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Explorama Lodges is sponsoring weekly Amazon Rainforest Birdwatching
Holidays. These holidays 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.
Each program begins upon arrival in Iquitos on any Saturday, on any
airline flight, all year long!
Day 1 : (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.
Overnight at Dorado Plaza Hotel. (L, D) (If departure flight permits)
Day 2 : (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 campgrounds 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
38 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.
Overnight at Explorama Lodge. (B, L, D)
Day 3 : (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. Overnight at Explorama Lodge. (B, L, D)
Day 4 : (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
rainforest 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.
Overnight at ExplorNapo Lodge. (B, L, D)
Day 5 : (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.
Overnight at ExplorNapo Lodge. (B, L, D)
Day 6 : (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 rainforest rarely seen by man. Afternoon excursion
along the Medicinal and Useful Plants Trail where your guide will
explain the uses of many of the rainforest 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. Overnight at Amazon
Conservatory Field Station. (B, L, D)
Day 7 : (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. Overnight at Ceiba Tops. (B, L, D)
Day 8 : (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 rainforest 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. (B, Lunch if flight travel permits)
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