Manu Biosphere Reserve Photography Tour, Peru Andes to Amazon

Arrive in Lima and take a private 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. Settle in at the Lima Airport Hotel (TBD) in Miraflores, a convenient base near the waterfront to rest after the journey before continuing onward.

A flight from Lima brings you to Cusco, the old Inca capital, where an overnight hotel serves as the base before the early drive south. The route then heads to Huacarpay Lake, birding its highland wetlands with attention to water, reedbed and open-shore habitats. Lunch is included in the package. The return drive to Cusco follows a different route through the high Andes, adding variety to the late-afternoon journey.

A private 4x4 climbs from Cusco over the Ajcanacu pass and descends the eastern Andean slope toward Wayquecha Biological Station at 2800 m. Stops in inter-montane valleys, where Quechua herders tend livestock, target Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch, Andean Hillstar and Creamy-crested Spinetail. At the final pass, views stretch over the Amazon basin, with Scribble-tailed and Line-fronted Canasteros possible. Afternoon birding follows the upper eastern slopes into continuous forest, seeking mixed flocks, Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan and Collared Jay. After dark, a Swallow-tailed Nightjar search closes the day.

From the tree line down through the humid forest, a flexible day at Wayquecha targets whichever species are still missing. Morning birding may reveal the noisy Mustached Flowerpiercer, Tit-like Dacnis, Golden-collared Tanager and Puna Thistletail. As conditions warm, the route descends into the forest, tracking mixed feeding flocks that could include 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. Wayqecha Cloud Forest Biological Station, in Paucartambo, provides the setting, with breakfast included in the package.

Descending a quiet cloud forest road from 2800 m to 1300 m, the day unfolds through pristine habitat alive with birdlife. Hummingbirds such as Collared Inca and Violet-throated Starfrontlet join Crimson-mantled Woodpeckers, the endemic Marcapata Spinetail, White-throated Antpitta, Barred Fruiteater and mixed tanagers. Breakfast is included before the birding descent. The route continues to Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge, a premier Peru birdwatching sanctuary set amid misty Manu cloud forest biodiversity, where the national bird may be observed.

An early, respectful observation session at the Cock-of-the-Rock lek offers one of the tour's signature wildlife encounters. Trails and grounds behind Cock of the Rock Lodge then open the cloud forest understory to Chestnut-breasted Wren, Scaled Antpitta, Rufous-breasted and Short-tailed Antthrushes, and Slaty Gnateater, with roughly 80 orchid species recorded nearby. A dining area and lounge overlook feeders visited by Brown Capuchin Monkeys and Tayras, while hummingbird feeders beside the dining room sometimes attract Buff-tailed Sicklebill. Candlelight and a small generator for charging batteries complete the stay.

Birding in the 1500 m cloud forest zone around Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge brings chances for White-rumped Hawk, Solitary Eagle, Crested and Golden-headed Quetzals, Masked Trogon, Amazonian Umbrellabird, the endemic Inca Flycatcher and Peruvian Piedtail, plus many tanagers, antwrens and woodcreepers. After dark, night birding near the lodge may reveal Lyre-tailed Nightjar and Andean Potoo. This premier birdwatching sanctuary in Peru's Manu cloud forest places the national bird amid misty, biodiverse surroundings.

Leaving the San Pedro cloud forest, the route descends slowly through upper tropical forest toward Amazonia Lodge at 500 m, focusing on the bird-rich zone between 1500 m and 800 m. This untouched stretch, spared the cash-crop clearing seen elsewhere on Andean slopes, offers species such as Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail, Peruvian Piedtail, Long-tailed Sylph, Versicolored Barbet and Golden-collared Honeycreeper. A birding boat transfer from Atalaya along the Alto Madre de Dios continues the experience before arriving at Amazonia Lodge, a renowned rainforest birdwatching destination near Puerto Maldonado.

Based at the family-run Amazonia Lodge in the transitional zone where Andean foothills meet the lowland Amazon Basin, birding unfolds across lodge grounds, a hill canopy tower, and floodplain and hill forest. Butterfly bushes attract hummingbirds including Rufous-crested Coquette and Wire-crested Thorntail. A packed picnic lunch accompanies birding along the Atalaya-Pilcopata Road, working roadside forest edges for species such as Hoatzin, Military and Blue-headed Macaws, Amazonian and Thrush-like Antpittas, and Band-tailed Manakins.

At Amazonia Lodge, a family-run base in Puerto Maldonado's Madre de Dios Region, birding unfolds across the grounds, a canopy tower and surrounding floodplain and hill forest. Butterfly bushes attract hummingbirds including Rufous-crested Coquette, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Blue-tailed Emerald, Black-eared Fairy and Wire-crested Thorntail, while the tower offers access to foothill canopy flocks. Night birding targets Mottled Owl, Black-banded Owl, Tawny-bellied Screech-owl, and Great, Long-tailed and Common Potoos within this rainforest sanctuary.

