PERU: MANU BIOSPHERE RESERVE CLOUD FOREST , FOOTHILLS & LOWLAND RAINFOREST SEPTEMBER 3-18, 2019 MACHU PICCHU EXTENSION SEPTEMBER 17-23, 2019 ©2018 Red-and-green Macaw. Ara chloropterus. David Ascanio © Here is an opportunity to visit one of the wildest and most pristine rainforests on the planet, a region where all the top predators are still present—from jaguars and Harpy Eagles to the smallest prey species. The huge Manu National Park and biosphere reserve, encompassing over four and a half million acres, preserves an entire ecosystem. Not a single element is missing or removed, and it is a reserve where humans still coexist in a harmonious state with the natural environment. This can be said of relatively few other places on earth. It is widely acknowledged that the park hosts the most diverse flora and fauna of any park in the world, and the region is home to three tribes of Indians who live all or partly within the present park boundaries. Two of these tribes, in fact, have little or no contact with the outside world. The boundaries of Manu National Park and the biosphere reserve that surrounds it embrace an unbroken rainforest stretching from the western Amazonian lowlands to the puna above treeline. This area is home to more than 1,000 species of birds. Tour participants will be treated to a broad spectrum Peru Manu, Page 2 of forest habitats and will have the opportunity to stay at three different locations, covering virtually all elevations. The locations are near or within the biosphere reserve surrounding the park. The localities include a stunted forest above 9,000 feet elevation, a cloud forest at about 5,000 feet elevation, a foothill location and a lowland rainforest site along the Madre de Dios River. A great variety of birds and mammals are possible on this trip, including some species that are rare or not well known, such as the Orinoco Goose, Blue-headed Macaw, Scarlet-hooded Barbet, Bamboo Antshrike, Manu Antbird, Rufous-fronted Antthrush, and White-cheeked and Black-backed Tody- Flycatchers. There also are many spectacular species: Razor-billed Curassow, Sunbittern, Horned Screamer, five or six species of macaws, Curl-crested Araçari, and Band-tailed Manakin. Mammals are difficult to observe in forest habitats, but because of the wildness of the Manu region, we will have unparalleled opportunities to look for three or more species of monkeys, including the active Squirrel Monkey. Other possible primates include Common Woolly Monkey (in the cloud forest), Black Spider Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Dusky Titi-Monkey, Red Howler Monkey, Saddle-backed Tamarin, and both Brown-and White-fronted capuchin monkeys. There is a good chance that tour participants will see Giant Otters, as well. And, while at the Manu Wildlife Center, we may have the opportunity to see a tapir if one comes to around the dining room at night. This is also one of the best places in the world to see a jaguar, although they occur in low density and are only infrequently seen. This is a trip into a true wilderness region with relatively simple accommodations (electricity in lodges restricted to some hours of the day) and there will be several long travel days; we will be up very early almost every day; and some time will be spent on trails. Participants on this trip should be in reasonably good physical condition, able to walk several miles on trails, climb more than a hundred vertical steps (the canopy platforms require an ascent of up to almost 250 steps), climb up or down steep river banks, and walk a plank (with assistance) in order to load and unload from boats. Those interested in maximizing their time in Peru are encouraged to join our optional post-tour extension to Machu Picchu which visits the incomparable ancient capital of the Inca in addition to seeking many of the special birds of the Peruvian Andes in the regions of Cuzco and the Urubamba River Valley. Peru Manu, Page 3 Special Note: Day 2 of the tour is unavoidably long and can be tiresome with extreme elevation changes and long driving time on a mountain road. It begins with a very early flight from Lima (sea level) to Cuzco (11,200 feet), followed by a seven-hour drive (with stops) crossing three mountain passes at approximately 12,000 feet (ca. 3600 m), before descending to our lodge in the upper cloud forest at 9750 feet (2950 m) feet elevation. The drive is beautiful and inspiring but, in view of this strenuous day, we recommend that clients, if possible, plan to arrive earlier to Peru and take one of the two options listed below: OPTION: Pantanos de Villa and Pucusana with a leisure day in Lima. For those arriving early and willing to go birding