Southeast Peru: Manu Biosphere Reserve Wildlife Expedition

Arrive in Lima and take a private arrival transfer from Lima Airport to a hotel in the Miraflores waterfront neighbourhood. The drive follows the coastal road between the airport and the district, offering a first glimpse of the city before settling in. This arrival transfer and hotel stay in Miraflores mark the start of the journey, easing you into Lima’s coastal setting.

Fly from Lima to Cusco, then head out to Huacarpay Lake for highland wetland birding among water, reedbed and open-shore habitats. Lunch is included in the package before the return drive to Cusco by a different route, adding variety to the late-afternoon journey through the high Andes. An overnight hotel in Cusco, the old Inca capital, sets up the start of the Manu Road journey before the early drive south to Huacarpay Lakes and the inter-montane valleys.

Travel from Cusco by private 4×4 over the Ajcanacu pass and down the eastern Andean slope to Wayquecha Biological Station. Birding stops in inter-montane valleys target the endemic Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch and Creamy-crested Spinetail, among Andean Hillstar, Andean Flicker and Black-throated Flowerpiercer. At Ajcanacu Pass, the last Andean pass, look for Scribble-tailed and Line-fronted Canasteros and possibly Puna and Diademed Tapaculos. The afternoon descent through cloud forest seeks mixed flocks including Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan, Collared Jay and Mountain Cacique. After dark, try for Swallow-tailed Nightjar around Wayquecha.

Birding around Wayquecha begins with breakfast before a flexible full day between the tree line and humid forest. Morning targets include Mustached Flowerpiercer, Tit-like Dacnis, Golden-collared Tanager and Puna Thistletail. As the day warms, the walk moves downhill through the forest, searching mixed feeding flocks for Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Grass-green Tanager, Black-throated Tody-Flycatcher, Barred Fruiteater, White-banded and White-throated Tyrannulets, with Golden-plumed Parakeet and Greater Scythebill as lucky possibilities. The day unfolds at Wayqecha Cloud Forest Biological Station in Paucartambo, a misty cloud forest sanctuary with canopy views and rich biodiversity.

Spend the day birding down a little-traveled cloud forest road, descending through pristine forest from 2800 m to 1300 m. The route offers a long list of possibilities, from hummingbirds such as Collared Inca and Violet-throated Starfrontlet to Marcapata Spinetail, White-throated Antpitta, Barred Fruiteater and mixed tanagers. The day ends at Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge, a premier birdwatching sanctuary in Peru set in the misty Manu cloud forest, where the spectacular national bird can be observed amid lush biodiversity.

An early, respectful observation session at the Cock-of-the-Rock lek offers a signature wildlife encounter in Peru’s Manu cloud forest. At Cock of the Rock Lodge, trails behind the property open the cloud forest understory for Chestnut-breasted Wren, Scaled Antpitta, Rufous-breasted and Short-tailed Antthrushes, and Slaty Gnateater, with around 80 orchid species recorded in the grounds. A dining area and lounge overlook a feeding area for Brown Capuchin Monkeys and Tayras, while hummingbird feeders beside the dining room sometimes draw Buff-tailed Sicklebill.

Birding the 1500 m Cloud Forest Zone centres on Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge, a birdwatching sanctuary in Peru’s Manu cloud forest. A full day in this rich zone may bring White-rumped Hawk, Solitary Eagle, Crested and Golden-headed Quetzals, Masked Trogon, Highland Motmot, Amazonian Umbrellabird, the endemic Inca Flycatcher, Yungas Manakin and the endemic Peruvian Piedtail, among many others. Night birding around the lodge has previously produced Lyre-tailed Nightjar and Andean Potoo, and the group gives the darkness a proper go.

Descend from the San Pedro cloud forest on a slow birding route toward Amazonia Lodge, focusing on the upper tropical forest between 1500 m and 800 m. This untouched stretch along the Andean slopes offers species such as Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail, Peruvian Piedtail, Long-tailed Sylph, Versicolored Barbet and Golden-collared Honeycreeper. Continue by boat from Atalaya along the Alto Madre de Dios, treating the river corridor as part of the birding experience. The journey ends at Amazonia Lodge, a rainforest sanctuary near Puerto Maldonado known for exceptional birdwatching and biodiversity.

Birding based at the family-run Amazonia Lodge in the Madre de Dios Region, set in the transitional zone where Andean foothills meet the lowland Amazon Basin. Explore the lodge grounds and butterfly bushes for hummingbirds, and climb a canopy tower for foothill canopy flocks across floodplain and hill forest. One day is spent birding the Atalaya to Pilcopata road with a picnic lunch, working roadside forest edges for tinamous, macaws, antpittas, manakins and more.

Birding at Amazonia Lodge centres on two full days at this family-run lodge in the transitional zone where Andean foothills meet the lowland Amazon Basin. Butterfly bushes around the grounds attract hummingbirds including Rufous-crested Coquette, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Blue-tailed Emerald, Black-eared Fairy and Wire-crested Thorntail. A canopy tower on the hill offers access to foothill canopy flocks, while floodplain and hill forest habitats are also explored. Night birding targets Mottled Owl, Black-banded Owl, Tawny-bellied Screech-owl, and Great, Long-tailed and Common Potoos.

