ABRA MALAGA BIRDING THE POLYLEPIS AND CLOUD FOREST
From Cusco & Ollantaytambo.
Day 1: Abra Malaga (the pass 4316m)
We will need an early start as we drive up to a very high pass at 14,000 ft (4,316 m). Near the pass are groves of Polylepis woodland with several globally threatened species such as Royal Cinclodes, Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant, and the endemic White-browed Tit-Spinetail. The walking is quite moderate due to the elevation. Sourrouding the Polylepis forest we may see Andean Goose, Crested Duck, Mountain Caracara, Andean Lapwing, Blue-mantled Thornbill, Andean Flicker, Tawny Tit-Spinetail, Streak-throated Canastero, Line-fronted Canastero, Stripe-headed Antpitta, Puna Tapaculo, Taczanowski´s Ground-Tyrant, Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant, Rufous-webbed Bush-Tyrant, Giant Conebill and Black Siskin Later in the day we will target other species in the roadside scrub such as the endemics White-tufted Sunbeam, Creamy-crested Spinetail and Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch. Night in Ollantaytambo.
B:L:D.
Day 2: Abra Malaga (cloud forest 2700m)
Early start to drive up the pass and arrive to the upper montane evergreen forest, chusquea bamboo forest, streams and scrubs. We may see Imperial Snipe, Golden-plumed Pararakeet, Sword-billed Hummingbird, Great Sapphirewing, Violet-throated Starfrontlet, Sapphire-vented Puffleg, Scaled Metaltail, Purple-backed Thornbill, Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan, Puna Thistletail the endemic Marcapata Spinetail, Pearled Treerunner, Streaked Tuftedcheek, Rufous Antpitta, Rusty-breasted Antpitta, Undulated Antpitta the endemic Red-and-white Antpitta, Diademed Tapaculo, Trilling Tapaculo, Highland Elaenia, Sierran Elaenia the endemic Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant, Black-throated Tody-Tyrant, Bran-colored Flycatcher, Rufous-bellied Bush-Tyrant, Smoky Bush-Tyrant the endemic Inca Wren, Mountain Wren, Great Thrush the endemic Parodi´s Hemispingus, Rufous-chested Tanager, Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, Lacrimose Mountain-Tanager, Plushcap, Tit-like Dacnis, Blue-backed Conebill, Moustached Flower-piercer, Stripe-headed Brush-Finch the endemic Cuzco Brush-Finch, Golden-bellied Grosbeak, Mountain Cacique and many more. In the late afternoon we will drive back to Cusco.
B:L.
Note: Abra Malaga birding tour, in One day-on request.
TOUR INFORMATION 2022
PRICE: min. 2 passengers — based in double occupancy.
INCLUDED: Hotel*** in Ollantaytambo, Meals, Transpotation, Expert bilingual birdguide, Hotel transfer and entrance fees.
NOT INCLUDED: Personal expenses
TRIP CONSIDERATIONS
Accommodation. The hotels/guest houses are mostly of normal Amazon Birding standard.
Walking: The walking effort is easy to moderate.
Climate: Rather variable. At high altitudes conditions range from cool to decidedly cold in the early morning. At middle elevations many days are dry and sunny, though on other days it can be cool and overcast.
Bird Photography: Opportunities are worthwhile.
Linkable Amazon birding: Northern, Central & Southern peru birding tours
PLEASE CHECK OUR ABRA MALAGA BIRD LIST
PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.
AMAZON BIRDING: Conservation through bird-ecotourism.
PHOTOS GALLERY – BIRDING CUSCO & ABRA MALAGA
