Iquitos, on the Peruvian Amazon, features many birding highlights: and specialties like Nocturnal Curassow and Black-necked Red Cotinga, the Antbirds, and the fabulous canopy walkway. Iquitos is one of the best places to actually see the legendary Nocturnal Curassow. As for the Cotinga (a rival to the Cock-of-the-Rock in beauty), we are often treated to views of males perched on their display vines. This is Antbird paradise and we’ll spend a lot of time examining and observing the special variety that exists here. But Curassows and Antbirds are just a few of the many birds we will see. From Screamers, Guans, Toucans, Trogons, and Barbets to Hummingbirds, Woodcreepers, Foliage-gleaners, Manakins, and Seed-finches, we’ll explore all the habitats that constitute Amazonia. We will explore new and old river islands – a difficult micro-habitat to access and here is the best place, in varzea forest, along an old ox-bow lake, and from a network of trails through terra firme forest. We’ll stay at three lodges throughout this tour in order to have maximum opportunity at the specialists species. There is even greater reason to get to Iquitos: a 1500-foot, continuous walkway through the canopy of the rainforest. This sturdy and easily accessible walkway reaches a height of 115 feet and was planned by botanists and vertebrate biologists to allow visitors to walk through the canopy between fruiting and flowering trees particularly attractive to wildlife. Here we can follow canopy flocks as they move through the treetops at eye level! Imagine great looks at all those birds that you have only seen from below before—birds like Dugand’s Antwrens, Lawrence’s Thrush, Spangled Cotinga, White-browed Purpletuft, Paradise Jacamar and countless others. On our return to Iquitos we’ll spend two full days at the Allpahuayo-Mishana reserve that protects some endangered sand soil forest and in particular look for the recently described birds to science. We’ll stay at 3 different lodges in order to see the most birds possible.

Arrive in Lima and transfer to our hotel in Lima. Overnight at our hotel close to the airport. B:L:D

Early morning flight from Lima to Iquitos and straight onto the Amazon for the fast boat ride to the Sucasari river and the comfortable ACTS canopy walkway lodge. Food and accommodation is excellent and from this lodge we will concentrate on tierra firme birds and especially night excursions for Nocturnal Currasow. We’ll arrive in time for lunch and take our first walk in the afternoon to the medicinal gardens in search of Cinereous Becard and the recently described Orange-eyed Flycatcher. B:L:D

All days exploring the canopv walkway and tierra firme forest. In tierra firme forest and from the canopy walkway we’ll be on the hunt for Dugand’s Antwren, Band-tailed Oropendola, Sapphire-rumped Parrotlet, Olive-striped Antpitta, White-browed Purpletuft, Paradise, Great and Yellow-billed Jacamars, Yellow-browed, Sooty, Bicolored, Lunulated, Spot-winged and Slate-colored Antbirds, Chestnut-belted Gnateater, Collared Antwren, Reddish and Black-spotted Bare-eyes and more. It’s a great place for Manakins, and we’ll visit leks of Band-tailed, Golden-headed, Striped, Blue-backed, Blue-crowned and Wire-tailed. We have even seen Red-billed Ground-Cuckoo here. Local staff will be alert during the night for the song of Nocturnal Currasow and if we here one those who wish can participate in a night-time hunt for this rarely seen species. B:L:D

We’ll move to Explornapo Lodge to-day and for the next 2 days explore the varzea forest and river islands. Species we’ll be looking for include Zimmer’s Woodcreeper, Short-tailed Parrot, Lesser Wagtail Tyrant, Castelnau’s Antshrike, Parker’s and White-bellied Spinetail, Bay and Lesser Hornero’s, Leaden Antwren, Bicolored and Pearly-vented Conebill, Black and White and Ash-breasted Antbirds, Olive-spotted Hummingbird, River Tyrannulet, and more. In varzea forest we’ll look for the recently described Orange-eyed Flycatcher (common), Yellow-crowned Elaenia, Cinnamon Atilla, Dot-backed Antbird, Velvet-fronted Grackle, Black Bushbird, Black-tailed Antbird (a localized endemic), White-chinned Jacamar, Spotted Puffbird, and more. B:L:D

Early morning birding at Explornapo then by boat down the Amazon to Cumaceba Lodge. If time permits we’ll explore transitional floodplain and varzea forest trails. B:L:D

A full days birding at Cumaceba Lodge. This is varzea forest with ox-bow lakes. We’ll be looking here for Red and White Spinetail, Brownish Elaenia, Many-banded, Lettered and Ivory-billed Aracaris, Festive Parrot, Amazonian Barred Woodcreeper, Black-faced Hawk, Agami Heron, Long-billed Woodcreeper, Paradise Jacamar. Yellow-hooded Blackbird,White-eared Jacamar, Cinnamon Attila, Hoatzin and more. Black-tailed Antbirds are common here should we have missed it so far. We should be treated to looks at the Pygmy Marmoset – the worlds smallest primate and Pink River Dolphins should be encountered. Night Cumaceba Lodge. B:L:D

Morning birding at Cumaceba Lodge and in the afternoon by river to bustling Iquitos and our airconditioned hotel close to the banks of the Amazon River. We’ll celebrate with dinner overlooking the bustling central Plaza in Iquitos or the mighty Amazon. B:L:D

Morning birding around Iquitos and midday flight to Lima for connecting flights home. B.L