Birding Machu Picchu

This morning we will travel from Cusco to Ollantaytambo by Bus/Van two hours journey. To take the train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes town (2000 m). Travelling down the scenic Urubamba Valley, where Torrent Duck and White-capped Dippers can regularly be seen along the fast flowing river. This afternoon we spent birding at the botanic garden, we may 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. B:L:D.

For birding and visit to the Citadel of Machupicchu (2400m) “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.B:L.