Manu Birding 6 Days and 5 Nights

The Manu Biosphere Reserve has the highest diversity of life on Earth and is one of the most important conservation units in the world. If you were to choose one of THE best birding trips in the world, this must surely be a candidate. The beauty of this trip is the variety of habitats visited ranging from orchid laden cloud forest where Spectacled Bears and Cock-of-the-Rocks still live unmolested, to untouched Amazon rainforest where 13 species of Monkey abound and Giant Otters still exist in the ox-bow lakes. A trip to Manu is a trip to one of the world’s great wilderness areas where wildlife is still plentiful and over 1000 species of birds have been recorded. We regularly record 600 species on this tour and often see Jaguar. Imagine birding on forest trails with mixed species flocks that might contain over 50 species and bumping into a troop of Black Spider Monkeys around the corner, or quietly paddling on a catamaran on an Ox-bow Lake with Giant Otters and teeming lakeside birdlife! On this trip, we actually SAW 6 species of Tinamou, 10+ true Peruvian endemics and many more range restriced species, 44 species of Hummingbirds, and recorded 43 species of true Antbirds. On top of this we recored 10 primates, and watched an Ocelot catch a Macaw at the lick. A marvelous trip.

ITINERARY

Manu Birding 6 Days and 5 Nights

Manu Birding Day 1: Cusco to Wayquecha Lodge

We will start birding near Cusco at Huacarpay Lake, which offers a great opportunity to see the bearded mountainer, cinnamon teal, plumbeous rail, streak-fronted thornbird, among other birds. After we will continue to Manu Road where we will make several stop to see important birds.

Manu Birding Day 2: Wayquecha to Cock of the Rock Lodge

Today, we will start birding early in the morning near Wayquecha and Manu Road, which provides chances to see big mixed flocks of tanagers, flycatchers, hummingbirds, finches, toucans, and others, such as Grass-green Tanager, Golden-collared Tanager, White-throated Tyrannulet, Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan, and Rufous-capped Thornbill. After birding, we will return to the lodge for breakfast, and then we will continue for a full day of roadside birding. Today we will have good opportunities to see the Golden-headed Quetzal, White-collared Jay, Red and White Antpitta, Black and Chestnut Eagle, until we arrive at the Cock of the Rock Lodge.

Manu Birding Day 3: Cock of the Rock Lodge (Lower Manu cloud forest)

Today, early in the morning, we will visit the Cock of the Rock Lodge lick, where will see the dance of some male birds. Then we will return to the lodge for breakfast and continue for a full day of roadside birding, looking for birds such as the Andean Cock of the Rock, Black Streak Puffbird, Crested Quetzal, golden tanager, Saffron-crowned tanager, Slaty Gnateater, and many others birds in the cloud forest.

Manu Birding Day 4: Cock of the Rock Lodge to Amazonia Lodge

Today, we will eat breakfast very early and then continue birding along the route, where we will have chances to see the Black-backed Tody Flycatcher, Peruvian Piedtail, Amazonian Umbrella Bird, Ornate Flycatcher, Cusco Warbler, Solitary Eagle, and many other lowland birds.

Manu Birding Day 5: Full day birding Amazonia lodge

We will walk a good trail for birding around the lodge and little tower at the foothill forest where we can find Plum-throated Cotinga and red-billed Tyrannulet. Then we will return to the lodge to see many hummingbirds, Rufous-crested Coquette, Golden-tailed Sapphire, White-necked Jacobin, Long-billed Starthroat, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Fine-barred Piculet, Scarlet-hooded Barbet, Amazonian Antpitta, and many other birds

Manu Birding Day 6: Amazonia Lodge to Cusco

Early in the morning, we will begin birding the same trails before returning to Ollantaytambo. We can see the Band-tailed Manakin, White line Antbird, Goeldi´s Antbird, Bamboo Antshrike, Blue-crowned Trogon, and many more birds. Then we will return to the lodge to pick up our suitcases, return to Atalaya, and then travel to Cusco .