Day 1. Bird watching along Manu Road Rufous-capped Thornbill and Swallow-tailed Nightjar.
Well before dawn, we are on our way to the humid temperate zone. We travel over the Andes where we look for species such as Puna (Variable) Hawk, Spot-winged Pigeon, Andean Flicker and Andean Lapwing.
Checking out the scrub near Paucartambo, we may find the endemic Creamy-crested Spinetail as well as Tufted Tit-Tyrant, White-winged Black-Tyrant, Shining Sunbeam and Rust-and-Yellow Tanager. Birding the temperate woodland near Tres Cruces we will target Puna Thistletail, Diademed Tapaculo, and Scribble-tailed and Junin Canasteros.
Slightly lower down, the forest is more developed and we sometimes find Undulated, Stripe-headed and Urubamba Antpittas, Yungas Pygmy-Owl, Rufous-capped Thornbill, Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Yellow-throated, Grass-Green and Golden-collared Tanagers and Hooded and Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager.
At dusk we look for Puna Snipe and Swallow-tailed and Band-winged Nightjars at Wayqecha research station where we spend the night.
Day 2. Birding Wayqecha to Cock of the Rock Lodge: Red-and-White Antpitta and Marcapata Spinetail.
Our primary targets above Pillahuata are the endemic Red-and-White Antpitta and Marcapata Spinetail. Also Chestnut-breasted Coronet and Ochraceous-breasted Flycatcher here.
Below Pillahuata one may see Golden-headed Quetzal, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Handsome Flycatcher, and the rare Greater Scythebill.
We continue towards Rocotal, situated just at the upper limit of the subtropical zone. Birds here include Hooded Tinamou, Andean Guan, White-throated Antpitta, Crimson-backed Woodpecker, Blue-banded Toucanet, White-eared and Andean Solitaires, Pearled Treerunner, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Golden-plumed Parakeet, Scaly-naped Parrot, Amethyst-throated Sunangel, and many more.
Since COVID the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek pIatform has been closed, but hopefully soon it will be possible to again watch displays of the brilliant, orange-colored males. Regardless, we shall surely come across the species of the next couple of days. At nightfall we will look for Lyre-tailed Nightjar and Rufescent Screech-Owl just above the lodge. Night at Cock of the Rock Lodge.
Day 3-4. Birding Cock of the Rock Lodge:
We’ll continue birding at the Cock of the Rock encountering species such as Streak-headed Antbird, Dusky-Green Oropendula, Yungas Manakin, Black-billed Treehunter, Orange-eared Tanager, Versicolored Barbet, and Black-and-Chestnut and Solitary Eagles.
Other species around the lodge include Yellow-rumped Antwren and Bolivian Tyrannulet. On nearby trail we often see Slaty Gnat-eater and Rufous-breasted Antthrush. Other birds include Lemon-browed Flycatcher, Golden-headed and Crested Quetzal and Uniform Antshrike.
At the lodge clearing there are feeders and flowers where hummingbirds like Violet-fronted Brilliant, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Booted Rackettail, Peruvian Piedtail and Wire-crested Thorntail are present. Night at Cock of the Rock Lodge.
Day 5. Cock of the Rock Lodge to Villa Carmen.
Birding at Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge in the morning. Specifically, we shall be looking for a new soon to be described tanager that lives in the bamboo. Other birds here include the endemic and recently described Cinnamon-faced Tyrannulet, Chestnut-breasted Wren, Russet Antshrike, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, and Rufous-webbed Brilliant.
In the afternoon we will continue to Pilcopata at 1000m and look for specialties such as Amazonian Umbrellabird, Peruvian Piedtail, Cerulean-capped Manakin, Black-streaked Puffbird, Russet Antshrike, Lanceolated Monklet, and Black-backed Tody-Flycatcher.
