Bird Tours Peru - Manu

Manu Biosphere Reserve

We offer four routes, they differ in lenght and final destination. In general all tours start on Sunday in order to avoid problems with other traffic on the narrow Manu road.
Our main tour "Manu complete" gives you everything: from puna, the cloudforest to the lower rainforest including the clay lick for macaws. Our second tour " Manu till Pantiacolla" does not reach the lower rainforest, but gives you the best ratio between prices and number of bird species. It´s our most popular tour. The third one is a good option for people that are not especially focused on birds and like to see more monkeys, giant otter and a clay-lick for macaws (last part with general guide) The fourth one "Manu Road" is specially made for budget birders, who don´t need a bird guide.

In schedule- click on the tour title to see the itinerary:

day	Manu complete	Manu till Pantiacolla	Manu Road	Reserved Zone
1	Cock-lodge/ACCA	Pillah. or S.Pedro	Pillahuata	Pillah. or S.Pedro
2	Cock-lodge	Posada S.Pedro	Posada S.Pedro	Posada S.Pedro
3	Cock-lodge	Posada S.Pedro	Posada S.Pedro	Posada San Pedro
4	Amazonia Lodge	Amazonia Lodge	Pilcopata	Amazonia Lodge
5	Amazonia Lodge	Pantiacolla Lodge	back to Cusco	Pantiacolla Lodge
6	Pantiacolla Lodge	Pantiacolla Lodge		Pantiacolla Lodge
7	Pantiacolla Lodge	Pantiacolla Lodge		camp near Boca Manu
8	Oropendola Lodge	back: Cock-lodge		camp reserved zone
9	Oropendola Lodge	back to Cusco		camp reserved zone
10	Oropendola Lodge			Blanquillo
11	Oropendola Lodge			clay lick
12	to Pto.Maldonado			fly out to Cusco
13	fly out- Cusco/Lima

Information about Manu

The Manu Biosphere Reserve

Created in 1977, the Manu Biosphere Reserve covers an area of 1,881,200 hectares, almost half the size of the Netherlands. It is one of largest conservation areas on earth and extends between 4100 meters to 200 meters above sea level. Manu is one of the most biodiverse areas on this planet and is home to 1000 species of bird, more than 10 % of the world total!

The Manu Biosphere Reserve is divided in three zones: the Cultural Zone where all the lodges are situated, the Reserved Zone designated for tourism, and the National Park where only scientists have access. Just a few companies who have a permit to camp are allowed into the Reserved Zone.

Distances from Cusco to Manu

The below graph shows how the altitude varies with distance from Cusco. Journey times are also indicated.

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Manu Complete (13 days)

Nights at Oropendola Lodge can be replaced by Manu Wildlife Center for additional costs.

Day 1 Cusco- Huacarpay-Pillahuata

After an early start from Cusco we take time at Lake Huacarpay to observe highland lake and marsh birds like Plumbeous Rail and White-tufted Grebe and then we go on to our "special" spot for not less then 4 endemics (Bearded Mountaineer, Rusty-fronted Canastero, Creamy-crested Spinetail and Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch). Around midday we arrive at the Acjanaco pass at 3550 where the Manu Bioshere Reserve begins.

Here the montane forests, unlike other parts of the eastern Andes, are almost completely untouched. As far time allows we drive and walk between 3200 and 2700 m.a.s.l. searching for Metaltails and other species of hummingbirds, Yungas Pygmy-owl, White-collared Jay, Mountain Cacique, Grass-green - & Golden-collared Tanagers, Hooded - & Scarlet-bellied Mountain-tanagers, Masked Flowerpiercer, as well as Andean Guan, Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan and the endemic Puna Thistletail. If available, we will sleep in the ACCA research center, strategically situated at 2700 m.a.s.l.. If not we go to the Cock-of-the Rock lodge.

