Description
• Day 1 – ARRIVE LIMA, PERU
Arrive in Lima and transfer to hotel, located in the city’s exclusive Miraflores residential district. Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel, Lima.
• Day 2 – PUERTO MALDONADO
(9:00 am): We fly to the port city of Puerto Maldonado (1 hour 40 minutes) also called Tambopata, in southeastern Peru. It lies at the confluence of the Tambopata and Madre de Dios rivers, at 840 feet/256 meters above sea level in the hot, humid rain forest known as the selva (jungle).
We will go to Posada Amazonas Lodge in a transfer (1 hour).
Posada Amazonas Lodge, Hotel Puerto Maldonado. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Photography: Landscape
• Day 3 – PUERTO MALDONADO
(7:00 am): Going to the giant river requires an early start, and as soon as we get started, we’ll have opportunities to see wildlife, particularly giant otters. This beautiful place is home to black caiman, squirrel monkeys, and many species of birds.
To get there, we will have to walk to the river, a boat will wait for us, and we will make a short 15-minute trip upriver. Finally, walk 25 to 30 minutes to reach the lake. Once there, we will paddle a comfortable catamaran in search of all kinds of wildlife and of course, the family of giant river wolves as our main objective. This place in itself is beautiful and is home to different species of wildlife such as the Black Cayman, many kinds of birds, and monkeys such as squirrel monkeys.
(14:00-15:00pm): In the afternoon, our Island Exploration will include rare birds and fierce reptiles. In the middle of the Tambopata River, we will visit a small island with rich first-growth forest, including native bamboo groves, that is home to unique wildlife. Later, from a platform in the middle of a tiny pond, we will watch for fish, frogs, turtles, birds, and even caiman.
Posada Amazonas Lodge, Hotel Puerto Maldonado. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
• Day 4 – PUERTO MALDONADO, CUSCO
(11:00 am): We fly to Cusco (3 hours40 minutes) and arrive at Palacio Nazarenas, where we can rest and relax.
(16:00-17:00 pm): Located in the heart of the majestic Inca city of Cusco, Tunupa offers an impressive view of the main square and its surroundings.
Open your senses with its recipes and exotic fusion of flavors, accompanied by an artistic exhibition of Pre-Inca culture in the gallery of the restaurant/museum.
Palacio Nazarenas, a Belmond Hotel, Cusco. Breakfast, lunch.
• Day 5 – CUSCO, MANU NATIONAL PARK
(6:00-7:00 am): We will make an early start from the city of Cusco, traveling overland through an Andean landscape of picturesque valleys, high Andean grasslands, and small rural communities. The bird species in this part of the Andes include the mountain caracara, Puna ibis, and Andean flicker. On the approach to the village of Paucartambo, we will pass the pre-Inca burial towers built by the ancient Lupaca culture. In Paucartambo there will be time to appreciate the tranquil beauty of this charming village, visit the local church, and photograph the splendid colonial-era Carlos V Bridge.
Leaving this community behind, we cross the high pass at Acjanaco (12,630 feet/3,850 meters), where we will enter Manu National Park and witness amazing views of the scenery below. The road here descends through Andean grasslands rich in birdlife, to the cloud forest, which we will reach in the afternoon.
This fascinating ecosystem is home to Peru’s national bird, the Andean cock-of-the-rock, as well as crested and golden quetzals, blue-crowned motmots, gray-breasted mountain toucans, numerous species of butterflies, and many kinds of ferns and colorful orchids. You will spend a comfortable first night in the cloud forest at our Paradise Lodge, at 4,821 feet/1,470 meters.
Driving distance: 181 km / 113 miles (5–6 hours).
Paradise Lodge. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Photography: Landscape, culture, wildlife
• Day 6 – MANU NATIONAL PARK
(6:00-7:00 am): After a good night’s rest, we will depart before breakfast to observe how the male cocks-of-the-rock form large groups called “leks” to perform an elaborate courtship ritual designed to attract females. We will then return to the lodge for an excellent breakfast, before setting off for Pillcopata and eventually reaching the port of Atalaya.
During this drive we will pass plantations of manioc, papaya, pineapple, and coca leaves, and will be on the lookout for local fauna, such as howler monkeys and brown Capuchin monkeys, as well as birds such as spix guans, plumbeous kites, and black vultures.
In Atataya we will board a boat for a short ride downriver to our lodge on the banks of the Rio Madre de Dios. The lodge is surrounded by a network of excellent trails where numerous species can be seen.
