AMAZON BIRDING – THE ULTIMATE IN WILDLIFE TOURS IN MANU

Manu National Park has the highest biodiversity of any protected area in the world. The unparalleled beauty of this trip is in the landscape and variety of habitats ranging from orchid-draped cloud forest where Spectacled Bears and Cock-of-the-Rocks still exist unbothered, to pristine Amazon rainforest with 13 primate species and oxbow lakes frequented by Giant Otters. 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. Add to this a breathtaking visit to Machu Picchu and you have a trip of a lifetime.

EXPLORE MANU CULTURAL ZONE: Cloud forest & Parrot clay lick at upper Manu rainforest.

Today we will leave early, first driving through scenic intermontane valleys. We will make selected stops for the Lupacas Pre-Inca cemetery and Paucartambo village. Reaching a high mountain pass at Ajanaco, we will begin our journey into a vast intact wilderness area as we descend along the sinuous road that will take us to the Manu foothills. Along the extraordinary altitudinal transect that this remarkable road represents, new wildlife species continually appear whilst others drop out. Initially, the steep Andean slopes are clad in stunted forest, temperate shrubbery and wet paramo, and here we may well encounter such high-elevation species as Mountain Caracara, Shining Sunbeam and Moustached Flower-piercers. A little lower down, where the magnificent cloudforests begin, we shall look out for the beautiful Orchids and the famous Andean cock-of-the-Rock at the Lek, proclaimed as Peru´s national bird. With a little luck we will see a Woolly Monkey and Brown capuchin Monkeys. We will stay for one night at the Paradise Lodge. Optional night walk in Lower Manu-cloudforest. L:D.

After a final morning in the cloudforests we will descend further down the Manu road to the comfortable Amazonia Lodge with one lake which are easy to see the White Caiman and Smooth-fronted Caiman, plenty of trails and canopy tower. Today we will visit a Coca farm, Orchid Garden and with a modicum of luck we will find a Military and Blue-headed Macaws. Later we will cross the Alto Madre de Dios river to Amazonia Lodge. Our base for the next two nights stay, with optional night walks. B:L:D.

Early start to visit the small Parrot and Macaw Clay Lick, 25 minutes downriver along the Madre de Dios river bank. We will see Chestnut-Fronted Macaw, Blue-Headed Macaw, Dusky-Headed Parakeet, White-Eyed Parakeet, Blue-Headed Parrot and Yellow-Crowned Parrot. Parrots & Macaws are known to ingest clay because of its negative charge, binds potential toxins such as alkaloids and phenolics, it has been thought to prevent diarrhea, help treat intestinal parasites and supply vital minerals, parrots & macaws feed on plant material, particularly seeds and fruits, vegetation that is poor in sodium content. Clay lick soil had sodium concentrations the reason why parrots & macaws seek out specific clay licks. Then we will board our motorized canoe that we will take us to Machuwasi Lake. We will explore the lake for Hoatzins, Tanagers, Oropendolas and Horned Screamer and more. Night at Amazonia Lodge, with a optional night walk. B:L:D.

Not far from the lodge is a Macaw & Parrot Clay Lick visited by raucous groups of Blue-headed Macaws in the early morning.

After a final morning in the rainforest, we will travel back to Cusco picking up species we may missed. B:L.