; waitlist available
Nov 9-27, 2025 (Fee TBD / 2024=$8575) with Dan Lane & local guide
Tour Limit: 12
Beautiful landscapes as a backdrop for nearly 50 endemic birds plus a great selection of seabirds.
(Pelagic Extension to Nov 29, 2025)
Nov 9-27, 2025 (Fee TBD / 2024=$8575) with Dan Lane & local guide
Tour Limit: 12
Beautiful landscapes as a backdrop for nearly 50 endemic birds plus a great selection of seabirds.
(Pelagic Extension to Nov 29, 2025)
COLOMBIA'S MARVELOUS MAGDALENA VALLEY
Status: One space available
Jan 21-31, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$5575) with Dan Lane & local guide
Tour Limit: 7
A fun, energetic journey through a fabulous birding region, with rare regional and Colombian endemics aplenty and the great spectacle of Oilbirds at Rio Claro!
(Llanos Post-tour Extension to Feb 4, 2026)
May be combined with Colombia's Eastern Cordillera
Jan 21-31, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$5575) with Dan Lane & local guide
Tour Limit: 7
A fun, energetic journey through a fabulous birding region, with rare regional and Colombian endemics aplenty and the great spectacle of Oilbirds at Rio Claro!
(Llanos Post-tour Extension to Feb 4, 2026)
May be combined with Colombia's Eastern Cordillera
MEXICO: OAXACA'S ATLANTIC & PACIFIC SLOPES
Status: Open
Mar 8-19, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$4475) with Dan Lane & Bret Whitney
Tour Limit: 14
A new itinerary exploring Oaxaca's Atlantic (Gulf) and Pacific Slopes and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, with a long list of additional species for anyone who has already taken our long-running and popular Oaxaca Valley tour.
May be combined with Mexico: Oaxaca Valley
Mar 8-19, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$4475) with Dan Lane & Bret Whitney
Tour Limit: 14
A new itinerary exploring Oaxaca's Atlantic (Gulf) and Pacific Slopes and the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, with a long list of additional species for anyone who has already taken our long-running and popular Oaxaca Valley tour.
May be combined with Mexico: Oaxaca Valley
PERU'S MAGNETIC NORTH: SPATULETAILS, OWLET LODGE & MORE
Status: Open
Jun 13-25, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$6995) with Dan Lane & Jesse Fagan
Tour Limit: 12
A 12-day taste of northern Peru's east-slope Andes, including six nights at Owlet Lodge.
May be combined with Machu Picchu & Abra Malaga, Peru
Jun 13-25, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$6995) with Dan Lane & Jesse Fagan
Tour Limit: 12
A 12-day taste of northern Peru's east-slope Andes, including six nights at Owlet Lodge.
May be combined with Machu Picchu & Abra Malaga, Peru
MACHU PICCHU & ABRA MALAGA, PERU
Status: Open
Jun 24 - Jul 3, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$5295) with Dan Lane
Tour Limit: 9
Southern Peru's east-slope, temperate birding at its best featuring several endemics and scenic Andean puna; also Machu Picchu and great subtropical birding on and near lovely hotel grounds.
May be combined with Peru's Magnetic North
Jun 24 - Jul 3, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$5295) with Dan Lane
Tour Limit: 9
Southern Peru's east-slope, temperate birding at its best featuring several endemics and scenic Andean puna; also Machu Picchu and great subtropical birding on and near lovely hotel grounds.
May be combined with Peru's Magnetic North
PERUVIAN RAINFORESTS OF THE TAMBOPATA: MACAW LICK EXTRAORDINAIRE
Status: Open
Jul 20-30, 2026 (Fee TBD) with Dan Lane
Tour Limit: 8
Three-site tour to the most species-rich rainforest on Earth. Largest known macaw lick, canopy walkway and towers, eagles, and monkeys.
Jul 20-30, 2026 (Fee TBD) with Dan Lane
Tour Limit: 8
Three-site tour to the most species-rich rainforest on Earth. Largest known macaw lick, canopy walkway and towers, eagles, and monkeys.
BOLIVIA'S AVIAN RICHES
Status: Open
Sep 4-20, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2024=$7925) with Dan Lane
Tour Limit: 8
The special bird life of the Bolivian Andes; wonderful mountain scenery.
Sep 4-20, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2024=$7925) with Dan Lane
Tour Limit: 8
The special bird life of the Bolivian Andes; wonderful mountain scenery.
NORTHERN PERU: ENDEMICS GALORE
Status: Open
Oct 3-22, 2026 (Fee TBD) with Dan Lane & local guide
Tour Limit: 10
Dry-season tour to one of the least-known and most endemic-rich areas of South America. Targets geographic specialties as it surveys the rich and diverse habitats of northern Peru, including some remote and beautiful wild areas.
Oct 3-22, 2026 (Fee TBD) with Dan Lane & local guide
Tour Limit: 10
Dry-season tour to one of the least-known and most endemic-rich areas of South America. Targets geographic specialties as it surveys the rich and diverse habitats of northern Peru, including some remote and beautiful wild areas.
LOUISIANA: YELLOW RAILS & CRAWFISH TAILS
Status: Open
Oct 29 - Nov 2, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$2325) with Dan Lane & Alex Sundvall
Tour Limit: 14
Late-autumn tour on the Gulf Coast targeting Yellow Rails and other migrants and wintering species of the region.
Oct 29 - Nov 2, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$2325) with Dan Lane & Alex Sundvall
Tour Limit: 14
Late-autumn tour on the Gulf Coast targeting Yellow Rails and other migrants and wintering species of the region.
NEW ZEALAND
Status: One space available
Nov 8-26, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2024=$8575) with Dan Lane & local guide
Tour Limit: 12
Beautiful landscapes as a backdrop for nearly 50 endemic birds plus a great selection of seabirds.
(Pelagic Extension to Nov 28, 2026)
Nov 8-26, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2024=$8575) with Dan Lane & local guide
Tour Limit: 12
Beautiful landscapes as a backdrop for nearly 50 endemic birds plus a great selection of seabirds.
(Pelagic Extension to Nov 28, 2026)
MEXICO: OAXACA VALLEY
Status: Open
Dec 19-26, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$3550) with Dan Lane & Alex Sundvall
Tour Limit: 14
Superb birding with two dozen Mexican endemics and fascinating ruins while based in lovely Oaxaca City.
Dec 19-26, 2026 (Fee TBD / 2025=$3550) with Dan Lane & Alex Sundvall
Tour Limit: 14
Superb birding with two dozen Mexican endemics and fascinating ruins while based in lovely Oaxaca City.