Southern Peru: Manu to Machu Picchu

Lima, known as the "City of Kings," is not only the capital of Peru but also a gateway to its rich cultural and historical heritage. It was the heart of the Spanish colonial empire in South America. Now it is the gateway to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and it has a vibrant culinary scene that ranks among the best in the world.

Upon arrival in Lima, you will be greeted at the airport by our team and transferred to your hotel. Our tour will begin with our evening meal where we will discuss our exciting journey ahead through Peru's natural and cultural wonders. Night in Lima.

We will start after an early breakfast towards Pucusana, a small fishing village known for its abundant seabird population. We will board a boat to navigate the rocky inlets and islets off the coast, an ideal setting for observing species such as the Inca Tern, Peruvian Pelican, Peruvian Booby, Humboldt Penguin, Surf Cinclodes, Guanay Cormorant and Red-legged Cormorant among many more. The rocky cliffs provide excellent nesting grounds for these birds, allowing for close-up views.

After exploring the marine bird habitats, we will drive to the Pantanos de Villa, a key wetland reserve near Lima. This area supports a different ecological community, including the beautiful Many-colored Rush Tyrant, Wren-like Rushbird, White-cheeked Pintail, Yellow-hooded Blackbird, White-tufted Grebe and the Peruvian Thick-knee, along with migratory birds that visit seasonally. Night in Lima.

After an early breakfast, we will be transferred to Lima's Jorge Chávez International Airport for a domestic flight to Puerto Maldonado, the gateway to the Amazon rainforest.

Known as the "Biodiversity Capital of Peru", it is home to some of the planet's richest ecosystems. Upon arrival in Puerto Maldonado, we will drive for about an hour to the Filadelfia port. From there, we'll embark on a scenic boat ride along the Tambopata river, where Capped & Cocoi Heron, Great-black Hawk, Several species of Macaws, Crested Oropendola, and Yellow-billed and Large-billed terns may be seen heading deeper into the lush Amazon. The journey offers chances to spot wildlife like herons, kingfishers, and perhaps even caiman lounging on the riverbank.

In the afternoon, we'll arrive at Posada Amazonas, a comfortable lodge nestled in the heart of the rainforest. After settling in, we'll explore the surrounding trails, immersing ourselves in the sights and sounds of the jungle, while seeking wildlife like toucans, monkeys, and insects. Night at Posada Amazonas.

A full day of birding takes us to a 42-meter-tall canopy tower, offering breathtaking views of the Amazon forest canopy and an entirely new dimension to our birding adventure. From here, we will await the arrival of a mixed-species canopy flock, which often carries tanagers such as Paradise, Green-and-gold, Flame-crested, Turquoise, and Opal-rumped.

The tower is also a prime spot for sightings of Cream-colored Woodpecker, Gilded Barbet, Plum-throated Cotinga, and the Striolated Puffbird. As we scan the horizon, macaws and toucans put on a show, including Chestnut-eared, Lettered, Emerald, Curl-crested, and Brown-mandibled Aracaries. Raptors soaring on thermals provide an opportunity to spot majestic hawk- eagles and even the elusive Harpy Eagle.

The adventure continues on the Shahue Trail, where the forest's understory is an excellent spot to find Fiery-capped and Round-tailed Manakins, the elusive Pale-rumped Trumpeter, and Pavonine Quetzal. Night in Posada Amazonas.

At dawn, we'll cross the river to witness the spectacle of the largest macaw clay lick where hundreds of parrots and macaws from up to 15 species gather. Among them, we may spot Red-and-green, Blue-and-gold, and Scarlet Macaws, along with Blue-headed Parrots, Mealy Amazons, and Tui Parakeets. It's a vibrant, unforgettable display of color and sound.

The morning continues on the Ocelot and Toucan Trails, two 5-mile systems showcasing the Amazon's most bird-rich habitats. The Ocelot Trail, in the floodplain, offers sightings of species like Agami Heron and Rufescent Tiger-Heron near ponds, while the Toucan Trail, in tall rainforest, hosts Starred Wood-Quail, Pale-winged Trumpeter, and diverse mixed flocks. These flocks, led by Dusky-throated Antshrike and Red-crowned Ant-Tanager, often include 30+ species such as Spix's Woodcreeper, Thrush-like Antpitta, and White-winged Shrike-Tanager.

