The Explorer’s Inn can stake a strong claim to being the best birdwatching base in the world, with more bird species recorded in the forest around the lodge than any other area of equivalent size on Earth.
Needless to say, ornithologists have carried out much detailed research around the Inn and have sighted a total of 620 bird species, including 20 parrots, 18 hummingbirds, seven trogons, 12 puffbirds, 10 tinamous, eight toucans, 17 woodpeckers, 19 woodcreepers, 37 birds of prey, 30 furnariids, 52 antbirds and 90 tyrant flycatchers, as well as rare species such as as Agami and Zigzag Herons, Starred Wood-Quail, Sungrebe, Sunbittern, Razor-billed Curassow, Hoatzin, Spectacled Owl, Spangled and plum-throated Cotingas, Casqued Oropendola and Paradise Tanager. Macaws are easily sighted and visits to clay licks, where the macaws gather, are a basic item on the itinerary of any visitor to the Inn.
The standard birdwatching programme at the Explorer’s Inn is a two-night trip accompanied by naturalist guides, and is aimed principally at those looking for a rapid jungle experience as part of a longer trip to Peru. But for committed birdwatchers, we would suggest longer, probably at least a week, in order to have a chance to observe the amazing variety of birds in the area around the lodge.
With a one week stay you can expect to spot between 200 and 300 different species, depending on the knowledge you bring and the time you devote while at the Inn, and will probably witness a reasonable sample of the many families around the Inn. With this time you will see most of the common birds while also having enough time to spot some of the rarer species.
Red and Green Macaw (close-up) 5
Red-brocket Deer 2009-04-09
