Birding
An authentic expedition into the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest onboard the Tucano "Voyage to the Heart of the Amazon (6 nights).
Tours of Exploration has organizes journeys to Bhutan for 20 years. Let us customize your adventure to the Himalayan Buddhist Kingdom for culture, nature, spiritual, birding, or trekking.
Highlights of this 12 day adventure to Bolivia and Chile include Sucre, Tarabuco Market, Potosi, Uyuni Salt Flats to San Pedro de Atacama
2019 DEPARTURE DATES & COST
Departures: Each Friday based on minimum of 2 people
Cost: $ 3,685 USD per person
ITINERARY
DAY 1 ARRIVE LA PAZ
La Paz – the highest capital city in the world at 3700 meters (10,500 feet) above sea level – is in a valley surrounded by snow capped Andean volcanoes. You will be plunged into a unique and colourful cultural environment. La Paz is a giant street market, beautiful textile crafts, and a place for fascinating people watching. Allow time to acclimate today by taking it slow and drinking local coca tea. Hotel Ritz
DAY 2 LA PAZ – SUCRE
A short flight to Sucre, the "White Jewel" with beautiful restored 16-18th century colonial architecture, churches and convents, a fantastic textile museum and the opportunity to purchase highest quality local textiles. Balance of day and evening at leisure. Overnight 3 nights Samary mi Pueblo.
DAY 3 TARABUCO MARKET
Full day guided excursion to the famous weekly market where the indigenous peoples of the surrounding villages meet to buy, sell and trade their wares. Only once a week on Sundays.
DAY 4 SUCRE – Cultural tour and weaving villages
Visit the mountain area around Sucre. See weaving villages and the Jatum Yampara Community, a project that aims to preserve and protect the identity and the cultural & artistic values of the Yampara culture (J'alqas and Tarabucos). Observation and participation in the process of the making of ceramic and textiles.
DAY 5 SUCRE – POTOSI
Drive to Potosi, approx. 2 hour. Half day city tour in Potosi visiting The Mint Museum, The Cathedral (Exterior), The Tower of the Company, The Historic Arch of Cobija, The Church of San Lorenzo, The Church of San Francisco (Exterior). Visit to a craft market. Hotel Patrimonio.
DAY 6 MINES & UYUNI'S SALT FLATS (Potosí – Tahua)
A 5-hour drive on an unpaved road from Potosí to Uyuni, travelling in the comfort of 4X4 vehicles. On route, visit the famous colonial mines of Porco, or the mines of Pulacayo, before arriving at Uyuni. This is the cradle of one of the most important workers movements in Latin America during the XX century. Arrival to the city of Uyuni for lunch. Enter the salt flats through Colchani and observe how the salt is processed manually. This is the last stop before arriving to the skirt of Tunupa Volcano. Many travellers are overwhelmed by the grandeur and remote beauty when they first see the white salt flats. Arrive Tahua. Overnight at the comfortable Salt Hotel constructed of, you guessed it, salt! Takya del Sel
DAY 7 TAHUA - SAN PEDRO DE QUEMEZ
Caves, fossils and islands are today's attractions during an unforgettable trip through 12,000 km² of fantastic landscapes of salt. The blinding white geology of Uyuni's salt flats resembles an immense glacier. In winter (dry season, from May to October), when the surface hardens, otherworldly geometric figures are formed by the salt particles. Continue toward Chillguilla with a stop at the pucara (Pre-Columbian ruins) – visit a cave of the "fossil whale" and the Mummies of Coquesa. Observe stromatolites (mineral silts that are testimony to the activity of the first unicellular inhabitants of the planet). Enjoy an outdoor lunch break at the Fish Island, located in the middle of the salt flats. Heading south through the salt flats, we encounter Bell Islands enroute to San Pedro de Quemez. Overnight Hotel Takya de Piedro.
