10 days in the heart
of Manu
Manu National Park is renowned for its exceptional biodiversity and is considered one of the most important conservation areas on Earth. This tour offers a comprehensive birding program tailored for enthusiastic naturalists, specializing in both birdwatching and photography. Participants will have the opportunity to appreciate a wide range of habitats, from Puna shrub grasslands and elfin forests to mountain and cloud forests, where species such as the Andean Bear (Tremarctos ornatus), Quetzals, cotingas, trogons, manakins, and Cock-of-the-Rocks can be found. The untouched Amazonian lowlands are home to 14 species of monkeys, Giant River Otters (Pteronura brasiliensis), Jaguars (Panthera onca), and Brazilian Tapirs (Tapirus terrestris). Traveling to Manu means exploring one of the world's last great wilderness areas, with over 1,000 bird species recorded. On this tour, we typically observe over 550 bird species.
Imagine walking along forest trails filled with diverse bird flocks while encountering a troop of Black Spider Monkeys, or quietly paddling on a catamaran in an oxbow lake surrounded by Black Caimans (Melanosuchus niger) and abundant birdlife. Each day will be filled with awe-inspiring encounters with the remarkable wildlife of Manu. This program is designed to ensure a relaxed pace, allowing you to cultivate patience and fully immerse yourself in the experience. It’s truly an incredible adventure!
10 days in the heart
of Manu
Our adventure begins in the exciting Jungle of Manu, we will pick you up around 4:30 am from your hotels in Cusco in our private transport.
Today's destination is the lush cloud forest region where the Andes meet the Amazon basin.
It’s a day of scenic drama and striking contrasts.
Our first stop is Huacarpay, a mountain wetland habitat, with numerous bird species such as the endemic Bearded Mountaineer, Rusty-fronted Canastero as well as non-endemic flycatchers, coots, teals, egrets, hummingbirds, raptors, and seedeaters, between the Cusco Valley and the Paucartambo valley.
Our next stop is for the endemic Creamy-crested Spinetail, before arriving at the last Andean pass – Acjanacu.
On a clear day, we'll be able to look out from the last range of the Andes over the Amazon basin stretching into the distance.
A side stop may find us Scribble-tailed and Line -fronted Canasteros and maybe Puna and Diademed Tapaculo.
In the afternoon we will bird the upper limits of the eastern slopes.
Working our way down the eastern slope of the Andes, the forest becomes more continuous and we will spend the afternoon birding to our accommodation at 2800 meters above sea level above Pillahuata.
Possibilities are many but we hope to encounter mixed-species flocks of Mountain Tanagers, Flycatchers, and Ovenbirds.
Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan, Collared Jay, and Mountain Cacique are among some of the many species we may find.
In the evening we will go to a favorite spot where we have had luck calling in Swallow-tailed Nightjar.
Night at the Wayquecha Biological Station. B: L: D
Cusco – Wayquecha Biological Station
After breakfast, we will be greeted with a varied dawn chorus and Red and White Antpitta should be calling.
We will spend all day birding from the biological station at 2800 meters to our next stop at 1300 meters.
This is a pristine forest on a short bus drive.
Some of the special birds on this stretch which we will look for include: White-rumped Hawk, Trilling Tapaculo, , Andean Guan, a wide variety of Hummingbirds including Collared Inca, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Violet-throated Startfrontlet and Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Purple-backed Thornbill, Scaled Metaltail, White-bellied Woodstar, Mountain Parakeet, Andean Pigmy Owl, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, the endemic Marcapata Spinetail, Andean Parakeet, White-throated Antpitta, Barred and Band-tailed Fruiteaters, White-throated Tyrannulet, Ochraceous-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Becard, Pale-footed Swallow, Mountain Wren, Citrine Warbler and many Tanagers.
