Transfer airport/hotel. Overnight.
Early departure to the “Pantanos de Villa” (marsh area
south of Lima) where we will have a small taste of the birdwatching
in Peru. This area is used by many kinds of migratory birds as a
stop for their long journey across the continent, such us the Andean
Coot, Puna Ibis, Great and White-tufted Grebes, Cinnamon Teal, White-cheeked
Pintail, Franklin’s Gull, Bay-winged and Red-backed Hawk,
etc. The rest of the day is for your leisure. Overnight
Transfer hotel/airport, flight to Cusco and transfer airport/hotel.
Our tour leader will give you a thorough explanation of Cusco followed
by an orientation walk around town. Rest of the day is at leisure.
Our tour leader will give a small briefing of what we are approaching
on our trip. Overnight.
Today we wake up very early in the morning and drive south to Huacarpay
Lake, where we will have a birdwatching session in this Andean Lake.
It is a great opportunity to see water birds and endemic birds from
this area. Here we will see a variety of high Andean waterfowl including
Puna ibis, Speckled and Cinnamon Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, Andean
Duck and other wetland associated birds such as the White-winged
Grebe and Andean coot. Depending on the time of year, migrant North
American shorebirds may be present. We will be specifically on the
lookout for Wren-like Rushbird, Many-colored Rush-tyrant, Yellow-winged
Blackbird, Puna Ibis and Andean White-winged Negrito. Some raptors
we may see include Aplomado Falcon, Cinereous Harrier, Red-backed
Hawk and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle. We should find the beautiful,
endemic Bearded Mountaineer feeding in the tree tobacco (Nicotania
sp.) with Giant Hummingbird and Trainbearers. Peruvian, Ash-breasted
and Mourning Sierra-Finches, Greenish Yellow-finch and Blue and
Yellow Tanager. We will return to Cusco by the afternoon to explore
this Inca and colonial city. Overnight.
We will depart early from our hotel with direction to the Manu Biosphere
Reserve, traveling through the Andes and having lunch on the way.
Afterwards we will arrive at Ajanacu Pass (3500 masl) from where
we will start our descent by the East slope of the Andes down to
Pillahuata campsite (2500 masl). On the way of this journey we will
be stopping to check the birds by the side of the road. This area
is known as the Elfin Forest, where trees will only reach a height
of approximately 7m. This is a great place to spot the first Amazonian
birds such as mixed flocks of Tanagers, Flycatchers and Furnarids.
Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan, Collared Jay and Mountain Cacique
are among some of the many species we will see. Then we will settle
at our campsite and have dinner. Overnight.
After breakfast we will leave this campsite and head down to the
Union creek campsite (1600 masl). We will have a full morning birdwatching
along the road, our Target species being the Diademed Tapaculo,
Mustached Flowerpiercer, Tit-like Dacnis, Golden-collared Tanager
and the Puna Thistletail. As the day warms, we’ll spend all
day birdwatching downhill through the forest looking for mixed feeding
flocks that will contain Grass-green Tanager, Hooded Mountain-Tanager,
Black-throated Tody-Flycatcher, Barred Fruiteater, White-banded
and White-throated Tyrannulets and much more. If we are lucky we
may see Peruvian Treehunter, Golden-plumed Parakeet or Greater Scythebill.
A box lunch will be provided during the hike. After having lunch
at the Union Creek campsite, we will go for more birdwatching nearby
the campsite. At night, we will have a group dinner to check and
make a list of what we have seen. Overnight.
Before sunrise we will head down to the Cock of the Rock Lek which
is the place where the males of this beautiful species join together
for a mating display to attract the elusive females. On the way
back to our campsite from this wonderful experience, we will see
some more species from this area including White-rumped Hawk, Solitary
Eagle, Rufous-capped Thornbill, Crested and Golden-headed Quetzal,
Masked Trogon, Highland Motmot, Black-streaked Puffbird, Blue-banded
Toucanet, Montane Woodcreeper, Spotted Barbtail, Montane Foliage-gleaner,
Amazonian Umbrellabird, Uniform and Variable Antshrikes, Slaty Gnateater,
Scaled Fruiteater, Bolivian Tyrannulet, Inca Flycatcher (endemic),
Yungas Manakin, Uniform Antshrike, White-throated Spadebill, Fulvous-breasted
Flatbill, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Yellow-rumped and Slaty Antwrens,
Deep-blue Flowerpiercer, more and more birds. Lunch at campsite.
After lunch we will head to Atalaya River town where a canoe will
be waiting for us to take us to Amazonia lodge at the other side
of the river. We will have dinner and overnight.
After a very early breakfast we will head up to the 45-foot high
observation tower located on the slopes of the mountain. Here there
are very good chances to see canopy flocks and other bird species.
We will have lunch and an afternoon walk along the trails of this
foothill forest. There are also good chances to see Black-capped
Tinamou, Blackish Rail, the strange Hoatzin, Buckley’s Forest
Falcon, Wattled Guan, Military Macaw, Blue-headed Macaw, Pheasant
Cuckoo, Koepcke’s Hermit, Rufous-webbed Brilliant, Bluish
fronted Jacamar, Chestnut-capped Puffbird, Fine-barred Piculet,
Red-billed Scythebill, Dusky-cheeked Foliage-gleaner, Bamboo Antshrike,
Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Amazonian and Thrush-like Antpittas,
Rusty-belted Tapaculo, Mottle-backed Elaenia, Red-billed Tyrranulet,
Johannes’ Tody-tyrant, Yellow-browed Tody-flycatcher, Black-backed
Tody -Flycatcher, Ornate Flycatcher, Band-tailed, Fiery-capped and
Round-tailed Manakins, White-thighed Swallow and more. We will have
dinner and overnight.