Day 2- to the Cock of the Rock lodge

A whole day birding between 2700 and 2000 m.a.s.l. The main target is Red-and-white Antpitta. In the first hours we will see flocks of tanagers, woorcreepers and ovenbirds. A special one that we have to meet is the endemic Marcapata Spinetail. After lunch in the ACCA research center we go down to 1500 m. and will overnight in the Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge

Day 3- Cock of the Rock lodge

A whole day birding near the lodge. The subtropical area approachs the highest possible avian diversity: mixed tanager-flocks of more than 20 species, a lot of different flycatchers, but also Rufescent Screech-owl, Highland Motmot, the stunning Versicoloured Barbet, Cock-of-the-Rock, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Yungas Manakin and many other birds are possible. Regular we encounter Solitary Eagle and/or Black-and-Chestnut Eagle. At dusk we will go to a stakeout for Lyre-tailed Nightjar.

Day 4- Lower Manu Road and Amazonia Lodge

Going down we will explore the area between 1500 and 1000 m.a.s.l. The area is home to a lot of interesting species like Peruvian Piedtail, Rufous-webbed Brilliant and Black-backed Tody-Flycatcher (all endemic) and Golden-bellied Warbler (possible splitted as Cusco Warbler). Regularly we encounter in the same area Amazonian Umbrellabird and we will see our first tropical birds like Bluish-fronted Jacamar, different species of antbirds, vultures and other species of raptors.
In Atalaya we have to cross the river to reach the grounds of Amazonia Lodge. While the staff is bringing our luggage to the lodge we walk the 2 km long so-called Jeep-trail. Tinamous, Trogons, Purple-throated Cotinga, Long-tailed Tyrant and diff. parrots are some of the possibilities. Military - & Blue-headed Macaw are the two most scare macaws of Manu but here we have a good opportunity to see them. The lodge has a very nice garden where you will see 6-10 different species of hummingbirds with the male Rufous-crested Coquette and Wire-crested Thorntail as being the most attractive ones. Amazonia is also a good place to see one of more of the 3 species of Potoos.
A small oxbox lake close to the lodge gives us the possibility to see Hoatzin, Sungrebe, Sunbittern, Rufescent Tiger-heron, all species that you normally not will see during the rest of the trip.

Day 5 - Amazonia Lodge

A whole day at Amazonia Lodge in order to explore the trails in the lower part and uphill. Also we will go to the canopy tower for a while.

Day 6- to Pantiacolla Lodge

After breakfast birding we walk to the river, where the boat picks us up for a 2 hour drive to Pantiacolla Lodge. This river trip on the Alto Madre de Dios river is a very relaxed way of observing herons, terns, vultures and overflying parrots. We arrive at Pantiacolla Lodge before midday so we have time to get a first impression of the rain-forest here.

Day 7- Pantiacolla Lodge

Pantiacolla Lodge has extensive patches of bamboo, where you can meet such specialities as Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Bamboo Antshrike, Manu Antbird and White-cheeked Tody-Tyrant. It has good primary forest, where are always less birds than in the secondary growth, but a lot more than you encounter on other comparable places. Pantiacolla is one of the best places to see a range of tinamous and antbirds, two typical rainforest families. Not only birds we encounter. Seven different species of monkeys live around the lodge including the only nocturnal monkey in the world (the Night Monkey) and many other mammals.

Day 8- to Oropendola Lodge

From Pantiacolla Lodge we go 3-4 hours by boat downstream the Alto Madre de Dios river. Near Boca Manu, when the Manu river comes in the Madre de Dios River we will see more and other birds along the river than on the first part: Jabiru, Horned Screamer, Pied Plover and more raptors for instance. Before arriving at the new lodge we visit - in some years- the nest of a Crested Eagle. In 2006 this impressive, rare eagle had a young. Possibly in 2009 there will be another change to visit this nest.

