Hoatzin
ULTIMATE SOUTHERN PERU PHOTO TOUR
Sacred Valley, Abra Málaga, Manu National Park
20 days
Best season from April to November
DATES
Contact us to arrange your preferred travel dates.
OVERVIEW
Discover the diverse landscapes of southern Peru on this extensive photography tour through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, the high pass of Abra Málaga, and the famous Manu National Park.
During this adventure, you will have the opportunity to photograph a wide variety of birds, including endemic species, and other wildlife, while enjoying the stunning landscapes of the high Andes, cloud forests, and the Amazon rainforest. The famous “Manu Road” is considered one of the best routes in South America for bird and wildlife photography.
Our first destination will be the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where we will focus on photographing the endemic Bearded Mountaineer along with other hummingbirds and Andean bird species.
Next, we will visit Abra Málaga, an important mountain pass in the Cusco region, standing at an impressive 4,316 meters (14,160 feet) above sea level. This area is known for its breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and its endemic bird species, including Masked Fruiteater and Cuzco Brushfinch. As we descend, we will explore the cloud forest, photographing colorful birds such as Versicolored Barbet and Inca Jay, as well as a variety of hummingbirds and tanagers.
We will continue our journey along the slopes of the Andes into the cloud forests and Amazonian regions of the renowned Manu National Park. This UNESCO-protected park spans 1.5 million hectares and, with its diverse ecosystems, is home to an unprecedented variety of flora and fauna. Of the more than 1,900 bird species recorded in Peru, over 1,000 can be found within Manu National Park.
Along the Manu Road, we will visit several lodges and gardens with feeders and hides, offering excellent opportunities to photograph birds such as the magnificent King Vulture, various toucans and tanagers, and a wide variety of hummingbirds, including Rufous-crested Coquette, Butterfly Coquette, and Wire-crested Thorntail.
The tour finishes in the dense Amazon rainforest, which we will reach by boat, with chances to photograph lowland species such as Olive Oropendola, Horned Screamer, Peruvian Warbling-Antbird, Crested Owl, Golden-collared Toucanet, and many more.
We will visit oxbow lakes, where we will have opportunities to photograph various kingfishers, Sungrebe, Hoatzin, and the beautiful Agami Heron.
A visit to a macaw clay lick will allow us to witness large groups of Blue-and-yellow Macaws, Scarlet Macaws, and Red-and-green Macaws in front of our lenses, as well as various species of parrots feeding on the clay walls—an unforgettable spectacle.
We will also have good chances to see and photograph mammals, including different monkey species such as Weddell’s Saddle-back Tamarin, Goeldi’s Monkey, and the beautiful Emperor Tamarin. With a bit of luck, we may even encounter a family of Giant Otters.
There will also be fantastic opportunities for macro photography. The abundance of small life in all shapes and colors—such as reptiles, arachnids, frogs, moths, and butterflies, to name just a few—is unprecedented.
This ultimate photography tour brings together the very best of southern Peru, offering unforgettable encounters with an extraordinary diversity of birdlife and other wildlife.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival at Cusco airport, where we will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel in Pisac, in the Sacred Valley. Overnight in a comfortable hotel in Pisac.
Day 2: A full day of photography in several gardens in the Sacred Valley, including Sacred Garden, Santuario de Colibríes – Ensifera ensifera, and Birds Hotel El Molino. Overnight at Birds Hotel El Molino.
Day 3: Morning photography session at Birds Hotel El Molino, followed in the afternoon by a transfer to Abra Málaga with photo stops along the way. Overnight at Tunkiwasi Lodge.
Day 4: A full day of photography around Tunkiwasi Lodge and the nearby Inkatambo Garden. Overnight at Tunkiwasi Lodge.
Day 5: Morning photography session at Tunkiwasi Lodge, followed in the afternoon by a scenic transfer back to the Sacred Valley with photo stops along the way. Overnight at a comfortable hotel in Urubamba.
Day 6: Transfer to Manu National Park, with photo stops along the way. Overnight at Wayqecha Biological Station.
Day 7: A full day of photography around Wayqecha Biological Station, including a visit to Manu Bird Sanctuary with hummingbird feeders. Overnight at Wayqecha Biological Station.
Days 8–9: Two full days of photography around our lodge, with visits to Manu Tanager Garden for tanagers and hummingbirds, as well as to the spectacular Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek. Overnight at Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge.
Day 10: Transfer to Bamboo Manu EcoLodge, with photo stops along the way and a visit to the hummingbird feeders at Manu Endemic Station. Overnight at Bamboo Manu EcoLodge.
Days 11–12: Two full days of photography along the trails, at the lake, and at the feeders of Manu Biological Station, as well as visits to two locally run gardens — Mirador Pico de Hoz and Inka Amazonia — offering excellent opportunities to photograph hummingbirds and the spectacular King Vulture. Overnight at Manu Biological Station.
Day 13: Transfer by car to Atalaya, followed by a boat transfer to Hummingbird Lodge. Overnight at Hummingbird Lodge.
Days 14–15: Boat transfer to Casa Matsiguenka, where we will spend two full days exploring the surrounding trails and visiting the oxbow lake Cocha Salvador. Overnight at Casa Matsiguenka.
Day 16: Full-day boat transfer to Manu Birding Lodge, with photo stops along the way, arriving in the evening. Overnight at Manu Birding Lodge.
Day 17: A full day of photography around Manu Birding Lodge and its surroundings. Overnight at Manu Birding Lodge.
Days 18–19: Visits to the Macaw Clay Lick and a nearby oxbow lake. Overnight at Manu Birding Lodge.
Day 20: Boat transfer to Colorado, followed by a car transfer to Puerto Maldonado airport for your flight to Lima, marking the end of the tour.
