SCARLET-BANDED BARBET (Northern Birding extention)
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Trip Outline
Nestled between the Ucayali and Huallaga rivers in northern Peru, lies the breathtaking Cordillera Azul National Park. This expansive protected area covers an impressive expanse of land, equivalent in size to North Ireland, and is home to a stunning tropical montane forest.
One of the most fascinating aspects of this park is its isolation from human activity. Due to its unique geographical conditions, the Cordillera Azul National Park has remained largely untouched by human development, allowing for the preservation of its diverse and vibrant ecosystem.
If you’re looking for a truly unique and remote adventure, a visit to Cordillera Azul National Park should be at the top of your list. Not only is it one of the most isolated parks in Peru, but it’s also home to a number of rare and elusive species, including the Scarlet-banded Barbet. This colorful bird is a flagship species of the park and is highly sought after by birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts alike.
But that’s not all! Recently, the Cordillera-azul Antbird and Yungas Woodcreeper were found, adding another layer of intrigue to this already fascinating destination. With its untouched wilderness, diverse wildlife, and breathtaking natural beauty, Cordillera Azul National Park is truly a must-see destination for any adventurous traveler.
Itinerary
Tarapoto to Flor de Cafe
Plataforma (Flor de Cafe) is known for being one of the rare places where you can spot the Scarlet-banded Barbet and for the exciting discovery of a new species of the Myrmoderus genus, the Cordillera Azul Antbird and the still undescribed Yungas Woodcreeper. Although the road to get there used to be difficult, it has recently been improved and is now more accessible. We will start our first day of the birding extention in Tarapoto and spend the morning traveling on a bumpy road. In the afternoon, after lunch, we will search for mixed species flocks and do our first try of the Scarlet-Banded Barbet.
Night in Flor de Cafe
Flor de Cafe (Plataforma)
We have a whole day ahead of us in Plataforma to search for two of Peru's most emblematic and rare endemic species: the Scarlet-banded Barbet. During our exploration of this area, we will also be on the lookout for mixed flocks of tanagers and other special bird species such as Blue-browed & Green-throated Tanager. Additionally Painted, Blue-rumped, Yungas & Jet Manakins, Scarlet-breasted Fruiteater, Gray-tailed Piha, Chestnut-crowned Gnateater, are all very possible here. As the night falls, we may even be rewarded with a sighting of the Foothill Screech-owl and Band-bellied Owl. Night in Flor de Cafe.
Back to Tarapoto
After breakfast, we will do an excursion in the surroundings and try to spot the recently discovered Cordillera-Azul Antbird, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Chestnut-tipped Toucanet, Foothill Schifornis, etc. After lunch we will start our our journey back to Tarapoto. Along the way, we will make stops for birding chances . We will arrive in Tarapoto in the late afternoon, and our services will end there.
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Discover Peru’s Best Bird Watching Locations – Unforgettable Destinations for Bird Lovers
Publicado en Alain K04/12/2025Verificada Thank you, Manakin Expeditions. There were six of us in the van plus Danny and our driver Hilmar. We did the two week southern Peru birding and culture trip except we did not visit Machu Picchu. November is the start of the rainy season, and we had a bit of rain during the first few days. This trip was terrific. There was real mix of lodging situations but all were friendly with comfortable beds and lovely gardens. Danny’s expertise in birding (371 species for us!) Inca culture, and Peruvian history made him a terrific guide for our Peru trip. Hilmar’s driving was expert, too. He usually had to back up around curves with steep sides in order to get past a large truck. There can be nervous-making water crossings during rainy season, too. Hilmar was up to the very delicate task.Publicado en 740janetw17/02/2025Verificada Awesome expedition to birding locations Manakin Expeditions is a wonderful company with an amazing 13 day tour of Northern Peru. Our small group of 4 adults had Danny Vargas as trip leader with his brother as assistant and a driver of the van. This was a great ratio of Guides to Tourists! We traveled from east to west and crossed a variety of habitats and were able to see many diverse birds and animals. The ecolodges were terrific to stay in and the food was great. I highly recommend this company and its staff.Publicado en CtheworldCtheworld26/06/2024Verificada Amazing birding adventure with guide from Manakin Expeditions We were whisked away from Cusco with Danny a few years back for an epic birding adventure prior to the formation of Manakin. I recall that he would hear a bird and identify it while driving, without even seeing the species. We spent time viewing the Cock of the Rock and then we spent almost a week in Manu, exploring the vast and magnificent untouched beauty. We were quite remote and we had the most wonderful time. Danny led a wildlife count each evening accompanied by photos, we played games, ate wonderful food, and basked in the wildness and remoteness of the area. We also stopped in many highland areas to view hummingbirds and ruins. We saw many species of monkeys, saki, tamarin, capuchin troops, spider, woolly monkey (left me breathless), sloth, tapir, caimans, hoatzin, and too many birds to mention. This was one of the most memorable trips I have been on, and I would book time with Danny again in an instant. I always felt safe and he is extremely knowledgeable about all creatures great and small.Publicado en christopherjoel13/06/2024Verificada Great Sights, Great Birds We met Danny Vargas at our beautiful hotel in Cuzco to embark on a trip to the Manu Wilderness Lodge. On the way, Danny had the driver stop several times to see rare birds and we saw a beautiful troop of wooly monkeys. I'm a serious birder and I studied my field guide, "Birds of Peru," for at least a year prior to the trip but Danny proved to be highly competent. I quit keeping notes when I discovered how good Danny was about putting together a list of sightings each evening from memory. We saw the much sought after Andean cock-of-the-rock and Vanessa, a mostly wild tapir. We soon came to share his love of what I call chicken restaurants where chickens come in until the owner chases them out. They're great places to have indigenous Peruvian food.I've had excellent birding guides all over the world and Danny was one of the greatest of the great. I