In the afternoon, we'll travel by boat to Refugio Amazonas. The clearing offers chances to see canopy flocks, Squirrel Cuckoo, Masked Crimson Tanager, and Yellow-tufted Woodpecker. Night in Refugio Amazonas.

We'll search for ant swarms that attract birds like Black-spotted Bare-Eye, Black-banded Woodcreeper, Sooty Antbird, and the elusive Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo. Uncommon ground birds such as tinamous, Striated Antthrush, and Razor-billed Curassow are also targets.

Highlights include Pavonine Quetzal, Black-bellied Cuckoo, Amazonian Pygmy-Owl, Great Jacamar, and Ringed Antpipit, alongside large mixed flocks led by White-winged Shrike Tanager. Rare encounters with Crested or Harpy Eagles, forest falcons, or Yellow-bellied Tanager may surprise us.

We'll explore transitional forests above the clay lick, where bamboo once thrived. These areas now resemble riparian habitats and host White-throated Jacamar, Scarlet-hooded Barbet, Russet-backed Oropendola, and Yellow-billed Nunbird. Nearby Cecropia and Balsa Wood forests are home to Rufous-fronted Antthrush, Lemon-throated Barbet, Amazonian Antpitta, and Spot-breasted Woodpecker.

Grassy areas may reveal Plain-crowned Spinetail, Spotted Tody-Flycatcher, and Orange-headed Tanager. Specialists like White-cheeked Tody-Tyrant, Peruvian Recurvebill, Red-billed Scythebill, and Rufous-headed Woodpecker await in bamboo patches.

After dinner, we'll spotlight nocturnal species such as Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl, Great Potoo, and Ocellated Poorwill, with chances to photograph fascinating frogs and other creatures of the night. Nights at the Tambopata Research Center.

We will start our day here, birding along the Tambopata River on the journey back to Puerto Maldonado. As we navigate the river, we'll keep an eye out for iconic species like the Sunbittern, Amazon Kingfisher, and Black Skimmer gliding gracefully over the water. The riverbanks often reveal surprises such as herons, egrets, and perhaps even the rare Agami Heron or a group of Hoatzins perched in the foliage. This stretch of the journey offers a serene and rewarding conclusion to your Amazon birding experience.

Upon arrival in Puerto Maldonado, you will be transferred to the airport for your domestic flight to Cusco. From the lush lowlands of the Amazon to the soaring Andes, this transition highlights Peru's unparalleled ecological diversity. Once in Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire, we will rest and prepare for the next phase of your Peruvian adventure in the Andes, surrounded by the rich cultural heritage and breathtaking landscapes of the highlands. Night in Cusco.

The journey starts early morning in Cusco. After breakfast we leave Cusco in search of the wetland of Huacarpay, designated by UNESCO as a RAMSAR site. The place is suitable for a variety of waterfowl, hummingbirds, a few endemics and the largest hummer in the world, Giant Hummingbird. We will look for Puna Tinamou, Yellow-billed Pintail, Puna Teal, Andean Lapwing, Plumbeous Rail, White-tufted Grebe, Puna Ibis, Rusty fronted Canastero (E), Many-colored Rush-tyrant, and Andean Flicker. In addition, Huacarpay hosts several austral and boreal migratory birds.

The road later takes us through a spectacular and unique pristine habitat. The elfin forest is the entrance to the Manu National Park at the top of the cloud forest in the west slope of the Andes. Among the specialities awaiting we can find: Solitary Eagle, Mountain Caracara, Variable Hawk, Creamy-crested Spinetail(E), Grass-green Tanager, Golden-collared Tanager, Scribble-Tailed Canastero, Red-and-white Antpitta (E), Urubamba Antpitta (E), Marcapata Spinetail (E), Taczanowski's Tinamou, Puna Tapaculo, Moustached Flowerpiercer, Black-faced Brushfinch. among several more, are regularly seen in the Area. Night in Wayquecha Lodge.

Cock of the Rock Lodge is located at 1500 meters elevation, lower, warmer and more comfortable than Wayquecha, this is the Cloud Forest! This place is particularly special for it's Cock-of-the-rock lek, a wonderful show where groups of bright and colorful males gather to display, attracting females. There is a platform conveniently placed at the lek to enjoy it.