Night at Wayquecha Biological Station B: L: D
Wayquecha Biological Station full day Birding
After breakfast we will depart for long birding day, having the following species: Bar-bellied Woodpecker, Sierran Elaenia, Black-Throated Toody-Tyrant, Golden-Crowned Flycatchers, White-Crowned Tapaculo, Yellow- Throated Tananger, Common Hemisphingus, Bolivian Tyrannulet, Scaly-naped Parrot, Speckle-Faced Parrot, Stripe-Faced Wood-Quail, Black and Chestnut Eagle, White-Throated Hawk, Solitary Eagle, Spotted Barbtail, Golden-Headed Quetzal, Highland Motmot, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Black-Streaked Puffbird, Versicolored Barbet, Blue-Banded Toucanet.
During the afternoon we will arrive at Cock of the rock Lodge, we will enjoy the feeder for hummingbirds the Wire-Crested Thorntail, Green Hermit, Green Violetear, Sparkling Violetear, Speckle Hummingbird, Many-Spotted Hummingbird, Violet-Fronted Brilliant, Fawn-Breasted Brilliant, Bronzy Inca, Booted Racket-Tail.
At night time we have good chance to see Vermiculated Screech-Owl, Rufescent Screech-Owl, Band-bellied Owl, and Rufous-Banded Owl.
Night at Cock of the Rock Lodge. B: L: D
Wayquecha Biological Station - Cock of the Rock Lodge
Cock of the Rock Lodge is situated in the pristine Cloud Forest of the Mountains of Manu just a few minutes walk from a spectacular Cock of the Rock Lek (Rupicola Peruviana) furnished with comfortable blinds (hides) which enable us to observe these colorful birds.
There is trail system behind the lodge that enables you to see the under-story of the Cloud Forest first hand and facilitates seeing some species normally not seen from the road such as Chestnut-breasted Wren, Scaled Antpitta, Rufous-breasted and Short-tailed Antthrush's, Slaty Gnateater and the endemic Cerulean-capped Manakin, Yungas Manakin, Fiery-Capped Manakin.
Orchids are abundant with about 80 species recorded around the lodge.
Montane Foliage-gleaner, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Uniform and Variable Antshrikes, Slaty Gnateater, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Scaled Fruiteater, Inca Flycatcher (endemic), Uniform Antshrike, White-throated Spadebill, Fulvous-breasted Flatbill, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Yellow-rumped and Slaty Antwrens, Deep-blue Flowerpiercer, Peruvian Piedtail (endemic) and lots more.
Nights at Cock of the Rock Lodge. B: L: D
Cock of the Rock Lodge full day
The Bonanza Lodge is situated in the buffer zone of Manu National Park at 300 meters a.s.l., where the last low foothills of the Andes begin to flatten out into the lowland Amazon Basin. The lodge features butterfly bushes that attract various hummingbird species, including the stunning Rufous-crested Coquette, Festive Coquette, White-Chinned Sapphire, Golden-tailed Sapphire, and Blue-tailed Emerald.
Cock of the Rock Lodge – Bonanza Lodge
We will be searching for several species in the bamboo, including the Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Manu Antbird (common here), Flammulated Tody-Tyrant, Bamboo Antshrike, White-cheeked Tody-Flycatcher, Large-headed and Dusky-tailed Flatbills, Peruvian Recurvebill, Dusky-cheeked and Brown-rumped Foliage-Gleaners, Ihrig's and Ornate Antwren, White-lined Antbird, Striated Antbird, and more. We will also look for the singing Rufous-fronted Antthrush, which has been located in this territory.
Bonanza Lodge full day Birding
Early morning birding near Bonanza Lodge will focus on species we may have missed, such as Silvered Antbird, Band-Tailed Antbird, Black Bushbird, White-throated Antbird, Hairy-Crested Antbird, Plumbeous Antbird, Sooty Antbird, Chestnut-Tailed Antbird, Banded Antbird, and Pygmy Antwren.
As the day begins to warm, we will prepare for our motorized boat trip to Tambo Blanquillo Lodge after lunch.
