DETAILED BIRDWATCHING PROGRAM 6 DAYS AND 5 NIGHTS

DAY 1: Cusco – Wayquecha Station

Our adventure begins in the exciting Jungle of Manu, we will pick you up around 04:30am 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 lake, 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 one of our favorite spots where we have had luck calling in Swallow-tailed Nightjar. Night at the Wayquecha Biological Station. 

DAY 2: Wayquecha Station full day Birding

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 the comfortable Wayquecha Biological Station. 

DAY 3: Wayquecha Station - Cock of the Rock Lodge

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 the chance to see Vermiculated Screech-Owl, Rufescent Screech-Owl, Band-bellied Owl, and Rufous-Banded Owl. Night at Cock of the Rock Lodge. 

DAY 4: Cock of the Rock Lodge full day

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 leck (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. 

DAY 5: Cock of the Rock Lodge - Amazonia Lodge

Departing early by car from Cock of the Rock with destination Amazonia lodge is located in the tropical rainforest of the Manu, near the village of Atalaya. It is located in the transition zone between the Andes foothills and the tropical lowland rainforest, right on the banks of the Alto Madre de Dios River, we have a great chance to see hummingbirds like Crested Coquette, Black-Bellied Thorntail, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Gray-breasted Sabrewing, White-Necked Jacobin, Gould´s Jewelfront. At the afternoon the birding activities are more intense the following species, Amazonian- Violaceous Trogon, Collared Trogon, Black-Tailed Trogon, Blue-Crowned Motmot, Rufous Motmot, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Green and Rufous Kingfisher, Striolated Puffbird, Ihring's and Ornate Antwren, White-lined Antbird, Striated Antbird and more. We will certainly look for one of the singing Rufous-fronted Antthrush we have located on territory here. Some of the scarcer forest species we will be on the lookout for that we have seen here previously include: Cinereous Tinamou, Great Tinamou, Little Tinamou, Undulated Tinamou, Black-Capped Tinamou, Razor-billed Currasow, Pale-winged Trumpeter, Sunbittern, Gray-cheeked Nunlet, Rufous–Capped Nunlet, Cream-colored Woodpecker, Ocellated Woodcreeper, Collared Puffbird, Rufous-Vented Ground-Cuckoo, Ruddy Spinetail, Plain Softail, Plain-Crowned Spinetail, Striped Woodhaunter, Banded Antbird, Ash-throated Gnateater, White-throated Antbird, Black-spotted Bare-eye, Purple Throated Fruitcrown, Bright-Rumped Attila, White –Winged Becard, Black Capped Becard, Pink-Throated Becard, Golden Collared Toucanet, Plum-Throated Cotinga, Black-faced Cotinga, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Royal Flycatcher, Musician Wren, Pale-eyed Blackbird, Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak to name but a few. We will have the possibility of night birding here: Mottled Owl, Black-banded Owl, Tawny-bellied Screech-owl, Great, Long-tailed and Common Potoo. Spend the night at Amazonia Lodge. 

DAY 6: Amazonia Lodge - Cusco

We will return very early to Cusco, having some opportunities to see birds, especially in the route of the Cloud Forest, on the route of the Andes in the sector of Lake San Salvador we will stop to see Andean Hillstar, Slender-Billed Miner, White-Tufted Grebe, Silvery Grebe, Chilean Flamingo, Ruddy Duck, Crested Duck, Andean Coot, Giant Coot, Andean Lapwings, Gray-breasted Seedsnipe, Andean Goose, Mountain Caracara, Andean Flicker, Puna Ibis, and the sunset. Arrive in Cusco approximately 18: 00 pm. 

• Tour Includes:

• Private Transportation (bus and boat)

• All necessary equipment (chair, Mosquito nets, tables, mattress, rubber boots, rain poncho)

• We lend you a duffle bag for your personal belongings on tour

• Professional bilingual local guide (well-equipped  with guiding gear)

• Mineral water

• First aid  including Antivenomous for snake bites

• 3 meals per day; included vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian options

• Midmorning daily snacks (biscuits, candy, fresh fruit, juice)

• Professional Cook

• Entrance to Cock of the Rock Lodge

• Entrance to canopy walk

• Entrance to Wayquecha Biological Station

• Entrance to Amazonia Lodge

• Entrance fee to Manu National Park

• And much more.

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• What you need to take: VERY IMPORTANT

• Light sleeping bag or light blanket

• Repellent with a minimum of 25% DEET

• Camera with spare batteries for many days

• Powerful long-range flashlights with extra batteries.

• Macro lenses. 10 - 65mm

• Long Distance Lens 150mm - 400mm or 600mm

• Lens extensión of 1.4x or 2x

• Waterproof case, bags to protect your electronics and valuables

• Sun lotion

• Pocket money

• Day pack

• Wáter bottle

• Battery charger for your electronic devices

• Sandals (try to bring strap)

• Extra toilette paper

• General Dark clothing. (camouflage to see the wildlife) long sleeves shirts and t-shirts, long pants, lightweight, shorts, short sleeves t-shirts, waterproof jackets Sun hat, bath linen clothes, small towel, Thick long socks, trekking shoes.

• All your personal hygiene needs

• A bit of money for staff tips (Strongly suggested)

• Not included the last dinner

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