Visit the best birding lodges in Peru – Manu Road

Embark on a tour in Manu Biosphere Reserve, and reside at the best birding lodges Peru has to offer. Peru is one of the world’s hugely diverse countries. Home to amazing destinations for birding. In fact, the Manu Road is home to a large number of species of birds and a wide range of different inhabitants. Peru Birding Tour, 6 Days is an especially fascinating journey. From the Andes, down into the heart of the cloud forest. An area that supports an incredible number of species. Above all, a staggering 1000 species have been reported across the park. Certainly making it the best destination and environment for birding in Peru. Few places can boast like we can here at Manu National Reserve. Likewise, this is truly a paradise for birds, and probably on route to one of the greatest avian diversities in the world.

Keep in mind, this tour also offers possibilities to observe mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. Hence, making it an ideal tour for the entire family, or people with different interests.

Getting to know the best birding lodges in Peru

Wild Watch Peru tours assist in order to maximise your full birding experience. Also known as the best birding lodges in Peru. During this tour you will be accommodated at a number of lodges that make it possible to see some of the rarest and beautiful birds. Whether they reside here year round, or migrate. Due to this, one thousand birds have been identified along in the Manu Park alone. In fact much more than the United States and Canada combined! We have included the following locations, and bird hotspots below;

Wayquecha Lodge.

The only lodge with certainly a privileged location. Surrounded by elfin forest, underlying of the Andean mountains. And as a result this location is a niche for birds such as; Barred Antthrush, Cuzco Brushfinch, Golden-collared Tanager, Andean Potoo, Purple backed Thornbill, Red-and-white Antpitta, Marcapata Spinetail. Chestnut-crested Cotinga, and many more. Currently, this location holds around 303 bird species according to Ebird.

Cock of the Rock Lodge

The Lodge sits in the heart of the Manu Cloud Forest on 1,500 meters of elevation surrounded by lush vegetation and a humid forest. The specialties living here are; Cock of the Rock, Crested Quetzal, Rufous-winged Antwren, Handsome Flycatcher, Solitary Eagle, Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Geoffroy’s Daggerbill, Wire-crested Thorntail, Peruvian Piedtail, Lanceolated Monklet, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Olive Finch, and Cerulean-capped Manakin, among many many others. This location holds around 500 bird species according to Ebird

Reserva Ecologica Guadalupe

This location is ranked as a hotspot by Ebird counting the 328 and rising bird species. In turn making it the best birding lodge in Peru. This location is one of the newest birding destinations in Manu. Reported from the mature bamboo forest, Mauriche Palm forest and the Foothill Forest which relatively the Terra Firme in the lower mountains, you will encounter; Blue-Headed Macaw,  Buff-tailed sicklebill, Peruvian recurbill, Black-backed Tody-flycatcher, White-cheeked Tody-Flycatcher, Flammulated Pygmy-Tyrant, Yellow Tyrannulet, Manu Antbird, Yellow-Billed Nunbird, Golden-collared toucanet, Red-billed Pied Tanager, Black-banded woodcreeper, Rufous-headed Woodpecker, Fine Barred Piculet and many more.

Amazonia Lodge

The Amazonia Lodge counts over 600 species according Ebird. Amazonia Lodge is a sustainable lodge with a solar-powered hot water system and its own hydro-powered electricity. You can enjoy a radiation free and natural environment, away from civilization. The altitude range of the property is between 500m to 1050m with all different kinds of habitats. This range in altitude explains the high diversity of wildlife that thrives here. It is a Peruvian paradise for Birdwatchers, Scientists, Nature lovers and Photographers. This fabled location is in it’s prime for observing the following; Amazonian Antpitta, Koepcke’s Hermit, Rufous-crested Coquette, Lemon-throated Barbet, Agami Heron, Rusty-belted Tapaculo, Plum Throated Cotinga and others interesting birds nestling in the foothill forest.

Other Top Locations for Birdwatching in Manu

Machuwasy Lagoon

An oxbow lake attracts a large number of Amazonian birds such as; egrets, hoatzin, herons, kingfishers, rails, crakes, horned screamers, caciques, oropendolas. The lake sits at an elevation of around 500 meters approx, Currently, there is a list of 327 species of birds recorded at this location. But this is forever rising, check the updated list on Ebird.

Laguna Patria

Another bonus location to look for is amazonian aquatic birds, migrants, and second-growth specialists. The location congregates; Hoatzin, Capped heron, Least Grebe, Sunbittern, Amazonian Antpitta, Brazilian Teal, Red Capped Cardinal, Spot Breasted  Woodpecker, Black Billed SeedFinch and others. Over this location around 95 bird species have been reported via Ebird. Visit our blog for further references.

Interesting Birds.

The Antpittas 

In general, antpittas are shy and retiring and as a result of this, can be quite hard to see. More commonly you will hear, as their call from the dense forest understory. Side trails offer the patient observer a chance to glimpse these seldom-seen species. The forest also is home to a gorgeous variety of hummingbirds. These spectacular birds can be found feeding on roadside flowering trees and shrubs.

The Cock of the Rock

Cock of the rock (Rupicola Peruviana) is another one of the most spectacular and well-known birds in Peru.  It inhibits the lower montane forest below 2,000 m altitude. This large orange bird is often seen feeding on fruit trees. But it’s most impressive when seen at an LEK.

Displaying Site

Here the males gather at the traditional LEK sites in the early morning to display. This is where the action happens. They squeal loudly and dance, bending their heads forwards and raising their wings. The duller females visit the Leks to select a male, who after mating, plays no further part in the nesting or feeding of the young.

Hummingbirds

Furthermore Peru supports an impressive 127 species (39 % of all the hummingbirds) of which Manu National Park is their home. Hummingbirds occur in all the habitats of the region, from the high montane forest to the flooded forest. Even being spotted in the towns and agricultural areas. Consequently most of them you can see in the gardens of these selected lodges specific to this tour.

Tanagers

The tanagers are one the most colourful and distinctive group of birds in the world. Only in the new world tropics with the highest diversity of species occurring in the forest of the southern Andes. Even more, Manu Park holds an extraordinary number of them. A colourful procession of these fruit-eating birds score through the sky. Of which you can see in mixed flocks moving through the forest canopy.

If birding is your cup of tea, this is definitely the hot spot for you. Book with us, while our expert guides take you on an out of this world experience. Don’t miss out on an incredible journey to see some rare exquisite birds in their natural habitat. You won’t regret your decision. So, look no further. Click the Book this Tour button at the bottom of the page and start your birding journey today.

Check out the Tour Plan for this tour to get more insight and a day to day itinerary.