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About Sacred Earth Travel
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In the 1980’s, after an extensive scientific search of the Andean slope forests, it was found that the parts included in the Manu Biosphere Reserve are best preserved, maybe for all of South America, with large areas under private conservation. Fertile soil is only an extremely thin cap on top of the Andean rocks and vegetation exists in delicate balance, due to harsh erosion from many rains, extreme solar radiation and temperature conditions. Any human intrusion, from farming to logging or even just trail-making leaves the fertile layer open to the elements and soon nothing is left, leaving only bare rocks.
At appr. 1600 m, Pantiacolla built a comfortable, permanent campsite. An avian-rich altitude, which provides the opportunity to travel back up and further down, without sacrificing the comfort of restful nights in the little huts. Trails are under construction, but always keeping the delicacy of this habitat in mind: special methods are used so that that the vegetation doesn't have to be cut back too hard. And just next to the lodge is the lek of that strange-looking bird, the Peruvian Cock-of-the-Rock. A platform has been constructed for observation and admittance is controlled so as to ensure that the birds will not feel disturbed and continue to use this site, which, incredibly, is situated only a few meters from the road.
Some decades ago, a member of the extended Moscoso Family got the title to almost 1000 ha of land in the Pantiacolla Mountains in Manu’s Cultural Zone. These mountains, located in the Andean foothill and therefore a ‘frontier area’ held the promise of high biodiversity: in 1998 Pantiacolla sent two ornithologists out to investigate. The results exceeded even our expectations. Within one month they found a dazzling record of appr. 500 species! A starting list that can already compete with over 20 year old lists of other top-locations in Manu and Tambopata.
Many of the species are endemic to the area, extremely rare, or found at altitudes different from their normal range. To make it possible for you to really see the birds, Pantiacolla is now constructing a network of trails covering at least eight different habitats, including to the small oxbow lake near the Petroleo Stream, as well as observation platforms in the trees, hides near the Round-tailed Manakin lek and the only clay lick ever found for the range-restricted Blue-hooded Macaw, an observation tower near a huge fig tree and benches at the miradors, and a platform on the first Pantiacolla summit (appr. 950 m).
8 days/7 nights, in and out by bus
with extension: 12 days/11 nights, in by bus out by plane
This tour can start any Sunday, Monday, Wednesday or Friday, all year round.
The extension program only operates from mid April - end of December.
We designed a program combining two avian rich areas: the eastern Andean slope and the Pantiacolla Mountains. Furthermore, at the end of your trip you will have observed birds from the 4000m to the 450m zone, including many rare and endemic species!
You leave Cusco early in the morning (appr. 05:30 am) by private transportation. Lake Huacarpay is reached after 40 minutes, where we spend time to observe highland lake and marsh birds. We look for the Plumbeous Rail, which is not as elusive here as rails normally are, the Many-coloured Rush-Tyrant and two endemics, the Rusty-fronted Canastero and the spectacular hummingbird, the Bearded Mountaineer. Afterwards the bus takes you to the folkloric village Paucartambo for a late breakfast.
In the early afternoon you arrive at Ajanaco pass at 3900 m. From here we will start to descend the eastern Andes slopes. This is also the beginning of the Manu National Park, where the montane forests, unlike at other parts of the eastern Andes, are almost completely untouched. In between the clouds we look for flocks of different tanager species. Also the Andean Guan, Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucan, White-collared Jay, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker and the endemic Puna Thistletail belong to this altitude. In San Pedro, at 1500 m. we will spend the following three nights at Posada San Pedro rustic lodge.
During these two days we will explore the different altitudes along the Manu Road. One day we go higher up to the temperate and upper subtropical zone, where we hope to meet Blue-banded Toucanet, Golden-headed Quetzal, Marcapata Spinetail, Red-and-white Antpitta, Barred Fruiteater, Fulvous Wren and many more. At dusk we will search for Lyre-tailed Nightjar.
The other day we stay close to our campsite in the transition zone between the subtropical and upper-tropical habitat. This avian-rich zone is home to many species of tanagers and hummingbirds, but we alsohave the chance to encounter the splendid Versicoloured Barbet, Highland Motmot, Green Jay and Cock-of-the-Rock amongst others.
