Birding Peru's Manu Biosphere Reserve: Essential Montane and Amazon Habitats
Trip Description
Brief Itinerary
The fantastic birding loop includes all of the top birding sites from Cuzco including Huacarpay Lake, and then off to the top three birding destinations in Peru. The trip spends three nights at Cock-of-the Rock Lodge, then four nights at Amazonian Lodge before wrapping up at the world famous Manu Wildlife Center (5 nights).
This base trip usually records well over 500 bird species in just over just two weeks. Some of the key species on the trip include hummingbirds and endemics, like Bearded Mountaineer, Peruvian Piedtail, Rufous-webbed Brilliant, Koepcke's Hermit, White-browed Hermit, Green-and-White Hummingbird, White-tufted Sunbeam, and other great hummingbirds like Rufous-crested Coquette.
The trip will likely pick up 23 Peruvian endemics, including Rusty-fronted Canastero, Chustnut-breasted Mountain Finch, Black-faced Brush-Finch, Red-and-White Antpitta, Cerulean-capped Manakin, Cusco Brush-Finch, Fine-barred Piculet, Scarlet-hooded Barbet, a new species of Tanager and more.
Top local guides will also help you find a number of Andean endemics, near endemics and other key species, such as Andean Negrito, Plumbeous Rail, Pavonine Quetzal, Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Peruvian Recurvebill, Ihering's Antwren, Manu Antbird, Imperial Snipe and much more.
Besides a two week itinerary with the potential for to see over 500 bird species, the trip will have a one week extension to Machu Picchu to enjoy this high mountain area and including the opportunity to extend the trip list to 620 and perhaps 670 species!
Day 1: Early Start from Cusco and Birding on Way to Wayqecha: Morning Birding Huacarpay Lake, Sacred Hummingbird Garden and Few Other Spots; Afternoon Start Birding the Pillahuata Area
Days 2: AM Pillahuata Area Birding and Afternoon Birding to the Cock of the Rock Lodge
Days 3: Manu Cloud Forest & San Pedro Area of Cock of the Rock Lodge: Higher Elevation Day
Day 4: Birding from Cock of the Rock Lodge: Lower Road; Quita Calzon and the Lower Elevation Areas to Chontachaca
Day 5: AM Birding Transfer to the Villa Carmen Area and Birding There in the Late Afternoon
Day 6 & 7: Birding the Villa Carmen Area for Two Full Days
Day 8: Very Early Start for Manu Wildlife Center from Atalaya; Classic Amazon River Basin by Boat to Manu Wildlife Center (a few stops including Boca Manu); Late Afternoon Start Birding Manu Wildlife Center
Day 9: First Full Day: Manu Wildlife Center: Oxbow Lakes; Terra Firme Forest and More; Early Evening Owling
Day 10: Second Full Day: Manu Wildlife Center: AM Camugo Lake Area from High Canopy Towers Near the Lake; Afternoon Floodplain Forest Birding; Early Evening More Owling
Day 11: Third Full Day: Manu Wildlife Center: Nearby Trails and Birding Bamboo Forests
Days 12: Final Birding at Manu Wildlife Center: Full Day
Day 13: Last day at Manu: Final Birding at Manu Wildlife Center at Macaw Clay Lick; Most of Day Transfer to Puerto Maldonado
Day 14: Morning Birding La Pastora near Puerto Maldonado and then flight to Cusco or Lima
Machu Picchu Extension Option from Day 15:
Day 15: Rest that afternoon after returing from Manu Wildlife Center.
Day 16: Early train to Machu Picchu. Birding on train, enjoying Machu Picchu ruins and some birding in area.
Day 17: Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, afternoon train to Ollantaytambo.
Day 18: Birding full day Road to Abra Malaga and Ollantaytambo Area.
Day 19: Birding from morning Road to Abra Malaga and Ollantaytambo Area. That afternoon return to Cuzco for 2 PM flights to Lima.
More details about this Trip: