Daily Departures
Per Person Prices:$825 based on Single Occupancy
Per Person Prices:$667 based on Double or Triple occupancy
Note: We require minimum two passengers traveling
together If single traveler ask for the supplement.
This location provides the world’s best Andean Cock-of-the-Rock
viewing in a pristine cloud forest reserve. The Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge is
located in the magical Manu cloud forest on the lush eastern slopes of the
Andes, and is part of the Tropical Nature conservation system.
It has 12 comfortable, double-occupancy bungalows, with hot
showers, flush toilets and private balconies overlooking the cloud forest. Just
minutes’ walk from the lodge, the world's largest, most accessible and tamest
known group of displaying Andean Cocks-of-the-Rock awe and delight visitors with
their twice-daily courting antics. Cock of the Rock Lodge
Cloud Forest, Peru
3 days / 2 nights
The Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge is located at 1600 m/ 5200 ft elevation in the
Kosñipata Valley, 165 km/102 miles by road from Cusco, and situated within the
5,060 ha/12,500-acre cloud forest reserve of the conservation group Peru Verde.
We take just 7 to 8 hours by bus from Cusco to reach the peace and simple
comfort of this lodge -- although many groups are so entralled by the magical
diversity of what the world's leading bird tour company has called "the best
road in the world", that they spend a bit longer.
It has 12 comfortable, double-occupancy bungalows, with hot showers, flush
toilets and private balconies overlooking the cloud forest. Just minutes walk
from the lodge, the world's largest, most accessible and tamest known group of
displaying Andean Cocks-of-the-Rock awe and delight visitors with their
twice-daily courting antics.
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.
.
INCLUDES: All hotel and lodge accommodations
based on double or single occupancy. All scheduled land, lake and river
transportation. All transfers. All scheduled excursions with English-speaking
guide services. All entrance fees. Meals as specified in the itinerary. B=Breakfast;
L=Lunch; D=Dinner.
NOT INCLUDED IN THE FEE
International or domestic airfares, airport departure taxes or visa fees, excess
baggage charges, additional nights during the trip due to flight cancellations,
alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages or bottled water, snacks, insurance of any
kind, laundry, phone calls, radio calls or messages, reconfirmation of
international flights and items of personal nature.
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