The bamboo holds species like Ornate Antwren, Bamboo Antshrike, and Pheasant Cuckoo. In the afternoon we reach Villa Carmen where White-cheeked Tody-Tyrant is regularly recorded, as well as sightings of Black-capped Tinamou. Beautiful garden and lodging in cabins. Night at Villa Carmen Lodge just outside of Pilcopata.
Day 6. Birding Villa Carmen.
Additional day at Villa Carmen. Either to explore the extensive trail system or to backtrack up the road towards Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge.
Day 7. Birding Pilcopata to Amazonia Lodge. Fine-barred Piculet and Spangled Cotinga
The road between Pilcopata and Atalaya has produced several very good species in the past, such as Military Macaw and Blue-headed Macaw, Wattled Guan, Red-billed Tyrannulet, Orange-fronted Plushcrown, Manu Antbird, Pheasant Cuckoo, Spangled Cotinga, Yellow-billed Nunbird and Fine-barred Piculet.
In the afternoon we will start to explore Amazonia Lodge. The clearing, filled with Porterweed (aka Blue Vervain) and hummingbird feeders is a spectacle. Special hummers visiting include Rufous-crested Coquette, Koepcke´s Hermit, Gould’s Jewelfront, Gray-breasted Sabrewing, White-necked Jacobin, Golden-tailed Sapphire and many more. Night at Amazonia Lodge.
Day 8. Birding Amazonia Lodge. Rufous-crested Coquette and Black-capped Tinamou.
At Amazonia Lodge the famous jeep-track has produced many specialties over the years such as Black-capped Tinamou, Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo, Black-spotted Bare-eye, Long-tailed Potoo, Amazonian Antpittaand Thrush-like Antpitta, Fiery-capped Manakin and many more.
We will bird Amazonia Lodge until midday and then move downriver with motorized canoes to Pantiacolla Lodge. The access to the Pantiacolla ridge makes this lodge special.
At our arrival at around 3 PM we will start checking out the bamboo for species like White-cheeked Tody-Tyrant, Bamboo Antshrike, and Manu Antbird. Some night birding may reward us with Spectacled Owl, Crested Owl, Amazonian Pygmy-Owl, or Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl. Night Pantiacolla Lodge.
Day 9. Birding Pantiacolla Lodge. White-cheeked Tody-Tyrant and Manu Antbird
Pantiacolla has a very good trail system. Frequently groups of Pale-winged Trumpeters are found. On the trail we may find a canopy flock. Night Pantiacolla Lodge.
Day 10. Birding Pantiacolla Ridge. Black Tinamou and Band-bellied Owl
If you like to try for some very rare Peruvian birds it may be a good idea to aim for the Pantiacolla ridge.
After Coffee at 3 AM, we shall start the trail. It is about an 8K walk and a 500m ascent. Before dawn we will be out looking for Band-bellied Owl. A very seldom seen upper tropical replacement of Spectacled Owl. The sun-rise from the viewpoint is well worth the early morning hike in the dark.
This is one of the most spectacular sights in Peru. You will virtually have the whole Amazon bellow you. Our prime goal is to encounter the rare Black Tinamou. This is the only place on earth where you have a chance of seeing one.
Other species here include Chestnut-tipped Toucanet, Orange-breasted Falcon, Black-and-White Hawk-Eagle, Pavonine Quetzal, Koepcke’s Hermit, Scaly-breasted Woodpecker and a foothill form of Thrush-like Schiffornis whose call is different from the lowland form, and different from recently split Foothill Schiffornis, and may yet prove to be a separate species. We will be back at the lodge again around lunch for our afternoon birding or a well-deserved rest. Night Pantiacolla Lodge.
Day 11. Pantiacolla to Manu Amazon Lodge. Pale-winged Trumpeter and Buckley’s Forest Falcon.
In this in-depth program to the Peruvian Amazon we have an additional morning on the trails at Pantiacolla where we often find Pale-winged Trumpeters. Buckley's Forest-Falcon has also been seen in the past. Manakins such as Band-tailed and Round-tailed Manakins are found at loose leks. The possibilities are mindblowing.
