BIRDING AND CULTURE IN MACHUPICCHU AND MANU ROAD

After breakfast, we’ll depart from Cusco and head into the heart of the Urubamba Valley, one of the most important tributaries of the Amazon River. Along the way, we’ll visit Pisaq, a remarkable Inca archaeological site perched on dramatic agricultural terraces that showcase the architectural brilliance of the Inca civilization.

While enjoying the breathtaking Andean scenery, we’ll also have birding opportunities. In Pisaq, we may encounter regional endemics such as the Bearded Mountaineer (E) and Rusty-fronted Canastero (E). With luck, we may also spot Mountain Caracara, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Black-backed Grosbeak, and Golden-billed Saltator.

After a traditional lunch in a charming colonial house, we’ll visit Ensifera Camp, a hummingbird garden where feeders attract a stunning variety of highland species, including:
Sword-billed Hummingbird, Shining Sunbeam, White-bellied Hummingbird, Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch (E), Tyrian Metaltail, Red-crested Cotinga, and Undulated Antpitta.

In the late afternoon, we’ll board a scenic train to Machu Picchu Town (Aguas Calientes), ready to explore the iconic site the next day.

🛏️ Night in a 3* superior hotel – Ollantaytambo

Once described by James Zimmer as "the finest field birder and ornithologist the world had ever seen," Ted Parker expressed a strong preference for this site—one that spans an impressive altitudinal gradient and shelters many rare and range-restricted bird species.

Early in the morning, after a two-hour drive, we’ll begin birding on the eastern slope of the Andes, exploring a mosaic of puna grasslands, elfin forest, and cloud forest. This region is famous for its endemism and productivity.

Target species include:
Marcapata Spinetail (E), Urubamba Antpitta (E), Red-and-white Antpitta (E), Parodi’s Hemispingus (E), Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant (E), Inca Wren (E), Taczanowski’s Tinamou, Diademed Tapaculo, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Amethyst-throated Sunangel, Scaled Metaltail, Black-capped Hemispingus, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Plushcap, Yellow-billed Cacique, among others.

We’ll enjoy a field lunch surrounded by stunning scenery and will return to Ollantaytambo in the evening for dinner and rest.

🛏️ Night in a 3* superior hotel – Ollantaytambo

We begin our journey early in the morning, departing from Cusco after breakfast toward the renowned Huacarpay Wetlands, a high Andean lake complex recognized by UNESCO as a RAMSAR site for its ecological importance.

This wetland is home to a rich diversity of species, including waterfowl, endemics, and hummingbirds—among them, the largest in the world. Possible sightings include:
Rusty-fronted Canastero (E), Bearded Mountaineer (E), Puna Tinamou, Yellow-billed Pintail, Puna Teal, Andean Lapwing, Plumbeous Rail, White-tufted Grebe, Puna Ibis, Giant Hummingbird, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, and Andean Flicker.

In addition, Huacarpay serves as a seasonal stopover for both austral and boreal migratory birds, making it a dynamic and productive site year-round.

From there, we’ll begin our ascent along one of the most spectacular birding routes in South America, climbing into the pristine elfin forest, which marks the entrance to Manu National Park, perched at the top of the cloud forest on the western slope of the Andes.

Here, we’ll be searching for an impressive list of specialties, including:
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 others.

🛏️ Night at Wayqecha Biological Station – Cloud Forest Zone

Located at 1,500 meters elevation, San Pedro lies in the heart of the Cloud Forest—warmer, greener, and more comfortable than the higher elevations of Wayqecha. This lush and vibrant habitat offers incredible biodiversity and one of the most unforgettable wildlife spectacles in the region: the Andean Cock-of-the-rock lek.

At dawn, you’ll witness a stunning performance as several vivid red-orange males gather at a traditional display site (lek) to compete for the attention of duller-colored females. A viewing platform is strategically placed for safe and close observation of this natural show.

Other cloud forest specialties in the area include:
Brown Tinamou, Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail, Rufescent Screech-Owl, Buff-thighed Puffleg, Rufous-booted Racket-tail (E), Peruvian Piedtail (E), Violet-fronted Brilliant, Speckled Hummingbird, Blue-banded Toucanet, Highland Motmot, Blue-moustached Barbet, White-backed Fire-eye, Stripe-chested Antwren, White-crowned Tapaculo, Maroon-belted Chat-Tyrant, Fulvous-breasted Flatbill, Cinnamon-faced Tyrannulet, Crested Quetzal, Scale-crested Pygmy-Tyrant, Yellow-rumped Antwren, Yellow-breasted Warbling Antbird, Yungas Manakin, Cerulean-capped Manakin, Inca Jay, White-capped Dipper, Andean Solitaire, Olive Finch, Two-banded Warbler, Carmiol’s Tanager, Russet-backed Oropendola, along with a large variety of colorful tanagers and mixed flocks.

A newly discovered tanager species, still undescribed by science, has been observed and photographed in this very forest.

In addition to birds, mammals such as the Andean Woolly Monkey and Shock-headed Capuchin Monkey can also be seen in this remote region of Manu.

🛏️ Night at Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge – San Pedro Cloud Forest

We’ll begin our final morning at Manu Biolodge, birding near the lodge where feeders and nearby trails offer close encounters with species like:
Black-capped Tinamou, Little Tinamou, Undulated Tinamou, and Amazonian Antpitta.

Other key sightings around the lodge may include:
White Hawk, Blue-headed Macaw, Military Macaw, Rufous-capped Nunlet, White-lined Antbird, Sooty Antbird, Bamboo Antshrike, Foothill Antwren, Johanne’s Tody-Flycatcher, Mottle-backed Elaenia, Black-backed Tody-Flycatcher (E), Rusty-belted Tapaculo, and Cuzco Warbler.

After lunch, we’ll begin our journey back up the Andean slope, making birding stops along the way. These may reward us with better views or previously missed targets like:
Urubamba Antpitta (E), Cerulean-capped Manakin (E), Yungas Manakin, Crimson-crested Woodpecker, White-backed Fire-eye, Slaty Gnateater, Buff-tailed Sicklebill, Inca Flycatcher (E), Ochraceous-breasted Flycatcher, Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, Golden-headed Quetzal, Crested Quetzal, and White-collared Jay.

🛏️ Night at Wayqecha Lodge – Cloud Forest Zone

After breakfast, we’ll explore the ancient capital of the Inca Empire with visits to two of Cusco’s most remarkable archaeological sites:

• The Temple of the Sun (Qoricancha) – once the most sacred site in the Inca world.

• Saqsaywaman – a monumental fortress overlooking the city, built in a jaw-dropping megalithic style that showcases the architectural mastery of pre-Hispanic Peru.

These sites provide a profound cultural and historical complement to your nature-filled journey.

By mid-afternoon, we head toward Tambomachay, located in the highlands just outside Cusco, for a final chance to see Andean specialties, including:
Peruvian Sierra-Finch, Mourning Sierra-Finch, Andean Flicker, Giant Hummingbird, and if still needed, two important endemics:
Creamy-crested Spinetail (E) and Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch (E).

📍 Transfer to Cusco Airport at the appropriate time.

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