CUSCO AND THE MANU BIOSPHERE RESERVE
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Southern Peru
Average expected number of birds seen during the trip: 500 to 530 species.
Peruvian Vegetation Types: 3 out of 5.
Total habitats visited: 16+.
Altitude Range: 34 m to 3400 m (113 ft to 11,155 ft).
Habitat |
Location |
Top Ten Highlight Birds |
Mountain tall grass and scrub (Puna) and Mountain Rain Forest |
Huarcapay Lake to Pillahuata (2800 meters) |
Bearded mountaineer*, Rusty-fronted canastero*, Andean ibis, Chestnut-breasted mountain-finch*, Creamy-crested spinetail* |
Mountain Rain Forest |
Cloud forest lodge (1600 meters) |
Peruvian piedtail*, Rufous–webbed brilliant*, Red- and-white antpitta*, Inca flycatcher*, Andean cock-of-the rock at a very close range, Cerulean–capped manakin*, Fulvous Wren*, a new species of tanager* and Cusco brush-finch*. |
Tropical Rain Forest |
Amazonia Lodge (500 meters) |
Fasciated tiger-heron, Blue-headed macaw, Koepcke’s hermit*, White-browed hermit*, Rufous-crested coquette, Fine-barred piculet*, Scarlte-hooded barbet*, Bamboo antshrike and Black-backed tody-flycatcher* |
Tropical Rain Forest |
Manu Wildlife Center |
Pavonine quetzal, White-throated jacamar, Rufous-headed woodpecker, Peruvian recurvebill, Ihering’s antwren, manu and White-lined Antbirds, Rufous-fronted antthrush, White-cheeked tody-flycatcher* |
Mountain tall grass and scrub (Puno) |
Cusco-Machu-Picchu ruins |
Inca wren*, Green and White hummingbird*, Inca flycatcher* and Masked fruiteater* |
Itinerary
OUR TRIP DAY BY DAY:
Day 1
Transfer to the Hotel upon your arrival to Lima “Jorge Chávez” Inter national Airport (34 m / 113 ft) Overnight in Lima (108 m / 354 ft.).
Day 2
Internal flight from Lima to Cusco (3400 m /11,155 ft). Visit Huarcapay. Overnight in Cusco.
Day 3
Birding transfer from Cusco to Pillahuata. Camping in Pillahuata (2600 m / 8530 ft).
Day 4-6
Birding transfer to Cock-of-the Rock Lodge (2000 m / 6,562 ft). Three nights at the lodge.
Day 7-9
Birding transfer to Amazonia Lodge (500 m / 1,640 ft) Three nights at the lodge.
Day 10
From Amazonia Lodge to Manu wildlife Center (400 m / 1,312 ft).
Day 11-14
Four nights at Manu Wildlife Center.
Day 15
Flight back from Manu to Cusco.
Day 16
Morning transfer by train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes (2414 m / 7,920 ft); and in the afternoon a charming visit to the Machu Picchu ruins (2350 m / 7,710 ft). Overnight in Ollantaitambo (3096 m / 10,160 ft).
Day 17
A morning bus ride up to the ruins entrance and a leisure walk down the road to Aguas Calientes while birding the supreme surrounding forest. In the afternoon we will take the train back to Cusco or back to Ollantaitambo for the ones taking the Abra Malaga extension. Overnight in Cusco.
Day 18
Morning flight back to Lima to connect with the international flight back home.
Program Extension
Day 17
A morning bus ride up to the ruins entrance and a leisure walk down the road to Aguas Calientes while birding the supreme surrounding forest. In the afternoon we will go back to Ollantaitambo. Overnight in Ollantaitambo.
Day 18-19
Two full days birding Abra Málaga. Nights in Ollantaitambo.
Day 20
Full day birding Abra Málaga. Night in Cusco.
Day 21
Flight back to Lima to connect to international flight back home.
