SOUTHEAST HIGHLANDS TOUR

Our Peru Highlands Tour explores an endemic-rich montane region in the Urubamba and Vilcabamba Cordilleras northwest of Cusco along with the Urubamba Valley, also known as the Sacred Valley of Peru. The region supports a broad range of altitudinal zones, everything from high elevation puna and Elfin forest to middle elevation montane rainforest to lowland tropical forest. This 9-day tour covers most of these zones and can be combined with our extension to Machu Picchu and/or our tours along Manu Road and into the Tambopata lowlands.

The tour begins in the ancient Inca city of Cusco, located in the highlands of southeastern Peru. After stopping at a couple lagoons outside Cusco, we head to the Apurimac Canyon for a two-night stay. We'll visit the Chonta Condor lookout for an hour-long hike up to the viewing area to hopeully see Andean Condors. The next day and following morning will be devoted to birding the Apurimac Valley, mainly between Mollepata and Soraypampa. Then we transfer to Ollantaytambo, stopping en route at a hummingbird sanctuary to look for Bearded Mountaineer. Next day will be spent at quite high elevation at Abra Malaga, possibly hiking up or down to look for the critically endangered Royal Cinclodes. From there we drive to the Vilcabamba Valley, nestling in the Vilcabamba Cordillera. We'll stop en route at Ipal Ecolodge to look for the Swallow-tailed Hummingbird at their feeders. After a morning birding the Vilcabamba Valley, we transfer to Quillabamba farther north where we'll spend two nights. We'll have a full day birding around there, most likely the nearby Calquiñ Valley. We then transfer back to Ollantaytambo to catch the train to Aguas Calientes for those going on to Machu Picchu or back to Cusco otherwise.

Tour Considerations

PACE - The itinerary for this tour is moderately aggressive involving frequent transfers to cover the region.

DIFFICULTY - This tour is conducted substantially at quite high altitude. The valley if Limatambo is around 2100m (6900ft) but birding at Bosque Ampay is higher, around 2900m (10,000-11,000ft). The Apurimac Valley is much lower, but birding sites such as the Ensifera Hummingbird Sanctuary are around 2500-3200m (8,000-10,000ft). Birding at Abra Malaga is around an area of 4300m (14,000ft) and a bit above. Optional trekking to look for the Royal Cinclodes is above the pass involves several hours of hiking. Birding at Bosque Ampay involves a fairly strenous hike at high altitude. Trail conditions can be very challenging during wet season, and transfers by road can potentially be disrupted by bad weather.

CLIMATE - The dry season in the highlands is from May to October. Since that season is austral winter, it can be very cold at altitude. Snow is very possible around Abra Malaga, especially in July. Wet season is from November to April. During that time, heavy rains, fog, and muddy trails are likely.

BIRD ACTIVITY- Breeding season for birds in this region is during the rainy season. During dry season, birds are easier to see as they more often form mixed species flocks. However, in those months birds are only active in early mornings, with activity completely dropping off by 9:30 or 10:00am. During wet season birds are generally active all day. The Bearded Mountaineer is resident at Ensifera and can be seen year-round, most easily in early mornings.

PHOTOGRAPHY - Bird photography can be a bit challenging and is opportunistic.

• Photos from Past Tours
• Travel Information

BIRDING LOCALES
FOR THIS TOUR

• Abra Malaga Forest Reserve
• Bosque Ampay
• Calquiña Valley
• Ensifera HB Sanctuary
• Huaypo Lagoon
• Ipal Ecolodge
• Soraypampa