During the river journey, we will have the opportunity to observe typical riverside species such as Pied Lapwing, Collared Plover, Roseate Spoonbill, King Vulture, Greater Yellow-Headed Vulture, Capped Heron, Fasciated Tiger-Heron, Horned Screamer, Orinoco Goose, and Large-billed and Yellow-billed Terns.
We may also spot various species of macaws and parrots overhead, as well as potential sightings of birds of prey.
The river trip will be enjoyable as we leave the last foothills and enter the Amazon basin.
We will spend the night at Tambo Blanquillo Lodge. B: L: D
Bonanza Lodge – Blanquillo Macaw Clay Lick
In the early morning, we will have the opportunity to visit the Macaw Clay Lick (known as Collpa) and observe the spectacle of hundreds of parrots and macaws from our comfortable blinds.
Here, we may see the beautiful Orange-cheeked Parrot, numerous Blue-headed Parrots, as well as Mealy and Yellow-crowned Parrots.
Smaller visitors include White-eyed, Cobalt-winged, and Dusky-cheeked Parrotlets.
We will also visit oxbow lakes (known as Cocha) in the area, where we can observe lakeside birds including Hoatzin, Sungrebe, Agami Heron, Greater Large-billed Seed-Finch, Silvered and Band-tailed Antbirds, Amazonian Streaked Antwren, Rufous-sided Crake, Wattled Jacana, Black-collared Hawk, Snail Kite, Channel-billed Toucan, Curl-crested Aracari, Ivory-billed Aracari, Gray-breasted Crake, Zigzag Heron, Green and Rufous Kingfishers, Green Kingfisher, American Pygmy Kingfisher, and Ringed Antpipit.
We may also be fortunate enough to see one of the two Giant Otter families residing in the area.
At night, we will encounter species such as the Amazonian Pygmy Owl, Spectacled Owl, Ocellated Poorwill, and Silky-tailed Nightjar, among others.
Overnight at Tambo Blanquillo Lodge. B: L: D
Blanquillo Macaw Clay Lick full day Birding
After a morning walk around and of course with more birding expericence we will start on our comfortable boat and our last look at early morning Parrot flocks.
Our journey down the Madre de Dios River takes us past over the green forest until the town of Boca Colorado.
It will be a great chance to see riverside birds and raptors.
Leaving our boat we'll take one hour drive in local transport to the Inambari River where our bus will be waiting on the other bank to take us, birding along the way like Black-Billed Seed-Finch, Chestnut–Bellied Seedeater, Saffron Finch, Point-Tailed Palmcreeper and more, arrival to the city of Puerto Maldonado at late afternoon, we spend the night at the hotel in Puerto Maldonado. B: L: D
Blanquillo Macaw Clay Lick – Puerto Maldonado
We will begin with birding in the early morning around Puerto Maldonado and along the road to Cusco.
During these few hours, we expect to encounter many new species, including seedeaters, Red-breasted Blackbird, and White-tailed Kite.
Other species we will be on the lookout for include White-throated Jacamar, Black-banded Crake, Grassland Sparrow, Gray-breasted Crake, Black-faced Tanager, Barred Antshrike, Southern Crested Caracara, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Small-billed Tinamou, and Rusty-margined and Sulphury Flycatchers.
The Point-tailed Palmcreeper is also common in this area.
Puerto Maldonado – Cusco
Everything you need
- Private Transportation
- Private boat
- Rubber boots
- Rain poncho
- Duffle bag for personal belongings
- All accommodations and Lodges
- Bird-Specialist guide from the jungle
- Professional cook
- Mineral water all the time
- First aid kit including Antivenom for snake bites
- 3 meals per day included vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian option
- Middmorning snacks
- Entrance to Wayquecha Biolofgical Station
- Entrance to Cock of the Rock Lodge
- Entrance to Cock of the rock Lek
- Entrance to Bonanza Ecological Reserve
- Entrance to Blanquillo Macaw Clay Lick
- Entrance to Tambo Blanquillo Lodge
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses and tips
- Alcoholic beverages