Wayqecha Cloud Forest Birding Lodge
Kilometer 39 of the Paucartambo-Pillcopata Road, Paucartambo Peru
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#2 of 2 Specialty lodging in Paucartambo
Location
4.9
Cleanliness
5.0
Service
4.9
Value
4.7
This 1,400-acre property is a protective buffer to Manu National Park. Explore 9+ miles of forest trails and see where the Andean grasslands transition into lush cloud forests and montane forests below, with over 200 listed bird species to see along the way. Just 3.5 hours northeast of Cusco—via a spectacular drive through the snow-capped Andes. We can arrange for a private vehicle with an experienced driver. 6 new cabins offer perfect views of clouds rolling across the Andes, and feature comfortable beds, private bathroom, a table and chair, as well as a luggage and clothes rack.
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Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
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Kilometer 39 of the Paucartambo-Pillcopata Road, Paucartambo Peru
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We just arrived late as expected but the staff awaited our arrival in the middle of the night. As tour guide and operator, I am quite impressed by the service They offers a friendly atmosphere. The lodge location it's quite privileged as known , it's nice feeling to be surrounded by the andean mountains and colorful birds. Thanks for all your dedication !
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Date of stay: September 2021Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
1 Helpful vote
Helpful
We were recommended Wayqecha by an Amazon Conservation Association colleague, for its setting, the birding and its mission, which supports ACCA Peru in conservation efforts. 4 family members including 2 senior citizens with mobility concerns stayed at Wayqecha for 3 nights in December 2019. The lodge staff and our guide and driver were very helpful and accommodating with our needs. We spent a full day birding the road down into the valley and it was a legendary as expected. We also did the orchid trail, canopy walk and spent time just enjoying the frenzy of hummingbirds at the lodge feeders; all of these activities were accessible and enjoyed by the whole party. We were only in Peru for 2 weeks, but the cloud forest ecosystem captured my heart. The epiphytes, diminutive flowers, dripping lichen, rushing streams, drifting clouds and bird life (which is not nearly as difficult to see as in the lowland jungle) were a flora and fauna wonderland. Thank you ACA, ACCA and Wayqecha staff for showing us this little gem. I only wish we had had time to stay at the other properties.…
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Date of stay: December 2019
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
We spent three days here and had a great time enjoying nature and bird-watching. The lodge is perched above a cloud forest valley, very scenic. We had some excellent meals, and enjoyed walking along several of the trails.
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Date of stay: October 2019Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Just an overnight stay! The rooms are in cabins situated in the grounds, the restaurant is in a newer building(could do with having toilets near this). Free tea, coffee, chocolate available all day! Room 2 has a view over the valley. It gets very cold at night, beds have sheets, blankets, duvet, spare blanket and a hot water bottle! Shower had plenty of hot water. Breakfast was cereal, eggs, fruit, bacon and plenty of fresh coffee, dinner was lovely, delicious soup, beef with plenty of fresh vegetables, amazing! Electricity in rooms from 1800 - 2100. Staff were lovely.
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Date of stay: September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
Great setting in a cloud forest. Numerous trails for exploration, orchid trail, canopy walk...much to keep us busy. Well placed cabins allowed for enjoying the cloud forest and the mixed flocks of birds that came by. Electricity is limited and the lights go out at 9pm. Beautiful road with waterfalls and wonderful flora and fauna. Being at high altitude, it does get a bit chilly.
