Birdwatching Tour in Peru 11 Days

Duration

11 days

Max People

8

Min Age

6+

Pickup

Hotel

Description
Tour Plan
Tour Map
Reviews

OUR BIRDING TOUR IN PERU 11D / 10N

 

Peru’s Manu Biosphere Reserve has the highest concentration of birds on Earth. At the time of writing, approximately 925 species have been recorded. Ornithologists expect this number to surpass the 1000 mark in the near future as more remote areas of the reserve are explored. There are just under 9,000 bird species in the world, which means that Manu has one in every nine species found on the planet. No other protected area on Earth contains so many birds.

Eco Peru Tours has designed this incredible birding tour, exploring totally different types of ecosystems of the high Andes, cloud forest and lowland Amazon rainforest. Providing our clients with one of the most incredible birding experiences in the Peruvian Southeast.

ACCOMMODATIONS WE USE DURING OUR TOURS

WAYQUECHA BIOLOGICAL STATION.

In 2005, Amazon Conservation created Peru’s only permanent field research station focused on cloud forest ecology and management.

This 1,450-acre research center, called Wayqecha (“brother” in the local Quechua language), is located at 3,000 meters above sea level. The station is located in the Kosñipata Valley in the department of Cusco in southeastern Peru, where it serves as a buffer along the southern edge of Manu National Park.

The Wayqecha Cloud Forest Biological Station is one of the best places in the world to explore the lush cloud forest ecosystem. A constant supply of moisture supports a remarkable diversity of plants, which in turn supports thriving populations of birds, amphibians, orchids and mammals.

Enjoy your incredible experience along the trails and the amazing canopy walkway.

THE COCK OF THE ROCKS LODGE

Located at 1600 m / 5200 ft altitude in the Kosñipata valley, 165 km / 102 miles by road from Cusco, and within the 5,060ha / 12,500 acre cloud forest reserve of the Peru Verde conservation group. It took only 7 to 8 hours by bus from Cusco to reach the peace and simple comfort of this lodge, although many groups are so captivated by the magical diversity of what the world’s leading bird tour company has called “the best road in the world. ” that they take a little longer.

VILLA CARMEN BIRDING LODGE

Nestled in the Andean foothills, perched between the mountains and lowlands, Villa Carmen Biological Station offers birders the opportunity to see a blue-headed macaw, a hairy-crested antbird, a Roufous sparrow nunlet and a charismatic hoatzin.

The 7,600-acre property is located in the buffer zone of Manu National Park and features more than 25 miles of trails that encompass a wide variety of habitats, including old-growth tropical forests, low montane forests, secondary forests, streams, rivers and waterfalls.

  • EL DORADO LODGE.Located four hours up the Alto Madre de Dios River. Very private rustic and isolated lodge with a great view of the river, very nice place to see birds of the secondary forest, riverside and its spectacular parrot clay lick, species difficult to spot, such as the orange-checkered parrot, blue-headed macaw.MANU WILDLIFE CENTERManu offers by far the greatest number and diversity of animals and plants in the world. No other destination in Peru or beyond can compare to Manu. Nowhere else can you enjoy a magnificently intact site of tropical habitats from Andean grasslands and cloud forests to lowland and hill forests.Manu has the greatest diversity of birds, mammals and plants of any park on Earth, including 1,000 of the world’s 9,700 bird species, 200 species of mammals and 15,000 species of flowering plants. The most photogenic spectacles are frolicking giant otters, 1,000 parrots and macaws in a riverside clay lick, dancing cock-of-the-rock, inhabited monkeys and huge lowland tapirs in a forest clay lick.

    What’s Included in the Tour.

    TRIP CONSIDERATIONS

    Walking: walking effort is easy to moderate.

    Weather: quite variable. At high altitudes, conditions vary from cool to decidedly chilly in the early morning. At mid elevations, many days are dry, sunny and cloudy.

    ACCOMMODATION:

    Jungle lodges are comfortable but simple; some do not have full-time electricity, but provide a generator for a few hours a day to charge batteries. Wayqecha Biological Station with shared bathroom. Hot and cold water is always available and all bathroom facilities are flush toilets.

    Bird photography: the opportunities are worth it.

