Take a journey into one of the most diverse places for photography. We take you on an adventure along the western coast for shorebirds, to an amazing lagoon along the western slope. Up into the highlands and into the cloud forest for incredible landscapes, bird photography and multi-flash hummingbirds galore. Take many cultural photographs of the local people and see small villages along the way. Take photographs and experience the acient Machu Pichu ruins. This workshop is ideal for all nature lovers, photographers looking for a variety from macro, bird in flight, landscape and hummingbird, tropical birds and mammal photography. Ideal for anyone who is looking to experience South America and its amazing Peruvian culture. 

 

Price: $6995 USD per person. Deposit $2000 Balance due: Mar.01.2017.

May 17- 31 2017.   Workshop Leader: David Hemmings.   Combine Ecuador 1 week prior May 08-15.2017

Flight Destination: Lima, Peru  Arrange flights to Lima on May 17th and depart late PM on May 30, 31 or June 01

Included: All ground transportation, guides and all expert photo instruction. All accommodations and meals. Meals in Lima and any meals other than at the lodges are not included. Includes car fares from Cusco to COTR Lodge and Amazonia to Cusco during the workshop dates. Accommodations based on double occupancy. Single Occupancy rate is available, please inquire.

Not Included: International airfare to place of tour origin, flight to and from Lima to Cusco, Peru. First and last night hotel in Lima. Extra fees for excess baggage. Alcoholic beverages. Additional tips for staff such as guides and lodge staff. Laundry, phone and any other items of a personal nature. 

 

ITINERARY 

For this trip, Natures Photo Adventures, David Hemmings has chosen four specific destinations each one with its own special species and highlights that, when combined, will make for a most exciting and memorable Peru photo adventure!

MAY 17: -DAY 1 – Arrival in Lima.

You will be met by our tour rep and transferred to our hotel for an overnight stay in Lima. Likely we all have late arrival so we will meet in the am for breakfast. Overnight Lima hotel.

 

MAY 18: DAY 2. – Lima to Cusco – HUACARPAY LAGOON

Transfer to airport and reception at the airport in Cusco. In the afternoon we leave Cusco by private car and travel to the Huacarpay Lagoon. This is where we will look for Andean Coot, White-tufted Grebe, many-colored Rush- tyrant, Wren-like Rushbird, Yellow-winged Blackbird, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Sparkling Violetear, Plumbeous Rail and Puna Teal. Around the lagoon grows a plant of the snuff family, which attracts hummingbirds and especially the endemic Bearded Mountaineer and the Giant Hummingbird. We can also walk in the dry areas around the lagoon where you can find more birds as the Andean Flicker, Golden-billed Saltator, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, American Kestrel, Hooded Siskin, the endemic Rusty-fronted Canastero, Band-tailed Seedeater, Black-winged Ground-dove, Spotted-winged Pigeon, Cinereus Harrier, Spot-billed Ground-tyrant, Greenish Yellow-finch and many more. Overnight Cusco Hotel.

 

BOOK YOUR FLIGHT LIMA TO CUSCO – DEPART MAY 18. LA 2049 10:05AM. LAN AIRLINES.

 

MAY 19: DAY 3. – Cusco – Aguas Calientes – MACHU PICCHU Early departure by car to Ollantaytambo and then by train to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival we will walk around Aguas Calientes where we can see Green-and-white Hummingbird,Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Masked Trogon, Ocellated Piculet, White Solitary-eared, Silver-backed Tanager,Highland Elaenia, Torrent Duck, White-capped Dipper, Barred Fruiteater, etc…Then we will go by bus to the Machu Picchu citadel to visit one of the major wonders of the world. We have a tour for two hours and free time to explore. In this area you can see the Inca Wren (Wren Inca) a Cusco endemic bird and common species such as Blue and white Swallow and Rufous-collared Sparrow. In the afternoon we will head back to Aguas Calientes by bus.

Overnight Aguas Calientes.

 

MAY 20: DAY 4. – Aguas Calientes – Cusco. MACHU PICCHU IN THE MORNING.

Before breakfast we will hike around Aguas Calientes, where you can find Mitred Parakeet, Speckled-faced Parrot, Hightland Motmot, Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Long -tailed Sylph, Rust-and-yellow Tanager, Fawnbreasted Tanager, Masked Yellowthroat, Chestnut-capped Brush-finch, Variable Antshrike, Gray-breasted Wood-wren and Flame-faced Tanager, among others. After breakfast look for birds on the road and along the railway line are excellent places to Fasciated Tiger-heron, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Golden-crowned Flycatcher, Sierran Elaenia, Black Phoebe and many more. Overnight Aguas Calientes.

 

MAY 21: DAY 5. – Aguas Calientes – Cusco- OLLANTAYTAMBO

Very early, we can do some hiking near the village and then in our hotel, after lunch we will take our train to Ollantaytambo and then by bus to Cusco. Overnight Cusco Hotel.

.

MAY 22: DAY 6. – Cusco – PAUCARTAMBO- Wayquecha Biological Station

We leave Cusco at 6.00 am in a private car. En route to the village of Paucartambo. Here we can see and

photograph bird species such as Puna Ibis, Andean Flicker, Greenish Yellow-finch and Black-tailed Trainbearer.Then we will reach Acjanaco (3300mts), from where we will start the descent to the lowlands of Manu. We will spend the afternoon birding at high altitudes. Here you can see Andean Pygmy-owl, White-collared Jay, Grassgreen Tanager, Golden-collared Tanager, Hooded Mountain-tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-tanager, Masked Flower piercer, Grey-breasted Mountain-toucan. After lunch we will go down the road to Wayquecha Biological Station, where we will have opportunities to see Scaled Metaltail, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Barred Fruiteater, White-throated Tyrannulet, Ochraceous-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Becard, and maybe Woolly Monkeys, etc. Overnight in Wayquecha Biological Station.

