Explore Wilpattu, the largest national park in Sri Lanka before heading to the east coast and the stunning beaches close to Trinconmalee.
Ecuador & Peru
Galapagos Islands & Machu Picchu
21 Days
A classic combination for wildlife lovers
This holiday can be re-designed and tailor-made for your own unique experience
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Antpittas, tanagers, condor, parrots, macaws & cock-of-the-rock |
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Bird watching from the high Andes to the low Amazon rainforest |
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Some of the world's most diverse bird watching on one route |
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Colonial Cusco |
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Bird watching walks |
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Boat excursions |
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Canopy tower |
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Depart UK, arrive Lima |
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Fly to Cusco, explore the city & acclimatise |
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The Manu Road, birding Huarcarpay wetlands & to Wayquecha |
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To Cock-of-the Rock lodge |
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Bird watching in the cloudforest |
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Descend to Villa Carmen Biological Station |
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Birding to Amazonia Lodge, Atalaya |
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To Pantiacolla Lodge |
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Birding the trails from the lodge |
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Boat to Manu Wildlife Center |
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Nature activities & bird watching from Manu |
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Nature activities & bird watching from Manu |
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Boat down the Madre de Dios river to Los Amigos BS |
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By boat and road to Puerto Maldonado. Fly to Lima. |
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Depart Peru |
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Depart Sri Lanka, arrive back into UK. |
Birding this route with terrific local guides makes this one of the world's most memorable bird watching journeys. Manu in the heart of the Amazon rainforest and the cloudforests of the Andes above are full of diverse bird life with many endemic and rare species making this a bird watchers dream holiday.
Ascend over the high Andes reaching around 4,000m, as you leave the cultural centre of Cusco before descending through the cloudforests of the Andes where the male Cock-of-the-Rock puts on spectacular displays at a lek; to the Amazon rainforest and the very special area of Manu at around 500m above seal level, where well over 500 species have been recorded in the area.
A long day from Cusco will yield ducks and egrets, eagles and seed eaters as you enjoy your first bird watching at the wetlands of Huarcarpay before passing over the grasslands of high Andean passes that reach 3900m before plummeting into forests and gorges along the only road in this part of Peru that descends to tributaries of the mighty Amazon. With plenty of stops en route you will should see mountain finches, quetzals, motmots, numerous species of the ubiquitous tanagers, flycatchers including the Inca flycatcher and as evening draws in perhaps nightjars. After a night at Wayquecha Biological Station you will move on to stay at the aptly named Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge for 2 nights with a full day bird watching on the trails around the lodge and can enjoy visiting the lek.
A final morning here allows time for some more birding before you descend further to Amerindian villages and Amazonia Lodge which is great for hummingbirds. Another day brings you to Pantiacolla Lodge which has some very good trails. Rise early in the morning and you can hike around 8km and witness sunrise from the ridge above the lodge with views seemingly out over the whole of the Amazon.
A river trip down the Madre de Dios River is a delight as you bird from the river constantly scanning the banks and the sky. It will bring you to Manu Wildlife Centre. King vultures, skimmers and many other species can be seen en route. You will spend 3 nights here in the rainforest where macaws come to the trees around the cabins.
At Manu a highlight is an early morning bird watching at the collpa or clay-lick that sees macaws and many parrot species on their daily visit. Later you can explore the trails looking for enigmatic forest species such as antbirds, antwrens, antshrikes, foliage gleaners, tanagers, grossbeaks and barbets.
On the mammalian side of things, Manu Wildlife Center also has a lick frequented by tapir.
Finally you will enjoy your final bird watching of the holiday as you travel downstream by boat to Los Amigos Biological Station for a final night in the wilds. Travel by river and road to reach Puerto Maldonado from where you can fly to Lima and connect with your international flight with your head whirring from so many terrific bird watching encounters.
April - November
Highlight species
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Leopard |
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Sloth Bear |
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Elephant |
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Buffalo |
Key species
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Additional Details - Cost, Dates, Rating etc.
Cost from £
Please contact us for a cost for when you wish to travel.
Departure Dates
Fixed departure dates, please enquire.
Private departures based on 4 persons travelling
Difficulty
Generally easy birding although some rough and steep ground can be expected. Some long days in boats on the river.
Flights
No direct flights from the UK. International flights via European centres or hubs in the USA.
Time
GMT -5 hours
Visit Machu Picchu and surrounding cloudforest.
More Holiday Ideas
Tailor-made - Our wildlife holidays in Peru are unique to you
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