• We depart early in the morning to start our trip.
• We will stop at Huacarpay Lake surrounded by Inca and pre-Inca ruins. We’ll scan the wetlands for high Andean waterfowl and waders, including:
  • • Puna, Yellow-billed, and Cinnamon Teal
    • Andean Duck, White-tufted Grebe, and Slate-colored Coot
    • Specialties: Wren-like Rushbird, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, Puna Ibis, and Andean Negrito.
    • Raptors: Aplomado Falcon, Cinereous Harrier, and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle.
• Crossing the highest point of the route  we’ll look for the endemic Bearded Mountaineer feeding on Tree Tobacco, alongside Giant Hummingbirds and Trainbearers. We’ll also search for the endemic Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch, Creamy-crested Spinetail, and Andean Hillstar.

Overnight: Wayqecha Lodge

• We will spend the day exploring humid temperate forests from the tree line down.
• Enjoy the hummingbird feeders and the worm feeder for the elusive, endemic Urubamba Antpitta, Red and white Antpitta.
• On the trails, target species include Urubamba Antpitta (E), Red-and-white Antpitta (E), Marcapata Spinetail (E), Hooded Tinamou, Stripe-faced Woodquail, Semi-collared Hawk, Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Masked Trogon, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Puna Thistletail, Band-tailed Fruiteater, Rufous-backed Treehunter, Leymebamba Antpitta (E), Trilling Tapaculo, White-throated Tyrannulet, and White-banded Tyrannulet.

Overnight: Wayqecha.

• After breakfast, we leave the lodge to spend the day birding down a little-travelled road bordered by pristine forest on our way to Cock of The Rock Lodge.
• Located at 1,500 meters elevation in the midsection of Manu Road, San Pedro offers one of the most iconic wildlife displays in South America—the vibrant Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek. From a strategically placed platform, visitors enjoy a close-up, eye-level view of the dazzling males performing their courtship dance to attract females—an unforgettable spectacle.
• Target Species: As we descend, we’ll look for:
  • • Black-and-Chestnut Eagle & Andean Guan
    • Endemics: Marcapata Spinetail and Fulvous Wren.
    • Hummingbirds: Gould’s Inca, Violet-throated Starfrontlet, and Amethyst-throated Sunangel.
    • Tanagers and Flycatchers: Barred Becard, Pale-footed Swallow, and various Tanagers.

Overgnight: Cock of The Rock Lodge

• Morning Lek Visit: We start early at the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek for a spectacular display and photo opportunity. After breakfast overlooking the bird-rich garden, we descend towards our next lodge.
• Upper Tropical Zone: We focus on the stretch of forest between 1,500m and 800m—a habitat that has disappeared elsewhere due to cash crops.
  • • Rare Sightings: In winter, we look for the newly described Inti Tanager.
    • Key Species: Lanceolated Monklet, Versicolored Barbet, Rufous-lored Tyrannulet, and the endemic Black-backed Tody-Flycatcher.
•  We arrive at Manu Biolodge (500m) in time for garden birding.

Overnight: Manu Biolodge.

• We spend two days exploring the lodge grounds (bird list of 650+ species) and surrounding habitats, including floodplain, hill forest, and bamboo stands.
• Lodge Gardens & Feeders: Butterfly bushes attract hummingbirds like Rufous-crested Coquette, Golden-tailed Sapphire, and Wire-crested Thorntail. Ground feeders attract Tinamous and Antpittas.
• Bamboo Specialists: We’ll target bamboo-specialist species, including:
  • • White-cheeked & Flammulated Tody-Tyrants
    • Large-headed Flatbill & Rufous-headed Woodpecker
    • Manu, White-lined, and Goeldi’s Antbirds.
• Trail Birding: We look for Wattled Guan, Military Macaw, and endemic Koepcke’s Hermit.
• Atalaya Excursion: One day we’ll visit the Atalaya lookout over the Madre de Dios River and stop at hummingbird feeders to boost our list.
• Nightlife: Optional night birding for Mottled Owl, Black-banded Owl, Great Potoo, and Long-tailed Potoo.

Overnight: Manu Biolodge.

• After breakfast, we head back up the east slope of the Andes  We’ll make strategic stops for any species missed on the descent.
• Arrival: We arrive in Cusco in the late afternoon.

End of Tour