The Amazon River Birding Route

In the following, we present you one programme of our travel partner Amazon River Expeditions:

- 3 days programme - Birdwatching at Allpahuayo-Mishana Reserve

The Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve

21 bird species have been found to be associated with white-sand forests in this reserve. Six 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 birds and are therefore exceedingly rare, due to the scarcity of white-sand forests in Peru.

Day 1: Lima / Iquitos
Reception at José Secada Vigneta International Airport and transportation to your hotel. Lunch in the afternoon, then transfer to the 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 watched only in Southeast Peru, was greatly extended northwards by sightings here. The palm swamps and surrounding area dispose of the following birds: Lesser Swallow-tailed bird, Swift, Point-tailed Palm creeper and Sulphury Flycatcher, Olivaceus Wood creeper, Lettered Aracari, Chestnut-eared Aracari, White-lored Euphonia and Red-eyed Vireo. On your way back to Iquitos, keep your eyes open to observe the Soaring Black Vulture, 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 at 4:15 am. Breakfast snack. The excursion leads you to the reserve via the Iquitos - Nauta Highway to Kilometre 25. At 5:30 am start of the expedition with a bird expert from Allpahuayo-Mishana. He will give explanations concerning the differences between the various environments and vegetation. From at least 100 metres distance from the highway you can already observe approximately 15 - 20 species of birds, among them there will be nocturnal birds and animals such as amphibians and monkeys. Then you undertake 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, the recently discovered Iquitos Gnatcatcher (Poliotila clementsi), Brown-banded Puff bird, Citron-belied Attila, Safron-crested Tyram-Manakin and Yellow-throated Flycatcher. The tour continues with a hike along jungle paths and if you are lucky, you will be able to observe the Monk Saki Monkey (Pithecia aequatorialis). You return to the highway and transfer to the comfortable Zungarococha Lodge to rest and have lunch in the lodge's restaurant. The forest clearing at the Zungarococha Lodge provides some good bird watching opportunities, as trees at the lake edge are inhabited by Orange-crowned Manakins, the rare Amazonian Scrub-Flycatcher and the Black-crested Antshrike. Keep scanning also for the Pied Puffbird, perched on exposed branches. Overnight at the Zungarococha Lodge.

Day 3: Allpahuayo-Mishana National Reserve / Iquitos City
4:15 am (approximately) wake up time and breakfast snack. The excursion leaves for the Allpahuayo-Mishana Reserve. You will look for the new species including the Iquitos Gnatcatcher and other white-sand specialists. Return to the highway to be transported to Iquitos. Lunch. Transfer to the airport or to the Yanamono rainforest.

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