MACHU PICCHU
EXTENSION

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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.

Day 1 - Meals: BLD; Accommodation: Hotel in Aguas Calientes; Activity: Tour begins with a train ride from Ollantaytambo or Cusco to Aguas Calientes. After arrival, birding outside town.
Day 2 - Meals: BL; Accommodation: None; Activity: Very early bus ride up to Machu Picchu. Birding walk from the ruins downhill back to town. Afternoon train back to Cusco. End of tour there.

We'll stay in a comfortable, moderately-priced hotel during this tour.

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.

DAY 1 - AGUAS CALIENTES

We'll take an afternoon train from Ollantaytambo or Cusco to Aguas Calientes. After arrival, we'll bird along the Urubamba River and a section of the Inca Trail outside town. Some of the birding is along the busy road leading up to the ruins where one can see Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper on the river. Shrub habitat and trees along the river are good for Inca Flycatcher, Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet, Sclater's Tyrannulet, Bolivian Tyrannulet, and Lemon-browed Flycatcher. Then we'll bird a flat gravel and dirt side road leading to a section of the Inca Trail along the railroad tracks. The habitat is open secondary forest and thick understory along the embankment. Possible birds along the trail include Golden-headed Quetzal, Black-streaked Puffbird, Ocellated Piculet, Masked Fruiteater, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, and White-eared Solitaire. Mixed tanager flocks that may include Rust-colored Tanager, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Saffron-crowned Tanager, Blue-necked Tanager, and Silver-beaked Tanager are likely in flowering trees. Also possible is Fine-barred Piculet, which sometimes makes an appearance. The endemic Green-and-white Hummingbird is quite common and easily seen though one has to be careful to separate it from the very similar and also quite common White-bellied Hummingbird. Overnight at a hotel in Aguas Calientes.

DAY 2 - MACHU PICCHU & CUSCO

We'll be up very early to take the first possible bus up to Machu Picchu. There we'll explore the ruins and look for a few interesting birds found in the scrub nearby and at the top of the trail leading back down the mountain, especially Inca Wren which is best seen there. We'll then bird our way back down the somewhat steep trail that leads back to town. Possible birds we could see include White-tailed Tyrannulet, Streak-necked Flycatcher, Blue-capped Tanager, Golden-naped Tanager, and Black-backed Grosbeak along with other species. Once back in town, we'll enjoy lunch and then take the afternoon train back to Cusco. The tour ends there.

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