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Date of stay: June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
+1
The 1450 acre reserve around Wayqecha Biological Station is a biodiversity hotspot where treeless plains of the altiplano meet cloud forest. Wayqecha sits at 2950m above sea level, atop a steep slope that drops off sharply into the valley below. We stayed here for two nights during a recent birding trip to Peru, and wish we could have stayed for a year! Everyone comes here for the birding, but there is so much to do and see here apart form that. The cabins are comfortable and have magnificent views over the valleys below, and the recently refurbished common room is stunning; like something in a high-end safari lodge. The food was excellent, and the staff all friendly and extremely knowledgable. The scenery is truly wonderful; we took countless photos in the two days we were there! Wayqecha was a wonderful introduction to the famous Manu Road!…
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Date of stay: September 2018Trip type: Traveled with friends
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Room Tip: All the cabins share the wonderful views of the valleys below and the mountains around.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
+1
Tucked just below one of the mountain switchbacks on the upper Manu Road, The Wayqecha Cloud Forest Biological Station & Birding Lodge is the perfect (and only) place for tourists to observe the flora and fauna of Manu's high-elevation zones: puna grasslands, elfin forest, and cloud forest. On a clear day you can look out from the dining hall and see the Pini Pini mountains and distant Amazon lowlands below, and late in the day, a majestic rolling sea of clouds rises up the valley. The main lodge & dining hall is shared between researchers and tourists. It's modern, bright, and spacious, with lots of info boards and reading materials inside about the research and wildlife possibilities on site. The staff seemed small, but did a great job. The hot, home-cooked Peruvian meals were fantastic, with convenient to-go options if you'll be out all day exploring. The wood-framed tourist cabins are clean and well-maintained, with modern bathroom fixtures, hot water, an enclosed shower, a work desk and a storage shelf. Each room has a small porch that overlooks the stunning mountainside. Make sure you bring plenty of layers—temperatures at night are very low this high up, even with the nice sleeping blankets provided. There are many birds easily seen around the station grounds. We saw dazzling hummingbirds (including Sunangels, Sunbeams, Long-tailed Sylphs) at the feeders, and colorful tanagers (including Grass-green, Hooded Mountain-, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-) both around the grounds and from our cabin. In the evenings and mornings while we were there, an Andean Fox was even hanging about the grounds and dining hall. There are some nearby station trails that are good for birding, but we did most of our exploring along the road above and below the lodge. The Manu Road is as incredible for birding as legend tells: we had great sightings of Grey-breasted Mountain-Toucans, Blue-banded Toucanets, Masked Trogons, Fruiteaters, and stop-in-your-tracks Golden-headed Quetzals. Mixed flocks included dozens of tanagers, warblers, flycatchers, treerunners, jays, woodpeckers, etc. Our guide, Percy Avendaño, from Amazon Conservation Association's tourism outfit Amazon Journeys was simply the best at finding them all. THE best. We did hike to the Canopy Walkway, and while not very long, it's immaculately built and shouldn't be missed (it's the first of its kind for cloud-forest habitat). The trail around is dripping with ferns, bromeliads, orchids, and mosses along the way, and there are many cloud-forest denizens to be seen: hummingbirds, flowerpiercers, ovenbirds, etc. We got super lucky, and were treated to another Golden-headed Quetzal sighting from the walkway. At the end of the final platform, there was a fascinating climate change study going on where scientists have quarantined off a section of forest using green mesh in order to block out the rising cloud cover (simulating an absence of fog caused by warming temperatures). There are all sorts of hydrometers, measuring devices, and every tree, seedling, epiphyte is marked and monitored to study the effects of moisture loss. This is a great example of how Wayqecha operates as a one-of-a-kind living research lab. ACA/ACCA are doing incredible work by operating this lodge that integrates ecotourism with education and biological research. The Wayqecha Cloud Forest Biological Station is a premiere destination for experiencing the high-elevation Amazon of Manu National Park and is not a lodge to be missed during an Andean-Amazon journey!…
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Date of stay: September 2018Trip type: Traveled as a couple
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
The birding May be outstanding (birds just happened to be absent during our visit), but the lodge itself is below par. Rooms are OK, but it was cold, cold shower before bed, food OK, wifi inadequate. But the birding should be terrific.
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Date of stay: October 2018Trip type: Traveled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
We stayed for one night at this location on our way to Amazonia Lodge. We had driven from Cusco after nearly 9 hours of birding. We were met by the manager and his staff who helped with our luggage. We were staying at Kabana # 1 - an incredible living quarters for the night. Our room overlooked the valley, it was clean and had running hot water. The Chef had cooked an awesome vegetarian meal for wife and myself. Next morning we were getting ready to leave at 5:30 AM. We had breakfast, they packed us good lunch for our road trip. Apart from several lifers (birds) we got to see a "Double Rainbow". Manager was nice enough to send me a pdf of the Birding lodge upon my request. Only regret was that we did not stay another day at this lodge. We will back someday.
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Date of stay: June 2018Trip type: Traveled with family
Value
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
I visited Wayqecha a few weeks back and had an incredible experience. Between the bird watching, orchid hike, canopy walk, and trails on the property there is so much to experience, and the staff are unbelievably knowledgeable and willing to share. In terms of accommodations, the cabins are really nice - albeit a bit chilly - and the food is really excellent, as well.
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Date of stay: May 2018Trip type: Traveled on business
Location
Cleanliness
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helpful
LOCATION
PeruCusco RegionPaucartambo
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
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Frequently Asked Questions about Wayqecha Cloud Forest Birding Lodge
What are some of the property amenities at Wayqecha Cloud Forest Birding Lodge?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
What food & drink options are available at Wayqecha Cloud Forest Birding Lodge?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.
Does Wayqecha Cloud Forest Birding Lodge have an airport shuttle?
Yes, Wayqecha Cloud Forest Birding Lodge offers an airport shuttle for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Does Wayqecha Cloud Forest Birding Lodge have airport transportation?
Yes, Wayqecha Cloud Forest Birding Lodge offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.