Day 9,10,11 - Amazon Manu Lodge (before Oropendola Lodge)

On short boat rides from the lodge we will visit the clay-lick for macaws at Blanquillo, the Antthrush-trail for the Rufous-fronted Antthrush and Cocha Blanco,that hosts Giant Ottersand possibly also Cocha Camungo that has a canopy tower. There will be a lot of new bird species compared with the lodges (situated in the foothills) we did before. For instance Great Black Hawk, Common Piping-Guan, Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Black-capped Parakeet, Amazonian Pygmy-Owl, Rufous Motmot, Pavonine Quetzal, Long-tailed Woodcreeper, Chestnut-winged Foliagegleaner, Plain Softtail, Fasciated Antshrike and Plumbeous Antbird are easier to see here. Also the trails at Amazon Manu Lodge are worthwhile to explore. It´s the nearly the only place where we can see festive Coquette, Long-crested Pygmy-Tyrant and Red-billed Pied-Tanager.

Day 12- to Puerto Maldonado

We go further downstream to Laberinto, arriving there around 3 p.m. From there it is a short drive to Puerto Maldonado, where we spend the night in a hotel. In some years we change the program. That will happen if the Harpy Eagle should breed. That was the case in 2006, so we expect another possibility in 2009.

Day 13- flight to Cusco or Lima

A morning flight will bring you in 0.5 hour to Cusco or from there inmediately to Lima ( 1 hour more). THE FLIGHT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TOUR PRICE (to Lima $ 110 P.P.)

Price Information

Booking Form

Price p.p. in US dollars	Manu Complete- 13 days
Number of pax	2	3	4-7
Bird guide included	3530	2710	2300

Manu Wildlife Center is per night per person $ 35 more expensive

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Manu till Pantiacolla ( 9 days)

Day 1- Huacarpay-(Pillahuata)-San Pedro

After an early start from Cusco we take time at Lake Huacarpay to observe highland lake and marsh birds like Plumbeous Rail and White-tufted Grebe and we will search for the two endemics (Bearded Mountaineer and Rusty-fronted Canastero). .Afterwards we drive in two hours to the folkloric village of Paucartambo. Above this village we will make a stop for Creamy-crested Spinetail and White-winged Black-Tyrant. Early in the afternoon we arrive at the Acjanaco pass at 3550 where the Manu Bioshere Reserve begins.

Day 2,3 - San Pedro

A whole day birding near the lodge between 2000 and 1400 m.a.s.l. The subtropical area approachs the highest possible avian diversity: mixed tanager-flocks of more than 20 species, a lot of different flycatchers, but also Rufescent Screech-owl, Highland Motmot, the stunning Versicoloured Barbet, Cock-of-the-Rock, Chestnut-backed Antbird, Yungas Manakin and many other birds are possible. Regular we encounter Solitary Eagle and/or Black-and-Chestnut Eagle. At dusk we will go to a stakeout for Lyre-tailed Nightjar.

Day 4- Lower Manu Road and Amazonia Lodge

Day 5- to Pantiacolla Lodge

After the morning birding we go back to the river, where the boat picks us up for a 2 hour drive to Pantiacolla Lodge. This river trip on the Alto Madre de Dios river is a very relaxed way of observing herons, terns, vultures and overflying parrots. Arriving at Pantiacolla Lodge early in the afternoon we have time to get a first impression of the rain-forest here.

Day 6,7- stay at Pantiacolla Lodge

Pantiacolla Lodge is not as famous as some other lodges in the area, but for bird watchers possibly the best of all. It has extensive patches of bamboo, where you can meet such specialities as Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Bamboo Antshrike, Manu Antbird and White-cheeked Tody-Tyrant. It has good primary forest, where are always less birds than in the secondary growth, but a lot more than you encounter on other comparable places. Pantiacolla is one of the best places to see a range of tinamous and antbirds, two typical rainforest families. Not only birds we encounter. Seven different species of monkeys live around the lodge including the only nocturnal monkey in the world (the Night Monkey) and many other mammals.

Day 8- to the Cock-lodge

We will leave Pantiacolla lodge early in order to visit the nearby small claylick on our way back to Atalaya. Except Mealy Parrots, Blue-headed Parrots and White-eyed parakeets also the rare Blue-headed Macaw often comes to this claylick. By boat it is 3-4 hours back because we go now upstream the Alto Madre de Dios. The car brings us to the Cock-of-the-Rock lodge. This lodge is in the same area as Posada San Pedro where we stayed the first nights. But as an extra it has a nice garden and a trail, that we will visit in the afternoon or early tomorrow.