around Lima, we recommend a day trip to the Pantanos de Villa (Villa Marshes) and the fishing village of Pucusana. This trip will start with a breakfast at your hotel and depart about 8:00 a.m. southward toward the picturesque coast of Pucusana. There you will have an opportunity to see some fine coastal marshes, a good cross-section of the stark Atacama Desert of western Peru, and many of the seabirds typical of the cold, rich waters of the Humboldt Current just offshore. You should see 50-60 species of birds, almost all of which will not be seen elsewhere on this trip. These may include Humboldt Penguin (a very good chance of seeing these), White-tufted Grebe, Peruvian Pelican, Peruvian Booby, Neotropic and Guanay cormorants, several egrets and herons, Puna Ibis, White-cheeked Pintail, Cinnamon Teal, Harris’s and Variable (Red-backed) hawk, Plumbeous Rail, Andean Coot (with several different frontal shield colors), Common Moorhen, Peruvian Thick-knee (now scarce), Surfbird, Ruddy Turnstone, Whimbrel, Belcher’s (formerly Band- tailed), Gray-hooded, Kelp, and Franklin’s Gull (common resident during northern winter), Inca Tern, West Peruvian Dove, Croaking Ground-Dove, Amazilia Hummingbird, Wren-like Rushbird, Surf Cinclodes (endemic), Coastal Miner (endemic), Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, Short-tailed Field-Tyrant (local), Vermilion Flycatcher (black morph in Lima, normal red ones along the coast), Long-tailed Mockingbird, Peruvian Meadowlark, Grassland Yellow-Finch, Drab, Parrot-billed, and Chestnut-throated seedeaters (these Sporophila are sometimes unpredictable in abundance). A box lunch will be included with the trip and you will return to the hotel in time for dinner. If you decide to do the day trip to the Pantanos de Villa (Villa Marshes) and the fishing village of Pucusana, you should plan your flights to arrive Lima on September 1, do the day trip on September 2, and leave September 3 set aside for rest or light activities. All tour participants that do this trip will do it as a group and it will be led by a local birding guide. Reservations in Lima can be made at the Hotel El Olivar which has a pleasant park and some interesting birding in front of the hotel, along with several businesses. The Hotel El Olivar is located one block from Avenida Larco which is a major shopping and business area in the southeastern part of Lima and is approximately thirty minutes from downtown Lima. Those that chose this option will need to return to the Costa del Sol Lima Airport Hotel on Day 1 of the tour (September 3) at your leisure. The following morning you will meet your fellow tour participants and leaders in the hotel lobby at a prearranged time prior to our flight to Cuzco. This option can be reserved through the VENT office at an additional charge. September 3, Day 1: International flight to Peru and late-night arrival in Lima. Most flights from the United States arrive in Lima, Peru (Jorge Chávez Lima-Callao International Airport, LIM) between 9-11:00 PM. Upon arrival and after clearing immigrations (sometimes there is a lengthy wait), collect your bags from the carrousel, pass customs, and then proceed outside the baggage claim area and cross the street on foot to the Costa del Sol Airport Hotel where a room is reserved in your name. The Costa del Sol Lima Airport Hotel is located inside the Lima International Airport and within walking distance (150 yards) of international arrivals. Tomorrow morning you will return to the airport for a very early (5:30 a.m.) commercial flight to Cuzco. If you arrive Lima early or on the coastal trip you will be met on arrival by a representative of Manu Expeditions that will take you to the Hotel El Olivar . The hotel is located in the San Isidro area of Lima and a thirty to forty- minute drive from the airport. NIGHT: Costa del Sol Lima Airport Hotel, Lima Peru Manu, Page 4 September 4, Day 2: Fly Lima to Cuzco, then drive to the Wayqecha Lodge and Biological Station. We will have a very early commercial flight from Lima (about 5:00- 6:00 a.m. depending upon schedules) for the approximately one-hour flight to Cuzco and then board a comfortable bus for the continuation of our trip. Please note that we will arrive in Cuzco without an opportunity to acclimate to the high elevation (Cuzco is at 11,200 feet elevation) and the overland drive will take us over three passes in excess of 12,000 feet before we finally descend the forested eastern slope of the Andes to our final destination at about 9750 feet. This will be a relatively long day (about a seven-hour drive including several stops) and you should take particular care with the extreme changes in elevation.