    We recommend you bring:

  • Apart from binoculars and photographic equipment (the important things for birders), we recommend:
  • A spotting scope.
  • Flashlight for night birding
  • Light day pack
  • Sunscreen and insect repellent
  • T-shirts and long-sleeved shirt
  • Jeans or other cotton pants are comfortable, as are quick-drying nylon pants.
  • Cotton socks
  • Sweater, jacket or fleece for night birding
  • Lightweight, water-resistant jacket or poncho
  • Hiking boots or sturdy shoes
  • Sandals for after hours
  • Hat and sunglasses
  • Plastic bags for camera, clothing, etc.
  • Personal toiletries (shampoo, towel, etc.)

Tour Plan

Day 1 CUSCO - HUACARPAY LAGOON WAYQUECHA BIOLOGICAL STATION (3000m / 9,880 Ft. Elevation)

Our adventure begins in Cusco very early in the morning, we will pick you up from your hotel in our private van, today’s destination is the lush cloud forest region where the Andes meet the Amazon basin. It is a day of scenic drama and striking contrasts. Our first stop is Huacarpay, a mountain wetland habitat, with numerous bird species we hope to see, such as the endemic bearded mountaineer, rusty-fronted canastero, as well as non-endemic flycatchers, coots, teals, egrets, herons, hummingbirds, raptors. and seed-eaters, between the Cusco Valley and the Paucartambo Valley. Our next stop is for the endemic Cream-crested Spinetail, before reaching the last Andean pass: Acjanaco. On a clear day, we will be able to look down from the last Andean range over the Amazon basin stretching into the distance. A side stop may find us Canasteros with scribbled tails and in front of a line and perhaps Puna and Tapaculo with diadems. In the afternoon we will sight the upper limits of the eastern slopes. Descending the eastern slope of the Andes, the forest becomes more continuous and we will spend the afternoon birding up to our lodge at 2800 meters above sea level above Pillahuata. The possibilities are many, but we expect to find 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 encounter. In the evening we will go to a favorite spot where we have had luck calling Swallow-tailed Nightjar. We will spend the night at the Wayquecha Biological Station. We will spend the night at the WAYQUECHA BIOLOGICAL STATION.

Day 2 WAYQUECHA BIOLOGICAL STATION.

We leave early to the canopy walkway trying to find amazing species, as it will be a long day of bird watching, having the many species: tanagers, toucans, wrens, warblers, quetzals, guans and many others. Then we return for breakfast, after breakfast we start exploring the hummingbird feeder, excellent opportunity to take pictures, after lunch we explore the orchid garden trying to find more bird species. In the evening we go out to look for some species of owl. NIGHT AT THE WAYQUECHA BIOLOGICAL STATION.

Day 3 CAVES, WATER HOLES, FOREST TRAILS.

We start early after breakfast, we make the tour through the different trails around the lodge to understand the interaction of animals and plants. After lunch we will visit the famous bat cave, a totally different and unique ecosystem in the Peruvian Amazon, then we will visit the aguajales with the idea of seeing the fauna of this beautiful ecosystem.

Day 4 WAYQUECHA BIOLOGICAL STATION - GALLITO DE LAS ROCAS HOSTEL (1600m / 5200ft elevation).

After breakfast, we will be greeted with a varied dawn chorus and red and white Antpitta should be calling. We will spend the whole day birding from the biological station at 2800 meters to our next stop at 1300 meters. This is pristine forest on a short bus ride. Some of the special birds on this stretch that we will be looking for include: White-rumped hawk, Threshing tapaculo, Andean guan, a wide variety of hummingbirds, including Collared inca, Chestnut-breasted crown , Violet-throated hummingbird and Amethyst-throated sunangel, Purple-backed hawthornbill, Scaly metaltail, White-bellied woodstar, Mountain parakeet, Andean Pygmy Owl, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, The endemic Spinetail Marcapata, Andean Parakeet, White-throated Antpitta, Barred and Band-tailed Fritillary, White-throated Tyrannulet, Ochraceous-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Becard, Pale-legged Swallow, Mountain Wren, Citrine Warbler and many Tanagers. . During the afternoon we will arrive at the lodge, enjoy the hummingbird feeder Wire-crested Hawthorn-tailed, Green Hermit, Green Violetear, Foamy Violetear, Spotted Hummingbird, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Violet-fronted Hummingbird, Bright-breasted Cervatillo, Inca Bronzy, Racquet-tailed Shoe-tail. In the evening, we will have the opportunity to see Vermiculated Screech Owl, Rufous Screech Owl, Long-eared Owl and Rufous-striped Owl. We will spend the night at the Cock of the Rock Lodge.

