DAY 1: Cusco-Huacarpay-Paucartambo-San Pedro

You leave Cusco early in the morning (appr. 05:30 am) by private transportation to travel the famous “Manu Road”. Lake Huacarpay is reached after 40 minutes, where we spend time to observe highland lake with marsh birds and butterflies. We look for the Plumbeous Rail, which is not as elusive here as rails normally are, the Many-coloured Rush-Tyrant and two endemics, the Rusty-fronted Canastero and the spectacular hummingbird, the Bearded Mountaineer. This site should also provide our first Peruvian butterflies with Gulf Fritillary and Brazilian Painted Lady amongst the target species.  In the early afternoon you arrive at the Ajanaco pass at 3530 m and the beginning of our descent of the eastern Andes. This is also the beginning of the Manu National Park, where the slope forests, unlike at other parts of the eastern Andes, are almost completely untouched. In between the clouds we look for flocks of many different tanager species. Also the Andean Guan, Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan, White-collared Jay, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker and the endemic Puna Thistletail belong to this altitude. Butterflies here include Clouded Yellows and various Skippers.  Overnight at Posada San Pedro, where we will be able to run a moth lamp for the two nights we are staying here.

DAY 2,3: San Pedro

During these two days we will explore the different altitudes along the Manu Road. One day we go higher up to the temperate and upper subtropical zone, where we hope to meet Blue-banded Toucanet, Golden-headed Quetzal, Marcapata Spinetail, Red-and-white Antpitta, Barred Fruiteater, Fulvous Wren and many more. At dusk we will search for Lyre-tailed Nightjar and Owl butterflies. 
The other day we stay close to our campsite in the transition zone between the sub-tropical and upper-tropical habitat, at around 1500 metres. First we pay an early morning visit to a nearby Cock of the Rock lek before exploring the rest of the cloud forest. This avian-rich zone is home to many species of tanagers and hummingbirds but we also have the change to encounter the splendid Versicoloured Barbet, Highland Motmot, Green Jay and Cock-of-the-Rock amongst others. It is also a great area for  butterflies in the families of Skippers, Daggerwings, Adelphas and Sulphurs which often gather to imbibe moisture from seepages and rocky pools along the river and in the vicinity of small waterfalls.  The moths in this sort of habitat are no less stunning than the butterflies and birds in both their sheer number and variety, although identifying them is more of a challenge.

DAY 4: San Pedro-Atalaya-Pantiacolla Lodge

We leave early to be able to look for the birds of between 1500 and 1000m in the good hours of the day. We will start to see more tropical birds like Russet-backed - & Crested Oropendolas, Bluish-fronted Jacamar, Stripe-chested Antwren, Long-tailed Tyrant, vultures and kites. Some of the specials are the Amazonian Umbrellabird and Black-banded Tody-Tyrant.  In Atalaya we change into a motorized canoe. We navigate down the Alto Madre de Dios: a relaxed way of observing birds, such as the Capped Heron and the Fasciated Tiger-Heron, vultures, possibly King Vulture, and overflying macaws. If river conditions are suitable, we will look out for butterflies imbibing moisture from sandbanks.  Sometimes these aggregations can run into many hundreds of individuals – an incredible sight. In the afternoon we are welcomed at Pantiacolla Lodge (450 m). At dusk we sit near the river and enjoy the Sand-coloured Night-hawks. 

DAY 5, 6: Pantiacolla Lodge

Hikes on the well designed trails around Pantiacolla Lodge take you through at least eight different habitat types with many rare and endemic species of bird. The many different tinamous, antbirds and manakins are only a fraction of the already 600 species of bird found until this day. On the more shady trails, Glasswing butterflies are commonplace, all very similar in appearance but several different species.  In the more open areas, it is the brightly coloured Callicores and Panaceas that catch the eye, with their metallic upper side markings contrasting with their brilliantly marked undersides.  With luck, we should also see our first Morphos as they flap through the jungle with their iridescent blue wings. As always in between the tangling leaves of primary rainforests, one has to work hard to see wildlife, but it is certainly worth the effort. For variation, one can sit in the garden of the lodge and wait for a passing mixed-species bird flock, while enjoying the ever-present hummingbirds. The longest trail takes you up the Pantiacolla Mountains, to one of its miradors, at 920 m, with an incredible view over the vast Amazonian expanse. The mirador is located in an isolated patch of cloud forest at 900 m altitude. This area is one of the most likely sites to encounter the extremely rare Black Tinamou. We start this hike before dawn, still being able to hear the sounds of the Great- and the Long-tailed Potoo, while diurnal birds just start their daily activities.