DAY 8 SAN PEDRO DE QUEMEZ - OJO DE PERDIZ
Crimson lakes, flamingos, and multi-coloured deserts make for an unforgettable day. After an early start, visit the Burnt Town and Refuge Town, both towns built with stones. On the way back, pass near the still-active Ollagüe Volcano. Visit several lagoons: Honda, Cañapa, Hedionda and Chiarkhota, where three species of flamingos, and well as other birds can be observed. The minerals make for multicolored hues surrounding the lakes. Enter the enormous desert surfaces of sand and stone, leaving behind any sense of defined routes and set directions – you are surrounded by red, orange, ochre, bronze, brown and beige. Enter the Protected Area of Eduardo Alvaroa Reserve (REA), a protected area for rare Andean flora and fauna such as the untamable vicuñas. These cameloids, rare relatives of the llama, endangered due to the demand for their ultra fine wool, travel in small groups. Overnight Hotel Takya de Desierto
DAY 9 OJO DE PERDIZ – SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA, CHILE
Very early start with one more visit to the reserve to spot the nesting grounds of three species of red and pink flamingos. On our way to Chalviri, see the famous Geysers of the Morning Sun. The Chalviri's Desert and salt flat is another area of extraordinary beauty, which combines the white of the snow and the borax, the ochre of the desert and the blue of the water. Take a bath in the thermal waters and enjoy a field breakfast. After leaving, another great extension of land opens up: The Ladies of the Desert with rocks that have resisted the wind for millennia. And almost as an excess for the senses, when leaving this desert valley, come across the Green Lagoon at the base of the Licancabur Volcano. In the distance, in the Soniquera region, Stone City is often recognizable. Whimsical and sometimes artistic shapes have been sculpted by the wind through time. Continue to the Chile border through the border town of Hito Cajón, about 45 minutes drive, have border formalities and drive 2 hours to the town of San Pedro de Atacama. Overnight 3 nights Casa de Don Thomas.
DAY 10 SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
Day at leisure. Options for tours include a visit to the Valley of the Moon, the cultural archeological museum with incredibly preserved local mummies from ancient cultures, exceptionally preserved due to the dryness of the climate. Atacama boasts the 2nd driest climate in the world. An exciting expedition goes to see the geoglyphs in the Hiervas Buena Gorge in the direction of Calama. Here an impressive collection of rock designs tells the ancient history of life in the Atacama. Walks in and around San Pedro take you to the little villages and ancient fortresses that remain. San Pedro itself is full of history and charm, with a church dating from the 1540s, one of the earliest Spanish buildings in Chile. You can also rent mountain bikes and see local sites around the town.
DAY 11 DESERT GEYSERS & HOT SPRINGS
An exciting journey into the Atacama region to visit the cordillera of the Andes to El Tatio geysers where the planet's geothermal energy is visible to man. The geysers burst dramatically forth at sunrise, in a plain surrounded by volcanoes. Visit Puritama Hot Springs.
DAY 12 SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
Trip ends in San Pedro de Atacama. OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS IN CHILE can be arranged and added.
Borneo is occupied by 3 countries, with the largest portion part of Indonesia (Kalimantan), followed by Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) and then Brunei. Borneo is renowned for its rainforests that are home to a myriad of rare and endangered wildlife and plant species, along with an array of cultural groups whose traditions are rich.
Brasil abounds with an exceptional range of habitats and conversely birds and wildlife. Experience the Atlantic rainforest, Pantanal, Amazon and Iguazu Falls.
A chance to experience the wildlife-rich regions of the Great Bear Rainforest and Johnstone Strait
Travel to the remote Pacific Coastal Rainforest of northern Vancouver Island
Be part of the migration as we follow birds off the beaten path.
A unique opportunity to combine Southern Costa Rica and Northern Panama.
An in-depth exploration into two of Costa Rica’s most diverse and unique ecosystems:
Costa Rica bird tour. Natural History organizations, Junior Naturalist clubs, extended families, photographers are invited to call us to set up your own exclusive itinerary escorted by our fully qualified local ornithologists.