Day 5 ALBEGUE GALLITO DE LAS ROCAS TO VILLA CARMEN BIOLOGICAL STATION Elevation (550m / 1800ft).

We started early in the morning after breakfast birding along the trails, looking for species such as: pot-bellied woodpecker, Elaenia sierran, black-throated tyrant, golden-crowned flycatcher, white-crowned tapaculo, yellow-throated tanager, common hemisphingus, Bolivian tyrannulet, scaly-naped parrot, spotted parrot, striped quail, black and chestnut eagle, white-throated hawk, solitary eagle, spotted bar-tailed, golden-headed quetzal, highland motmot, strong-billed nuthatch, black-striped bird, Versicolored bearded, Blue-banded toucanet, lunch in the middle and then continue along the manu road to the village of Pillcopata and then to the biological station of Villacarmen. Overnight in Villa Carmen.

Day 6 VILLA CARMEN BIOLOGICAL STATION.

The possibilities are almost endless and include Uniform Crake, Hoatzin, Blue-headed and Chestnut-fronted Macaws, Yellow-billed Nunbird, Scarlet-capped Barbet, Golden-bellied Warbler, Rufous-crested Coquette, Bamboo Cod, Black-throated Antbird, Rusty -Belted Tapaculo, Banded Antpitta, Johannes’ Tody-Tyrant, Hauxwell’s Thrush and Band-tailed, Round-tailed and Fire-crowned Manakins, in a word, tons of birds. Hummingbird feeders should have Gray-breasted Sabrewing, while the seed feeder and blind near our rooms might have visiting Black-headed, Wavy-headed or Cinereous Tinamou. With luck, a habituated Amazon Antpitta may come to worms, a unique experience. We will have the opportunity to go night birding here as well, and should hear and possibly see the tawny-bellied screech owl, black-banded owl and common colt. NIGHT AT VILLA CARMEN.

Day 7 VILLA CARMEN TO EL DORADO LODGE (500m / 1640ft Elevation)

After breakfast, we take our van one hour to the port of Atalaya, where we will take our boat, 30 minutes down the Alto Madre de Dios River, then walk 40 minutes to visit this spectacular lagoon of Machuwasi where we have great opportunities to see many birds. species. Then we continue our boat trip to the Dorado Lodge. After arriving at the lodge, you will have the opportunity to see a great sunset. And macaws flying back to their nest. Overnight at El DORADO LODGE.

Day 8 EL DORADO LODGE A MANU WILDLIFE CENTER (400m / 1312ft Elevation)

We start the 20 minute walk early in the morning and see a small clay parrot, with great possibilities to see, blue-headed parrots, blue-headed macaws, auroras, chestnut-fronted macaws. Then we return to the lodge for breakfast. After breakfast we start a 4 to 5 hour drive to Manu Wildlife Center. Overnight at Manu Wildlife Center.

Day 9 LODGE MANU WILDLIFE CENTER.