Pantiacolla Lodge has eight different recorde monkey species, and both white-lipped and collared peccaries are commonly see. One of the mornings we visit a nearby clay lick for parrots and the Military- and Blue-headed Macaw, Manu's two rarest macaws.

DAY 7: to Amazonia Lodge

Going back now upstream the same river as on day 4 we arrive at at Amazonia Lodge at 9 a.m. While the staff is bringing our luggage to the lodge we walk the 2 km long so-called Jeep-trail. Tinamous, Trogons, Purple-throated Cotinga, Long-tailed Tyrant and different parrots are some of the possibilities. The lodge has a very nice garden where you will see 6-10 different species of hummingbirds with the male Rufous-crested Coquette and Wire-crested Thorntail as being the most attractive ones. Amazonia is also a good place to see one of more of the 3 species of Potoos. A small oxbow lake close to the lodge gives us the possibility to see Hoatzin, Sungrebe, Sunbittern, Rufescent Tiger-heron, all species that you normally don´t see at Pantiacolla. 

DAY 8: back to Cusco

After a last walk at the grounds of Amazonia the boat takes us to the other side of the river, where our car is waiting to bring us back to Cusco. It is a long drive of 8-9 hours with some breaks for birding, coffee and lunch.

Important note:

Bearing in mind the uncontrollable forces of nature, the programme could be subject to changes at any time

Includes:

-           Bird- and butterflywatcher guide in English and Spanish
-           Private transportation by road and by river from Cusco to Pantiacolla Lodge and back
-           Overnights in Posada San Pedro
-           Overnights in Pantiacolla Lodge
-           Overnight in Amazonia Lodge
-           Visit of cloud forest Cock of the Rock lek
-           Visit of Pantiacolla clay lick for the Blue-headed Macaw
-           Meals
 
Not included:

-Soft drinks and beer
-Personal expenses

EXTENSION

As an extension you can join one of Pantiacollas fixed departure tours going into Manu´s Reserved Zone. This area is very good for observation of monkeys and other big mammals. The guides for the fixed departure tours are excellent naturalists, however not all are specialized in birds.

13-days Manu Road & Pantiacolla Mountain Range with Manu's Reserved Zone extension
In by  Manu Road, out by Interoceanica Road

DAY 1: Cusco-Huacarpay-Paucartambo-San Pedro

You leave Cusco early in the morning (appr. 05:30 am) by private transportation. Lake Huacarpay is reached after 40 minutes, where we spend time to observe highland lake and marsh birds. We look for the Plumbeous Rail, which is not as elusive here as rails normally are, the Many-coloured Rush-Tyrant and two endemics, the Rusty-fronted Canastero and the spectacular hummingbird, the Bearded Mountaineer. Afterwards the bus takes you to the folkloric village Paucartambo for a late breakfast.

In the early afternoon you arrive at the Ajanaco pass at 3900 m and the beginning of our descent of the eastern Andes. This is also the beginning of the Manu National Park, where the slope forests, unlike at other parts of the eastern Andes, are almost completely untouched. In between the clouds we look for flocks of many different tanager species. Also the Andean Guan, Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan, White-collared Jay, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker and the endemic Puna Thistletail belong to this altitude. In San Pedro, at 1500 m we will spend the following three nights at the rustic lodge Posada San Pedro.

DAY 2,3: San Pedro

Cyanolyca turcosaDuring these two days we will explore the different altitudes along the Manu Road. One day we go higher up to the temperate and upper subtropical zone, where we hope to meet Blue-banded Toucanet, Golden-headed Quetzal, Marcapata Spinetail, Red-and-white Antpitta, Barred Fruiteater, Fulvous Wren and many more. At dusk we will search for Lyre-taild Nightjar.

The other day we stay close to our campsite in the transition zone between the sub-tropical and upper-tropical habitat. This avian-rich zone is home to many species of tanagers and hummingbirds but we also have the change to encounter the splendid Versicoloured Barbet, Highland Motmot, Green Jay and Cock-of-the-Rock amongst others.