Start with early morning birding near Amazonia Lodge, a chance to find species possibly missed on earlier days before leaving the foothills. Then take a motorized canoe trip down the Alto Madre de Dios from Amazonia Lodge to Bonanza Eco-Lodge, leaving the last foothills behind and entering the Amazon proper, with riverside birds and raptors along the way. Settle in at Bonanza Eco-Lodge, a simple, family-run base on the Alto Madre de Dios with basic bungalows and hot water, for four nights of forest and river birding around Bonanza.

Stay at Bonanza Eco-Lodge, a simple family-run base on the Alto Madre de Dios, for several nights of forest and river birding. Explore extensive trail systems through large bamboo stands, varzea, terra firme and transitional floodplain forest, an area noted for its range of forest types. With more than 450 bird species thought present and little previous birding pressure, birds are described as everywhere and somewhat tame. Look for rare targets including Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo and Peruvian Recurvebill, alongside monkeys and other mammals.

Birding from the Bonanza Canopy Tower brings canopy flocks into view, including Curl-crested Aracari, White-throated and Channel-billed Toucans, Plum-throated Cotinga, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, several woodpeckers, Lemon-throated Barbet and Striolated Puffbird, with another chance to watch birds of prey. Nearby, the Bonanza Tapir Lick offers a patient stakeout for the Lowland Tapir visiting the lick. The simple family-run Bonanza Eco-Lodge on the Alto Madre de Dios serves as a base for forest and river birding around Bonanza.

At Bonanza Eco-Lodge, a simple family-run base on the Alto Madre de Dios, explore extensive trail systems through large bamboo stands plus varzea, terra firme and transitional floodplain forest, an area noted for its range of forest types. Birding here can include rare targets such as Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo and Peruvian Recurvebill, alongside monkeys and other mammals. A canopy tower reached by stairway offers views of canopy flocks, including Curl-crested Aracari, White-throated Toucan, Plum-throated Cotinga, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, woodpeckers, Lemon-throated Barbet and Striolated Puffbird, with chances for bird-of-prey observation.

Travel from Bonanza Eco-Lodge to Manu Wildlife Center, heading upriver toward the Blanquillo clay lick. The journey leads into a premier Amazonian sanctuary near Puerto Maldonado, where the surrounding rainforest offers immersive wildlife watching. Macaws and tapirs are among the possible encounters in one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet, making the transfer itself part of the experience as you move deeper into the Amazon.

At Blanquillo Macaw Clay Lick, watch from a blind as parrots and macaws gather along the clay bank, with patience and sound shaping the experience. The Manu Wildlife Center trails explore varied forest types and bamboo, where targets include Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Manu Antbird, Peruvian Recurvebill, and Rufous-fronted Antthrush. A canopy tower reached by spiral stairway opens views of flocks with Lineated Woodcreeper, Chestnut-winged Hookbill, Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak, tanagers, dacnis, and honeycreepers. This premier Amazonian sanctuary near Puerto Maldonado offers immersive wildlife encounters in one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet.

Explore the oxbow lakes near Manu Wildlife Center, working the lakeside for Hoatzin, Sungrebe, Agami Heron and Silvered Antbirds, with a chance of Giant Otters. Night birding may reveal potoos, Amazonian Pygmy Owl and Ocellated Poorwill. A visit to the forest’s large mammal lick offers possible Tapirs, Peccaries and even Jaguar, alongside Guans, Curassows and parakeets. This premier Amazonian sanctuary near Puerto Maldonado delivers immersive wildlife encounters in one of the planet’s most biodiverse regions.

Explore extensive trail systems at Manu Wildlife Center, with bamboo birding targeting Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Manu Antbird, Peruvian Recurvebill, Ihering’s and Ornate Antwrens, and singing Rufous-fronted Antthrushes. The canopy tower, reached by a spiral metal stairway, opens views of Lineated Woodcreeper, Sclater’s Antwren, Chestnut-winged Hookbill, Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak, tanagers, dacnis and honeycreepers. Night birding may reveal Long-tailed, Great and Common Potoos, Amazonian Pygmy Owl, Spectacled Owl, Ocellated Poorwill and Silky-tailed Nightjar. This premier Amazonian sanctuary near Puerto Maldonado offers macaws, tapirs and immersive wildlife in one of Earth’s most biodiverse regions.

Travel down the Madre de Dios by comfortable boat from Manu Wildlife Center toward Boca Colorado, passing pristine forest with riverside birds and raptors possible along the way. From Boca Colorado, a roughly one-hour local transport ride reaches the Inambari River, where a private vehicle continues to Puerto Maldonado with birding stops en route. Settle into a comfortable hotel in Puerto Maldonado, an overnight base before morning birding along the Cusco road and the flight to Lima.

Begin with morning birding around Puerto Maldonado and along the Cusco road, where seedeaters, Red-breasted Blackbird and White-tailed Kite may appear, alongside White-throated Jacamar, Black-banded Crake, Grassland Sparrow, Gray-breasted Crake, Black-faced Tanager, Barred Antshrike, Southern Crested Caracara, Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture, Small-billed Tinamou, Rusty-margined and Sulphury Flycatchers and Point-tailed Palmcreeper. Afterwards, take a morning flight from Puerto Maldonado to Lima, connecting to international departures, with flyover views of the Amazon and Andes. A Lima Airport hotel is available before onward travel.