Manu Road Birding Cusco 16 days
Discover the Ultimate Manu Road Birding Tours & Lowland Lodges
Manu Road Birding Cusco , combined with the Manu Lowland lodges, offers one of the most extraordinary birdwatching experiences on the planet. With unparalleled biodiversity and a variety of ecosystems, this route is a must for passionate birders and wildlife enthusiasts alike. Manu Rainforest .
Manu Road Birding Cusco
This birding tour includes a visit to the Chonta Mirador, where Andean Condors are frequently seen soaring over the canyon. We will also explore the Soraypampa area, home to several unique and rare bird species found only in Cusco and Apurímac. The journey continues to Abra Málaga, a hotspot for endemic species, followed by visits to two beautiful bird gardens located along the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
From there, we will travel into the cloud forest of Manu National Park, eventually descending into the lowlands of the UNESCO-designated Manu Biosphere Reserve. Here, we will visit a Tapir Clay Lick and observe the spectacular Red-and-Green Macaw Clay Lick—an unforgettable wildlife experience.
Cusco – Chonta – Apurímac – Abra Málaga – Manu Biosphere Reserve**
Manu Road Birding Cusco 16 days
Birding Areas
This tour covers a diverse range of ecosystems across southern Peru, including:
- Mirador de Chonta
- Soraypampa
- Abra Málaga
- Incan Sacred Valley
Manu Cloud Forest Road
- High Jungle of Manu Park
- Lowlands of Manu Park
Bird Species
- The species listed in the tour itinerary are referential and highlight the most iconic and sought-after birds of the region. Not all possible sightings are included.
- Endemic species are marked with *** in the itinerary.
Climate
- Expect varying and unpredictable weather conditions:
- Mornings & Afternoons: Humid, cold, and often foggy
Midday: Can be very hot
General: Sudden changes, occasional cold fronts, and frequent rain
Recommended: Rain ponchos, umbrellas, and layered clothing.
Difficulty
- Easy.
Walks are generally gentle, though the itinerary includes long drives and early starts.
Tour Price
- Complete pricing information appears in the section below.
Group Size
- Tour departure requires a minimum of 2 participants.
Accommodations
Hotel and lodge accommodations are included only during the tour.
Guests must arrange their own accommodations in Cusco prior to and/or after the tour.
If you need help selecting or booking a hotel, we are happy to assist.
Gear Used
- Professional spotting scopes
- High-quality binoculars
Day 1: Cusco – Chonta – Limatambo – Mollepata
Our main destination before reaching Mollepata is the Mirador de Chonta, one of the best places to observe Andean Condors in flight. Along the road we will make strategic birding stops where we commonly observe species such as:
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Puna Ibis, Spot-winged Pigeon, Andean Flicker, Bare-faced Ground Dove, Peruvian Sierra Finch, Ash-breasted Sierra Finch, Band-tailed Sierra Finch, as well as White-bellied Hummingbird, Black-backed Grosbeak, Golden-billed Saltator, and Eared Dove.
In the afternoon we continue toward Mollepata, an excellent area for Andean endemics including:
Chestnut-breasted Mountain Finch, Rusty-fronted Canastero, Koepcke’s Screech-Owl, Aplomado Falcon, Rust-and-yellow Tanager, Cinereous Conebill, Buff-fronted Owl, and Black-throated Flowerpiercer.
Overnight in Mollepata.
Day 2: Mollepata – Soraypampa – Ollantaytambo
After breakfast we drive toward Soraypampa, birding along the road. This route provides excellent chances for Apurímac endemics:
Creamy-crested Spinetail, Apurímac Spinetail, Apurímac Brush-Finch, White-tufted Sunbeam, and Vilcabamba Thistletail.
Other species include: Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Purple-backed Thornbill, Tawny-rumped Tyrannulet, White-banded Tyrannulet, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Bar-bellied Woodpecker, D’Orbigny’s Chat-Tyrant, Red-crested Cotinga, Creamy-winged Cinclodes, Tit-like Dacnis, Andean Condor, Mountain Caracara, Variable Hawk, and more.
In the afternoon we return toward Cusco and continue to the Sacred Valley, overnighting in Ollantaytambo.
Day 3: Manu Road Birding Cusco – Ollantaytambo – Abra Málaga – Cloud Forest – Ipal Lodge .
Early departure toward Abra Málaga, an important hotspot for high-Andes and cloud-forest endemics. We will search for:
Inca Wren, Marcapata Spinetail, Cusco Brush-Finch, Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant, and Puna Thistletail, as well as Parodi’s Hemispingus and mixed-species flocks typical of the area.