DAY 4: San Pedro-Atalaya-Amazonia Lodge

We leave early to be able to look for the birds of between 1500 and 1000m in the good hours of the day. We will start to see more tropical birds like Russet-backed - & Crested Oropendolas, Bluish-fronted Jacamar, Stripe-chested Antwren, Long-tailed Tyrant, vultures and kites. Some of the specials are the Amazonian Umbrellabird and Black-banded Tody-Tyrant.  In Atalaya we cross the river in a motorized canoe. While the staff is bringing our luggage to the lodge we walk the 2 km long so-called Jeep-trail. Tinamous, Trogons, Purple-throated Cotinga, Long-tailed Tyrant and diff. parrots are some of the possibilities. The lodge has a very nice garden where you will see 6-10 different species of hummingbirds with the male Rufous-crested Coquette and Wire-crested Thorntail as being the most attractive ones. Amazonia is also a good place to see one of more of the 3 species of Potoos. A small oxbow lake close to the lodge gives us the possibility to see Hoatzin, Sungrebe, Sunbittern, Rufescent Tiger-heron, all species that you normally don't see at Pantiacolla.

DAY 5: to Amazonia Lodge-Pantiacolla Lodge

In the afternoon, we navigate down the Alto Madre de Dios: a relaxed way of observing birds, such as the Capped Heron and the Fasciated Tiger-Heron, vultures, possibly King Vulture, and overflying macaws. In the late afternoon we are welcomed at Pantiacolla Lodge (450 m). At dusk we sit near the river and enjoy the Sand-coloured Night-hawks.

DAY 6, 7: Pantiacolla Lodge

Hikes on the well designed trails around Pantiacolla Lodge take you through at least eight different habitat types with many rare and endemic species of bird. The many different tinamous, antbirds and manakins are only a fraction of the almost 600 species of bird found until this day. As always in primary rainforests, one has to work hard to see the birds well, but it is certainly worth the effort. For variation, one can sit in the garden of the lodge and wait for a passing mixed-species flock, while enjoying the ever-present hummingbirds. The longest trail takes you up the Pantiacolla Mountains, to one of its miradors, at 920 m, with an incredible view over the vast Amazonian expanse. The mirador is located in an isolated patch of cloud forest at 900 m altitude. This area is one of the most likely sites to encounter the extremely rare Black Tinamou. We start this hike before dawn, still being able to hear the sounds of the Great- and the Long-tailed Potoo, while diurnal birds just start their daily activities. One of the mornings we visit a nearby clay lick for parrots and the Military- and Blue-headed Macaw, Manus two rarest macaws.

DAY 8: Pantiacolla Lodge-Yine Lodge

Early in the morning we visit the Pantiacolla parrot lick that has the very rare Blue-headed macaw, besides other small macaws and many parrots. At midday we join the people doing the 7-day tour going down the Alto Madre de Dios River to Yine Lodge -a small eco-lodge which is part of a project of Pantiacolla with the Yine Indians.

DAY 9 & 10: Lake Salvador and Lake Otorongo

On the morning of the third day we turn up the Manu River for a 6-hour ride into the heart of Manu’s Reserved Zone. From this vantage point we should have great views of riverside birds, sunbathing caiman, and the enormous aquatic guinea pig, the capybara. We reach our Camping Huts deep inside Manu in the afternoon. This will be our base for this and the next day. During this time, we will hike through virgin forest and explore one of the most beautiful lakes of the Manu basin, Lake Salvador, by catamaran. There is a chance to see a huge variety of colourful birds, numerous species of monkey and with luck, a family of giant otters. There is another hike in this habitat-rich forest that ends in Lake Otorongo and a 20 meter-high observation platform overlooking the lake.  At night we can explore the forest by torchlight or go moonlight caiman-spotting on the lake.

 

DAY 11: Lake Salvador-Macaw Lick

After a final walk through the forest surrounding Lake Salvador, we return back down the Manu River. Joining the Madre de Dios River we arrive at Blanquillo, near the claylick for macaws, where we spend the night in the jungle lodge Tambo Blanquillo.

DAY 12: Macaw Lick

At first light we head to the macaw lick to watch the dazzling spectacle of hundreds of parakeets, parrots and big macaws eating clay. In the afternoon we visit another one of Manu's beautiful oxbow lakes or visit a 42-meter high canopy tower. We spend the night again in the jungle lodge Tambo Blanquillo.

DAY 13: Blanquillo-Boca Colorado-Cusco

Back on the boat early in the morning, we head downstream to the small mining village Boca Colorado. Here and in Mazuco later on, you can see the negative effects of certain human activities on the delicate ecological balance of the rainforest. We take local transportation until crossing the Inambari River. On the other side, our bus is waiting to take you over a newly paved road, through beautiful cloud and elfin forest. Near Cusco, you have stunning views of the Ausangate Mountain.  Cusco is reached in the early evening. 

Important notes:

  1. Bearing in mind the uncontrollable forces of nature, the programme could be subject to changes at any time
  2. The extension is part of a larger group, consisting of people with a general interest, and does not have a specialist bird guide included