This morning is our chance to see a parrot clay lick! Our boat will
take us downriver at dawn to the clay wall were this activity takes
place. We will place our group close to the clay wall were we will
sit waiting quietly for the bird activity. If we have a good day
we will see Chesnut-fronted macaws, cobalt-winged parakeets, mealy
parrot, white-eyed parakeets, and even the rare blue-headed macaw.
After the clay lick, our boat will return us to the lodge were we
will have breakfast. After getting prepared to hike we will walk
along the trails of the lodge in search of more birds. This will
be followed by lunch, an afternoon walk, and dinner. Overnight.
After breakfast we will start the 10 hour drive which will get us
into Cusco at night. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight.
First we will visit the impressive Sacsayhuaman ruins followed by
the colonial town of Pisaq. Pisaq is known for its handicraft market,
a great place for shoppers, as well as the Inca ruins located above
the city. After lunch we move east towards Urubamba and its famous
ceramics at the Seminario workshop. As a rare treat we will visit
a traditional Chicha (corn beer) bar as well as a guinea pig farm.
Then we move on to Ollantaytambo where we will see the ruins and
stay the night. Day 11 is a long day with a lot of sightseeing and
walking. We will have a local guide who will explain all about the
different places we are visiting. Overnight.
This morning we board our train to the amazing citadel of Machu
Picchu. We will have a guided tour of this site and a chance to
explore it at leisure afterwards. After you have seen the ruins
we will take the bus down to Aguas Calientes where we can go to
the rejuvenating hot springs. At the afternoon we board our train
back to Cusco. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight.
Transfer hotel/airport, flight to Lima and transfer airport/hotel.
Rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight.
Transfer hotel/airport
| QUOTATION
per person – in USD
Valid until 31.12.2004 |
PAX |
2 |
3 |
4/10 |
PRICE |
3347 |
2986 |
2757 |
HOSTELS
LOCALITY
|
HOSTEL |
| Lima |
Buena Vista or Mariel |
| Cusco |
Casona Real or El Conquistador or Bracamonte |
| Manu |
Eco Amazonia Lodge |
Ollantaytambo
|
Muñay Tika or Las Orquídeas or El Capulí |
THE PROGRAM INCLUDES
Activities
Birdwatching
at Pantanos de Villa (Marsh Area).
Birdwatching
at Andean Huacarpay Lake.
Visitors
Ticket to main sights in the Cusco Area.
6
day Birdwatching tour to Manu Biosphere Reserve.
Full
day tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Guided
tour of Machu Picchu.
All
transfers in/out from airports, all transfers during the tours.
2
domestic flights from/to Lima/Cusco.
All
transportation is included in the trip.
All
accommodation for 13 days in little nice hostels and jungle lodge,
camping on the Elfin Forest and Cloud Forest in the Manu area.
All
breakfasts are included in the trip.
All
meals included during the birdwatching tour to Manu Biosphere Reserve.
On
the other days your tour leader will give you plenty of recommendations
for places to go.
Our specialist bird guide has 8 years experience guiding nature
tours in different areas in rainforests throughout South and Central
America. Since 1998 his interest in the life, behavior, and habitats
of Amazonian birds has grown increasingly. Currently he is guiding
and exploring new destinations for birdwatchers in Peru.
THE PROGRAM DOES NOT INCLUDE
Airport
taxes (USD 5.04 each internal flight – USD 28.24 international
flight)
Meals
do not mentioned in the program
Extras
(drinks, telephone, laundry, personal effects)
WHAT TO TAKE
You will be on the move a great deal, so our advice is to pack as
lightly as possible. Most people automatically assume that the weather
is hot in South America. However, because of the higher altitude
in the Andes, the temperature can feel quite cold- especially at
night. Hot temperatures in the Rainforest vary between 22º
C (72º F) and 32º C (88º F). The rainy season starts
in February and ends in May, but sporadic rains may occur during
the dry season. We recommend using a duffel bag or backpack, whichever
is easier for you to carry. A good-sized daypack is also essential.
First-aid kit** / Sunblock / Windproof-waterproof jacket / Sunglasses
/Small towel and swim wear / Toiletries (biodegradable) / Long sleeves
shirts / Watch or alarm clock / Sun hat / Water bottle / 2 pairs
of shorts / Purification tablets or filter / 2 pairs of long trousers
/ Pocket knife / 1 pair of hiking pants/track pants / Flashlight
/ Hiking boots/ sturdy walking shoes / Money belt / Sport sandals
/ Rubber boots (only during rainy season) / Rain poncho or rain
jacket / Binoculars / Flashlight / Insect repellent with a DEET%
between 35-75
**First aid kit: should contain lip salve, Aspirin,
Band Aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases
of diarrhea, re-hydration powder, and any extra prescription drugs
you may be taking.
Optional: Camera and film, reading/writing material,
cover for backpacks.
ARGENTINA