Overnight at Ipal Lodge.
Day 4: Ipal Lodge – Abra Málaga – Ipal Lodge .
We begin birding at 4,316 masl within high-elevation Polylepis forest, home to highly specialized endemics:
White-browed Tit-Spinetail, Royal Cinclodes, Creamy-crested Spinetail, White-tufted Sunbeam, Chestnut-breasted Mountain Finch, Puna Tapaculo, Andean Hillstar, Giant Conebill, Stripe-headed Antpitta, and more.
Return to Ipal Lodge for the night. wildlife tour
Day 5: Ipal Lodge – All Day .
Today we visit a lek of the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola peruvianus). Along the road and trails we may also observe Green Jay, Swallow-tailed Hummingbird, Red-crested Finch, Masked Trogon, and other foothill species.
Overnight at Ipal Lodge.
Day 6: Ipal Lodge – Abra Málaga – Ollantaytambo .
After breakfast we bird the road linking the lodge back to Ollantaytambo, scanning for species missed previously.
Overnight in Ollantaytambo.
Day 7: Ollantaytambo – Ensifera Garden – Sacred Valley – Wayqecha Biological Station .
We visit Ensifera Bird Garden, famous for the Sword-billed Hummingbird and Great Sapphirewing, followed by another garden where we can observe the stunning endemic Bearded Mountaineer.
Afterward we drive about 3.5 hours to the entrance of Manu National Park, arriving at Wayqecha Biological Station.
Overnight at Wayqecha.
Day 8: Manu Road Birding Cusco to Wayqecha – Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge .
While descending through montane forest toward lower elevations, we will search for:
Golden-collared and Grass-green Tanagers, Scaled Metaltail, Mountain Cacique, White-collared Jay, Barred Parakeet, Barred Fruiteater, Band-tailed Fruiteater, Marcapata Spinetail, Red-and-white Antpitta, Blue-banded Toucanet, Hooded Mountain Tanager, Black-and-Chestnut Eagle, Black Solitary Eagle, White-throated Antpitta, Slaty Tanager, Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrant, Fulvous Wren, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Crested and Golden-headed Quetzals, Black-streaked Puffbird, Yellow-throated and Buff-breasted Mountain Tanagers, Superciliary Hemispingus, and more.
Night search for Rufous-bellied Nighthawk.
Overnight at Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge.
Day 9: Manu Road Birding Cusco to Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge – All Day .
At dawn we visit the lek of the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, witnessing males displaying. Other species include:
White-crowned Tapaculo, Yungas Manakin, Crested Quetzal, Versicolored Barbet, Orange-eared Tanager, Highland Motmot, and more.
After breakfast we explore local trails for:
Slaty Gnateater, Chestnut-breasted Wren, Cinnamon-faced Tyrannulet, Spotted Nightingale-Thrush, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Tyrannine Woodcreeper, Masked Trogon, Crimson-bellied Woodpecker, Black-streaked Puffbird, Paradise Tanager, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Golden Tanager, Brown Tinamou, and others.
Around the lodge we expect up to 13 hummingbird species, including:
Booted Racket-tail, Wire-crested Thorntail, Green Hermit, Buff-tailed Sicklebill, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Violet-fronted Brilliant, White-bellied Woodstar, Peruvian Piedtail, Long-tailed Sylph, Wedge-billed Hummingbird, Speckled Hummingbird, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, and Sparkling Violetear.
Late afternoon walk for Lyre-tailed Nightjar (Uropsalis lyra) and Rufescent Screech-Owl.
Overnight at Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge.
Day 10: Manu Road Birding Cusco and Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge – Manu Lodge .
Today we travel deeper into the rainforest. En route we may observe:
Ornate Flycatcher, Lanceolated Monklet, Peruvian Piedtail, Black-backed Tody-Flycatcher, Black-faced Tanager, Blue-headed and Chestnut-fronted Macaws, Fiery-capped Manakin, White-eyed Parakeet, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Orange-eared and Golden Tanagers, Black Solitary Eagle, and more.
Around Manu Lodge we can find numerous hummingbirds such as:
Rufous-crested Coquette, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Koepcke’s Hermit, Amethyst Woodstar, Rufous-webbed Brilliant, and Gould’s Jewelfront.
Forest trails may reveal:
Amazonian Antpitta, Great Tinamou, Spot-backed Antbird, Hoatzin, Sungrebe, Chestnut-capped Puffbird, and more. After dinner we search for Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl, Long-tailed Potoo, Black-banded Owl, Great Potoo, and Band-bellied Owl.