Other wildlife specialities here are: Brown Tinamou, Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail, White Hawk, Rufescent-Screech-Owl, Military Macaw, Blue-headed Macaw, Great Potoo, Buff-thighed Puffleg, Rufous-booted Racket-tail, Peruvian Piedtail (E), Violent-fronted Brilliant, Speckled Hummingbird, Blue-banded Toucanet, Highland Motmot, Lanceolated Monklet, Rufous-capped Nunlet, Blue-moustached Barbet, Yellow-billed Nunbird, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Stripe-chested Antwren, Yellow-breasted Warbling-antbird, Blackish Antbird, White-crowned Tapaculo, Maroon-belted Chat-tyrant, Black-backed Tody-flycatcher (E), Ornate Flycacher, Fulvous- breasted Flatbill, Cinnamon-faced Tyrannulet. Among a large list of multi-colored Tanagers and others. In addition, Inti Tanager, a species that was new to science in 2021, have been reported and photographed here. The restricted Wooly Monkey lives here as well as the Brown Capuchin Monkeys. Nights at Cock of the Rock Lodge.

We will make our way back to Cusco trying to get the species we may have missed such as Crested Quetzal, Mottle-backed Elaenia, Scale-crested Pygmy-tyrant, Yellow-rumped Antwren, Yellow-breasted Warbling Antbird, Yungas Manakin, Cerulean-capped Manakin (E), Fiery-capped Manakin, Inca Jay, White-capped Dipper, Andean Solitaire, Olive Finch, Two-banded Warbler, Russet-backed Oropendola.
We will get back to Cusco mid-afternoon. Night Cusco.

After breakfast we will leave Cusco for the Urubamba Valley, one of the most important tributaries of the Amazon. The places are stunning here, Písac is an exquisite Inca construction, a dramatic terraced slope of ancient ruins which shows the skills of the Inca engineers. The possibilities here are: Bearded Mountaineer(E) and Rusty-Fronted Canastero(E). The open views rewards with Mountain Caracara, Black-chested Buzzard-eagle, Black-backed Grosbeak, Golden-billed Saltator.

After our lunch in a colonial house, we will visit Ensifera Camp Hummingbird Garden, where the feeders attract Sword-billed Hummingbird, Shinning Sunbeam, White-bellied Hummingbird Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch (E), Tyrian Metaltail, Red-crested Cotinga and Undulated Antpitta are regular visitors to the garden.

We will finally take a train from Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu Town. Night in Machu Picchu Town (Aguas Calientes).

From Aguas Calientes we will take a 20 minute bus ride to visit one of the most famous 7 New World Wonders, the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu. More than 200 structures covering more than 30 hectares over peaks and slopes makes Machu Picchu a dramatic experience. You will hardly find another place where exuberant nature meets such a refined architecture. Birding possibilities at the sanctuary include Inca Wren(E), White-tipped Swift, Ocellated Piculet and more.

If time permits, we may have extra time for birding around Aguas Calientes where Highland Motmot, Green-and-white Hummingbird (E), Black-capped Tyrannulet, Bolivian Tyrannulet, Sclater's Tyrannulet, Variable Antshrike, Andean Solitaire, and Black-streaked Puffbird are all possible. Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper are often seen by the river.

In the afternoon, we will take the train to Ollantaytambo where we will spend the night.

Today we will go birding at Abra Malaga. The day will begin with an early morning 2-hour drive to the area. We will start birding in the east slope of the cordillera and will cover puna, elfin and cloud forest habitats searching specialities such as Marcapata Spinetail (E), Urubamba Antpitta (E), Red-and-White Antpitta (E), Parodi's Hemispingus (E), Unstreaked Tit-tyrant(E), Inca Wren (E), Taczanowski's Tinamou, Diademed Tapaculo, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Sunangel, Scaled Metaltail, Black-capped Hemispingus, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Plushcap, Yellow-billed Cacique, among others. We will have lunch in the field and will return to Ollantayatambo for dinner. Night in Ollantaytambo.

Today we will make our way back to Cusco. We will visit lakes in the highlands of Chinchero where we can find Silvery Grebe, Puna Teal, Andean Goose, Short-billed Pipit and more. In addition, several migrants spend the boreal winter here such as: Pectoral Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope, Baird's Sandpiper, Upland Sandpiper, and others.

We will end our morning in the spectacular Saqsayhuaman. This place is a true gem among archeological sites, constructed in megalithic style is a great site to appreciate the skills of the pre-hispanic cultures in the New World. In the afternoon you will have time to explore this wonderful city on your own. Night in Cusco.