BIRDING AND CULTURE IN MACHUPICCHU AND MANU ROAD

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.

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 Sacred Valley.

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 Mollepata.

The journey starts early morning in Cuzco. After breakfast we leave Cusco in search of the wetland of Huacarpay, designated by UNESCO as a RAMSAR site. The place is suitable for a variety of water fowl, hummingbirds, few endemics and the largest hummer in the world. Puna Tinamou, Yellow Billed Pintail, Puna Teal, Andean Lapwing, Plumbeous Rail, White-tufted Greebe, Puna Ibis, Rusty fronted Canastero (E), Giant Hummingbird, Many-colored Rush-tyrant, Andean Flicker, etc. In adittion Huacarpay receives austral and boreal several migratory birds thorughtout.

The Road later takes us through a spectacular and unique pristine hábitat. The elfin forest is the entrance to the Manu National Park at the top of the cloud forest in the west slope of the Andes. Among the specialities awaiting we can find: Solitary Eagle, Mountain Caracara, Variable Hawk, Creamy-crested Spinetail(E), Grass green Tanager, Golden-collared Tanager, Scribble-Tailed Canastero, Red-and-white Antpitta (E), Urubamba Antpitta (E), Marcapata Spinetail (E)Taczanowski´s Tinamou, Puna Tapaculo, Moustached Flowerpiercer, Black faced Brushfinch. among several more, are regularly seen in the Area.

Night in Wayquecha Lodge.

San Pedro is located at 1500 meters elevation, lower, warmer and more confortable than Wayquecha, this is the Cloud Forest itself. This place is particularly special for it´s Cock of the Rock Lek, a wonderful show where groups of bright and colorful males gather here to display attracting dull females. There is a plattaform conveniently placed at the Lek to enjoy it. Other wildlife speciallities here are: Brown Tinamou, Rufous-breasted Woodquail, White Hawk, , Rufescent-Screech-Owl, Military Macaw, Blue-headed Macaw, Great Potoo, Buff-thighed Puffleg, Rufous-booted Raquet-tail, Peruvian Piedtail (E), Violent-fronted Brilliant, Speckled Hummingbird, Blue-banded Toucanet, Highland Motmot, Lanceolated Monklet, Rufous-capped Nunlet, Blue-moustached Barbet, Yellow-billed Nunbird, Chestnut-backed Antshrike, White-backed Fire-eye, Stripe-chested Antwren, Yellow-breasted Warbling-antbird, Blackish Antbird, White crowned Tapaculo, Marroon-belted Chat-tyrant, Black-backed Tody-flycatcher (E), Ornate Flycacher, Fulvous-breasted Flatbill, Cinnamon-faced Tyrannulet. Among a large list of multi-colored Tanagers and others. In addition, Inti Tanager, new for science have been reported and photographed here. The restricted Wooly Monkey lives here as well as the Brown Capuchin Monkeys.