(21:00-22:00 pm): After dinner there will be an option to do a night hike on the trails surrounding the lodge, in search of the nocturnal species that abound here in the Amazon including Rainbow Boas, Poison Dart Frogs, Night Monkeys, and many other species. Driving distance: 71.6 km / 44.8 miles (2 hours).
Paradise Lodge. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Photography: Landscape, flora, wildlife, rare birds
• Day 7 – MANU NATIONAL PARK (AMAZON BASIN, CLAY LICK, OXBOW LAKE)
(9:00-10:00 am): One of the highlights of a trip to the Peruvian rainforest is an early-morning visit to the parrot clay lick. You will never forget watching hundreds of Cuvier’s toucans, red and green macaws, blue headed parrots and other species gather at the mineral-rich riverbank clay deposit, where their noisy feeding is a kaleidoscope of colors.
After breakfast we will visit a nearby Oxbow Lake where you might observe hoatzins, horned screamers, Amazon kingfishers, caracaras, solitary eagles, great black hawks, king vultures, cormorants, roseate spoonbills, Orinoco geese, and numerous other species. The remainder of the morning will be spent searching for birds on the trails surrounding the lodge.
(14:00-15:00 pm): After lunch we will take a boat back to Atalaya, where our car will be waiting to take you back to Paradise Lodge in comfort. Driving distance: 71.6 km / 44.8 miles (2 hours).
Paradise Lodge. Breakfast, lunch, dinner.
Photography: Landscape, flora, wildlife, rare birds
• Day 8 – MANU NATIONAL PARK, CUSCO
(6:00-7:00 am): This will be your last day in the forest, and it will begin with another chance to observe the fascinating mating behavior of the cock-of-the-rock. After breakfast we will board our private bus for the return trip to Cusco. Beyond the village of Paucartambo, we will continue on the road that follows the Qenqomayo River as far as Colquepata, before ascending to the high pass at Apacheta (13,448 feet/4,100 meters). From the pass the road drops into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. There will be plenty of time to make stops along the way to enjoy the scenery and appreciate the traditional way of life of the typical Andean villages dotted along the route. This route also offers an excellent view of the spectacular Inca archaeological ruins of Pisac.
Driving distance: 192 km / 120 miles (6 hours).
Palacio Nazarenas, a Belmond Hotel, Cusco. Breakfast, lunch.
Photography: Landscape, culture, wildlife, rare birds
• Day 9 – CUSCO, LIMA
(7:00-11:00 am): Return to Lima for your flight (1 hour 25 minutes) home.
✔ Flight inside Peru
✔ All hotel accommodations
✔ Meals
✔ Access to locations
✔ Transportation throughout tour
✔ Vehicle foe the expeditions
✔ Photographic instruction throughout tour
✔ Photography classes
✔ Alcoholic beverages for lunch
✔ All applicable taxes
✔ Airfare to/from Peru
✔ Personal items (laundry, souvenirs, etc.)
✔ Gratuities for lead photographer and guide
✔ Dinner in Cusco
Clothing
✔ To blend in with the environment and not attract attention, do not dress in bright colors, like red or yellow. We suggest camouflage shades of brown, light brown, gray and green.
✔ Waterproof jacket
✔ Hiking shoes (waterproof)
✔ Hiking socks
✔ Hiking pants
✔ Thick fleece or down jacket
✔ Hat
✔ Sunscreen, lip balm, and sunglasses
✔ Backpack
✔ Bathing suit
✔ Flip flops
Photographic equipment
✔ Single-lens reflex camera (any brand), one wide angle lens, one zoom of 300 mm or more
✔ Memory cards
✔ Back up battery for the camera
✔ Tripod
✔ Shutter release cable
✔ Laptop with photo editing software installed (optional)
✔ Binoculars
✔ Flashlight
✔ Plastic bag for your phone
✔ External hard drive (recommended: Western digital 1 TB)
✔ One or two people – a 60% deposit is required at time of reservation, with balance due 60 days before the trip date.
✔ Three or more people – a 75% deposit is required at time of reservation, with balance due 60 days before the trip date.
✔ Deposit is non-refundable.
✔ If the photo workshop is full and someone from the waiting list can take your spot, your deposit will be fully refunded.
✔ We are not responsible for cancellations due to medical or other reasons.
✔ If severe weather requires cancellation, the tour will be rescheduled to the following season.
✔ No fees will be refunded if you withdraw after the photo workshop begins.