Costa Rica 3 - 5 day adventures that can be taken individually or combined to visit Tortuguero Park, Arenal Volcano, Monteverde Cloud Forest or the remote South Pacific beach region.
Highlights include Arenal Volcano, Rio Celeste, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, Chirripó.
Experience the natural beauty of Costa Rica's Forest Reserves and the splendid Coastal wonders. Small groups departing on a daily basis.
Ecuador's Kapawi Amazon Lodge is a model eco-tourism project that immerses guests into the traditional world of the Achuar culture while balancing sustainable principles.
Sacha Lodge, located in the heart of Ecuador's Amazon Basin is a world renowned haven for nature lovers, birdwatchers, scientists and adventure seekers.
Lying a few hundred miles from Cape Horn and a thousand miles North of Antarctica, the Falkland Islands are one of the world's great wilderness areas.
Explore the Galapagos Islands on by boat and foot while overnighting at lodges on Isabella and Santa Cruz Islands.
Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands provide a rare opportunity to observe and photograph, in close contact, many endemic birds, reptiles and sea mammals.
Guyana is wild and untamed and best describe as unspoiled Amazon, Savannah and coastal forest ecosystems with a mix of traditional Amerindian heritage. Enjoy birds and wildlife.
Birds of Honduras: Honduras is a mountainous country with a wide range of vegetation and habitat types: rainforest, deciduous forest, pine forest, mangrove, sandy beaches (pearly white on the north coast, volcanic black in the south), cloud forests, and so many other ecological zones. That diversity in ecosystems also explains the huge variety of birds - 776 species to date. Join a small group of avid bird-watchers to experience Honduras.
2018 Departures (12 days)
November 14 - 25
2019 Departures (12 days)
January 9 - 20 (includes bird blitz of Lake Yojoa)
March 4 - 15
March 23 - 30 (8 days)
Tour cost per person from Tegucigalpa: $ 3,350 USD/$ 4,325 CAD
Honduras is sandwiched between Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. It has a long coastline in the north, on the Caribbean Sea, and a small piece on the Pacific coast in the south, the Gulf of Fonseca. The capital is Tegucigalpa, and the other major city San Pedro Sula also welcomes international flights. Since Honduras has not yet been discovered by big crowds, there are still many unspoilt natural places.
This Honduras’ Birding Highlights trip takes you through three of the four quarters of the country. We start our tour in La Tigra National Park, where the cloud forest offers excellent mountain birding along wide and fairly easy trails. This is the home of some key species such as the Wine-throated Hummingbird, Green-breasted Mountain-Gem, Singing Quail or White-faced Quail-Dove. The impressive mountains of Celaque National Park, characterized mainly by pine- oak forest, dry forest and cloud forest support motmots, hummingbirds, antbirds and toucans, the elusive Ocellated Quail and the endemic Honduran Emerald!
Rising majestically above beautiful Lake Yojoa in central Honduras are two of the country’s more impressive mountain ranges: Montaña Santa Barbara and Cerro Azul Meámbar. Here the combination of limestone and volcanic landscapes surrounding the lake supports a rich diversity of habitat types — including freshwater wetlands, pine-oak forest, lowland rainforest and cloud forest — and a corresponding diversity of plants and animals. Some species of interest we can find here are the Keel-billed Motmot, Prevost ground-Sparrow, Resplendent Quetzal, Emerald-chinned Hummingbird, Barred and Collared Forest-Falcons, Collared Araçari, Blue-crowned Motmot, Masked Tityra, Crimson-collared Tanager, Northern Barred Woodcreeper.
