MACHU PICCHU EXTENSION
Tour Overview
PERU
BIRDING TOUR
ANY TIME*
| Duration: | 2 days, 1 nights |
| Group Size: | 2-4 |
| 2-3 Price: | $560 |
| 4+ Price: | $450 |
| Single Suppl: | $60 |
| Est #Species: | 25-50 |
| Pace: | Easy |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
| Best Time: | June-October |
| * This tour is available for any dates of your choosing provided guide services and accommodations are available. | |
The citadel of Machu Picchu was ordered built by the Inca chieftan Pachacutec early in the 15th century and was occupied from about 1420 until 1530. It's believed to have been abandoned shortly after the arrival of the Spanish due to the collapse of Inca rule and rampant disease carried by the Spanish to the New World. The ruins were relocated and cleared of undergrowth early in the 20th century. Today it's one of the most visited places by tourists in Peru. We're offering an extension to see the ruins for clients who want to go there as part of their birding tour to Peru. The birding there really doesn't offer any species that can't be seen on our regular Peru Highlands tour, but we'll do some birding during the morning and afternoon of our visit to the nearby town of Aguas Calientes.
Tour Considerations
PACE - Easy.
DIFFICULTY - The main inconvenience is getting up around 4:00am to stand in line for the early bus that goes up to the ruins at Machu Picchu from the town of Aguas Calientes. Once at the ruins, birding is downhill back to town. The trail goes down continuously along switchbacks but can be a bit steep in places.
CLIMATE - Dry season is from May to October and is the best time to visit. During that time days are warm, sunny, and dry with cooler nights. Rainy season is from November to April, when frequent downpours occur. During that time the hike down from Machu Picchu is along a trail that is muddy and slippery and hence difficult.
BIRD ACTIVITY - Birding at Machu Picchu is mainly to target a few target species, especially Inca Wren. Birds remain active with mixed species flocks occurring along the train tracks and trail outside the town of Aguas Calientes. The species in these flocks are generally widely distributed and found at numerous other locales as well.
PHOTOGRAPHY - Bird photography is opportunistic. Birds are not especially common on the hike dowm from Machu Picchu but the habitat is open so photography is easy. The habitat outside Aguas Calientes is basically scrub and scattered trees so birds are generally in the open and can be photographed.
TOUR NOTES
Train fare is included in the tour price. Extension can be linked to any of our Southeast Peru based out of Cusco.
ACCOMMODATIONS
We'll stay in a comfortable, moderately-priced hotel during this tour.