Historically, the most visited circuit in Peru has been centered around the old capital of the Inca empire, Cuzco. Indeed, this region benefits from the many well preserved remnants of the Inca civilization and the well developed touristic infrastructures (better than anywhere else in the remaining of the country). The sites around the Sacred valley and the mythical city of Machu Picchu have benefited from this ease of access and contributed to make Peru a prime destination of Neotropical birding. We offer you to discover the fabulous altitudinal gradient along the mythical Manu road, from the high altitude pass of Tres Cruces to the suffocating heat of the amazonian lowlands along the Rio Madre de Dios. For those interested two short extensions to the main itinerary are proposed to observe the endemics of the Apurimac valley and the city of Machu Picchu.

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Extension - Apurimac endemics

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Days 1-2. The trip will start in Lima. Immediately, we will be on our way to Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Inca empire. From there, we will drive to Abancay, only a few hours to the south-west.

 

Days 3-4. We will intently look for the endemics that can be found in the Apurimac canyon and the famous Bosque de Ampay, near the andean town of Abancay. We will then return to Cuzco for the start of the main itinerary.
 

At the end of the pre-extension, so as to avoid an unnecessary waiting time for the main itinerary to take place, day 4 of the Apurimac endemics pre-extension actually corresponds to the day 1 of the main itinerary The Manu  Road.

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Main Itinerary - The Manu Road

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Days 1-2. The trip will start in Lima. Immediately, we will be on our way to Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Inca empire. Our circuit will start by exploring the arid andean slopes covered in xerophytic bush of the surroundings. After a visit to the Huacarpay lake, we will head to the Acjanacu pass, more than 3000m a.s.l. It is in this perpetually humid and misty environment dotted with elfin forest patches, that we will start our descent  of the mythical Manu road.

 

Days 3-4. After a thorough exploration of the upper parts of the road around the Wayquecha lodge and the vast tracts of temperate forest, we will dive in the heart of the Manu Biosphere Reserve to discover the luxuriant subtropical zone.

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Jours 5-6. Our base to explore this alitudinal zone will be the world famous Cock-of-the-rock lodge where we will have ample opportunities to see the magnificent cotingid that gave it its name. After an exploration of the forests around the lodge, we will keep our descent to investigate the foothills and the secondary forests around Pilcopata and Atalaya.

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Days 7-8. We will then use a motorized pirogue for a short cross of the Rio Alto Madre de Dios to our first taste of Amazonian birding in the magnificent lodge: Amazonia lodge. This lodge hosts one of the most diversified avifauna on earth, owing to its location at the interface between the foothills and the lowlands.

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Days 9-10-11-12-13. For a few days, we will finally reach the heart of the most biodiverse place on earth. It will be a maelstrom of wildlife from the comfort of the word renowned Manu Wildlife Center. Our stay in this lodge, with a bird list nearing the 600 should be a landmark in your birding life.

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Days 14-15-16-17. After a short stop in the pioneer amazonian town of Puerto Maldonado, we will fly back to Cuzco and reach the Sacred valley and more precisely the little town of Ollantaytambo, in order to discover a good many endemics and localized species haunting the deep tropical forests of the nearby cordilleras. From the Abra Malaga pass, we will go back finally to  Cuzco and then Lima for the end of the trip.

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At the end of the main itinerary, so as to avoid an unnecessary waiting time for the next extension to take place, day 16 of The Manu  Road trip actually corresponds to the day 1 of the extension Machu Picchu.

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Extension - Machu Picchu

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Days 1-2-3-4. Our stay will end up on a high point, with a visit to the fabulous and mysterious Machu Picchu and the birds that live around.