Another early start a short boat ride down river. We take a 20-minute trail through palm plantations to a cut-off channel of the river. You will witness scarlet macaws in the morning ritual, flapping down to the treetops, inspecting the eroded clay banks of the river, first making sure no large black hawks are present. A supporting cast also appears: these may include blue-headed, mealy, yellow-crowned, and orange-cheeked parrots. The drama unfolds first in tentative and then bolder approaches to licking, until finally nearly all the macaws, parrots and parakeets form a colorful and noisy spectacle on the bare banks, squabbling as they scrape clay from the hard surface. (Note that the clay lick is most active from August to October and less so during May and June). We return to the lodge for lunch and then continue exploring and discovering the rainforest, its lore and plant life. We will then continue to explore the network of trails surrounding the lodge, arriving late in the afternoon at our 34 m / 112 ft Canopy Tower. On its platform, we witness the frenetic activity of the twilight rush hour in the rainforest canopy before night falls. From the top of this platform, you will witness the frenetic “rush hour” wildlife activity as twilight turns to night. You will then hike the “Collpa Trail” to the famous Tapir Clay Lick. This is the most active clay lick known in the entire Amazon for these majestic 600-pound animals, distant cousins of horses and rhinos, and the largest land mammal in Latin America. Manu Wildlife Center research has identified as many as 12 individual tapirs that come to this lick to eat clay from under tree roots around the rim. The clay absorbs and neutralizes toxins from the vegetarian diet of these gentle giants. You can observe this nocturnal ritual from a wide observation platform elevated 17 feet (5 meters) above the forest floor. The platform is equipped with freshly made mattresses with pillows. Each mattress is covered by a spacious mosquito net where you can take a nap, if you like, until the first tapir arrives. Overnight at Manu Wildlife Center.

Day 10 MANU WILDLIFE CENTER.

We depart early for an ancient meander lake filled with water lilies (Nuphar lutea) and sunken logs and board the catamaran waiting for us at the lodge. We are likely to encounter the resident giant otter family on a fishing expedition, or groups of monkeys swinging noisily through the tall tree. Around the lake, it is an ornithologist’s dream: woodpeckers, tanagers, macaws, toucans and parakeets are just some of the birds to be seen. Spotted jacanas daintily tread the leaves of the water lilies, grebes paddle delicately through the calm waters, anhingas air-dry their broad black wings along the shore, while overhead, ospreys perched on branches search for fish. Among the bushes near the waterline, Hoatzins announce their presence with distinctive and strange whistles and grunts. After lunch at the lodge, your guide is available to lead you on free expeditions in search of other wildlife encounters. Or you can set out on one of the lodge’s many trails on private, personal excursions to meditate in quiet contemplation with the spirits of the rainforest. During the evening, from late afternoon until after dinner, you will have the opportunity to participate in a boat ride along the riverbank (river level permitting) in search of caiman and other nocturnal animals. Overnight at Manu Wildlife Center.

Day 11

We will depart the lodge early in the morning for the 2 ½ hour boat ride back down the river to Boca Colorado Village. Breakfast will be served on the boat as you observe early morning wildlife activity along the river. You will also pass native lowland settlements as well as gold miners digging and extracting gold along the banks of the Madre de Dios River. We will stop in the far western gold mining town of Colorado to begin our overland journey to Puerto Carlos for 45 minutes, then cross the Inambari River for 15 minutes by boat to Santa Rosa. Finally, our van will take us in approximately two hours to the airport in Puerto Maldonado. Here you return by commercial flight to Cusco or Lima. Or 6 hours drive back to Cusco

