- 2 Days
- All year available
- Max People : 8
- Min Age : 12+
- Wifi Available
- Pickup: Cuzco Airport
Birding Machu Picchu Peru
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, making it a paradise for birdwatchers. The best birding near the ruins may be during the walk up to the “Window of the Sun,” Inti Punku, where you can spot the Inca Wren and Brush-finches, two species endemic to the region.
In addition to exploring the ruins, you should spend at least one morning birding in the humid montane forest in the Aguas Calientes area (5,578 feet), where the rich sounds of chirping birds create an enchanting atmosphere. Early mornings are especially rewarding, as the birds are most active at dawn. You might also encounter other fascinating wildlife, such as butterflies and orchids, which add to the bio-diverse experience of the area.
Machu Picchu boasts breathtaking scenery and rich biodiversity. Among the 352,590 hectares that encompass the citadel and the surrounding mountains, there are 406 recorded bird species—a spectacular number considering the relatively small size of the sanctuary. Some notable species include the Andean Cock-of-the-rock and the Mountain Tanager, both of which can be seen in their natural habitats.
Whether you’re an experienced birdwatcher or a casual nature lover, the opportunity to witness such a variety of avian life against the backdrop of the majestic Andes makes birding in Machu Picchu a truly remarkable adventure. Don’t forget your binoculars and a good guidebook to help identify the incredible birds you’ll encounter!
Departure & Return Location
Cusco city
Departure Time
7:00 am
Bedroom
Double occupancy
Price Includes
- Birding Tour Guide
- Transfer From Airport
- 1 Night Hotel Accomodation
- Entrance Fees
- Private Car & Driver
- Train Tickets
- Bus Tickets
- All Meals, Except Last Dinner
Price Excludes
- Any Private Expenses
- Alcoholic Drinks
- Domestics flights
You should bring
- Sunscreen, Hat and Sunglasses
- Comfortable Clothing
- Warm Clothes, Hiking shoes
- Small Backpack, Water Bottle
Itinerary
Birding Machu Picchu Peru
Day 1: Cusco-Ollantaytambo-Aguas Calientes
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, Chestnutcapped 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 Machu Picchu (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 Machu Picchu 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. At arrival our car will transfer you to your hotel in Cusco.
1 Comment
Rolin Flores was our guide for the two-day birding excursion to Machu Picchu. We had the best of both worlds: A really great experience at the ruins and excellent birding there and along the way! The accommodations and restaurants we visited were quite enjoyable. He took care of all details of train and bus travel and was very attentive to our needs, both birding and comfort-wise. I would go again in a minute!