The north-facing coast is characterized by long beaches interspersed with rocky headlands, coastal wetlands and mangroves and the coastal mountain ranges of Nombre de Dios and Pico Bonito National Park. The extensive rainforest of these mountains harbors a wealth of top species including the Shining Honeycreeper, Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet, Long-billed Hermit, Crowned Woodnymph, Rufous Mourner, Black-and-White Owl, Purple-crowned Fairy or Tody Motmot, whereas the mangroves are home to specialties such as American Pygmy Kingfisher, White-necked Puffbird, or Agami Heron.
Itinerary
November 14 | Arrival at Tegucigalpa airport and birding around the hotel
The tour begins with afternoon birding around Hotel Los Gloriales. Here we can find higher elevation species such as the Blue-and-white Mockingbird, White-eared Hummingbird, Blue-crowned Motmot, White-breasted Hawk and more. After nightfall, we enjoy chatting and getting to know each other during a hearty welcome dinner.
November 15 | Birding in La Tigra NP
La Tigra National Park offers great birding and a wide array of hummingbirds such as the Wine-throated Hummingbird, Greenbreasted Mountain-gem, Green Violet-Ear and Sparkling-tailed Woodstar. But we won’t only look out for hummers, there are obviously other interesting species we might encounter too, including the Emerald Toucanet, Singing Quail, Resplendent Quetzal, Mountain Trogon, Spotted Woodcreeper, Barred Forest-Falcon, Mountain Elaenia, Rufous-browed Wren, Slate-colored Solitaire and many more.
November 16 | Birding around Cerro de Hula and transfer to Gracias
This morning we go birding around Cerro de Hula, an area south of Tegucigalpa which is mostly known because of the windfarms. However, there are also some excellent birding spots around. The pine forests interspersed with fields of flowering “pie de niño” and “red salvia” here attract lots of hummingbirds, and if we are lucky we may even see the elusive Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird or Slender Sheartail! There will also be Olive Warblers, Rufous-browed Peppershrikes, Bushy-crested Jays, Buff-breasted Flycatchers, Ocellated Quail, Crested Bobwhite and many other species to observe.
Afterwards, we drive to the small colonial town of Gracias, Lempira, situated at the foot of Parque Nacional Celaque, which boasts the highest peak of Honduras. Our hotel is located amidst pine forest, woodland and coffee plantations. In this bird-rich area, we are likely to encounter species such as the Mesoamerican endemic Bushy-Crested Jay, Laughing Falcon, Turquoise-browed Motmot, some resident warblers such as the Common Yellowthroat and Rufous-capped Warbler, and other birds like the Altamira Oriole, Black- headed Saltator, Mountain Trogon, Flame-colored Tanager and Yellow-backed Oriole.
November 17 | Birding at Honduran Emerald and Ocellated Quail locations
Today we search for the only endemic bird of Honduras so far: the Honduran Emerald! The region is also home to many other drier-country birds, amongst others the Elegant Trogon, Striped Cuckoo, Turquoise-browed Motmot and many more. Along the Río Grande, we will also see some water birds such as Green Herons, Black Phoebes, different Kingfisher species etc. In the afternoon, we drive up into Celaque National Park to get one of our targets birds: the elusive Ocellated Quail. A hard bird to get, but Celaque NP offers some excellent opportunities, so keep your fingers crossed that you are one of the lucky few to getkee a glimpse of this shy quail. Other species we may see up here are King Vulture, Crested Bobwhite, Azure-crowned Hummingbird and many more.
November 18 | Birding in Celaque NP & transfer to La Esperanza
This morning we walk the lower elevation trails of Celaque National Park. We will be looking out for Chestnut-capped and White-naped Brushfinch, Brown-backed and Slatecolored Solitaire, Green-throated Mountaingem, White-eared Hummingbird, Olivaceous Woodcreeper etc. We then head to La Esperanza, or rather to the twin cities of La Esperanza and La Intibucá. La Esperanza is the newer capital of the Intibucá department with a mainly ladino population, whereas Intibucá used to be a small which indigenous Lenca community. However, due to expansion of the cities over time, the two are now merged and sheer impossible to tell apart. La Esperanza-Intibucá is the highest city in Honduras, offering a cool – or in winter even cold – climate. Depending on our time of arrival, we may bird a little around the hotel, or take some time for relaxing.
