Birdwatching Expedition < Itineraries

Early in the morning we depart from Cuzco to being our journey. This route is a paradise for bird lovers thanks to the astounding variety of birds (925 species) and ecological systems that form Manu National Park.

From the high Puna Andes we begin our decent -passing through the Elfin Forest- until we reach Paradise Lodge, which is a private reserve in the middle of the cloud forest. Thistletail, Flowerpiercers, Mountain Cacique, Barred Fruiteater and the Collared jay are some bird species we hope to encounter on this part of the trip.

COCK OF THE ROCK PLATFORM OBSERVATORY

We leave the lodge for a 20-minute walk until we reach the Cock of the Rock lick. We will observe the colorful courtship that the male makes to dazzle and attract females. Other birds dwelling in the cloud forest include Flycatchers, Tanagers, Wrens and Toucans. Afterwards, we return to the lodge for supper and relax in the hammocks for the remains of our first wildlife and birding day

MADRE DE DIOS RIVER            

Early wake up and breakfast. A 3 to 4 hours of route will takes us to the upper Madre de Dios River near the town of Atalaya where lunch will be serve. After that we will continue the route in a motorized dugout canoe for 5 hours down river, until we reach Boca Manu where we will rest for an hour.  Then we will continue down river (2 hrs) more until we arrive to Tambo Blanquillo Lodge.
                           
During our trip pairs and trios of red bellied and blue and yellow macaws fly over us, also the possibility to sight peccaries, jaguars, capybaras and black caimans sunbathing or crossing the river. 

Some birds we hope to find in this part of the trip:             

                   Orinocco Goose, the Capped Heron, the Cocoi heron, the Jabiru, the Roseate Spoonbill, King vulture, Bat Falcon, yellow billed Tern, the large billed Tern, Black skimer, the sand-colored Nightawk, the Swallloed-wing, the Purplish Jay, the Violaceous Jay, and the Greater Ani.

Dinner in Tambo Blanquillo

BLANQUILLO MACAW CLAY LICK

         Ccollpa Blanquillo is located about 10 minutes downstream from our lodge. The direct sun, at that time of the day, bathes the lick phase with 2-2.5 more F-stops of light that can’t be encounter at other licks. With this extra light, plus short distance and stability, a photographer can freeze flying birds with fast shutter speeds even when using low fine grain films. Breakfast will be served at the blind and there is a toilette facility aboard if needed. 

If time and weather favour us, a typical day at the Collpa will start around 6:00 a.m. when the first pairs of parrots fly in to land in the treetops above the lick. They are followed by hundreds who screech and squawk until the first ones (generally the blue-headed parrots) descend on to the clay.

Around 8:00 a.m. the first of the larger macaws arrive in family groups and perch in the treetops. The most common are the red and greens, the scarlet and the blue and yellow macaws. The exact arrival time of each species may vary slightly, but the order seems surprisingly fixed. At 10:30 a.m., around 40 to 150 macaws will have gathered and begin their descent to the clay. The birds apparently relaxed remain alert for eagles. If one is spotted, between 50 and 100 macaws often of different species, will circle and mob it, generally succeeding in chasing it from the area. The return to Tambo Blanquillo is around 11:30 a.m.

OXBOW LAKE CAMUNGO

A 10 minutes ride downstream in a motorised canoe takes us to Cocha Camungo; an oxbow lake formed after the meandering Madre de Dios River changed its course several years ago. The trail starts on the border of the riverbank and after a 20 minutes walk we arrive to the lake. During the walk spider monkeys and very rare and small emperor monkeys can be seen.

Once in the lake a small catamaran will be waiting. Scarlet and red and green macaws fly at eye-level altitude on their way to the nearby Blanquillo Macaw Lick. On some occasions, the magnificent harpy eagle can be spotted seeking for monkeys, as well as other predators like the black-collared hawk, the ornate-hawk and osprey, while big families of giant river otters, fish and preen themselves on top of dead logs. We will visit the lakes opposite shore to find the famous horned screamer Camungo, the bizarre pre-historic leaf-eating hoatzin and numerous herons and kingfisher.

KAPOK CANOPY PLATFORM

We arrive to a 40-meter observation tower, by far the tallest and most spectacular canopy platform next to a magnificent Kapok tree. A stainless steel staircase leads you to a wooden structure carefully built on top of the tree (avoiding any damage to it) where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Camungo Oxbow Lake.

During the climb you will be able to see squirrel monkeys, white-fronted and brown capuchins as well as howler monkeys fooling around. Some birds such as the Paradise opal, swallow Tanagers and white-throated Jacamars usually flyover below the canopy line. When you reach the platform a magnificent overall view of the rainforest will leave you happily overwhelmed.

OXBOW LAKE COCHA BLANCO

A motorized canoe is boarded for a 10-minute upstream ride to Cocha Blanco, then we make a pleasant 15 minute walk through a pristine seasonally flooded rainforest trail until we reach the shore of the lake where a small catamaran is waiting. Hoatzins, wild turkeys, the Band-tailed Antbird, the Silvered Antbird, the Black-capped Donacobius and Agami herons are some bird species commonly spotted on the lake, also there is a family of giant river otters which appear regularly (see sighting graph information). Around 5:00 p.m. the motorized canoe must be boarded for the return trip to Tambo Blanquillo.

Some Birds of Cocha Blanco:

                        Agami Heron, hoatzin, Rufous-sided Crake, Blackish rail, the Sungrebe, the Sunbittern, the wattled Jacana, the Band-tailed Antbird, the Silvered antbird, the Black-capped Donacobius, the Red-capped Cardinal, the Pale-eyed Blackbird and the Purus Jacamar,

TINAMOU TRAIL

This trail will takes us to the Blanquillo Oxbow Lake, home of black alligators, hoatzins, kingfishers, white winged turkey and paujiles. On the trail we will contemplate the different ecological niches created by the movement in geological time of the meandearing Madre de Dios River, the reason why this rainforest is the most biodiverse in the world.

We will row around the lake for about 2 hours, then we will enter through one of its tributaries were Capuchin and Howler monkey, tapir and dears are usually encounter. Truly a wonderful rainforest experience.

Early transfer to Puerto Maldonado Airport.  Breakfast buffet and airport shuttle is included in the program.