Magical Birding in Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley *FULL*

On this trip to the beautiful country of Peru we will visit the Inca Capital of Cusco and the Sacred Valley. The fertile Sacred Valley was carved by the Urubamba river and surrounded by the Urubamba mountains with striking high peaks and home of the beloved mountain god Apus, who ruled all life in this land.  A trip to the cloud forest and the gateway to Machu Picchu is an unforgettable experience, full of beautiful scenery, unimaginable tropical birds and the wonderful citadels of the Incas. 

We’ll be in for a treat at the Ensifera Camp where habitat restoration and feeding stations attract up to 10 species of hummingbirds including the magnificent Sword-billed Hummingbird. Additionally we’ll be on the watch for endemics such as Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch, Green-and-white Hummingbird, and Creamy-crested Spinetail.

Making our way through the Sacred Valley we will explore the village of Ollantaytambo with narrow cobbled stone streets, and stone dwellings called Kanchas. We will visit the site of Moray, on the Chinchero Plateau, where Inca farmers experimented with advanced agricultural practices. Enjoy the Salt Pans of Maras where there are over 3,000 water pools and salt is extracted through evaporation.

A full day birding over the famous Malaga Pass, in varied habitats from dry andean scrub, to paramo and upper montane forest, where we hope to find a good selection of Andean specialties, such as Shining Sunbeam, Great Sapphirewing, Giant Hummingbird, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, Tit-like Dacnis, Yellow-billed Tit-tyrant. Endemics we may find include Creamy-crested Spinetail, Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch, White-tufted Sunbeam, Parodis Hemispingus, and the Unstreaked Tit-tyrant.

A beautiful train ride through the deep Urubamba Canyon at Machu Picchu with its lush and tropical cloud forest affords us good chances to spot the intrepid Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper. A visit to the amazing Incan citadel of Machu Picchu is the icing on the cake. We will spend a few hours exploring the terraces and various stone dwellings that were built here around 600 years ago as we walk through the Sacred Plaza and the Condor Temple. 

We will return to Cusco where we will visit Huacarpay Lagoon for some easy birding looking for Puna Teal, Yellow-billed Teal, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant.  A visit to Temple of the Sun, Koricancha, and it’s perfect stone fittings, the colorful and the very happening San Pedro Market will be a perfect ending to this excellent trip 

Enjoy convenient lodging, delicious local Peruvian food and learn about life, culture and nature all around you!