November 19 | Birding in El Consejero private reserve & transfer to Lake Yojoa
Close to La Esperanza, in Yamaranguila, Beaks and Peaks is working with the local Bu family in a small ecotourism project. This very humble family has created a hummingbird garden, which already attracts 8 different types of highland hummingbirds. We will see Magnificent Hummingbird, White-eared Hummingbird, Amethyst-throated Hummingbird etc. We may even see Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird on their feeders. And during migration this is a stop for the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds coming from the United States. Other species of interest here are Rufous-collared Robin, Bushy-crested Jay, Steller’s Jay, White-naped Brushfinch or Band-tailed Pigeon. After our morning birding, we drive to Lake Yojoa, home to the biggest variety of bird species in Honduras. We have lunch at a restaurant on the Lake which offers splendid view over the lake and the surrounding wetlands and marshes. Over here we can spot water birds such as Pale-billed Grebes, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Bare-throated Tiger- Herons, Ringed Kingfishers, Snail Kites, Lesser Yellow-headed Vultures and so on. After lunch, we drive up to our hotel PANACAM Lodge. Once we are settled, we have time for afternoon birding around the Lodge in search for the Black-crested Coquette, Barred Forest- Falcon, Collared Araçari, Keel-billed Motmot, Blue-crowned Motmot, Masked Tityra, Crimson- collared Tanager, Blue-crowned Chlorophonia, White-throated Thrush, Long-billed Hermit, Violet Sabrewing and more.
November 20 | Birding in Santa Barbara NP and visit to La Fuente de Vida project
This morning we drive up to Santa Bárbara National Park and visit the La Fuente de Vida ecotourism project. The communities up here are trying to protect a beautiful parch of forest for the future. They have decided to make the change from exclusive coffee growing to providing sustainable tourism services. They have for example built a series of beautiful trails that offer excellent birdwatching opportunities.win
Very early in the morning, we drive up to the community. That should take us about an hour. Upon arrival we enjoy breakfast with one of the local families and after that we start looking for birds such as the Prevost- ground Sparrow, Ornate Hawk-Eagle, Resplendent Quetzal, Emerald-chinned Hummingbird, White-breasted Hawk, Green- throated MountainGem, Buffy-crowned Woodpartridge, Slate-colored Solitaire, Rusty Sparrow, Collared Trogon, Spotted Woodcreeper, Ruddy Foliage-Gleaner, Scaly- throated Foliage-Gleaner, Buff-throated Foliage-Gleaner, Black-headed Nightingale- Thrush, Chestnut-capped BrushFinch, White-naped Brushfinch, Spot-breasted Wren etcetera.
November 21 | Birding in Lake Yojoa wetlands and transfer to Pico Bonito NP
Today we do some early morning birding around the Lake, searching for more great species such as the Masked Duck, Least Bittern, Fork-tailed Flycatcher, Blackcrowned Tityra, Green-backed Sparrow, Rufous-breasted Spinetail, Grey-breasted Crake and others. We then have a long drive ahead of us, all the way to Pico Bonito on Honduras’ north coast, in the Nombre de Dios mountains. Upon arrival, it will be time for dinner and a good night’s sleep so we are fit again the next morning for yet more birding at our last destination.
