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Home / Rain Forest Itineraries /
Special Programs |
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Bird Watching Special Program
8 Days / 7 Nights
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Savings on Lima to Iquitos
air fare: Explorama has access to reduced air fares on LAN Peru and would be
pleased to provide a quote for those planning an Explorama itinerary.
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During 2009 Explorama Lodges is sponsoring weekly Amazon Rainforest Birdwatching Holidays.
These special programs are led by native Amazonian Naturalist Guides and feature Birdwatching from the
Spectacular Amazon Canopy Walkway, the longest walkway of its type in the world. Other habitats
that will be visited range from the Amazon River edge to interior black water lakes and from pastures
and small open fields to environments deep within the Primary Rainforest. Click
here for a list of some of the different species you can see. Each program begins
upon arrival in Iquitos on any Saturday, on any airline flight, all year long!
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Saturday
Upon arrival in Iquitos, you will be met and transferred to the Hotel Dorado Plaza, a 5 star hotel in
the very center of Iquitos. For early arrivals there will be time to walk to the banks of the Amazon to
see your first Amazonian birds. In addition to the ubiquitous Greater Kiskadee and Black Vultures you
are likely to see several of the more common seed finches. In the evening both the Plaza de Armas and
the "Boulevard" are great places to watch people strolling along and imagine yourself as a great rubber
baron. Lunch, Dinner (if arrival flight permits - Overnight Hotel Dorado Plaza) |
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Sunday
After breakfast a short bus ride takes you to the Explorama boat docks. A voyage down the Amazon
(80 KM/50 mi/1½ hrs) takes you to Explorama Lodge where you will have your first exposure to Amazonian
forest birds as you search the camp grounds for the Black-fronted Nunbird and the Thrush-like Wren. Near
the stream where the "La Tahuampa" Bar is located you will likely see habituated Sun Bittern. Scarlet and
Blue and Gold Macaws, some of which have been coming to the feeding station near the dining room for the
Lodge's 40 year existence, will provide some spectacular shots as they fly screaming along the Yanamono
and Yanacaño Streams which pass through the Lodge grounds. After lunch you will hike along the
"Lake Trail" looking for varzea (flood plain) specialists like the Silvered Antbird and Pale-legged
Hornero. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Overnight Explorama Lodge)
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Monday
Before sunrise, take an early morning walk on the Bushmaster Trail in terra firma forest where the highest
diversity of tree species of any location in the world has been discovered. With luck, a mixed flock of
birds feeding over an army ant column will be found. At times these flocks have over 40 species of birds.
After breakfast, you will return to the Bushmaster to hopefully observe Golden-headed and Bearded Manakins
on their display leks. During the afternoon, there will be an open boat trip on the Amazon looking for
river edge species like the Black-collared Hawk, Capped Heron and three species of Kingfishers. We will
also search for both pink and gray freshwater river dolphins commonly found where tributaries of the river
meet. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Overnight Explorama Lodge)
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Tuesday
After breakfast, you will board an Explorama boat for a trip on the Amazon and Napo Rivers (80 KM/50 mi/1½
hrs) to ExplorNapo Lodge. The trails in the 250,000-acre reserve surrounding ExplorNapo are innumerable and
offer an opportunity for birdwatching in almost every rain forest habitat. This is the best location in the
world to see rarities like Nocturnal Currasow and the Black-necked Red Cotinga. This evening you will
enjoy an open boat ride in search of caiman and frogs while listening to the night sounds and, if it is
a clear night, viewing the overwhelming number of stars of the Southern sky. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
(Overnight ExplorNapo Lodge)
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Wednesday
Early morning birding. Morning excursion in open boat and hiking to a black water oxbow lake formed when
water from the Napo River became separated from the main flow of the river. These lakes are often
covered with giant Victoria Regia water lilies and sometimes offer a glimpse of the elusive Hoatzin
bird. Afternoon boating excursion along one of the Napo tributaries spotting for sloth, birding and
having a try at fishing for piranha. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Overnight ExplorNapo Lodge)
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Thursday
Early morning birding walk. Morning hike to Amazon Conservatory Field Station, and the Canopy Walkway,
a suspended bridge spanning 500 meters (one-third of a mile), connected by tree platforms and reaching a
height of over 35 meters (115 feet) above the ground. Here there is time to observe a part of the
rain forest rarely seen by man. Afternoon excursion along the Medicinal and Useful Plants Trail where your
guide will explain the uses of many of the rain forest plants. In the late afternoon you will be up at
canopy level when the birds return to roost and to watch the sunset from the treetops. After dark there
is the opportunity to rediscover the canopy dwellers at night. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Overnight
ACTS Field Station)
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Friday
Departure to the Canopy Walkway in time to welcome the day from high in the treetops, an unforgettable
natural history experience, as mixed species flocks form and their morning chorus begins. Motmots,
woodcreepers, antbirds, flycatchers, barbets, toucans and even Red-Throated Caracara add to the cacophony.
After breakfast you hike out to the Sucusari Stream and board the boat to Ceiba Tops (120 KM/75 miles/2¼ hrs)
where private air conditioned rooms and hot water showers gently ease your way back to civilization. At
Ceiba Tops you may see a Great Potoo on the short walk between the boat dock and the main Ceiba Tops
building. After lunch, you will visit islands that were formed at different times by the meandering
Amazon River forming unique habitats where some species of birds spend their entire lives. Returning to
Ceiba Tops you will travel close to the shore where both gray and pink dolphins are often seen, and,
with luck, there will be a colorful sunset on the Amazon River. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Overnight
Ceiba Tops)
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Saturday
Early morning birdwatching on a short walk to the huge Ceiba Tree for which the lodge is named. Many
organisms spend their entire lives in this single rain forest giant. Depending on your departure flight from
Iquitos, there may be time for an open boat ride on the channels of the Amazon in front of Ceiba Tops
before lunch. Whatever your departure flight, a boat ride will return you to Iquitos (40 KM/25 mi/3/4 hrs)
and then by bus you'll be at the airport in time for your departure flight to Lima. Breakfast, Lunch
(if departure flight permits)
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*Due to the everchanging nature of the rain forest,
day-by-day activities may vary due to local conditions*
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Bird Watching Special Program 8 Days / 7 Nights |
2010 |
$1500.00
per person
| Note: The "Bird Watching Special"
starts any Saturday. |
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2010 Single Room Supplement US $215.00
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