Birding near Amazonia Lodge offers another chance at species that may have been missed before departing the foothills. A motorized canoe then travels down the Alto Madre de Dios toward Bonanza Eco-Lodge, leaving the last foothills behind and entering the Amazon proper, with riverside birds and raptors possible along the way. Bonanza Eco-Lodge, a simple family-run base on the Alto Madre de Dios with basic bungalows and hot water, serves as the setting for four nights of forest and river birding around Bonanza.

A simple, family-run base on the Alto Madre de Dios, Bonanza Eco-Lodge offers basic bungalows with hot water for four nights of forest and river birding. Its extensive trail system reaches large bamboo stands plus varzea, terra firme and transitional floodplain forest, an area said to hold more forest types than anywhere else in the Manu region. More than 450 bird species are thought present, and because birding visits have been few, birds are described as everywhere and somewhat tame. Targets include Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo and Peruvian Recurvebill, alongside monkeys and other mammals.

Birding from the Bonanza Canopy Tower, reached by a stairway, focuses on canopy flocks such as Curl-crested Aracari, White-throated and Channel-billed Toucans, Plum-throated Cotinga, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, several woodpeckers, Lemon-throated Barbet and Striolated Puffbird, plus another chance to watch birds of prey. Nearby, the Bonanza Tapir Lick offers a patient stakeout for the Lowland Tapir, a large and elusive animal. Bonanza Eco-Lodge, a simple family-run base on the Alto Madre de Dios with basic bungalows and hot water, supports four nights of forest and river birding.

A family-run eco-lodge on the Alto Madre de Dios serves as base for exploring Bonanza's extensive trail network, where bamboo stands mix with varzea, terra firme and transitional floodplain forest. This little-visited birding site is said to hold more forest types than anywhere else in the Manu area, with over 450 bird species possible, including rare targets such as Rufous-vented Ground-Cuckoo and Peruvian Recurvebill, alongside monkeys and other mammals. A stairway leads to a canopy tower for observing flocks and birds of prey, with toucans, aracaris, cotingas, woodpeckers, barbets and puffbirds among the highlights.

Travel by boat from Bonanza Eco-Lodge to Manu Wildlife Center, heading upriver in the direction of the Blanquillo clay lick. This premier Amazonian sanctuary near Puerto Maldonado sits within one of the most biodiverse regions on the planet, offering immersive wildlife encounters with macaws and tapirs. The journey and the destination together frame a day focused on reaching this renowned reserve and settling into its rainforest surroundings.

Start at the Blanquillo Macaw Clay Lick, waiting quietly from the blind as parrots and macaws weigh their approach to the clay bank. Birding continues along the Manu Wildlife Center trail systems, where bamboo specialists such as Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Manu Antbird, Peruvian Recurvebill and Rufous-fronted Antthrush are sought. A spiral metal stairway climbs to the canopy tower for flocks of tanagers, dacnis, honeycreepers and species like Lineated Woodcreeper. This premier Amazonian sanctuary near Puerto Maldonado promises immersive wildlife encounters.

Birding around the oxbow lakes at Manu Wildlife Center targets Hoatzin, Sungrebe, Agami Heron, Black-billed Seed-finch, Silvered and Band-tailed Antbirds, Amazonian Streaked Antwren, Rufous-sided and Gray-breasted Crakes, with possible sightings of Giant Otter families. Night birding may reveal Long-tailed, Great and Common Potoos, Amazonian Pygmy Owl, Spectacled Owl, Ocellated Poorwill and Silky-tailed Nightjar. At the forest's large mammal lick, Tapirs and Peccaries are drawn in, perhaps even Jaguar, alongside Guans, Curassows, Chachalacas, Rose-fronted and Rock Parakeets and Dusky-billed Parrotlets. This premier Amazonian sanctuary near Puerto Maldonado offers immersive wildlife encounters.

Extensive trail networks at Manu Wildlife Center explore varied forest types, with bamboo birding targeting Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Manu Antbird, Peruvian Recurvebill and Rufous-fronted Antthrushes. A spiral metal stairway climbs to the canopy tower, where flocks may include Lineated Woodcreeper, Sclater's Antwren, Chestnut-winged Hookbill and Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak alongside tanagers, dacnis and honeycreepers. After dark, night birding could 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 promises immersive wildlife encounters.

A comfortable boat journey follows the Madre de Dios away from Manu Wildlife Center, passing pristine forest toward the frontier town of Boca Colorado, where riverside birds and raptors may be seen. From Boca Colorado, local transport covers roughly an hour to the Inambari River, where a private vehicle waits on the far bank. That private transfer continues into Puerto Maldonado, with birding stops along the way, ending at a comfortable hotel that serves as an overnight base before morning birding along the Cusco road and the flight to Lima.

An early session around Puerto Maldonado and along the Cusco road targets seedeaters, Red-breasted Blackbird, White-tailed Kite, 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. A morning flight from Puerto Maldonado to Lima follows, connecting to international departures with flyover views of the Amazon and Andes. A Lima airport hotel is planned, to be determined.