Hooded Mountain Tanager
MANU NATIONAL PARK PHOTO TOUR
Peru
12 Days
Best season from April to November
DATES
10-21 MAY 2025
7-18 JUNE 2025
13-24 SEPTEMBER 2025
OVERVIEW
This photo tour starts in the Sacred Valley of the Incas close to Cusco, where we will visit two beautiful gardens with feeders. Here we have great chances to photograph many species of hummingbirds, like the Sword-billed Hummingbird, Tyrian Metaltail, Bearded Mountaineer, among others.
Our next destination is the famous Manu Road, one of the best routes in South America to photograph many species of birds and other wildlife. We will wind our way down the slopes of the Cusco mountains to the rivers and lush forests of the famous Manu National Park. This 1.5 million-ha UNESCO park with its diverse ecosystems, is home to an unprecedented variety of animals, plants and more than 1000 species of birds.
Along the Manu Road, you will be able to photograph fantastic birds from different altitudes and environments, like Peru’s national bird the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Golden-headed Quetzal, Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Grass-green Tanager, Black-faced Brushfinch, Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch, Golden-collared Tanager, the spectacular Versicolored Barbet, and many more.
The last days of the tour, we will be working with many species of hummingbirds in beautiful gardens situated in the warm lower part of Manu National Park. The tiny, but fierce Rufous-crested Coquette will be one of the stars. Other species that visit the feeders, are the Long-billed Starthroat, Rufous-throated Sapphire, and different species of hermits.
One of the photo highlights is the magnificent King Vulture. There are only two places in the Americas where the King Vulture is visiting a feeding station. One of them is in Manu National Park, offering fantastic photo opportunities from a hide. If you like to know more about the King Vulture, you can read our blog.
There will be great chances to see and photograph many mammals in the park too, like the Wooly Monkey, Black-capped Squirrel-Monkey, Dusky Titi Monkey and Large-headed Capuchin, Bolivian Squirrel, Tayra, and with a bit of luck, the Spectacled Bear.
We have written a blog about this tour, with more information on the locations that we will visit and birds that we can photograph.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival at the airport in Cusco and transfer to the hotel. / Night at a hotel in Cusco.
Day 2: Early morning transfer to the Sacred Valley for a visit to the feeders of Ensifera Camp. Visit to the Sacred Garden in the afternoon. / Night at a hotel in Ollantaytambo.
Day 3: Transfer to the Wayqecha Biological Station in Manu National Park, where we will spend the rest of the day in the Elfin Forest. / Night at the Wayqecha Biological Station.
Day 4: Transfer to the San Pedro area with photo stops on the way. / Night at the Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge.
Day 5, 6: Two full days of working around our lodge and visit to local gardens to photograph tanagers and hummingbirds. We will also visit the fantastic Andean Cock-of-the-Rock Lek. / Night at the Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge.
Day 7: Transfer to the Bamboo Lodge with photo stops on the way and a visit to a garden with feeders. We will also be looking out for raptors along the road. / Night at the Bamboo Lodge.
Day 8, 9, 10: Three full days photographing along the trails, at the lake and feeders in the gardens of the Manu Biological Station, where we will have good chances for many species of hummingbirds. / Night at the Manu Biological Station.
Day 11: An early morning photography session at the Manu Biological Station and then a transfer to Cusco with photo stops on the way. / Night at a hotel in Cusco.
Day 12: Transfer to the airport in Cusco. End of the tour.
KEY BIRD SPECIES
Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch, Golden-billed Saltator, White-collared Jay, Green Jay, Masked Flowerpiercer, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Golden-headed Quetzal, Crested Quetzal, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Barred Fruiteater, White-throated Tyrannulet, Barred Becard, Masked Trogon, Blue-crowned Trogon, Black-tailed Trogon, Dusky-green Oropendola, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Versicolored Barbet, Lemon-throated Barbet, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Bat Falcon, Speckled Chachalaca, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Bluish-fronted Jacamar, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Amazonian Antpitta, King Vulture.
Shining Sunbeam, Giant Hummingbird, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Green-and-White Hummingbird, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Sparkling Violetear, White-bellied Woodstar, Violet-Fronted Brilliant, Booted Racket-tail, Green Hermit, Rufous-breasted Hermit, Wire-crested Thorntail, Black-bellied Thorntail, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Rufous-Crested Coquette, Gould’s Jewelfront, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Saphire-spangled Emerald, Blue-tailed Emerald,
Grass-green Tanager, Golden-collared Tanager, Hooded Mountain-tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-tanager, Paradise Tanager, Golden Tanager, Golden-eared Tanager, Turquoise Tanager, Green-and-gold Tanager,
TOUR DETAILS
Group Size: Max 6 + photography guide.
Accommodation: Basic to comfortable.
Transportation: Private car/van.
Habitats Covered: During this tour, we will be going through different habitats and landscapes. From the high mountains close to Cusco to the lowlands of Manu National Park, crossing high Andean plateaus and valleys, Elfin Forest, Cloud Forest, and Amazon Forest.
Climate: Variable – cold during the nights in Cusco and in the Elfin Forest, temperate in the Cloud Forest, and warm in the Amazon Forest.
Altitude: 500 – 3700 meters above sea level.
Possible extensions:
– Cusco: Abra Málaga Endemics
– Cusco Cultural Tour
– Machu Picchu
– Lima: Villa Marshes and Pucusana Island
Suggested Equipment:
– Digital SLR or Mirrorless camera
– At least 300 mm lens
– Wide angle lens
– Macro lens if you are interested in macro photography
– Tripod or monopod
– Flash
For the detailed itinerary, prices, or if you have questions, please get in touch with us.
PHOTO IMPRESSIONS
Kuntur Nature and Adventure EIRL
Company Address: Av. Industrial Conj. Hab. FOVIPOL. Nr 104 – Santiago – Cusco – Peru
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