KEY BIRD SPECIES
Endemic species: Chestnut-breasted Mountain Finch, Streak-crowned Mountain Tanager, Junin Canastero, White-browed Tit-Spinetail, Creamy-crested Spinetail, Marcapata Spinetail, Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant, Red-and-white Antpitta, Masked Fruiteater, Parodi’s Hemispingus, Inca Wren, Inca Flycatcher, Cuzco Brushfinch, Bearded Mountaineer, Green-and-white Hummingbird, White-tufted Sunbeam, Koepcke’s Hermit.
Other species: Leymebamba Antpitta, Golden-billed Saltator, Black-backed Grosbeak, Andean Guan, Blue-throated Piping-Guan, Speckled Chachalaca, Black-faced Brushfinch, White-collared Jay, Inca Jay, Masked Flowerpiercer, Moustached Flowerpiercer, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Blue-banded Toucanet, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Golden-headed Quetzal, Crested Quetzal, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Pearled Treerunner, Barred Fruiteater, Barred Becard, Masked Trogon, Blue-crowned Trogon, Black-tailed Trogon, Dusky-green Oropendola, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Golden-bellied Euphonia, Blue Dacnis, Golden-collared Honeycreeper, Purple Honeycreeper, Red-capped Cardinal, Versicolored Barbet, Lemon-throated Barbet, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Bluish-fronted Jacamar, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Harpy Eagle, King Vulture, Greater Yellow-headed Vulture, Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Scissor-tailed Nightjar, Silky-tailed Nightjar, Yungas Pygmy-Owl, Spectacled Owl, Tawny-bellied Screech-Owl, Black-banded Owl, Amazonian Pygmy-Owl, Spectacled Owl, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Bluish-fronted Jacamar, Hoatzin, Horned Screamer, Razor-billed Curassow, Green-and-rufous Kingfisher, Capped Heron, Agami Heron, Pied Plover, Orinoco Goose, Black Skimmer, Blue-Headed Macaw, Military Macaw, Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Scarlet Macaw, Red-and-green Macaw, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Mealy Parrot, Blue-headed Parrot, Orange-cheeked Parrot, Rose-fronted Parakeet, Andean Parakeet.
Hooded Mountain-tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-tanager, Grass-green Tanager, Golden-collared Tanager, Beryl-spangled Tanager, Paradise Tanager, Golden Tanager, Golden-eared Tanager, Orange-eared Tanager, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Turquoise Tanager, Green-and-gold Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager.
Brown Violetear, Lesser Violetear,Sparkling Violetear, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Green-tailed Trainbearer, Giant Hummingbird, White-bellied Hummingbird, Shining Sunbeam, Tyrian Metaltail, White-bellied Woodstar, Amethyst Woodstar, Long-tailed Sylph, Speckled Hummingbird, Bronzy Inca, Gould’s Inca, Gould’s Jewelfront, Violet-throated Starfrontlet, Mountain Velvetbreast, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Great Sapphirewing, Fawn-breasted Brilliant, Violet-fronted Brilliant, Long-billed Starthroat, Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Buff-thighed Puffleg, Rufous-booted Racket-tail, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Gray-breasted Sabrewing, Pale-tailed Barbthroat, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Black-throated Mango, Green Hermit, Rufous-breasted Hermit, White-bearded Hermit, Great-billed Hermit, Reddish Hermit, White-browed Hermit, Buff-tailed Sicklebill, Peruvian Piedtail, Rufous-capped Thornbill, Wire-crested Thorntail, Butterfly Coquette, Rufous-crested Coquette, White-necked Jacobin, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Blue-tailed Emerald.
Mammals:
Jaguar, Lowland Tapir, Spectacled Bear, Tayra, Capybara, Eastern Lowland (Allen’s) Olingo, Giant Otter, Three-toed Sloth, Humboldt’s Woolly Monkey, Large-headed Capuchin, Black-headed Night Monkey, Toppin’s Titi, Black-capped Squirrel Monkey, Bolivian Red Howler, Black Spider Monkey, Weddell’s Saddle-back Tamarin, Emperor Tamarin.
Reptiles:
Emerald Tree Boa, Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtle, Black and White Caimans.
TOUR DETAILS
Group Size: Maximum 6 participants + tour guide
Physical Difficulty: Moderate
Accommodation: 3-star hotels; clean and comfortable lodges in beautiful locations within Manu National Park, all with private bathrooms
Transportation: Private vehicle with driver (car or minivan), private boat
Habitats covered: Andean mountains, puna grasslands, elfin and cloud forests, Amazon rainforest, rivers, and oxbow lakes
Climate: The climate varies greatly, from cold conditions in the high reaches of Abra Málaga and Manu National Park to temperate and humid conditions in the cloud forest, and warm, humid conditions in the Amazon rainforest.
Altitude: 280 – 4,300 meters / 919 – 14,110 feet above sea level
Guide: Experienced English- and Spanish-speaking wildlife photography guide
Suggested Equipment:
– Digital SLR or mirrorless camera
– Lens of at least 300 mm
– Wide-angle lens (optional, for landscape photography)
– Macro lens (optional, for macro photography)
– Tripod or monopod
– Flash
Possible extensions:
– Cusco: Cultural Tour & Machu Picchu
– Lima: Villa Marshes & Pacific Ocean boat tour (1 day)
For the detailed itinerary, prices, or if you have questions, please get in touch with us.
Si desea recibir el itinerario detallado en español, no dude en hacérnoslo saber.
PHOTO GALLERY
Company Address:
Kuntur Nature and Adventure EIRL
Av. Industrial Conj. Hab. FOVIPOL. Nr 104
Santiago – Cusco – Peru
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