SOUTHERN PERU BIRDING TOUR
Abra Málaga & Manu National Park
15 Days
Best season from April to November
DATES
1-15 JUNE 2026
3-17 OCTOBER 2026
OVERVIEW
The Southern Peru Birding Tour will take us across the mighty Andes and through valleys, puna grasslands, elfin forest, cloud forest, and the Amazon rainforest, offering excellent birding opportunities for endemic and many other interesting species.
This birding adventure starts in Cusco, from where we will drive to the high Andean pass Abra Málaga (4,300 meters / 14,108 feet above sea level), with stunning views of the surrounding mountain landscapes. We will search for endemic species such as Cuzco Brushfinch, Inca Wren, White-tufted Sunbeam, Parodi’s Hemispingus, White-browed Tit-Spinetail, Chestnut-breasted Mountain Finch, Streak-crowned Mountain Tanager, and Masked Fruiteater, as well as many other interesting high Andean species such as the endangered Royal Cinclodes.
The tour continues in one of the most pristine places in Peru: the famous Manu National Park. This UNESCO biodiversity hotspot, with its diverse ecosystems, is home to an extraordinary variety of animals, butterflies, orchids, and more than 1,000 bird species.
Due to the different landscapes and altitudes, we can experience the transition and diversity of birdlife along the Manu Road like in few other places in the world. We will spend several days in the park, observing many bird species including Peru’s national bird, the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Crested Quetzal, King Vulture, Hoatzin, many colorful tanagers, macaws, hummingbirds, antpittas, and endemic species such as Inca Flycatcher and Masked Fruiteater, to name just a few.
The tour finishes in the dense Amazon rainforest, which we will reach by boat, with chances to see lowland species such as Olive Oropendola, Black-spotted Bare-eye, Horned Screamer, Peruvian Warbling-Antbird, Crested Owl, Plum-throated Cotinga, Golden-collared Toucanet, and many more.
We will visit an oxbow lake, where we can observe different kingfishers, Sungrebe, Hoatzin, and the beautiful Agami Heron. A visit to a macaw clay lick will enable us to witness large groups of Blue-and-yellow Macaw, Scarlet Macaw, and Red-and-green Macaw, as well as different species of parrots feeding on the clay walls—an unforgettable spectacle.
We will also have good chances to see 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.
A unique birding experience in one of the most biodiverse regions on Earth.
ITINERARY
Day 1: Arrival in Cusco and transfer to the hotel – Overnight in Cusco.
Day 2: Transfer by car to Abra Málaga, with birding in the upper part in the morning and in the elfin and cloud forest in the afternoon – Overnight at Tunkiwasi Lodge, Inkatambo.
Day 3: Birding in the lower part of Abra Málaga, followed by the transfer back to Cusco – Overnight at a hotel in Cusco.
Day 4: Transfer by car to Wayqecha Biological Station in the upper part of Manu National Park – Overnight at Wayqecha Biological Station, Manu National Park.
Day 5: Morning visit to antpitta feeding stations and birding around Wayqecha Biological Station, followed by a transfer to Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge with birding stops, including the hummingbird garden Manu Bird Sanctuary – Overnight at Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge, Manu National Park.
Days 6–7: Birding in the cloud forest around the lodge, with visits to Manu Tanager Garden and an Andean Cock-of-the-Rock lek – Overnight at Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge, Manu National Park.
Day 8: Transfer to Manu Biological Station in the Amazon lowlands of Manu National Park, with a stop at Manu Endemic Station to visit the hummingbird feeders – Overnight at Manu Biological Station, Manu National Park.
Days 9–10: Birding around Manu Biological Station, including visits to the local gardens Mirador Pico de Hoz and Inka Amazonia – Overnight at Manu Biological Station, Manu National Park.
Day 11: Transfer to Atalaya and boat journey to Manu Birding Lodge, with birding stops along the way – Overnight at Manu Birding Lodge, Manu National Park.
Days 12–14: Three days of birding around Manu Birding Lodge, including visits to an oxbow lake and the Macaw Clay Lick – Overnight at Manu Birding Lodge, Manu National Park.
Day 15: Transfer by boat and car to Puerto Maldonado for your flight to Lima – end of the tour.
KEY SPECIES
Endemic species: Creamy-crested Spinetail, Marcapata Spinetail, White-browed Tit-Spinetail, Chestnut-breasted Mountain Finch, Junin Canastero, Rusty-fronted Canastero, White-tufted Sunbeam, Cuzco Brushfinch, Inca Wren, Red-and-white Antpitta, Streak-crowned Mountain Tanager, Inca Flycatcher.
Near-endemic species: Royal Cinclodes, Stripe-headed Antpitta, Trilling Tapaculo, Golden-collared Tanager, Rufous-bellied Bush-Tyrant, Moustached Flowerpiercer, Drab Hemispingus, Versicolored Barbet, Peruvian Recurvebill, Manu Antbird, White-lined Antbird.
