Peru: Birding Machu Picchu

Arrive in Lima and transfer to hotel

Early morning flight to Cusco, then drive through the Scared Valley of the Incas to the historic town of Ollantaytambo. We’ll visit the Inca fortress. Probably built by the great Inca ruler Pachacutec in the 1460s, it was the site of Hernando Pizzaro’s defeat by Manco Inca in 1536. Constructed of finely cut polygonal stones and royalties blocks, the fortress and nearby town represent the best of Inca architecture and construction. Large worked blocks, some weighing as much as 100 tons were quarried from a site more than a thousand vertical feet above the valley floor using a technique of pecking with hammer stones, then skidded down and across the Urubamba river several kilometers to the temple site. Inclined ramps were built to raise the blocks several hundred feet up hill to the construction area. We have ample time to examine the complex and ponder its many mysteries. Night in Ollaataytambo.

We will visit Abra Malaga Pass in the morning for some fantastic roadise birding looking for White-tufted Sunbeam, Creamy-crested Spinetail, Rusty fronted Canastero, Chestnut-breasted Mountain Finch and so much more. We will enjoy lunch  back in Ollamtaytambo.

Early afternoon we will take the train for the 2.5 hour journey to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. From the train we will certainly see Torrent Ducks and White-capped Dipper on the Urubamba River and get closer looks as we leave the train. Night in Aguas Calientes.

Today we will take the bus up the mountain to Machu Picchu, spending the whole day exploring these magical ruins. (Don’t worry, there are facilities and a restaurant at the entrance to the site.)

Arriving at the ruins, birding takes a back seat as we are taken on a guided tour of this mystical archeological complex. White-tipped Swifts will be flying overhead along with Kestrels and other raptors. After lunch we will look for Inca Wren, which is quite common in the bamboo around the ruins, and Green-and-white Hummingbird… a Peruvian endemic best found around the ruins.

Late afternoon we will descend to the valley and bird along the river where past Wildside tours have even seen Spectacled Bear! Night in Aguas Calientes.

Morning birding along the Urubamba River. In the remnant cloud forest we will be looking specifically for Sclaters and Bolivian Tyrranulets, Silver-backed Tanager, Pale-eyed Thrush, Masked Fruiteater (endemic), Black-streaked Puffbird, Oleaginous Hemispingus and Capped Conebill. Mixed flocks contain many species of Tanager and the endemic Green and White Hummingbird is common here. We have even seen Spectacled Bear in this area!After a late lunch, we return on the tourist train to the historic town of Cusco for the night.

After some morning exploration around Cusco we will return to Lime mid-day. Afternoon in Lima to explore to do some beach birding to seek Belcher’s Gull, Peruvian Pelican and the beautiful Inca Tern before dinner.

A couple hours north of Lima lies the foothills full of endemics. A green oasis in the dry western slope, we will explore the misty region in search of Cactus Canastero, Thick-billed Miner, Raimondi’s Yellow-finch. Some of the endemics we’ll seek are Oasis Hummingbird, Least Seedsnipe, Coastal Miner, Collared Warbling-finch and more!

*After dinner we will finish our trip at the airport, around 8:00pm, for our late-night flights home.