November 22 | Birding in Rio Santiago Nature Resort
We get up early in the morning to hike the beautiful trails of Rio Santiago Nature Resort. Here, we will have the chance of seeing some stunners such as White Hawk, Olive-backed Euphonia, Golden-hooded Tanager, Keelbilled Toucan, Yellow-bellied Tyrannulet, Black-crested Coquette, Spectacled Owl, Tawny-winged Woodcreeper, Royal Flycatcher, Sunbittern and many more. After our hike, we spend the rest of the day ‘lazy birding’ around the dining area. That doesn’t mean, however, that you won’t see plenty of birds. Rio Santiago is also known as Honduras’ ‘Hummingbird Paradise’. Up to 22 different species of hummingbirds have been recorded here, and many of them come to the feeders at the restaurant: White-necked Jacobin, Brown Violet-Ear, Crowned Woodnymph, Blue-throated Goldentail, Blue-tailed Hummingbird, Scaly-breasted Hummingbird, Stripe-throated Hermit, Long-
billed Hermit.
November 23 | Birding in Cuero y Salado mangroves
On the schedule today is a visit to Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge. We board the only train that is still functioning in Honduras – it dates to the times of the ‘Banana republic’ and was indeed used to transport bananas. What remains now is are two rickety little wagons racing over crooked rails. Lots of fun. And excellent birding opportunities along the way: Glossy Ibis, Bat Falcon, Ferruginous Pygmy Owl, Black-cowled Oriole, Crested Caracara. At the visitors’ center, we board a motorboat that will take us onto the rivers and canals of the Cuero y Salado Mangroves. Top species that we will try to get good looks at here include Agami Heron, White-necked Puffbird, American Pygmy Kingfisher, Black-crowned Antshrike and more. Lunch will be prepared by a local family upon our return from the boat ride.
November 24 | Birding at Pico Bonito National Park
In this setting, we enjoy yet another splendid birding day, as the area offers an incredibly varied array of bird species such as Brown-hooded, White-fronted and White-crowned Parrots, Little and Great Tinamous, Grey-chested Doves, Olive-throated Parakeets, Black-cheeked Woodpeckers, Wedge-billed and Cocoa Woodcreepers, Paltry Tyrannulets, Guatemalan Screech-Owls, Great Potoos, Violetheaded Hummingbirds, Purple-crowned Fairies, Slaty-tailed, Gartered and Collared Trogons, Red-capped Manakins, White- and Grey-breasted Wood-Wrens, White-throated Thrushes, Olive-backed Euphonias, Kentucky Warblers, Giant Cowbirds, Red-throated and Red- crowned Ant-Tanager, Keel-billed Motmot, Green Shrike-Vireos and Black-faced Grosbeaks. And those are just a few examples.
November 25 | Transfer to San Pedro Sula Airport
Your trip unfortunately has come to an end (unless you opted for the 3-day post-tour to Copán) and we will drive you to San Pedro Sula international airport in time for your flight. We hope you enjoyed the tour and wish you a safe journey home. And who knows… hasta la próxima?
Join us as we explore the stunning landscape of New Zealand's National and World Heritage Parks, in the North and South Islands.
Discover the Panama Canal’s natural attributes and experience a Partial Panama Canal Transit;
Birding in Panama is easy and rewarding. We will connect with several major ecosystems as we travel to the western highlands, the central rainforests of the Panama Canal watershed and the jungle in the southeast.
The world marveled at the engineering feat with the opening of the Panama Canal in August 1914.
This exceptional program encompasses Lima, The Andes from Cusco to Lake Titicaca and the bird and wildlife rich regions of the cloud and Amazon forests of Southern Peru.
Manu Cloud Forest Lodge is idyllically located at 5,000 feet above sea level & Manu Amazon Lodge in the heart of the rainforest.
2019 Departure Dates and Costs
Departures are every Wednesday and Saturday from Cusco during March to December
Tour cost: $ 2,635 USD per person based on twin share including one way airfare out of Puerto Maldonado to Cusco or Lima and Park entrance fee
Single Supplement $ 850 USD
Private departures for groups of 4 or more!
Itinerary
Day 1 Cusco/ Cloud Forest Lodge (B,L,D)
We will depart our hotel at 6:00 am for this journey to the new Manu Cloud Forest Lodge which is idyllically located at 5,000 feet above sea level between cloud forest-covered slopes and adjacent to a narrow 400-foot-high waterfall. Rushing streams next to the site are two of the small water courses that descend from the mountains to the Qosñipata River.
