Peru Forest Lodge

The Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge is the focal point of a project to save the most pristine altitudinal transect in South America. A single-lane, dirt road travels northeast from Cusco, Peru, and descends from high Andean grasslands down through intact cloud forest to lowland forest. This road runs along the eastern edge of the higher elevations of Manu National Park. We bought out dozens of destructive farmers living along the road and now only a handful of holdouts remain. Our 16.7 square miles of forest holdings run from 3,000 to 9,000 feet of elevation, and profits from the lodge pay for private guards to patrol our entire altitudinal transect by motorcycle.

The lodge has 10 double-occupancy cabañas with electricity, hot water showers, flush toilets, and is nestled in a reforested patch of montane cloud forest within earshot of a small, rushing Andean river. The primary attractions for visitors are the world’s most visited Cock-of-the-Rock display ground (or “lek”), Woolly Monkeys, Brown Capuchin Monkeys, orchids, and feeders full of colorful tanagers, barbets, and hummingbirds. Victor Emanuel called our road transect “the best birding road in the world”, and Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge is the “birdiest” location on that route.

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