Cusco Highlands, Abra Malaga, Carrizales & Ipal

Cusco Highlands, Abra Malaga, Carrizales & Ipal

  • 5 Days & 4 Nights
  • DAY 1: Cusco-Limatambo/Mollepata

You can arrive at Cusco one day before or we can pick you up from Cusco airport. We will start our drive for 2 hours to Limatambo/Mollepata north of Cusco. We will make some stops after Limatambo looking for White-eared Puffbirds, Pale-breasted Spinetail, and other species. After checking into our hotel we will start our birding drive up to Soraypama searching for  Apurimac Brush-Finch (E),  Apurimac Spinetail (E), White-tufted Sunbean (E), Creamy-crested Spinetail (E), Rusty-fronted Canastero (E),  Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch (E), and many others species found along the road and if we are lucky Andean Condor flying over our heads. In the evening we will try to find Koepckes Screech-Owl and Buff-fronted Owl before or after dinner. Night in Mollepata Hotel

  •  DAY 2: Morning birding and Ollantaytambo

After breakfast, we will start our birding drive up to the base of the Mountain of Soraypampa, where we can find Vilcabamba Tapaculo (E), Golden-billed Saltator, Andean Flicker, Giant Conebill, Tit-like Dacnis, Black-throated Flowerpiercer, Paramo Seedeater, Tufted Tit-tyrant, Andean Lapwing and several other species. We will be back in the afternoon for lunch and then we will head to the Sacred Valley to visit Emisfera Camp a nice place with feeders for hummingbirds and Tanagers. Dinner & Night in Ollantaytambo.

  •  DAY 3: Early drive to Abra Malaga – Carrizales – Ipal

Early drive up to Abra Malaga Pass at 3,400 m, where we will explore the main trail along the Polylepis forest for White-browed Tit-Spinetail (E), Tawny Spinetail, Junin Canastero (E), Puna Tapaculo, Stripe-headed Antpitta, Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant. Then we will back to the main road to keep driving into the other side of the Pass to get to the Carrizales area for Chusquea Bamboo and cloud forest specialist as Cusco Brush-Finch (E), Parodis Hemispingus (E), Inca Wren (E), Marcapata Spinetail (E) all endemics and also Hooded Mountain-Tanager, Golden-Collared Tanager, Blue-black Tanager, and several other species. Depending on our arrival at our next birding spot we will spend birding for the rest of the afternoon. Night in Ipal Ecolodge

  •  DAY 4: Full-day birding Ipal Ecolodge

 After breakfast, we will drive for 30 minutes to get to the main birding spot along the hill forest searching for mixed flocks of Tanagers, Flycatchers, Barbet, and some other species. This area provides a chance to find the endemics Masked Fruiteater (E), Creamy-bellied Antwren (E), Blue-banded Toucanet, Ocellated Piculet, Golden-headed and crested Quetzal. In the afternoon we will explore other spots and before dinner, we will try for some owls. Night in Ipal Ecolodge.

  •  DAY 5: Morning birding up to Carrizales/Abra Malaga – Cusco

This morning will depend on which birding spot we will choose for some missing species. We will pass through Ollantaytambo and then we will make some stops at Huaypo Lake for some other species. Then we will end in Cusco

TOUR TIME

5 DAYS & 4 NIGHTS

GROUP SIZE

From 2 People

TOUR DATES

Tour Calendar and Custom Dates at ANY TIME

PRICE PER PERSON

USD 1,500 per person

SINGLE ROOM

USD 300.00

ESTIMATE # SPECIES

350 - 400

ACCOMMODATION

Comfortable places with private services

EASY OF BIRDING

Easy to moderate with some challenging species

PHOTOGRAPHIC CHANCE

Excellent

INCLUDE

Hotel, lodges, meals, soft drinks, entrance fee, private transport, birding guide

NOT INCLUDE

International & Domestic Flights, any alcoholic drinks, laundry, phone calls, extra activities, tips