Bird Watching - Huacarpay Lagoon & Machu Picchu

• Day 1: Arrival in Cusco, Free Day in the Puma City
• After landing: pick-up, transfer, and check-in at your chosen hotel by an Andes Perú representative.

• The day is yours based on your arrival time to do as you wish. We offer excursions to explore the city or a City Tour for an additional cost.
• * Accommodation in Cusco

• Day 2: Huacarpay Lagoon - Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes
• We pick you up from the hotel to start our birdwatching activities at Huacarpay Lagoon, 45 minutes from Cusco at 3,400 MASL. Around the Lucre-Huacarpay Wetland, we can spot species like Rusty Fronted Canastero, Bearded Mountaineer, Plumbeous Rail, Andean Negrito, Rufous Naped Ground Tyrant, Streak Fronted Thornbird, Cinnamon Teal, Puna Teal, Yellow Faced Pintail, Blackish Yellow Finch, Black-Chested Buzzard-Eagle, and many more birds.

• Later, we travel to Urubamba for lunch, then continue to Ollantaytambo, where you can appreciate the Incas’ remarkable urban planning with cobblestone, winding streets, and its archaeological site with agricultural terraces.
• Finally, we head to the train station to continue our journey by train to Aguas Calientes.
• * Accommodation in Aguas Calientes / Meals included: Breakfast and Buffet Lunch / Duration: 04:30 - 19:00 Hours.

• Day 3: Aguas Calientes - Mandor Waterfalls
• After breakfast at the hotel, we take a 4- or 5-hour hike to Mandor, observing many birds such as Ocellated Piculet, Chestnut Capped Brush Finch, Pale Legged Warbler, Black Streaked Puffbird, Torrent Duck, White Capped Dipper, Green and White Hummingbird, Ashy Headed Tyrannulet, Masked Fruiteater, Oleaginous Hemispingus, Sclater’s Tyrannulet, Saffron Crowned Tanager, Golden Napped Tanager, Beryl Spangled Tanager, and Tropical Parula. We then have lunch at a restaurant in Mandor.

• We continue observing more birds, such as Andean Cock of the Rock, Andean Motmot, White Eared Solitaire, Yellow Bellied Elaenia, Collared (Gould’s) Inca, Slate Tanager, Slate Throated Whitestart, Mountain Wren, Azara’s Spinetail, Gray Breasted Wood Wren, Long Tailed Sylph, and Brown Capped Vireo. After this activity, we return to Aguas Calientes.
• * Accommodation in Aguas Calientes / Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch / Duration: 06:30 - 19:00 Hours.

• Day 4: Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cusco
• Today, we depart after breakfast at the hotel, heading to the enigmatic Machu Picchu by bus in 25 minutes. First, we hike to Inti Punku, where we can observe Machu Picchu’s endemic bird, the Inca Wren, and others like Highland Elaenia, Cusco Brush Finch, Yellow Scarf Tanager, Tricolored Brush Finch, Sierra Elaenia, Ocellated Piculet, Rust and Yellow Tanager, White Winged Black Tyrant, Green and White Hummingbird, Plushcap, Saffron Crowned Tanager, Tufted Tit Tyrant, and White Banded Tyrannulet.

• We then return to the Machu Picchu citadel, where we’ll admire Inca constructions: the agricultural zone, the quarry where stones were shaped, the house of Inca Pachacutec, sacred temples, and other key sites. After this visit, we return to Aguas Calientes for a late lunch, and based on the train schedule, we collect our belongings from the hotel to return by train to Ollantaytambo and then to Cusco by bus.
• * Accommodation in Cusco / Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch / Duration: 04:30 - 19:00 Hours.

• Day 5: Cusco - Departure to Lima
• Breakfast at the hotel. Free time in Cusco, and at the scheduled time, you’ll be transferred from your hotel to the airport.

• Meals included: Box Lunch / Duration: 06:30 - 16:00 Hours.

The Tour Includes:

• Private ground transportation.
• Professional guide specialized in ornithology.
• Meals as described in the itinerary.
• If you have dietary requests such as vegetarian meals, please let us know to coordinate.
• Two nights’ accommodation in Cusco.
• Two nights’ accommodation in Aguas Calientes.
• Round-trip train tickets to Machu Picchu.
• Entrance ticket to Machu Picchu.
• Bus ticket up and down to Machu Picchu.
• Continuous assistance.

The Tour Does Not Include:

• Meals and drinks not described.
• Travel insurance.
• Airfare.
• Entrance tickets (City Tour - Sacred Valley).
• Entrance tickets to Huayna Picchu Mountain (must be reserved in advance).
• Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu Mountain (must be reserved in advance).

Recommendations:

• Drink coca leaf tea to prevent altitude sickness.
• Stay hydrated during your tours.

Everything you should wear and carry in your small backpack.

• Binoculars, camera, or video camera and films.
• Bring original documents used for your reservation.
• Flashlight or torch with extra batteries.
• Sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and a wide-brimmed hat for sunny days.
• T-shirts and long-sleeve shirts.
• Jeans or cotton pants, as well as quick-drying clothing.
• Cotton socks.
• Sweaters, jackets, and windbreakers.
• Light waterproof jacket or poncho.
• Trekking boots or similar.
• Water bottle/canteen or camelback.
• Sandals for rest hours.
• Hat and sunglasses.
• Plastic bags for cameras, clothes, etc.
• Keep small denominations of dollars, euros, or soles on hand.
• Plastic bag for your clothes.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Jungle cabins are basic but comfortable, some with 24-hour electricity via solar panels to charge batteries or a generator, with double beds and mosquito nets (depending on the area), some shared showers, and others private with a dining area and spacious lounge.