History of Machu Picchu
birding in Machu Picchu
There are many good reasons to visit the ancient city of the Incas “Machu Picchu”, our most famous heritage in the world and bird watching definitely adds to the long list. The habitats surrounding the inca citadel are probably the best place to see the Inca Wren and another elusive endemics like Parodi’s Hemispingus. Many birders see their first Andean Coock-of-the Rock along the railway near Aguas Calientes and Torrent Duck by the Urubamba river. At the ruins, you must keep an eye open for flycatchers such as Streak-throated, Bush-Tyrant and White-winged Black-Tyrant.
Birding in Machu Picchu is a unique and unforgettable experience. The cloud forest surrounding the stone city is full of beautiful and colorful bird species. The best birding near the ruins might be on the walk up to the “windows of the sun”, Inti Punku, for Inca Wren and Brush-finches. Besides the ruins, you should spend at least one morning birding the humid montane forest in the Aguas calientes area (5,578 feets).
Machu Picchu has the most beautiful and astonishing scenery, in addition, has such rich biodiversity, among the 352.590 hectares that protects the citadel of Machu Picchu and the surrounding mountains, there are 406 recorded species, a spectacular number considering the small size of the sanctuary.
Within the Sanctuary, there are more than 400 species of birds, around 700 species of butterflies and more than 400 species of orchids, that is to say up to 10% of all the biodiversity of Peru!
This is due to a combination of factors. The wide altitude range provides a great range of temperatures. In addition, the high mountain ridges create microclimates favourable to the evolution of certain species and subspecies. Other factor is the ever-present rainfall of the Amazon Basin and the mist that creeps up the sheltered valleys, there is humidity year-round.
Day 1: Arrival in Cusco, 3,400 meters, Acjanaco Pass
The trip begins early in the morning in Cusco, Capital of the Inca Empire. The road first takes us through intermontane valleys and wetlands where waterfowl, birds of prey and wild guinea pigs, among others, are very common residents. Later, the picturesque colonial city of Paucartambo awaits us to enjoy its typical streets and temple. After lunch, we will head east and gain altitude again to the Acjanaco Pass (2600 meters above sea level), the entrance to the famous Manu National Park, from this point the environment changes drastically since this last portion of the Andes preserves the humidity of the amazon jungle. This area is also home to the spectacled bear and the Culpeo (Andean fox).
We will begin the downhill journey through a very pristine cloud forest where we can find beauties such as the Woolly Monkey, Golden-headed Quetzal, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager. In the middle of the afternoon and after lunch we will arrive in San Pedro, to visit the most emblematic Cock-of-the-Rock Lek, where the males come daily to perform incredible courtship displays to attract the females, one of the greatest experiences in nature. Overnight in San Pedro.
Day 2: Birding at 1500 m. descending to lowlands forest
We begin today in San Pedro at 1500 meters above sea level, the heart of the Cloud Forest.
Wildlife includes a great diversity of vascular plants, butterflies and hummingbirds that flock to the feeders. After driving for a while, we can start to find Macaws, Tanagers, Toucans and some other species of larger primates like the Spider Monkey or the Howler Monkey and reach our next lodge at 600 meters above sea level, right where the Amazon is located. with the mountains in the foothills of the Andes. We will stay at Manu Rainforest lodge.
Day 3: Full day of birding in the lowland rainforest, around 400 to 200 m.
We leave early for “Machuwasi”, an Amazonian lake to enjoy the resident aquatic fauna in raft boats. The Hoatzin is probably the highlight here, one of the strangest birds in the world with a punky prehistoric look, its slow movements make it easy to spot. Alligators, capybaras, flytraps and waterfowl are regularly present in the lake itself. Later we will visit a tower that rises above the forest and walk along some surrounding trails where Cotingas, Arasarís, Woodcreepers, Trogons, Puffbirds, Capuchin Monkeys, Squirrel Monkeys or Titi Monkeys are often found here. We return to our car and go to the next lodge to have lunch and spend the afternoon at a hummingbird feeders to understand this wonderful and delicate ecosystem where the spectacular Rufous-crested Coquette frequently visits the flowers; You can also photograph to different tanagers and enjoy a moment of relaxation in this peaceful garden. Overnight in Pilcopata.
Day 4: Morning birding and return to Cusco
After a delicious breakfast we leave back to the mountains and stop in case we miss some sought after species such as the Cock of the Rock, the Quetzal or the Trogons. Stop along the way for lunch and return to Cusco mid-afternoon. Arriving in Cusco we will transfer you to the airport for your next destination.
Group size:
from 2 to 8 people.
