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| Title: |
AMAZON JUNGLE (BIRDING) |
| Interest: |
Birding |
| Destinations: |
Lima, Iquitos, Río Amazonas, Selva Amazónica |
| Trip Length: |
09 days / 08 nights |
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Day 01:
... / LIMA
Upon arrival, reception and transfer to selected hotel. The city of Lima was founded by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro on January 5, 1535, the eve of the Epiphany of the Magi – from which it derived its evocative original name of La Ciudad de los Reyes or “The City of Kings”. It is a colonial city of rare fascination and unexpected pleasures; with quiet elegant corners among ancient buildings where the night air is scented with jasmine. Overnight in lima.
Day 02:
LIMA / IQUITOS
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board your flight to Iquitos. Upon arrival, reception and transfer to your hotel. At the appointed time you will enjoy a birding guided excursion to the banks of the Amazon River to see your first Amazonian birds, like the Great Kiskadee, the Black Vultures, among several other more common seed finches. Return to the hotel. At night we recommend visiting any bar near the Main Square or the Waterfront Boulevard and enjoy the night atmosphere trying the delicious Pisco Sour. Overnight in Iquitos.
Day 03:
IQUITOS / EXPLORAMA LODGE
After breakfast, transfer to the Explorama boat docks, where a boat ride down the Amazon River (50 miles) will take you to Explorama Lodge. Upon arrival you will have your first exposure to Amazonian forest birds as you search the camp grounds for the Black-fronted Nunbird and the Thrush-like Wren. Moreover, near the stream where the "La Tahuampa" Bar is located you will likely see the Sun Bittern and the Scarlet, Blue and Gold Macaws. After lunch you will hike along the lake trail looking for the Silvered Antbird and the Pale-legged Hornero. Return to the lodge. Overnight at Explorama Lodge.
Day 04:
EXPLORAMA LODGE
Before sunrise, you will enjoy an early morning walk on the Bushmaster Trail in terra firma forest, where the highest diversity of tree species of any location in the world has been discovered. With luck, a mixed flock of birds feeding over an army ant column will be found. At times these flocks have over 40 species of birds. Return to the lodge. After breakfast, you will return to the Bushmaster to hopefully observe the Golden-headed and the Bearded Manakins on their display leks. Return to the lodge for lunch. During the afternoon, you will enjoy an open boat trip on the Amazon River looking for river edge species like the Black-collared Hawk, the Capped Heron and the three species of Kingfishers. You will also search for both pink and gray freshwater river dolphins commonly found where tributaries of the river meet. Return to the lodge. Overnight at Explorama Lodge.
Day 05:
EXPLORAMA LODGE / EXPLORNAPO LODGE
After breakfast, you will board a motor boat for a ride on the Amazon and Napo Rivers (50 miles) to ExplorNapo Lodge. Upon arrival, you will enjoy birding excursions through the reserve trails surrounding this lodge, which are innumerable and offer an unique opportunity for birdwatching in almost every rain forest habitat. This is the best location in the world to see rarities like the Nocturnal Currasow and the Black-necked Red Cotinga. In the late afternoon you will enjoy an open boat ride in search of caiman and frogs while listening to the night sounds and, if it is a clear night, viewing the overwhelming number of stars. Return to the lodge. Overnight at ExplorNapo Lodge.
Day 06:
EXPLORNAPO LODGE
After breakfast, early morning birding excursion in open boat to a black water oxbow lake. These lakes are often covered with giant Victoria Regia water lilies and sometimes offer a glimpse of the elusive Hoatzin bird, among other bird species. Return to the lodge. After lunch you will enjoy another boating excursion along one of the Napo River tributaries spotting for birds, sloth and maybe try to fish piranha or just take a refreshing splash. Return to the lodge. Overnight at ExplorNapo.
Day 07:
EXPLORNAPO LODGE / AMAZON CONSERVATORY OF TROPICAL STUDIESPICALES
After breakfast, early morning birding excursion. Mid-Morning hike to the Amazon Conservatory of Tropical Studies (ACTS) and the Canopy Walkway. This walkway is a suspended bridge spanning 500 meters (one-third of a mile), connected by tree platforms and reaching a height of over 35 meters (115 feet) above the ground. Here you will have the unique possibility of observing a part of the rain forest rarely seen by man. Return to the station for lunch. In the afternoon you will enjoy an excursion along the medicinal plants trail where your guide will explain the uses of many of the rain forest plants. In the late afternoon you will be up at canopy level when the birds return to roost and just in time to enjoy the sunset from the treetops. After dark there is the opportunity to rediscover the canopy dwellers at night. Overnight at ACTS.
Day 08:
AMAZON CONSERVATORY OF TROPICAL STUDIESPICALES / CEIBA TOPS LODGE
Early morning departure to the Canopy Walkway just in time to welcome the day from high in the treetops, an unforgettable natural history experience, as mixed species flocks form with Motmots, woodcreepers, antbirds, flycatchers, toucans and even Red-Throated Caracara add to the cacophony. After breakfast you will hike out to the Sucusari Stream and board the boat that will take you to Ceiba Tops Lodge (75 miles). Upon setting in your comfortable room and enjoying lunch, you will visit the islands that were formed at different times by the meandering Amazon River forming unique habitats where some rare species of birds live. On the way back to the lodge you will have the opportunity of watching gray and pink dolphins and, with luck, enjoy the colorful sunset on the Amazon River. Overnight at Ceiba Tops.
Day 09:
CEIBA TOPS LODGE / IQUITOS / LIMA / ...
After breakfast, you will enjoy an early morning birding excursion to the huge Ceiba Tree for which the lodge is named. Many organisms spend their entire lives in this single rain forest giant. Depending on your departure flight time, there may be time for an open boat ride on the channels of the Amazon River in front of the lodge before lunch. At the appointed time, a boat ride will return you to Iquitos (25 miles). Upon arrival, reception and transfer to the airport to board your departure flight to Lima and international connection.
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