Birding in Manu Road 6 Days

Itinerary

Day 1: Cusco to ACCA – Wayqecha: High Andean Lakes and Cloud Forest Immersion

Our immersive Peru birding adventure commences with an early departure from the historic city of Cusco (3,400m/11,150 ft). Today’s journey is a spectacular transition from the Andean highlands to the lush cloud forest, a gateway to the Amazon basin. Our first significant stop is the picturesque Huacarpay Lake, a vital high Andean wetland habitat surrounded by ancient Inca and pre-Inca archaeological sites. This biodiverse lake is a magnet for high Andean waterfowl, offering exceptional birdwatching opportunities for species such as Puna, Speckled, and Cinnamon Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, Andean Duck, White-winged Grebe, and Andean Coot. Keep your binoculars ready for Wren-like Rushbird, Many-colored Rush-tyrant, Plumbeous Rail, Yellow-winged Blackbird, Puna Ibis, and Andean Negrito. Raptors like Aplomado Falcon, Cinereous Harrier, Variable Hawk, and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle soar overhead. We’ll also seek out endemics and specialties like Rufous-fronted Canastero, Streak-fronted Thornbird, the striking endemic Bearded Mountaineer, Giant Hummingbird, and Trainbearers. Peruvian, Ash-breasted, and Mourning Sierra-Finches, alongside Greenish Yellow-finch, and Blue and Yellow Tanager, will add vibrant splashes of color.

Continuing our birding expedition, we traverse two mountain ranges, reaching a maximum altitude of 3,900m/12,790ft, before descending into a world of forested cliffs and waterfalls. We make leisurely stops to explore charming mountain villages and a pre-Inca necropolis. The dramatic ridgetop of Abra Acjanaco marks our entry into the Manu cloud forest, offering breathtaking panoramas of the Amazon basin below. After a delightful picnic lunch amidst stunning scenery, we’ll search for mixed flocks of tanagers, toucanets, and hummingbirds. At this altitude, we anticipate sightings of Hooded Mountain Tanager, Black-Faced Brush-Finch, Black-Throated and Moustached Flowerpiercer, Spectacled Redstart, Gray-Hooded Bush-Tanager, and the elusive Crimson-Mantled Woodpecker. Our journey continues through a magical landscape of giant ferns, orchids, and bromeliads, teeming with diverse birdlife, until we reach ACCA – Wayqecha, our comfortable eco-lodge nestled in the heart of the Cloud Forest. The evening offers a chance for nocturnal birding, with potential sightings of Yungas Pygmy-Owl, Rufous-banded Owl, and Swallow-tailed Nightjar.

• Accommodation: ACCA – Wayqecha Eco-Lodge (Cloud Forest)

Day 2: Wayqecha – Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge: Cloud Forest Specialties and the National Bird of Peru

An early start at Wayqecha allows us to explore its extensive trail system, targeting more high-elevation bird species. We’ll search for Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Red-and-white Antpitta, Puna Thistletail, Marcapata Spinetail, and Rufous-capped Thornbill, among many others. After a delicious breakfast, our birding adventure continues with frequent spontaneous stops along the Manu Road. We hope to spot brilliantly feathered quetzals, trogons, Blue-banded Toucanet, Handsome Flycatcher, and Andean Potoo. We anticipate encountering active mixed flocks that could include a variety of vibrant tanagers, Versicolored Barbet, Striped Treehunter, Inca Flycatcher, and even the rare Barred Fruiteater or the wild turkey-like Guan. As the afternoon progresses, we arrive at the renowned Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge, perfectly timed for a visit to the nearby viewing platform. This is often the highlight of the tour, offering an unparalleled opportunity to witness Peru’s dazzling national bird, the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruviana), in its full, raucous courting display at the lek. This incredible spectacle provides prime wildlife photography opportunities.

• Accommodation: Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge (Cloud Forest)

Day 3: Cock of The Rock Lodge: Deep Cloud Forest Exploration and Diverse Avian Life

Today is dedicated to exploring the rich cloud forest ecosystems around Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge. We’ll take a gentle drive up the road, making frequent stops to observe anything interesting. This enchanting day promises exceptional birding. We expect to encounter several large mixed flocks, which could feature an astonishing array of tanagers, including Golden-eared (uncommon), Golden-naped, Black-goggled, Orange-Eared, Fawn-breasted, Yellow-throated, Spotted, Paradise, Golden, Bay-headed, and Black-goggled Tanagers. Other target species include Golden-olive Woodpecker, Olive-backed Woodcreeper, Montane Foliage-gleaner, Grey-mantled Wren, Streak-necked, Slaty-capped, and Lemon-browed Flycatchers, the restricted-range Bolivian Tyrannulet, Marble-faced Bristle-Tyrant, Tropical Parula, Russet-crowned and Three-striped Warblers, Slate-throated Whitestart, Deep-blue and Bluish Flower-piercers, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, the restricted-range Slaty Tanager, Yellow-throated and Common Bush-Tanagers, and Black-faced Brush-Finch, Yellow-rumped and Yellow-breasted Antwren, and Ash-browed Spinetail. Away from the flocks, we’ll actively search for Crested and Golden-Headed Quetzal, Andean and White-eared Solitaires, Amazonian Umbrellabird, and the majestic Solitary and Black-and-chestnut Eagles, as well as the rare and difficult-to-detect Black-Streaked Puffbird. Beyond the birds, we have a good chance of sighting Woolly and Brown Capuchin monkeys amidst the woods and waterfalls. The evening offers another chance for nocturnal birding, with potential sightings of Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Band-Bellied Owl, and Rufescent Screech-Owl.