Individual price:
$1495 USD
Group price:$1348 $1145 USD
Departure dates:
13 – 16 November, 2023
11 – 14 December, 2023
28 – 31 January, 2023
Day 1: Cusco to Ollantaytambo
This morning we will travel from Cusco to Ollantaytambo in our private car, for a 2 hours journey. At our arrival we will take the train that will take us to Machu Picchu town from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (2000 m). You will be traveling down the scenic Urubamba Valley, where Torrent Duck and White-capped Dippers can regularly be seen along the fast flowing river. This afternoon we will be birding at the botanic garden, where we can see: Green Hermit, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Speckle-faced Parrot, Sclater’s Tyrannulet, Glossy-black Thrush and the endemic Masked Fruiteater, Torrent Tyrannulet, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Slaty Tanager, Silver-backed Tanager, Capped Conebill, Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch, Orange-bellied Euphonia and many more.
Night at our hotel in Aguas Calientes.
Day 2: Birding in Machu Picchu Full day
Birding and visit to the Citadel of Machupicchu (2400m). The “lost city” of the Incas is so well known from the numerous photographs and articles that feature this extraordinary place that it seems almost unnecessary to describe its dramatic setting amongst the Andes. The city is perched on a narrow ridge high above the Urubamba River and on seeing the precipitous slopes on all sides one can easily appreciate why it remained undiscovered for so many years. The area around Machupicchu has been cleared of forest and so scrub and bamboo thickets are now the predominant habitat, inhabited by the noisy endemic Inca Wren, although some forest patches can be found along the river valley. Other species we may find in the area include Mitred Parakeet, White-tipped Swift, the endemic Green-and-white Hummingbird, Collared Inca, Ocellated Piculet, Streaked Xenops, Variable Antshrike, Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet, Rusty Flowerpiercer, Oleaginous Hemispingus, Yellow-bellied Seedeater and Hooded Siskin. In the late afternoon we will take the train back to Cusco.
End of our services.
Inca Wren, Creamy-crested Spinetail, Collared Inca, Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch, Peruvian Sierra-Finch, Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, Chiguanco Thrush, Red-backed Hawk, Black-backed Grosbeak, Sparkling Violetear and Golden-billed Saltator and more.
Tour Prices:
Individual Price: $690 USD
Group Price: $589 USD / per person
Group Size: 2-16 people
*children pay only half of the price.
This program gives you all the endemic birds in the Cuzco region that are hard or impossible to get on the Manu road, and at the same time offers a spectacular visit to one of the new Seven Wonders – Machu Picchu.
Day 1: Cusco to Ollantaytambo
This morning we will travel from Cusco to Ollantaytambo in our private car, for a 2 hours journey. At our arrival we will take the train that will take us to Machu Picchu town from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes (2000 m). You will be traveling down the scenic Urubamba Valley, where Torrent Duck and White-capped Dippers can regularly be seen along the fast flowing river. This afternoon we will be birding at the botanic garden, where we can see:Green Hermit, Chestnut-breasted Coronet, Speckle-faced Parrot, Sclater’s Tyrannulet, Glossy-black Thrush and the endemic Masked Fruiteater, Torrent Tyrannulet, Fawn-breasted Tanager, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Slaty Tanager, Silver-backed Tanager, Capped Conebill, Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch, Orange-bellied Euphonia and many more.
Night at Aguas Calientes.
Day 2: Birding in Machu Picchu Full day
Birding and visit to the Citadel of Machupicchu (2400m). The “lost city” of the Incas is so well known from the numerous photographs and articles that feature this extraordinary place that it seems almost unnecessary to describe its dramatic setting amongst the Andes. The city is perched on a narrow ridge high above the Urubamba River and on seeing the precipitous slopes on all sides one can easily appreciate why it remained undiscovered for so many years. The area around Machupicchu has been cleared of forest and so scrub and bamboo thickets are now the predominant habitat, inhabited by the noisy endemic Inca Wren, although some forest patches can be found along the river valley. Other species we may find in the area include Mitred Parakeet, White-tipped Swift, the endemic Green-and-white Hummingbird, Collared Inca, Ocellated Piculet, Streaked Xenops, Variable Antshrike, Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet, Rusty Flowerpiercer, Oleaginous Hemispingus, Yellow-bellied Seedeater and Hooded Siskin. In the late afternoon we will return to Cusco.
End of our services.
Inca Wren, Creamy-crested Spinetail, Collared Inca, Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch, Peruvian Sierra-Finch, Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, Chiguanco Thrush, Red-backed Hawk, Black-backed Grosbeak, Sparkling Violetear and Golden-billed Saltator and more.
Tour Prices:
Individual Price: $690 USD
Group price: $589 USD / per person
Group Size: 2-16 people
*children pay only half of the price.
This program gives you a major number of endemic birds of Machu Picchu, that are hard or impossible to get on the Manu road, offering you a spectacular visit to one of the world Seven Wonders – Machu Picchu, traveling in the vistadome train with scenic views.
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