got 176 life birds on my life list, due in no small part to Danny's competence as a birder.Publicado en Janan A02/06/2024Verificada Birding & cultural tour in Peru We went on a birding and cultural tour with Danny as our guide and leader in 2019, when he was working for a different company. Danny is so knowledgeable, engaging, caring, and patient. With Danny's guidance, my birding & photography skills improved. It was the trip of a lifetime. We got to experience diverse ecosystems and encounter rare species that are a part of the delicate web of life specific to each region. We also got to see historic cultural sites, meet artisans and craftspeople, and tour the salt spring and learn about the community. I highly recommend Danny as a guide and trip leader!Publicado en Steven L31/05/2024Verificada Great Day at Abra Malaga I spent an entire day with Danny from Manakin Expeditions. We went to Abra Malaga and had a great day of birding. We saw spectacular vistas and over 31 species. Food was provided which was a nice unexpected surprise.Danny is personable, reliable and knows where to go to find the birds.I wouldn't hesitate to use him again.Publicado en James P15/05/2024Verificada Professional, dedicated, and completely customizable! Danny and the team at Manakin Expeditions are professional and beyond comparison in terms of their ability to create customized tours to suit your individual interests. I took a 16-day tour with Danny that was specifically catered to tracking down an extensive list of target bird species throughout northern Peru, and he put together an amazing itinerary that allowed us to see nearly every bird on my list! His expertise in the field and knowledge on local spots is unparalleled, and his dedication and patience for tracking down even the most elusive birds for a client is impressive. I'm a fairly experienced birder that has had many bird guides around the world and Danny is among the best I've had. The drivers we had were also professional and very friendly. The accommodations and food were great and were picked based on my budget. If you are looking for someone who will go above and beyond to give you a customized experience rather than just a one-size-fits-all bird tour, this is absolutely the company to do it with.Publicado en Alexandra H14/05/2024Verificada Amazing experience! We had an incredible experience with Manakin Expeditions. We were staying in the Sacred Valley and wanted to see some cloud forest birds, so we took a day tour to Abra Malaga. Miguel, who helped us set up the tour, was incredibly helpful. Danny Vargas, our guide, was an expert ornithologist, a conservationist, and a source of knowledge about the Sacred Valley and its surrounds. The tour was both extremely professional and very personalized, and we learned about the birds (and even picked up some birding techniques), the history, and the biology of the area. Our box lunches were delicious, our driver was friendly and professional - just an amazing experience with an extremely professional operation. I would recommend Manakin Expeditions to anyone travelling to the Cusco area or beyond, for any reason, but particularly for those wanting to spot some of Peru's amazing birds.Carga más
Publicado en Robert Shackleton21/12/2025Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. Danny Vargas and his crew hosted six of us for a 13-day trip devoted mainly to birding in the region around Cusco, including Huacarpay, Abra Malaga, Vilcabamba, and Urubamba in the high Andes but also down the Manu road to Manu biological station in the Amazon basin. The travel arrangements, lodging, and food were all excellent. Danny’s expert knowledge not only of the birds and other wildlife but also of the archaeology and history of the region contributed to making the entire trip an extremely entertaining, educational, and memorable experience. The group saw over 370 species of birds altogether, including 44 species of hummingbirds and nearly 30 species of tanagers; and as an aging birder with declining eyesight, I was especially grateful for Danny’s solicitous care in ensuring that every member of the group had a good chance of seeing every bird. In addition to the birding, Danny provided extremely interesting tours of several key Inca sites, including Sacsayhuamán near Cusco as well as Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Vilcabamba. I unreservedly recommend Danny and Manakin Expeditions to anyone planning a similar trip.Publicado en Alberto17/10/2024Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. I recently had the incredible opportunity to visit northern Peru thanks to the expert guidance of Manakin Expeditions. This trip was everything I had hoped for and more! I was able to check off so many lifers from my list, including some of the most sought-after species. Among the highlights were the stunning Marvelous Spatuletail, one of the most unique hummingbirds I’ve ever seen, and several other endemic species that made this trip truly unforgettable. If you're a serious birder looking to expand your list and experience Peru's rich ecosystems, I highly recommend booking with Dannny. They know their birds, and they certainly know how to deliver an exceptional birding adventure!Publicado en Moses M03/06/2024Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. Amazing Birdwatching Tour at Machu Picchu! I recently went on a birdwatching tour at Machu Picchu with Manakin Expeditions, and it was an incredible experience! The organization was flawless, and the guides were extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic about birdlife. We were able to spot a variety of bird species, including some rare and beautiful ones. The backdrop of Machu Picchu made the experience even more magical. The guides shared fascinating insights about the birds and the unique environment of this iconic location.Publicado en Rubén Vargas02/06/2024Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. Our trip to Manu was unforgettable. From the moment we reached out, their responsiveness and attention to detail stood out. We spent five wonderful days in Cusco and then head to Manu, guided by Miguel and Danny. They were attentive to our interests and customized our itinerary, making sure we experienced everything to the fullest. Their dedication truly enhanced our visit.Publicado en Alexandra Heatwole13/05/2024Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. Manakin Expeditions is an incredible operation. Miguel and Danny are knowledgeable and accommodating. Our tour with Danny was a revelation; he is a true birding expert and a conservationist. We learned so much and saw some incredible sights along the way. Anyone booking with Manakin will have an amazing experience.Carga más