Day 9- back to Cusco

After leaving the lodge we will bird the Manu Road at the altitude between 2800 and 2000 m.a.s.l. Some of the target birds on this altitude are Hooded Tinamou, Golden-headed Quetzal, Blue-banded Toucanet, Masked Trogon, Red-and-white - and Rufous - Antpittas, Marcapata Spinetail and Fulvous Wren. Around midday we drive back to Cusco. .

Price Information

Booking Form

Price p.p. in US dollars	till Pantiacolla L. - 9 days
Number of pax	2	3	4-7
+ bird guide	2100	1600	1350

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into the reserved zone of Manu (12 days)

This route is an extension of the Manu tour till Pantiacolla Lodge. Going to the reserved part of the Manu Biosphere Reserve gives you better possibilities to see giant otter, jaguar, capybara and caiman and gives the opportunity to see more river- and lake birds. Another highlight will be the claylick where more than 100 Red-and-Green Macaws and other species of parrots will come to eat the clay. The extension is organised by Pantiacolla Tours, you will join a general nature tour with a maximum of 10 participants. The guide is a general nature guide, not a specialised bird guide.

Day 1- Huacarpay-(Pillahuata)-San Pedro

Day 2,3 - San Pedro

Day 4- Lower Manu Road and Amazonia Lodge

Day 4- to Pantiacolla Lodge

Day 5,6- stay at Pantiacolla Lodge

Day 7- to the reserved part of Manu

Around 11 a.m. a boat of Pantiacolla Tours with a general guide of them picks you up from the lodge. In a motorized canoe you follow the turbulant Alto Madre de Dios River to Boca Manu, the point where this river meets the Manu River. At night fall you camp on one of the beaches.

Day 8, 9- Lake Salvador and Lake Otorongo

On the morning of the day 8 you turn up the Manu River. From this vantage point you will have great views of riverside birds, birds of prey, sunbathing caiman, and that enormous aquatic guinea pig, the capybara. You reach the campsite deep inside Manu in the afternoon. This is the base for the next two days. During this time, you hike through virgin forest and explore one of the most beautiful lakes in the Manu basin, Lake Salvador, by catamaran. Here are found a huge variety of waterfowl and a family of giant otters. A five hour hike through the forest takes you to Lake Otorongo and a 20 metre-high observation platform that overlooks the lake. At night you can explore the forest by torchlight or go moonlight caiman spotting on the lake.

Day 10- to Blanquillo

A whole day is spent on the boat back to Boca Manu and further downstream the Madre de Dios River to Blanquillo, where you camp on the beach.

Day 11- the Macaw Lick

At first light you head to the macaw lick to watch the dazzling spectacle of hundreds of parakeets, parrots and macaws eating clay. In the afternoon you turn back up the Madre de Dios River, making camp close to the airstrip of Boca Manu.

Day 12- fly out to Cusco

A short boat ride takes you to Boca Manu airport and your return flight over the rainforest and the Andes to Cusco by light aircraft.

Price Information

Booking Form

Price p.p. in US dollars	into Reserved Zone- 12 days
Number of pax	2	3	4-7
Bird guide included	2730	2320	2100

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Manu Road ( 5 days)

Day 1- Cusco- Huacarpay-Pillahuata

Overnight on the floor of a building on matrasses and with sleeping bag.

Day 2,3 - San Pedro

Day 4- Lower Manu Road, Pilcopata

Day 5- back to Cusco

After the early morning birding we go back to Cusco

Price Information (prices vary depending the level of lodgement)

Booking Form

Price p.p. in US dollars	Manu Road - 5 days
Number of pax	2	3	4-7
without bird guide	650-830	500-680	430-610

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	TANAGER TOURS
	La Estrella F-9
	J.L. Bustamante y Rivero
	Trujillo - Perú
	Phone:	+51 44 423752
	e-mail:	info@tanagertours.com

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