4 DAYS / 3 NIGHTS EXCLUSIVE BIRDING EXPEDITION
YARAPA RIVER, AMAZON JUNGLE, PERU
$489 Per Person
Based on a group of 2 people minimum
Discover the heart of the Peruvian Amazon on a 4-day birdwatching expedition through the serene and wildlife-rich Yarapa River, one of the most biodiverse areas near Iquitos. This journey is designed for passionate birders, photographers, and nature lovers who seek close encounters with the region’s astonishing avian diversity — in comfort, privacy, and harmony with nature.
Guided by professional local ornithologists and native trackers, you’ll explore a mosaic of flooded forests, river channels, and oxbow lakes, where each sunrise brings the songs and colors of the Amazon alive.
Day 1 – Arrival and First Encounters
Your adventure begins in Iquitos, where you’ll be picked up and transferred to Nauta, followed by a scenic boat ride into the Yarapa River. After lunch at the eco-lodge, we embark on your first afternoon birding excursion along the riverbanks.
Enjoy the calm waters and the first sightings of the Amazon’s remarkable avifauna as the jungle awakens to the sounds of dusk.
Birds you may spot:
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Capped Heron (Pilherodius pileatus)
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Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata)
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Black-collared Hawk (Busarellus nigricollis)
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Greater Ani (Crotophaga major)
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Yellow-headed Caracara (Milvago chimachima)
Day 2 – Sunrise Birding and Rainforest Trails
Wake up early for a sunrise birding session, when the forest is most active and colorful. Navigate the Yarapa’s narrow creeks and flooded forests as parrots, macaws, and herons emerge from their roosts.
After breakfast, explore jungle trails on foot, guided by your ornithologist who will help identify elusive species and interpret calls from the dense canopy. Afternoon canoe rides provide ideal angles for bird photography.
Birds you may spot:
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Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna)
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White-throated Toucan (Ramphastos tucanus)
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Black-faced Antbird (Myrmoborus myotherinus)
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White-fronted Nunbird (Monasa morphoeus)
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Agami Heron (Agamia agami)
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Amazonian Umbrellabird (Cephalopterus ornatus)
Day 3 – Deep Forest Birding and Canopy Observation
After an early breakfast, you’ll set out on a full-day birding expedition deep into the Yarapa River basin, navigating through remote channels and flooded forest habitats rarely visited by others. This day focuses exclusively on discovering rare and endemic Amazonian bird species that inhabit the upper and mid-canopy levels.
We’ll use both motorized boats and silent paddled canoes to approach bird flocks without disturbance. Later, a short hike leads to a natural observation platform, offering panoramic views of the forest canopy — ideal for spotting parrots, tanagers, woodpeckers, and raptors in flight.
After lunch in the field, continue exploring new sections of the Yarapa, documenting species with the help of your guide’s high-powered scope. As the afternoon light softens, capture stunning photographs of herons, kingfishers, and colorful trogons perched above the river.
Evening offers the option of a nocturnal birding outing, where you may encounter nightjars, potoos, and owls calling under the Amazon stars.
Birds you may spot:
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Paradise Tanager (Tangara chilensis)
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Cream-colored Woodpecker (Celeus flavus)
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Channel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos vitellinus)
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White-plumed Antbird (Pithys albifrons)
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Scarlet-crowned Barbet (Capito aurovirens)
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Slate-colored Hawk (Buteogallus schistaceus)
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Great Potoo (Nyctibius grandis)
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Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata)
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Hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin)
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Horned Screamer (Anhima cornuta)
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Black-capped Donacobius (Donacobius atricapilla)
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Rufescent Tiger Heron (Tigrisoma lineatum)
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Green Ibis (Mesembrinibis cayennensis)
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Masked Crimson Tanager (Ramphocelus nigrogularis)
Day 4 – Final Observation and Return to Iquitos
Early morning is perfect for one last birding session before returning to civilization. The forest comes alive as the light filters through the mist — a magical setting for closing your expedition with stunning photos and final sightings.
After breakfast and packing, you’ll begin the journey back to Nauta and then to Iquitos, arriving in the afternoon.
Birds you may spot:
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Collared Trogon (Trogon collaris)
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Ivory-billed Aracari (Pteroglossus azara)
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Amazonian Kingfisher (Chloroceryle amazona)
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Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus)
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Dusky-chested Flycatcher (Myiozetetes luteiventris)
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Lineated Woodpecker (Dryocopus lineatus)