Other species: Thick-billed Siskin, d’Orbigny’s Chat-Tyrant, White-browed Chat-Tyrant, Giant Conebill, White-browed Conebill, Tawny Tit-Spinetail, Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant, Puna Thistletail, Diademed Tapaculo, White-crowned Tapaculo, Puna Tapaculo, Andean Ibis, Puna Ibis, Green Ibis, Black-faced Ibis, Mourning Sierra Finch, Plushcap, Red-crested Cotinga, Chestnut-crested Cotinga, Spangled Cotinga, Red-crested Finch, White-throated Quail-Dove, Inca Jay, White-collared Jay, Purplish Jay, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Mountain Cacique, Streak-throated Bush-Tyrant, Gray-browed Brushfinch, Black-faced Brushfinch, Black-capped Hemispingus, Masked Flowerpiercer, Deep-blue Flowerpiercer, Andean Guan, Great Thrush, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Crested Quetzal, Golden-headed Quetzal, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Olive-backed Woodcreeper, Montane Woodcreeper, Montane Foliage-gleaner, Barred Fruiteater, White-throated Tyrannulet, Barred Becard, Masked Trogon, Blue-crowned Trogon, Ochraceous-breasted Flycatcher, Black-and-Chestnut Eagle, Solitary Eagle, Bat Falcon, Black-streaked Puffbird, Semicollared Puffbird, Blue-banded Toucanet, Golden-collard Honeycreeper, Yungas Manakin, Fiery-Caped Manakin, Geoffrey’s Wedgebill, Blue-naped Chlorophonia, Stripe-chested Antwren, Yellow-rumped Antwren, Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Andean Solitaire, White-eared Solitaire, Torrent Duck, Bronze-green Euphonia, Chestnut-tipped Toucanet, Lemon-throated Barbet, Black-backed Tody-Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Tody-Flycatcher, Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Bamboo Antshrike, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, Fasciated Antshrike, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Large-headed Flatbill, Black-spotted Bare-eye, Rufescent Tiger-Heron, Blue-throated Piping-Guan, Red-capped Cardinal, Ringed Woodpecker, Hoatzin, Undulated Tinamou, Goeldi’s Antbird, White-browed Antbird, Plumbeous Antbird, Peruvian-warbling Antbird, Riparian Antbird, Leymebamba Antpitta, Amazonian Antpitta, Russet-crowned Crake, King Vulture, Bare-necked Fruitcrow, Olive Oropendola, White-throated Jacamar, Sungrebe, Green-and-rufous Kingfisher, Horned Screamer, 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, Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Scissor-tailed Nightjar, Silky-tailed Nightjar, Yungas Pygmy-Owl, Spectacled Owl, Tawny-bellied Screech-owl, Black-banded Owl, Amazonian Pygmy-Owl.
Saffron-crowned Tanager, Silvery Tanager, Golden-naped Tanager, Silver-beaked Tanager, Hepatic Tanager, Grass-green Tanager, Rust-and-yellow Tanager, Golden-collared Tanager, Rufous-chested Tanager, Hooded Mountain Tanager, Chestnut-bellied Mountain Tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Slaty Tanager, Orange-eared Tanager, Rusty-naped Tanager, Golden Tanager, Golden-eared Tanager, White-winged Tanager, Paradise Tanager, Masked-crimson Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Turquoise Tanager, Green-and-gold Tanager, Beryl-spangled Tanager.
Sparkling Violetear, Brown Violetear, Lesser Violetear, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Green-tailed Train-bearer, Bearded Mountaineer (endemic), Giant Hummingbird, White-bellied Hummingbird, Green-and-white Hummingbird (near-endemic), White-tufted Sunbeam (endemic), Shining Sunbeam, Tyr-ian Metaltail, White-bellied Woodstar, Amethyst Woodstar, Long-tailed Sylph, Speckled Humming-bird, Bronzy Inca, Gould’s Inca, Gould’s Jewelfront, Violet-throated Starfrontlet, Mountain Velvet-breast, 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, Koepcke’s Hermit (endemic), 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, Gold-en-tailed Sapphire, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Sapphire-spangled Emerald, Blue-tailed Emerald.
Mammals: Giant Otter, Tayra, Agouti, Black-capped Squirrel Monkey, Large-headed Capuchin, Woolly Monkey, Dusky Titi-Monkey, Goeldi’s Monkey, Weddell’s Saddle-back Tamarin, Emperor Tamarin, Capybara, Three-toed Sloth.
Group Size: Maximum 8 participants + tour guide
Physical Difficulty: Moderate
Accommodation: Basic to comfortable (3-star hotel)
Transportation: Private vehicle (car/minivan) and boat
Habitats covered: Andean mountains, puna grasslands, elfin and cloud forests, Amazon rainforest, rivers, and oxbow lake
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
Possible extensions:
– Cusco: Cultural Tour & Machu Picchu
– Cusco: Birding in the Sacred Valley of the Incas
– Cusco: Endemic Birds & Andean Condors
– Lima: Pacific Ocean boat tour Pucusana & Villa Marshes
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
Kuntur Nature and Adventure EIRL
Company Address: Av. Industrial Conj. Hab. FOVIPOL. Nr 104 – Santiago – Cusco – Peru
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