Some of the attractions of the lodge include one "lek" or dancing ground of Andean Cock-of-the Rock, which are nearly crow-sized, bright red birds in the Cotinga family. Troops of acrobatic Woolly Monkeys are also frequently sighted. An ornithological census by John Arvin, a renowned tropical ornithologist, shows a list that exceeds 700 species of birds in the transect from the grasslands to the lowlands of the Upper Madre de Dios River port of Atalaya. Some of the amenities of the lodge include private bathrooms with hot water, private verandas overlooking the pristine Union creek, and a sauna to relax after the daily activities.
The journey from Cusco takes visitors on an 8 - 9 hour hour trip over two Andean Mountain chains of 13,100 feet elevation through a habitat of wildlife such as the rare Huemal Deer, vizcachas, and Mountain Caracara. CORL lies past patches of elfin forest on the eastern slopes of the Andes in the mist of the Cloud Forest. Troops of muscular-limbed Woolly Monkeys and comical Brown Capuchin Monkeys forage through the reserve. Rare sightings of the endangered Spectacled Bear, South America's only species of bear, have been recorded near the lodge.
The small lodge is ideal for the avid wildlife photographer and nature lover. There are four two-story bungalows. Each bungalow is divided in two levels for two to three guests each in single-bed accommodations. Every level provides private toilet facilities, which include hot-water shower, wash stand and flushing toilet. The lodge rooms offer private verandas overlooking the pristine Union creek. There is a restaurant and bar for up to 60 people, reading room and a sauna to relax after the daily activities. ($10 per person for each use).
The lodge has electricity. However, our small generator, due to a number of factors can fail or stop working at any moment, without the possibility of repairs for several days. The electricity output is about 220 volts. A stabilizer is strongly recommended if you will use our electricity output to recharge sensitive electronic equipment. Lights are turned on from 8:00 to 21:00, and briefly prior to early morning excursions.
Day 2 Cloud Forest Lodge (B,L,D)
The lush and misty cloud forest is perhaps the most fragile and threatened type of rainforest. This forest starts at 11,000 feet, and continues down to about 5,000 feet of elevation, covering the eastern slopes of the Andes, before yielding to the vast lowland forest of the Amazon. This is a kingdom of moss, lichens, ferns, and orchids.
Early excursion to a nearby platform and blind strategically located to see a "lek" where the brightly red-colored Cock-of-the Rock displays daily for the females. We return to our lodge for a hearty breakfast. Afterwards, a hiking excursion to the Waterfall Trail, walking through dense and exuberant cloud forest and crossing rushing streams, which originate in the peaks high above the forest. At noon, weather allowing, a delicious barbecue awaits beside a natural pond. Surrounded by massive rocks, hanging vines and bromeliads, we will enjoy a refreshing dip in these crystal-clear waters.
Day 3 Cloud Forest Lodge/Manu Amazon Lodge (B,L,D)
After breakfast, we head towards Atalaya, the first navigable port on the Upper Madre de Dios River. The ride will take us through small villages of Andean colonists and indigenous people whose main economic activities are rudimentary farming and low-scale logging. Once at Atalaya we board our motorized dugout canoes, equipped with individual cushioned seats, and long tarps to provide shelter from the baking sun, or the sudden tropical downpour. River journeys are long in Manu and visitors have rated our boats as the most comfortable in the entire region. We will boat down the fast-flowing, braided, clear water, upper Madre de Dios River for about five hours to the confluence with the meandering, Manu River. As soon as we enter the great Manu wilderness, every river bend will bring us a vista of unspoiled beauty. We may see Black Caiman, White Caiman, toucans, parrots, scores of wild macaws, several species of raptors, and maybe even a magnificent Jaguar. The best proof of the presence of Jaguars and the possibility of many of our tour groups to see these great cats, are the many wonderful amateur photographs that our customers have sent back to our company.
