Private birding tour in Manu Park, private bird guide, private shared bird guide. the best Private tours and shared tours of birding. peru bird watching.
Itinerary birding in Manu National Park 4 days / 3 nights
(In and out by bus) 680 dollars per person.
Day 01. Cusco – Orquideas de San Pedro
We depart from Cusco around 05:00 a.m. arriving at Lake Huarcarpay 30 minutes later. Here we take time to observe highland lake and marsh birds. Common sightings are the White- tufted Grebe, the plumbeous Rail, the many- coloured Rush- Tyrant and two endemic, the rusty- fronted canatero and a spectacular hummingbird, the Bearded mountainner. Approximately mid morning we visit the interesting tombs of Ninamarca, commonly known as “Chullpas” .We continue to Paucartambo, a picturesque Spanish colonial town, from the bridge of this town, it is easy to see the Torrent duck, and then continue to the Acjanacu Pass, which marks the beginning of the Cultural Zone of Manu Biosphere Reserve where the mountain forests, unlike other parts of the eastern Andes, are almost completely untouched. Between the clouds we can spot many different tanager species as well the Andean guan and Gray breasted Mountain- Toucan. In the famous avian rich area between the tunnels above Pillahuata we hope to see the endemic Marcapata Apinetail and other astonishing species such as the scarlet- bellied and hooded Mountain- tanager, the Golden- napped, grass-green tanager and the Crimson mantled woodpecker. This area is also good for different species of hummingbirds. After lunch our bus bring us to San Pedro, here, a thick cloak of clouds provides perpetual humidity and makes an ideal habitat for epiphytic plants such as bromeliads. This varied and fascinating world id home of the Cock of the Rock, spectacled Bear, orchids, Tree Ferns (one the oldest living plants), mosses and lichens. This cloud forest exists between 2000 and 3500 meters above sea level, and at least 50% of the plant species found here are endemic to this region. Here in the more temperate forest we can expect to see the Golden Quetzal and the white- collared jay among others. Overnight in our Orquideas de San Pedro private lodge.
Day 02.- Orquideas de San Pedro Lodge
Today we wake up very early to observe the Cock of the rock (Rupicola peruviana), Peru’s national bird. The male birds are vibrant reddish orange, and at about 5:00 a.m. as many as several dozen come together for an exhibition of a mating ritual dance in a place called lek. The males display their crest, showing off and posturing for the females. The females, fewer in number, watch to select the most suitable males. Here we spend the whole day bird watching on different parts of the road and trails around the lodge. We hope to see Andean and White- eared solitaires, the Green Jay, the Blue-banded Toucanet, the yungas manakin, the astonishing versicolored Barbet and arrange of tanager species.
Day 03.- Private Reserve Erika Lodge
After breakfast we continue bird-watching in the area below San Pedro and slowly descend in our overland transport down the narrow road between waterfalls and canyons toward the town of Atalaya. As we journey downwards into the heat and humidity we encounter Oropendolas, squirrels cuckoos and the first Ant birds. From Atalaya, we board our covered, motorized canoe and head down the Alto Madre de Dios river until Erika Lodge where we will have the opportunity to walk through the interesting trails. This lodge is situated in the transition zone of the Andean foothills and the lowland rainforest. It has many more species of hummingbirds then is normally present in a rainforest lodge. Among 30 species of hummingbirds on their list is the endemic Rufus- webbed Brilliant. Here we find the Rufus –vented Ground Cuckoo, the gray-necked woddrail, Blackish rail and Rufus-sided cracked. we follow an interesting trail, going up to the ridge at 1000 m.a.s.l. where we encounter mixed bird flocks. This higher area is also home of the emerald toucanet, ornate flycatcher, orange fronted plush crown and the uncommon tawny-faced gnat wren, umbrella bird among others. After lunch This afternoon we board our boat, and after five minutes, we will walk for another 30 minutes approximately though a very nice trail to observe and talk about the interesting flora fond such as sensitive plants, heliconias, fruit plantations, etc. until we arrive to Machuwasi Lake where with the help of a telescope we can observe great egrets, tucanets, carpenters, Keskadees, cardinals, etc. Short night walk to observe American bullfrogs, horned frogs, tree frogs and an incredible variety of insects. Overnight in our private Lodge Erika .
Day 04. – Erika lodge – Cusco
This day we will get up very early to board our boat again for only five minutes down river to a Parrot clay Lick called “Collpa” on the riverbanks, where many species of parrots such as the blue headed parrot, white-eyed parakeet, feed for mineral and salt supplements to their diet of seeds and fruits. after breakfast we board our canoe for the 1 hour up stream ride on the Alto Madre de Dios River to Atalaya Port, during this boat ride we will have the chance to see Violaceus Jays, the beautiful Capped heron, Rosate spoonbill, Jabirú, Vultures, belted kingfisher, osprey, black hawck, black caracara, chestnut-eared toucan, from this small town we take the bus back to Cusco arriving late this night, transfer to the hotel.