• Accommodation: Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge (Cloud Forest)

Day 4: Cock of the Rock Lodge – Biolodge (Villa Carmen): Transition to Lowland Rainforest and Hummingbird Paradise

We begin our day with early morning birding in the lodge gardens, where we may encounter a variety of hummingbirds such as Many-spotted Hummingbird, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Booted Racket-Tail, and sometimes the Wire-crested Thorntail and the rare Buff-Tailed Sicklebill. The iconic Andean Cock-of-the-Rocks are also frequently seen in this area. After breakfast, we continue our descent towards the Kosñipata valley, where we’ll focus on some very challenging endemic bird species: Black-backed Tody-Flycatcher, Cerulean-capped Manakin, and Peruvian Piedtail. Other highly sought-after species in this transition zone include Lanceolated Monklet, Two-banded Warbler, Cuzco Warbler, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Stripe-chested Antwren, Versicolored Barbet, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Fulvous-breasted Flatbill, Cinnamon-faced Tyrannulet, Ornate and Lemon-browed Flycatcher, and Cabanis’s Spinetail. In the afternoon, we arrive at Biolodge (Villa Carmen), our base in the lowland rainforest. The lodge garden boasts an exceptional hummingbird feeder station, offering incredible wildlife photography opportunities for species like Rufous-crested Coquette, Black-eared Fairy, Long-billed Starthroat, Buff-tailed Sicklebill, and Gould’s Jewelfront. Fruit feeders attract Lemon-throated Barbet, Thick-billed Euphonia, Green Honeycreeper, Blue & Yellow-bellied Dacnis, Turquoise, Yellow-bellied, Paradise & Spotted Tanager, and the impressive Great Potoo. The evening brings another opportunity for night birding, with potential sightings of Stripe, Black-banded, and Spectacled Owl, as well as Tropical and Tawny-Bellied Screech-Owl.

• Accommodation: Biolodge (Villa Carmen) (Lowland Rainforest)

Day 5: Biolodge (Villa Carmen): Amazonian Lowland Birding and Oxbow Lake Exploration

Today is dedicated to exploring the rich Amazonian lowland rainforest around Biolodge (Villa Carmen). We’ll spend the morning birding in bamboo patches, a specialized habitat that hosts unique species such as Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo, White-cheeked Tody-flycatcher, Bamboo Foliage-gleaner, Manu, Striated, Goeldi’s, and White-lined Antbirds, Ihering’s Antwren, Bamboo Antshrike, Large-headed and Dusky-tailed Flatbills, Flammulated Tody-Tyrant, Rufous-capped Nunlet, Brown-rumped and Dusky-cheeked Foliage-gleaners, Red-billed Scythebill, Dot-winged Antwren, Ornate Antwren, and Rufous-breasted Piculet. If we are exceptionally lucky, we might even spot the rare and elusive Peruvian Recurvebill. The lodge’s extensive trail system guarantees excellent birding for restricted species like Fine-barred Piculet, Scarlet-hooded Barbet, Foothill Antwren, Brownish-headed Antbird, and Cabani´s Spinetail. After lunch, we venture to the serene Machuwasi Oxbow Lake, a vital wetland ecosystem within the Manu National Park. This tranquil lake is home to Hoatzin, Blackish Rail, Gray-cowled Woodrail, Riparian Antbird, Ladder-tailed Nightjar, Pale-eyed Blackbird, and Black-Billed Seedfinch. An additional garden hummingbird feeder here attracts White-necked Jacobin, Rufous-breasted Hermit, Black-throated Mango, Koepcke´s Hermit, Amazonian Antpitta, and Rufous-sided Crake. We also have excellent chances to observe Red Howler and Squirrel Monkeys in this area.

• Accommodation: Biolodge (Villa Carmen) (Lowland Rainforest)

Day 6: Biolodge (Villa Carmen) – Cusco: Final Birding Opportunities and Return Journey

This morning offers our final opportunity to seek out any target bird species that may have eluded us on previous days. After a hearty breakfast, we begin our return journey to Cusco. We will make strategic stops along the Manu Road to observe any new or interesting bird sightings, ensuring our Peru birding tour concludes with maximum avian encounters. We anticipate arriving back in Cusco in the afternoon, filled with unforgettable memories of Peru’s incredible biodiversity and the spectacular birds of Manu National Park.

• Departure: Return to Cusco in the afternoon