At around midday we will leave with a box-lunch on the river to Manu Amazon Lodge and Manu Wildlife Center.
Day 12-13. Birding Manu Amazon Lodge. Long-crested Pygmy-Tyrant and Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo
Two full days at the trails of Manu Amazon Lodge. There is a great trail system at the camp which includes both terra firme and varzea like forest, heliconia thickets, aguajales (palm swamps), and extensive bamboo with all the specialists including Long-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, White-cheeked Tody-Tyrant, Pheasant Cuckoo, Rufous-headed Woodpecker and Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo. Monkeys are plentiful including Black Spider Monkey, Monk Saki, and Emperor Tamarin. Pale-winged Trumpeters and Razor-billed Curassows are often seen.
There are two clay-licks for Tapirs to visit. Sometimes Red-brocket Deer and Ocelots are also seen near the lick and on the way there is sometimes possible to see the rare Red-billed Pied-Tanager.
Day 14. Manu Wildlife Center
We continue to Manu Wildlife Center the next lodge downriver. The Manu Wildlife Centre has a good canopy tower and a great trail system that we shall explore for toucans, parrots, raptors, cotingas, woodpeckers, and furnarids and antbirds. There is also a Tapir-lick here in case we missed tapir at Manu Birding Lodge.
Day 15. Macaw lick and Cocha Camungo
Early morning visit the hide in front of the famous Macaw lick. One of the true natural wonders where Blue-Headed Parrot, Mealy Parrot, and White-eyed Parakeet are seen and later the large, raucous Red-and-Green Macaws. (please note that this excursion is optional. If not taking part of the macaw clay lick, you will be birding nearby.) All parrots can of course be seen near elsewhere during the tour. Cost for the macaw lick hide is $100 and must be booked in beforehand.
The rest of the day we will spend time at the tower of Cocha Camungo for canopy species and walk the trails. The trails are good for Banded Antbird, Semi-collared Puffbird, Pale-winged Trumpeter and Rufous-fronted Antthrush. After an additional morning at the Manu Lodge we will go down the Madre de Dios river to Cocha Blanquillo to see the local Giant Otter colony and additional marsh birds such as Pale-eyed Blackbird, Snail Kite, Horned Screamer, Sungrebe, and Limpkin. We stay the night in Blanquillo Lodge.
Day 16. Blanquillo Lodge to Amigos
After some additional birding at Blanquillo lodge in the morning we shall continue downriver to Amigos Research Center. We whall arrive in the late afternoon to look for Black-faced Cotinga and Rufous-fronted Anthrush among other species.
Day 17. Amigos Research Center.
Outstanding location in the Peruvian rain forest with a resident 7m Anaconda at Pozo Don Pedro. Also sightings of Tapir and Jaguar on the trails. Rio Los Amigos Research Station is a very modern facility in the rain forest with good trails, electric lighting, and even the internet and it has the specialties of SE Peru including the rare Long-crested Pygmy-Tyrant and Peruvian Recurvebill. There are 10 species of monkeys regularly seen including Emperor Tamarin and Monk Saki Monkey.
Day 18. Fly to Lima or bus to Cusco
Midmorning we go down the river to Laberinto. On the way we may see Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Red-breasted, White-browed and Pale-eyed Blackbirds, Chestnut Jacamar, White-throated Jacamar, Pearl Kite, Sulphury Flycatcher, and Point-tailed Palm-creeper. Tour ends.
The domestic flights arriving to Cusco or flying back to Lima are not included in the package price, but we will happily help you with this. Calculate around $300 for both the flights with LATAM. If you want to travel back to Cusco by bus there are cheap and comfortable sleeper busses, which will get you there first thing in the morning. You could also of course, stay in Puerto Maldonado and do some birding in the morning and then fly to Cusco around midday the next day. Flight times are subject to change. .