After about four hours, we arrive at the Juarez Lake sandbar, then we hike 600 meters along a flat trail to the Juarez oxbow lake, where guides paddle us in a catamaran to the secluded Manu Lodge, the only full Lodge in the entire protected wilderness of Manu. If during the dry season the catamaran cannot be used due to the low water level in the lake, we will walk a one kilometer trail (about twenty minutes) only taking our hand-bags with us while the main luggage is carried by the Lodge personnel. 4 nights Manu Lodge.
Day 4/5 Manu Amazon Lodge (B,L,D)
We rise to the loud call of Howler Monkeys, and to the option of a dawn paddle on the lake. During breakfast from the dining room, you may be able to see entire troops of Squirrel Monkeys, Brown Capuchins, and White-Fronted Capuchins that may be visiting the lodge clearing in search of palm fruits. Without any doubt, one of the highlights of Manu Lodge is the family of four Giant Otters who usually breed there. Manu Lodge visitors have been able to see these playful and gregarious carnivores from a 15-meter distance without causing any disturbance of their daily activities. This group of Giant Otters visits the Manu Lodge every now and then, and when at Juarez, they can be seen at different times of the day. Surprisingly, a few dead logs in front of our dining room are their favorite spot to eat fish, preen, and play.
Manu Lodge offers the largest and most complete trail system available in Manu (over 20 km of marked trails), and the result of standardized trail walks completed by groups of researchers over the course of several years, show that "it is actually those sections closest to the lodge and most heavily visited, which were the most productive in terms of mammal sighting. This suggests that the presence of tourists and researchers is not having a disturbing effect on the local mammal population." (1995, Durham University Expedition Report.)
Attractions: Two miradors, Macaw rooosting sites, canopy climb, ox-bos lake exploration, 500 bird species recorded in the vicinity
Day 06: Manu Amazon to Cloud Forest Lodge (B,L,D)
At 06:00 o’clock we start our three-hour river journey back to the confluence of the Manu and the Upper Madre de Dios. This journey is our last chance to spot a Capybara, the world's largest rodent, or a Tapir, a relative of horses and the rainforest's largest mammal. After about three hours we will reach Boca Manu for a brief stop and to refuel our boat. From Boca Manu we will explore the lower portion of the Madre de Dios River where we may have a chance to see large Red-and-Green Macaws perched on the trees or making short and long flights to the rain forest canopy. We will also see several lowland native settlements. About five hours from Boca Manu, we will arrive to Atalaya to start our overland journey to Manu Cloud Forest. Overnight: Manu Cloud Forest Lodge.
Day 07: Cloud Forest Lodge/Cusco (B,L,D)
This morning after breakfast we offer you an additional hiking excursion to walk through dense and exuberant cloud forest and crossing rushing streams, which originate in the mountain peaks high above the forest. Surrounded by massive rocks, hanging vines and bromeliads, we may enjoy a refreshing dip in these crystal-clear waters. Before noon we start our journey back to Cusco.
Inclusions: Ground and boat transport from Cusco to Manu & back, naturalist English-speaking guide, all meals at the lodges, accommodations at Cloud Forest Lodge and Manu Amazon Lodge. Manu National Park entrance fee (currently $60 per person)
Not included: alcoholic and/or non-alcoholic beverages, items of a personal nature and tips.
Additional Information
Please contact us for more details: 1 (800) 690.7887
The Manu Cloud Forest Lodge site is located between forest-covered slopes and adjacent waterfalls and streams providing ideal habitat for birds and wildlife.
Posada Amazonas and Refugio Lodge are two comfortable, 30 bedroom lodges situated along Peru's Tambopata River.
In July 2017 Sri Lanka was crowned with two honours at the World Travel awards - Asia's leading destination, and Asia's leading adventure destination.
Tour Styles
