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Birding
Extension to
MALAGA PASS PERU
The
Abra Malaga Pass: Interandean valleys, Puna grassland, humid
temperate forest and access to Polylepis forest offer the
best high Andean birding in Peru. This trip covers the dry
scrub on the slopes of the Urubamba valley and then ascends
to the Puna grassland before getting to the Malaga pass at
13,500 ft where one of the most accessible stands of Polylepis
lies at walking distance. Soon after the pass, the puna grassland
gives way to Elfin (humid and stunted) forest with a completely
different bird community. The entire road has good birding
spots. We will be birding these spots alongside herds of Llamas
and Alpacas and their typically attired shepherds inhabitants
of rock-wall houses that dot the Peruvian high Andes. In order
to allow acclimation, we'll first bird areas surrounding the
Polylepis forest. Our last day of this trip we will take a
walk to high Polylepis forest. We will establish our base
in the Inkas' Sacred Valley of Urubamba. From here we'll make
early departures to the various birding areas.
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Malaga
Pass Birding Itinerary
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Day
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Date
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Meals
Incl
|
Services
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1
|
Daily
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BL
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Cuzco/Sacred
Valley
Today we will bird a mosaic of habitats that include Andean
scrub, an Andean lagoon and surroundings. Huacarpay Lagoon
is located at about a 30-minute ride from the royal city
of Cuzco. Huacarpay bears magnificent scenery combined
with equally impressive birds. In the scrubby area we
should find the endemic Rusty-fronted Canastero and elusive
Streak-fronted Thornbirds near their enormous nests made
out of thorns. At the edge of the scrub we will look for
flushes of gray and white indicating the presence of Bearded
Mountaineer, a large and patterned hummingbird endemic
to a small area in southern Peru. In the cattail surrounding
the lake Yellow-shouldered Blackbirds (a close relative
of our Red-winged Blackbird) should be readily seen. Further
into the lake, White-winged Negrito should be found foraging
on floating vegetation along with Plumbeous Rails. In
areas surrounding the lake herons, Puna Ibis, and Andean
Lapwings are likely to be seen, and Cinereous Harriers
seem to constantly patrol the entire area. We will keep
our eyes open for raptors such as Aplomado Falcon, Black-chested
Buzzard-Eagle and Variable (Red-backed) Hawks. In the
afternoon hours we will take another short trip on the
opposite direction to the Sacsayhuaman ruins. In the surrounding
scrub and agricultural fields we will look for Chestnut-breasted
Mountain-Finch, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Golden-billed
Saltator, and Black-throated Flower-Piercer among others.
Overnight at selected hotel in the Sacred Valley. |
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2
|
Daily
|
B/L
|
Urubamba
Today we make an early start for birding in the open country
of the Puna grassland. We will make several planned stops
first the small bodies of water where Andean and Common
occur. Andean Gull and Speckled Teal are also regulars
at these locations. In the puna grasslands, Mountain Caracara,
Variable (Puna) Hawk, Junin Canastero, White-winged Diuca-Finch
and Black Siskin near the shepard's houses should be located.
We'll continue on to humid temperate forest. An important
component of this habitat is the large stands of bamboo.
Some high Andean species are tightly associated with bamboo.
Our search for these bamboo specialists will focus on
the endemics Puna Thistle-tail, Inca Wren, and Parodi's
Hemispingus. Further on at the transition to humid temperate
forest Violet-throated Startfrontlet, and Tit-like Dacnis
should greet us. Further on, other possibilities include
White-rumped Hawk, Marcapata Spinetail, Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant,
White-banded and White-throated Tyrannulets, Sierran Elaenia,
Diademed Tapaculo, Drab, Three-striped, Black-eared, and
Black-capped hemispingus. Late in the afternoon we'll
return to our Hotel in Urubamba Valley. |
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3
|
Daily
|
B/L
|
Urubamba/Cuzco
After two days of birding at high elevations we should
be ready to undertake our search for the Polylepis endemics.
Leaving our hotel early in the morning we'll get to the
pass and take a short walk to access the Polylepis forest.
This unique forest type harbors some of the most peculiar
and localized high Andean species. Most of these species
live nowhere else but in Polylepis forest at particular
elevations only. The Polylepis specialists we should look
for White-browed and Tawny Tit-spinetails, Ash-breasted
Tit-Tyrant, Giant Conebill, and Stripe-headed Antpitta.
Other possibilities are Line-fronted Canastero, Red-rumped
Bush-Tyrant, several ground-tyrants, Thick-billed Siskin,
and with luck the rare Royal Cinclodes. After seeing some
these extraordinary birds we'll look for the endemic White-tufted
Sunbeam on our way back to the Urubamba valley. Then we'll
head for Cuzco for our farewell dinner. Night at selected
hotel in Cuzco. |
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4
|
Daily
|
B
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Cuzco/Lima
We will be driven to the airport. Arrival in Lima and
transfer to the hotel. Free afternoon. |
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5
|
Daily
|
B
|
Lima
Morning transfer to the airport to take the flight to
Lima. |
Prices
per person in USD
Tourist
class service Prices start from USD 670 per person
in double accommodation
Others
Extensions available:
Cuzco
and Machu Picchu birding itinerary
Classic
Cuzco
Lima
Stopover
Lima
and Paracas extension
Contact
us for more details or special quotes
if your groups is from 3 to more clients.
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