Overnight at Manu Lodge.
Day 11:Manu Road Birding Cusco Manu Lodge – All Day .
Morning birding from canopy towers and trails for:
Plum-throated Cotinga, Spangled Cotinga, Opal-rumped Tanager, Turquoise Tanager, Round-tailed Manakin, Striolated Puffbird, Half-collared Gnatwren, Tawny-throated Leaftosser, Razor-billed Curassow, Military Macaw, and others.
Afternoon hike targeting:
Scarlet-hooded and Lemon-throated Barbets, Buff-throated Woodcreeper, Red-billed Tyrannulet, Fine-barred and Rufous-breasted Piculets, Double-toothed Kite, Undulated Tinamou, Plain-brown Woodcreeper, Blue-crowned Trogon, Red-throated Caracara, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Black-capped and Cinereous Tinamous, Bluish-fronted Jacamar, Pygmy Antwren, Goeldi’s Antbird, and more.
Overnight at Manu Lodge.
Day 12: Manu Lodge – Hot Springs – Tapir Clay Lick .
By boat we navigate the Alto Madre de Dios River, stopping at Manu Hot Springs to relax before continuing to our lodge. In the evening we hike to the Tapir Clay Lick, where we spend the night in the hide.
Day 13: Manu Road Birding Cusco Tapir Clay Lick – Tapir Lodge .
We continue downriver, scanning for Herons, Egrets, Orinoco Geese, Terns, Skimmers, Black and White Caimans, Side-necked Turtles, Sand-colored Nightjars, and possibly Jaguar along the riverbanks.
Night walk optional.
Overnight at Tapir Lodge.
Day 14: Manu Road Birding Cusco Tapir Lodge – Macaw Clay Lick – Cocha Blanco – Tapir Lodge .
At dawn we visit the largest Macaw Clay Lick in Manu, where hundreds of parrots and 80–100 macaws gather in a spectacular eruption of color and sound.
Later we visit Cocha Blanco, an oxbow lake known for its Giant Otters.
Overnight at Tapir Lodge.
Day 15: Tapir Lodge – All Day -Manu Road Birding Cusco
We explore the rich diversity of forest types—varzea, tierra firme, transitional floodplain—giving this area one of the highest bird diversities on Earth (over 567 species recorded).
Special targets include: Rufous-fronted Antthrush, Bartlett’s Tinamou, Razor-billed Curassow, Pale-winged Trumpeter, Sunbittern, Pavonine Quetzal, Purus Jacamar, Striolated Puffbird, Gray-cheeked Nunlet, Cream-colored Woodpecker, Ocellated Woodcreeper, Collared Puffbird, Ruddy Spinetail, Plain Softtail, Striped Woodhaunter, Sclater’s Antwren, Banded Antbird, Ash-throated Gnateater, White-throated Antbird, Black-spotted Bare-eye, Black-faced Cotinga, Musician Wren, Pale-eyed Blackbird, Yellow-shouldered Grosbeak, and more.
Night birding may produce: Long-tailed, Great, and Common Potoos; Amazonian Pygmy-Owl; Spectacled Owl; Ocellated Poorwill; Silky-tailed Nightjar.
Optional: second visit to the Mammal Clay Lick.
Overnight at Tapir Lodge.
Day 16: Tapir Lodge – Atalaya – Manu Road Birding Cusco
We return by boat to Atalaya Port, then continue by vehicle back to Cusco, arriving around 8:00 pm.
Manu Road isn’t just for bird lovers—it also offers the best mammal sightings in Peru. With a bit of luck and patience, you may encounter:
10 species of primates, including Red Howler Monkeys and Emperor Tamarins
- Tapirs foraging in the forest
- Giant Otters swimming in the oxbow lakes
- Exclusive Wildlife Experiences
Recently, new hummingbird feeders have been installed between Pilcopata and Atalaya, enhancing opportunities to
view these energetic creatures up close. Additionally, a Harpy Eagle nest has been discovered along the lower Manu
Road. Contact us to confirm whether the nest is active—a once-in-a-lifetime sighting. Birding Peru
A Photographer’s Paradise
From mist-covered cloud forests to lush lowland jungles, every leg of the Manu Road journey offers stunning
photographic opportunities. Capture intimate portraits of rare wildlife, sweeping landscapes, and unique cultural
encounters as you immerse yourself in this biodiversity hotspot.