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Testimonials

TRIPADVISOR COMMENTS

Fran
Fran
2023-05-12
Paradiso en Peru Excelente trato en todo momento, muy claro y disponible y constantemente preocupándose por nuestro bienestar. Nos brindó una experiencia de 10. Muy preparado y formado también sobre los conocimientos culturales e históricos.Perfectos en idiomas.Me ayudo a sorprender mi esposa con ramas de rosas y tarta de chocolate en la habitación. Por su cumpleaños.Simplemente increíble!
Paul Bauzil
Paul Bauzil
2023-01-29
Wonderful trip to Manu National park We made the three day trip to Manu with eco Peru tours. From the very beginning we were met with great professionalism from Jesus and his team. We were two adults and two children age 8 and 11. They insured that adults as well as children were well taken care of and shared their vast knowledge about the different ecosystems from the Andes to the rainforest.The food we were served the entire trip was delicious and served in amazing locations along our route.The lodges where we spent the two nights were very nice and also had the luxury of an internet connection so we could upload pictures on social media.All in all well worth the money and we will be back for the six day trip in a few years.
PBruns
PBruns
2022-12-10
Peru Travel with an Outstanding Guide We spent 3 weeks touring Peru with Eco Peru Tours. This is our second visit to Peru with Jesus Glhemm. He is a great ambassador for Peru and everything that we love about it: a rich cultural legacy, gorgeous geography with many varied habitats for plants, birds and animals, delicious food, in fact, rated in top five in the world. Peruvians take food seriously. We found this to be true both in Lima and in Manu Reserve and places in between. Part of our trip was spent in Manu Reserve from high montane forests descending to lowland tropical areas and Madre de Dios River. The second half was spent in Sacred Valley among the many cultural sights. Jesus is very knowledgeable of birds, plants, mammals and insects. He is equally well-informed of Peruvian cultural history. In addition he speaks English very fluently. Jesus is one of the best guides that we have traveled with. He makes the travel seem effortless and he is fun, with a great sense of humor and intelligence. He would be at ease with older visitors as well as young people and children. I can't recommend him highly enough.
Jessica H
Jessica H
2022-12-05
Excelente experiencia por Manu Contratamos a Jesús para que nos hiciera un tour de birding y animales por Manu y fue una experiencia única. Jesús tiene una vista brutal con los animales y sabe muchísimo de aves, junto con Walter (el chofer) son el combo perfecto para hacerte pasar unos días inolviables, pendientes de cada detalle. Son cercanos y ayudan en todo lo que está en su mano. Sin duda recomiendo pasar unos días con ellos si eres amante de la naturaleza.
Sizhe S
Sizhe S
2022-11-25
Wonderful Jesús is the best guide I ever had!!! I will give 6 stars if possible. We had a one day sacred valley trip and a one day Machu Picchu trip with him. Before arrival, he arranged well about our trip and ticket. At Machu Picchu, I ended up climb to the top of mountain and saw the most beautiful view with his courage. We also encountered some unexpected situation that I had very serious elevation sickness. Even our trip already ended, he still came and help us communicate with local clinic and solve the missed train ticket. Without the help of him, I feel like we could not continue our trip in Peru. BTW, he is also pretty talented at taking photos, we love the photo he took for us in Machu Picchu.
Wendywooo411
Wendywooo411
2022-11-24
Machu Machu experience Thank you, Jesus, for making these days at Machu Picchu and Pisac so extraordinary. You were my support up to platform 3 while listening to native birds. Our group of four are so grateful for your guidance. Your knowledge and pride shown through each point of the circuit.
Dirk K
Dirk K
2022-09-24
A superlative Peruvian guide It is my pleasure to be able to write a review about the quality of the day tours we took with Jesus.Jesus is an excellent guide who was knowledgeable, well prepared, flexible with our changing needs and above all patient with our thousands of questions and a 60+ year old's less than high speed pace.His knowledge of the Incas, Peru and its wildlife is astounding as is his ability to communicate it all in very fluent English.I cannot imagine a better guide for anyone looking for a once in a lifetime experience in Peru!
Meli Amado
Meli Amado
2022-09-15
Vive la experiencia Manu Fue una experiencia inolvidable llena de aventuras y mucho aprendizaje, valore y ame más a mi bello país Perú 🇵🇪. La comida y todos los servicios súper top, Jesus es un guía muy profesional y todo el tiempo nos mostró diversas aves y animales que jamás vi antes.Si quieres conectarte realmente con la naturaleza este viaje es para ti 💚🔝🌏
Caro T
Caro T
2022-08-30
Excelente relato, bilingüe, atento a los detalles que elevó la experiencia de Machu Pichu. Para empezar, debo decir que a Machu Pichu se debe ir con un guía para poder entender todo lo que se ve y aprender de la historia de esta civilizaciónJesús nos contactó al llegar a aguas calientes para ir a Machu Pichu. Desde el primer momento nos ayudó en todo, nos acompañó en el bus y nos ayudó a resolver un mal entendido con la entrada. Habla muy bien inglés, lo que hizo que mi esposo entendiera todo el relato. Hasta nos sacó las fotografías!Jesús elevó la experiencia y ofreció conocimientos y relatos que no hubiésemos sabido para entender lo que ocurrió allí.
dnloreto
dnloreto
2022-08-08
Great knowledge and nice person The guided tour of Machupichu was done at a nice pace, with strategic stops for photos. The guide took us some so that we could all be on the photo. The information given about each spot was very interesting and well transmitted. He also answered additional questions, engaging in a conversation that added value to the experience. Additionally, he was funny and emphatic. Highly recommend!

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