| Duration
3 days and 2 nights
Departures Daily departures
Activities Jungle excursion (see detailed program
below)
Airfares Not included, available upon request
Meals Included as specified below
Customizable YES, feel free to ask for extra
services
Day 1: Cusco to Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge.
Our overland journey begins at 3,400 m/11,150 ft, with an early
departure from the highland city of Cusco. Today's destination
is the lush cloud forest region where the Andes fall away to the
Amazon basin. This is a day of scenic drama and striking
contrasts. We first visit a mountain wetland habitat teeming
with migrant and local waterfowl, before crossing two mountain
ranges between the Cusco valley and the Paucartambo valley, to a
maximum altitude of 3,900 m/12,790 ft. Finally we follow a
sinuous ribbon of highway on its plunge through an extraordinary
world of forested cliffs, waterfalls and gorges. We take
leisurely stops to see mountain villages, a hilltop necropolis
of chullpas (pre-Inca burial chambers), and the abrupt ridgetop
of Ajanaco, which marks the final high point where the Andes
begin their swoop into the Amazon basin. In clear weather we
will see a breathtaking panorama of cloud forest and mountain
giving way to the lowland rainforest plains far below us.
After a picnic lunch we descend through the startling and rapid
environmental transformations characteristic of the tropical
Andes, passing from grassland and stunted trees through elfin
forest, until we wind through a lush and magical world of
overhanging trees, giant ferns, monster begonias, countless
orchids and bromeliads, and a diverse and teeming birdlife.
We make frequent spontaneous stops, perhaps spotting a
brilliantly feathered quetzal, a trogon, or the wild turkey-like
Guan. We reach the comfortable Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge in the
late afternoon, the best hour to visit the nearby viewing
platform for the display ground, or "lek". This is usually the
highlight of a long, full day, a chance to see Peru’s dazzling
national bird, the Cock-of-the-Rock (Rupicola) in full, raucous
courting display. (Box Lunch, D)
Day 2: Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge: Along the road and trails
In the early morning we have a second chance to view the
Cock-of-the-Rockdisplay. This lek and its observation blind are
famous among birders, since nowhere else on the planet allows so
many of these spectacular blazing red birds to be seen so easily.
(Note that the very best months for viewing Cocks-of-the-Rock
are in September, October and November, although the males
display throughout the year.) Afterwards we can stroll along the
clearing formed by the nearby road, spotting other birds, and
with luck some Brown Capuchin or Woolly Monkeys.
After a hearty breakfast we can explore the forest overhanging
the gravel road near the lodge, or some of the miles of trails
that wind through the valley, to see high elevation cloud forest
birds. This is a relaxed and enchanting day. As we amble among
the woods and waterfalls we can marvel at the extraordinary
variety of orchids, bromeliads, ferns, begonias, lichens and
mosses -- and we also have a chance of sighting Woolly and / or
Brown capuchin monkeys. Along the way we may encounter some of
the most colorful denizens of the cloud forest, such as the
brilliant Golden-headed Quetzal, Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan,
Blue-crowned Motmot, Umbrella Bird, Blue-banded Toucanet,
fruit-eating tanagers, Red-crested Cotinga, Banded-tail
Fruit-eater, and a variety of flycatchers.
In the afternoon we can relax at the lodge, enjoying the dining
hall viewing platform, or our private forest-overlook balcony.
Or we can cross the river on the lodge’s private oroya (cable
bridge) and hike the trail on the south side of the Kosñipata
River. (B, L, D)
Day 3: Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge to Cusco.
After an early breakfast we set off once more up the cloud
forest highway, pausing here and there to alight and stroll in
search of more birds: ones we have already seen, but are too
spectacular to ignore, and birds we are seeing for the first
time. Or perhaps we will glimpse monkeys that have so far eluded
us. We wind our way through the enchanted mountain landscape on
our route back to Cusco, knowing that the memory of this will
remain with us for years to come. (B, Box Lunch)
Important notes:
•Please note that the program may vary slightly so as to
maximize your wildlife sightings, depending on the reports of
our researchers and experienced naturalist guides based at the
lodge.
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