BIRDING AND CULTURE IN CUSCO AND MACHUPICCHU
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- USD 1800
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- Activities
- Trip Duration
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- Habitats Covered
The price listed above is based on a minimum of 4 people in double occupancy. If you have any questions please refer to FAQ of send us a message.
Trip Outline
If you’re looking for a comprehensive birding and cultural experience in Peru, our Birding and Culture Tour is the perfect choice. In just one week, you’ll explore the best of the country’s culture and nature, from remote birding areas to significant archaeological sites and Inca monuments.
Starting in Cusco, the historic capital of the Inca Empire, you’ll discover the Sacred Valley of the Incas, where you can witness firsthand the rich cultural legacy of this fascinating civilization. Then, you’ll venture into the rugged Andean mountains, where you will explore the world-class birding area of Abra Malaga.
Throughout the tour, you’ll have the chance to observe some of Peru’s most beautiful and unique bird species, including the endemic Inca Wren, Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch, Unstreaked Tit-tyrant, Masked Fruiteater, Oibird and many others. In addition, you’ll visit local communities, learn about traditional Andean farming techniques, and sample delicious Peruvian cuisine.
Our expert guides are passionate about sharing their knowledge of Peru’s culture and wildlife with you, and they’ll ensure that you have an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re an avid birder, a history buff, or simply looking for an immersive cultural experience, our Birding and Culture Tour is the perfect way to explore the best of Peru.
Itinerary
In + Cusco
Arriving to Cusco and transport to the Hotel. Due to the elevation it´s wise to take it easy and acclimatation. After lunch, we will visit the Ancient capital of the Inka. We will get into two of the best sites here, Temple of the Sun “Qoricancha” and “Saqsaywaman” right out of the town, not as famous as Machupicchu, this place is a true gem among archeological sites, constructed in megalithic style is a great site to appreciate the skills of the pre-hispanic cultures in the New World.
At mid-afternoon we will head to Tambomachay where Peruvian & Mourning Sierra-finch; Andean Flicker, Giant Hummingbird are present. Additionally we may find two endemics Creamy-crested Spinetail and Chestnut-breasted Mountain-finch.
Night in Cusco.
Sacred Valley of the Incas.
After breakfast we will leave Cusco to Urubamba Valley, one of the most important tributary of the Amazon. The places are stunning here, Pisaq is an exquisite Inka construction, a dramatic terraced slope of ancient ruins which shows the skills of the inca engineers. The possibilities here are: Bearded Montaneer(E) and Rusty-Fronted Canastero(E). The open views rewards with Mountain Caracara, Black-chested Buzzard-eagle, Black-Backed Grossbeak, Golden-Billed Saltator.
Machupicchu Full Day
Lower, warmer and more humid than Cusco, right in the place where the Andes meets the Amazon Rainforest, Machupicchu is high in diversity of flora and fauna. The train will take us to Aguas calientes /Machupicchu train station. Short birding around the town and after the lunch we will take a 20 minutes bus ride to finally visit one of the most famous 7 New World Wonders. More than 200 structures constructed covering more than 30 hectares over peaks and slopes makes of Machupicchu a dramatic experience. You will hardly find another place where exhuberant nature meets such a refined architecture.
We will take a beautiful train ride where Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper are often seen by the river. If time permits, we may have extra time for birding around Aguas Calientes where Highland Motmot, Green-and-white Hummingbird (E), Black-capped Tyrannulet, Bolivian tyrannulet, Sclaters tyrannulet, Variable Antshrike, Andean solitaire, Black-streaked Puffbird are possibilities.
Birding possibilities at the sanctuary include Inca Wren(E), White-tipped Swift, Ocellated Piculet and Tricolored Brush-finch among others.
Once again we will take the train to takes us back to Sacred Valley.
Night in the Ollantaytambo.
Birding at Abra Malaga (Cloud forest)
Once considered by Zimmer "The finest field birder / ornithologist that the world had ever seen", Ted Parker, showed a high preference for this site that shows a wide gradient habitat where the birds are rare elsewhere. Early morning, after 2 hours of car ride, we will start birding in the east slope of the cordillera covering Puna, Elfin and Cloud forest searching speciallities such as Taczanowski´s Tinamou, Sword-Billed Hummingbird, Amethist-throated Sunangel, Scaled Metaltail, Marcapata Spinetail(Endemic), Diademed Tapaculo ,Urubamba Antpitta (E), Red-and-White Antpitta (E), Parodi´s Hemispingus (E), Unstreaked Tit-tyrant(E), Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Inca Wren(E), Black capped Hemispingus, Scarlet-Bellied Mountain-Tanager, Plushcap, Yellow-Billed Cacique, Among others. Lunch will be a picnic at the field and we will descend to the andean foothills for the dinner and night.
After dinner we will try Tropical Screech-Owl and Striped Owl.
Night at Ipal Lodge
Ipal - Calquiña
Ipal presents excellent birding chances, a unique enviroment which allows chances for rarities such as Swallow-tailed Hummingbird (rare elsewhere in Peru), Red-crested Finch, Striped Cuckoo, Masked Fruiteater (Endemic), Black-streaked Puffbird and other excellent birds like Rufous-booted Raquet-tail, Andean Cock-of-the Rock, Ochre-breasted Antpitta, Unadorned Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Elaenia and a large etc.
There is an optional visit to the high puna grassland in the pass itself birding at Thastayoq at 14,000 feet elevation (4300 meters). Patches of polylepis that hold some of the most endangered and restricted species in the Andes such as White-browed & Tawny Tit-spinetail, Ash-breasted Tit-tyrant and the mythic Royal Cinclodes.
Other species of interest are Line-fronted & Many-striped (urubambae) Canastero, Red-rumped Bush-tyrant, Glaciar Finch, etc.
Night in Ollantaytambo.
Ollantaytambo - Maras - Moray
Urubamba River is one of the most important tributary of the Amazon and forms the Sacred Valley of the Inkas. The places are stunning here, the visito to the megalitic Inca construcction of Ollantaytambo which stands as a testament of military, agricultural en religious innovation for it´s time. It´s colossal stones showcases advanced technology where history unfolds against a backdrop of stunning views of the mountains. Later Moray, a pre hispanic experimental center shows the best of the engineering and architecture of the pre hispanic peruvians. We end the morning with an adittional visit to a unique salt mine in the Andes.
After lunch, we will visit the lakes in the highlands of Chinchero where Silvery Grebe, Puna Teal, Andean Goose, Short-billed Pipit etc. Additionally, several migrants spend boreal winter here such as: Pectoral Sandpiper, Wilson´s Phalarope, Baird´s Sanpiper, Upland Sanpiper, etc .
Night in Cusco
