Peru – Birding from the Andes to the Amazon (10 Days)

Early in the morning we drive from Cusco to the Huacarpay wetlands. In the reeds and on the water we look for Yellow-billed Pintail, Puna Teal, Plumbeous Rail, Andean Duck, Andean Tinamou, White-tufted Grebe, Many-colored Rush Tyrant and Wren-like Rushbird. Flowering tobacco attracts hummingbirds such as Giant Hummingbird, Black-tailed Trainbearer and the endemic Bearded Mountaineer; the dry scrub is home to Rusty-fronted Canastero and the rare Darwin's Nothura. Crossing the puna, we climb to the Acjanaco Pass, the gateway to Manu National Park, where we have a picnic. In the elfin forest we search for Urubamba and Red-and-white Antpitta, Puna Thistletail and Grass-green Tanager. In the evening we reach Wayqecha; optionally we go owling for Yungas Pygmy-Owl and Swallow-tailed Nightjar.

All day we explore the station's gardens, trails and canopy walkway amid mist-shrouded, orchid-laden dwarf trees. Target species include Long-tailed Sylph, Scaled and Shining Metaltail, Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Collared Inca, Hooded Tinamou, Stripe-faced Wood-Quail, Black-and-chestnut Eagle, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Inca Flycatcher, Golden-headed Quetzal and mixed tanager flocks. Along the forest edges we keep an eye out for spectacled bear and Andean fox.

Early in the morning we look around Wayqecha for Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Marcapata Spinetail and Rufous-capped Thornbill. Then we drive down the Manu Road, stopping for mixed flocks, quetzals, trogons, Blue-banded Toucanet, Handsome Flycatcher and the elusive Andean Potoo. In the late afternoon we reach the Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge and visit the observation platform at the lek, where the Andean Cock-of-the-rocks perform their loud, fascinating courtship display.

All day, at a relaxed pace along the Manu Road, we watch huge mixed flocks with Golden-eared, Golden-naped, Orange-eared, Paradise, Golden and Saffron-crowned Tanager. In the dense foliage we look for Crested and Golden-headed Quetzal, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Solitary Eagle and Versicolored Barbet, while woolly monkeys and capuchins move through the canopy. At night we search for Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Band-bellied Owl and Rufescent Screech-Owl.

In the morning we watch hummingbirds in the lodge garden such as Many-spotted Hummingbird, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Booted Racket-tail, Wire-crested Thorntail and Buff-tailed Sicklebill. In the Kosñipata Valley we look for Black-backed Tody-Flycatcher, Blue-capped Manakin and Peruvian Piedtail. In the afternoon we reach the Villa Carmen Biolodge. At the hummingbird and fruit feeders you can photograph Rufous-crested Coquette, Black-eared Fairy, Gould's Jewelfront, Lemon-throated Barbet, Turquoise Tanager and Great Potoo. In the evening we search for Striped Owl, Band-bellied Owl and Spectacled Owl.

In the morning we focus on the bamboo forests of Villa Carmen with specialists such as Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo, Bamboo Foliage-gleaner, Manu and Goeldi's Antbird, Bamboo Antshrike, Red-billed Scythebill, Fine-barred Piculet and Scarlet-hooded Barbet. In the afternoon we take wooden catamarans across the Machuwasi oxbow lake for Hoatzin, Black-and-white Crake, Grey-necked Wood-Rail, Ladder-tailed Nightjar and White-eyed Blackbird. At a feeder White-necked Jacobin, Koepcke's Hermit and Amazonian Antpitta show up; plus squirrel and howler monkeys.

In the morning we drive to the port of Atalaya at the confluence of the Piñipiñi and Alto Madre de Dios rivers and board large, covered motorized canoes. Heading downstream past the last Andean foothills and the village of Boca Manu, we see terns, cormorants, White-winged Swallows, Anhingas, Pied Lapwings and herons. In the afternoon we reach the Manu Wildlife Center and climb the 34-meter observation tower. From the top we overlook the canopy with mixed flocks, Spangled Cotinga, Yellow-ridged Toucan, Curl-crested Aracari, Grey-headed Kite, Red-throated Caracara and macaws flying past.

Early in the morning we take the boat and walk 35 minutes through palm swamps to the macaw clay lick. From a spacious hide we watch, over breakfast, Red-and-green Macaws, Blue-headed Parrots, Orange-winged Parrots and Yellow-crowned Parrots eating the mineral-rich clay (most active from August to October). In the afternoon we explore the trail network through terra firme forest, várzea and bamboo. Target species: Razor-billed Curassow, Pavonine Quetzal, Great Jacamar, Gould's Toucanet, Blue-backed Manakin, Royal Flycatcher and Rufous-fronted Antthrush. In the evening we go owling in the rainforest.

In the morning we take a catamaran across an old oxbow lake, where a family of giant otters can be seen fishing, as well as Sungrebes, jacanas, Ospreys and resting macaws and toucans. In the afternoon a quiet trail leads us to the famous tapir clay lick. The raised platform is equipped with cushioned walkways, mattresses and mosquito nets. At dusk wild lowland tapirs weighing up to 270 kg come very close to the clay wall – flash photography is allowed here.

After a last breakfast at the lodge we travel upstream by boat and then by van to Puerto Maldonado. From there you take a scheduled flight to Cusco or Lima.