 

MAY 23: DAY 7.  SAN PEDRO AREA. Cock of the Rock Lodge

After the breakfast we will go down the road to San Pedro, we have opportunities to photograph, Goldenheaded Quetzal, Scaled Metaltail, White-bellied Woodstar, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Barred Fruiteater, White-throated Tyrannulet, Ochraceous-breasted Flycatcher, Barred Becard, Black and Chestnut Eagle, Golden-headed Quetzal, Green Jay, White-collared Jay, and maybe Woolly Monkeys, etc... Arrive at the San Pedro area by evening. Overnight in Cock of the Rock Lodge.

 

MAY 24:  DAY 8 –MID-ALTITUDE MOUNTAINS.  Cock of the Rock Lodge

During days 8 & 9 we will see mid-altitude mountain species such as Blue-banded Toucanet, Olive-backed

Woodcreeper, Montane Woodcreeper, Montane Foliage-gleaner, Crested Quetzal, Amazonian Umbrellabird, Variable Antshrike, Paradise Tanager, Golden Tanager, Dusky-green Oropendola, and Versicolored Barbet. In this area you can also see two species of primates and other mammals such as squirrels and Tayra. In the gardens of the Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge can see and photograph a variety of hummingbirds as Green-fronted Lancebill, Wedge-Billed Hummingbird, Violet-Fronted Brilliant, Booted Racket-tail and Wire-Crested Thorntail, among others. In the afternoon (first day) we will go to the lek of the Andean Cock-of-the-Rock to watch the males during their display. The first hours of the second day will be used in walking the trails of the lodge in search of Antbirds, Antshrikes and Antpittas. We will return to the lodge for breakfast and spend the morning in the garden (The order of these activities can be changed depending on the weather). In the afternoon we will continue looking for birds from the road or return to the lek if necessary. Overnight and meals at the Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge.

 

MAY 25: DAY 9 –MID ALTITUDE MOUNTAINS. Cock of the Rock Lodge. Same as above.  Overnight, meals Cock of the Rock Lodge.

 

MAY 26: DAY 10- GO TO THE AMAZON, BOAT DOWN THE AMAZON RIVER to Amazonia Lodge

Very early we continue the decline in vehicle. In this path we can see species of lowlands and secondary forest as Swallow Tanager, Turquoise Tanager, Green-and-gold Tanager, Blue-crowned Trogon, Bat Falcon, Goldencollared Honeycreeeper, Speckled Chachalaca, White-rumped Hawk and Black Solitary Eagle. At noon we arrive at the port of Atalaya where we will continue our journey in a boat with outboard motor. After about thirty minutes by boat, we reach the path leading to the Amazonia Lodge where we will use the remaining light available to see some local birds and mammals. Dinner. Overnight at Amazonia Lodge.

 

MAY 27: DAY 11 -AMAZON AREA

We will spend two days in the Amazonia Lodge to explore the different trails and areas around the lodge. The terrain of this lodge includes different habitats, which gives us good opportunities to photograph birds such as Great Antshrike, Royal Flycatcher, Chestnut-eared Aracari, Spangled Cotinga, Ringed Woodpecker, Amazon Kingfisher, Green Kingfisher and many others. In addition, the lodge has a large garden where you can find the Golden-tailed Sapphire, Blue-tailed Emerald, Rufous-Crested Coquette, Green Hermit, Violet-headed Hummingbird, Gould´s Jewelfront, Fork-tailed Woodnymph, Black-tailed Trogon, Lemon-throated Barbet, Scarlet-hooded Barbet and Ivory-billed Araçari. We can also do a night walk in search of the Great Potoo, Spectacled Owl and Common Pauraque. Overnight and meals at the Amazonia Lodge.

 

MAY 28: DAY 12: LEAVE THE AMAZON. BOAT DOWN THE AMAZON. TRAVEL TO ATALAYA.

Very early we continue our trip by boat to Atalaya and then by car to Cock of the Rock Lodge. We arrive

before noon to have opportunities to photograph hummingbirds in the garden of the lodge and we can make a ride on the road in search of new species. Overnight Cock of the Rock Lodge.

 

MAY 29: DAY 14.-COCK OF THE ROCK AND TRAVEL BACK TO CUSCO

Very early we continue our trip by car to Cusco and we can make some stops on the route to photograph some birds like the mountain tanagers. Overnight Cusco.

 

MAY 30: DAY 15 – Cusco to LIMA  (LAN Airlines) End of workshop 

MAY 31: DAY 16-  LIMA fly home. 

 

Additional travel information: 

220 volt electricity

Altitude sickness is possible in certain areas. Coca tea or pills will help with this.

Drink plenty of bottled water.

Valid passport required to enter Peru.

Nuevo Sol is the local currency, U.S dollars are widely accepted at most shops and restaurants.

Exchange agencies and banks are abundant.

ATM machines in most cities.

Hospitals and clinics are modern and well equipped.

We recommend trip and health insurance. 

Please read our Refund Policy.