The Amazon River Birding Route

In the following we present you 2 Programs our Travel partners Amazon River Expeditions:

- 3 days program - Birdwatching at Allpahuayo Mishana Reserve
- 7 days program - Birdwatching at Pacaya Samiria Reserve

The Allpahuayo Mishana National Reserve

- 21 bird species have been found to be associated with white-sand forests in this Reserve.
- 6 new species of birds have been discovered. Allpahuayo-Mishana contains one of the highest biodiversities known in the Amazon basin. Many of these species are white-sand specialties and are therefore exceedingly rare, due to the scarcity of white-sand forests in Peru.

Day 1: Lima / Iquitos
Reception at Jose Secada Vigneta International Airport and transportation to your hotel. Lunch in the afternoon then to Quistococha Lagoon to observe a variety of birds in and around the areas of the flooded woodlands. This activity will take place around the Lagoon area and will last approximately 2 hours. The range of Amazonian Parrotlet, formerly known only from southeast Peru, was greatly extended north by sightings here. The palm swamps and surrounding area have Lesser Swallow-tailed, Swift, Point-tailed Palm creeper and Sulphury Flycatcher, Olivaceus Wood creeper, Lettered Aracari, Chestnut-eared Aracari, White-lored Euphonia, Redeyed Vireo.
Hollow palm trees are used by other birds such as Short-tailed Swifts to breed or roost. On your way back to Iquitos, check in open areas with soaring Black Vultures, Zone-tailed Hawk and Pearl Kites. Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Iquitos.

Day 2: Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve (RNAM) / Zungarococha Lagoon
Wake up time is 4:15 am. Breakfast snack. The excursion leaves for the reserve via the Iquitos - Nauta Highway to Kilometre 25.
5:30 am - Start the expedition with a bird expert from Allpahuayo-Mishana. Talk given explaining the differences between the various environments, dirt, sand and vegetation. From at least 100 metres from the highway you can already observe approximately 15 - 20 species of birds, among them there will be nocturnal birds and other nocturnal animals such as amphibians and monkeys.
Then a hike down a jungle path to an observation post where you will be able to observe birds such as the Ancient Ant wren, Gray-legged Tinamou, The Mishana Tyrannulet, Northern Chestnut-tailedant bird, Pompadour Cotinga, Allpahuayo Ant bird and the new Iquitos Gnatcatcher described recently (Poliotila clementsi), Bronw-banded Puff bird, Citron-belied Attila, Safron-crested Tyram-Manakin, Yellow-throated Flycatcher.
The tour continues by hiking along jungle paths and if you are lucky you will be able to observe the Monk Saki Monkey (Pithecia aequatorialis).
The excursion returns to the highway and is transported to comfortable Zungarococha Lodge to rest and have lunch in the lodge's restaurant. The forest clearing at the Zungarococha Lodge provides some good birding, as trees at the lake edge have Orange-crowned Manakin, the rare Amazonian Scrub-Flycatcher and Black-crested Antshrike. Keep scanning for Pied Puffbird perched on exposed branches. The palm swamps in the area, harbor Point-tailed Palm creeper and Sulphury Flycatcher.
Overnight at Zungarococha Lodge.

Day 3: Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve / Iquitos City
4:15 am (approximately) - Wake up time - Breakfast snack. Excursion leaves for the Allpahuayo-Mishana Reserve. Continue looking for the new species including the Iquitos Gnatcatcher and other white-sand specialists.
Return to the highway and be transported to Iquitos. Lunch. Transfer to the Airport or transfer to the Yanamono Rainforest. Dinner and overnight in the Heliconia Lodge.

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Day 1: Iquitos / Lodge
Reception at the airport. Transfer to Pacaya - Samiria Amazon Lodge. During the trip, we will observe herons, birds of prey and riverine birds. Chance to see the Black skimmer. Lunch. In the afternoon then travel to an observation structure, an ideal place to observe birds in the forest canopy, like the Paradise Tanager, Hooded Hanager, Opal-crowned Tanager, Masked crimson Tanager, Plum-throated Cotinga, various species of Flycatcher, parrots, like the Canary-winged parakeet and Short-tailed parrot and possibly macaws. Dinner and briefing about the activities of the next day. Night at Pacaya Samiria Amazon Lodge.

Day 2: Lodge / River islands
Bird watching. Walk along primary rainforest trails that surround the lodge (terra firme) to observe under story birds, like the Blue-crowned, Wire-tailed and Golden headed Manakin, Trogons, like the Blackthroated Trogon and various species of Antbirds. Lunch. In the afternoon, the the excursion concentrates on river island birds, like the White-headed Marsh Tyrant, Lesser-wagtail Tyrant, etc. Dinner and briefing about the activities of the next day. Night at psal.

Day 3: Nauta creek / Lodge
Early morning breakfast. Departure to the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve (pscr). Boat excursion to Nauta creek and the surrounding lakes, an area rich in birds. Chance to observe different kind of Kingfishers, like the Amazon ringed, green and rufous Kingfisher and the spectacular American pygmy Kingfisher. Also, Wattled Jacanas and Anhingas. In the surrounding forest, we will observe mixed flocks of Tanagers and Chesnut-eared Aracani, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, Spangled Cotinga, Lemonthroated Barbet, etc. Lunch. In the afternoon, while we are searching for birds, we will visit a riverside village to learn about the local people way of life. Return to the lodge. Dinner an briefing about the activities of the next day. Night at Pacaya Samiria Amazon Lodge.

Day 4, 5 y 6: Yarina River
During days 4, 5 and 6, the excursion explores the Yanayacu River area, in the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve. Activities consist of treks in terra firme, varzea and flooded forest, night excursions in search of nocturnal birds and also boat excursions to lakes and creeks. This area has been recently opened to tourism so the fauna and flora is more abundant than in other areas. Accommodation is in tents, in river beaches or in the forest. Chance to observe Gray and Pink Dolphins, different species of primates, river turtles, sloth, etc. In relation to birds, there is the opportunity to observe the Horned Screamer, Black-collared Hawk, Jabirus Storks, Wood storks, Roseate Spoonbill, Pied Lapwig; Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Blue and Yellow Macaws and the Yellow-billed Tern. In the forest the excursion aims to find the endemic Black Bushbird, Rufouscapped Antthrush, Tropical Gnatcatcher and Yellow billed Jacamar, among others. Return to the lodge on the afternoon of day 6.

Day 7: Lodge / Iquitos
Free morning to relax or Bird watching in the lodge area. Lunch. Return to the city of Iquitos Transfer to airport.

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