We pack up camp early to be able to look for birds between 1500 and 1000m in the 'good hours' of the day. We will see our first more tropical birds like Russet-backed - & Crested Oropendolas, Bluish-fronted Jacamar, Stripe-chested Antwren, Long-tailed Tyrant, vultures and kites. Some of the specials are Amazonian Umbrellabird and Black-banded Tody-Tyrant. In Atalaya we change into a motorized canoe. We navigate down the Alto Madre de Dios: a relaxed way of observing birds herons, such as the Capped Heron and the Fasciated Tiger-Heron, vultures, possibly King Vulture, overflying macaws. In the afternoon we are welcomed at Pantiacolla Lodge (450 m). At dusk we sit near the river and enjoy the Sand-coloured Night-hawks.
Hikes on the well designed trails around Pantiacolla Lodge take you through at least eight different habitats with many rare and endemic species of birds. The many different tinamoes, antbirds and manakins are only a fraction of the 550 species of bird found till this day. As always in primary rainforests, one has to work hard to see the birds well, but it is certainly worth the effort. For variation, one can sit in the garden of the lodge and wait for a passing ‘mixed-species flock’, while enjoying the ever-present hummingbirds. The longest trail takes you up the Pantiacolla Mountains, to its first mirador, at 900 m, with an incredible view over the vast Amazonian expanse. Just before reaching the mirador you will pass through an isolated patch of cloud forest, displaced at 850 m altitude. This area is one of the most likely sites to encounter the extremely rare Black Tinamou. We start the hike before dawn, still being able to hear the sounds of the Great~ and the Long-tailed Potoo, while diurnal birds just start their daily activities.
Going back upstream we arrive at Amazonia Lodge at about 9am. While the staff is bringing our luggage to the lodge we walk the 2 km long so-called Jeep-trail. Tinamous, Trogons, Purple-throated Cotinga, Long-tailed Tyrant and Diff. Parrots may also show up. Military - & Blue-headed Macaw are the two rarest macaws of Manu, but here we have a good chance to see them. The lodge has a very nice garden where you will see 6-10 different species of hummingbirds with the male Rufous-crested Coquette and Wire-crested Thorntail as being the most attractive ones. Amazonia is also a good place to see one of more of the 3 species of Potoos.
A small oxbox lake close to the lodge gives us a chance to see Hoatzin, Sungrebe, Sunbittern, Rufescent Tiger-heron, all species that you normally would not see at Pantiacolla.
After a last walk in the environs of Amazonia the boat takes us to the other side of the river, where our car is waiting to bring us back to Cusco. It is a long drive of 7-8 hours with some breaks for birding, coffee and lunch.
(photos courtesy of José Maria Fdz. Diaz -Formenti)
Minimum number of participants: 2
Starts any day.
Includes:
Not included:
EXTENSION: Into Manu's Reserved ZoneAs an extension you can join a fixed departure wildlife watching tour to Manu's Reserved Zone. This area is very good for observation of monkeys and other big mammals. The guides for the fixed departure tours are excellent naturalists, however not all are specialized in birds.
Around midday a motorized canoe picks you up at Pantiacolla Lodge to navigate down the turbulant Alto Madre de Dios River to Boca Manu. As night falls we make camp on one of the beaches.
On the morning of the tenth day we turn up the Manu River. From this vantage point we will have great views of riverside birds, sunbathing cayman, and that enormous aquatic guinea pig, the capybara. We reach our camping huts deep inside Manu in the afternoon. This will be our base for the next two days. During this time, we will hike through virgin forest and explore one of the most beautiful lakes of the Manu basin, Lake Salvador, by catamaran. There is a chance to see a huge variety of colorful birds, numerous species of monkey and with luck, a family of giant otters. A five hour hike through the forest takes us to Lake Otorongo and a 20 meter-high observation platform that overlooks the lake. At night we can explore the forest by torchlight or go moonlight cayman spotting on the lake.
DAY 10: Lake Salvador-Macaw LickAfter a final walk through the forest surrounding Lake Salvador, we return back down the Manu River. Joining the Madre de Dios River we arrive at the beach of Blanquillo, near the clay lick for macaws, where we spend the night.
At first light we head to the macaw lick to watch the dazzling spectacle of hundreds of parakeets, parrots and macaws eating clay. In the afternoon we turn back up the Madre de Dios River, making camp close to the airstrip.
A short boat ride takes us to Boca Manu airport and our return flight over the rainforest and the Andes to Cusco by light aircraft.
Minimum number of participants: 2
Departs:
Included in extension program:
Not Included:
For further information and booking inquiries please send us and e-mail.
