ABRA MALAGA
IPAL LODGE
Cusco - Huayopata
2 Day / 1 Night
Difficulty: Moderate
Private Service
Abra Malaga and the Private Conservation Area are located in the northeastern part of the Cusco region. Abra Malaga is located at an altitude that varies between 2,200 meters and 4,400 meters above sea level, which allows us to appreciate a great diversity of birds that inhabit different ecosystems, ranging from the “cloud forest” in the lower part, to the perpetual snow at the base of the snow-capped Veronica, at the highest point.
Abra Malaga is also very important for being an ecosystem constituted by the last forests of Queuña (Polylepis sp.), extremely fragile, being also the place where the most endangered flora and fauna of South America inhabits.
Ipal with its dry forest is becoming one of the new hot spots of the entire Cusco Region. The place is located in the province of La Convención, district of Huayopata. Here we will be able to observe a variety of birds typical of the dry forest such as: tanagers, hawks, seed eaters, and others.
Huadquiñas is a very novel spot for birdwatchers, with its special cloud forest, combining primary and secondary forests between cultivated areas.
Highlights:
- Polylepis Forest
- Bamboo and Cloud Forest
- Ipal Dry Forest
- Endemic Birds
- Huadquiña Cloud forest
Day 1: Cusco or Ollantaytambo – Abra Málaga – Ipal Lodge
We will pick you up at your hotel in our van at 5:00 am to drive towards Abra Malaga, on the route we will stop at several strategic points in order to see some endemic birds and others more difficult to observe, which live in specific microclimates, such as:
Endemic Birds:
- Chestnut-breasted Mountain Finch
- White-tufted Sunbean
- Creamy-crested Spinetail
- Rusty fronted Canastero
- Eastern Mountaineer
- Junín Canastero
- Inca wren
- Marcapata spinetail
- Unstreaked tit-tyrant
- Cuzco brush finch
- Parodi’s Hemispingus
- Red and White anpitta
- Urubamba anpitta
- Cuzco Star-frontlet
- Coppery Naped Pufflet
- Tit-like Dacnis
More complicated birds to spot
- Puna Thistletail
- Blue-mantled Thornbill
- Purple back Thornbill
- Olivaceous Thornbill
- Puna Tapaculo
- Black Siskin
- White wing Cinclodes
- Puna Snipe
- Gray breasted mountain tucan
- Short-billed Pipit
- White-winged Diuca-Finch
- Tufted Tit-Tyrant
- Red-Crested Cotinga, among others
After our full day of birding between Abra Málaga and San Luis cloud forest, we settle in at Ipal Lodge, (basic lodge) where wait for us our accommodation and dinner. After dinner we will go to look for some owls near the lodge, such as the Tropical screech owl, Buff-fronted owl and others (seasonals).
Day 2: Ipal Lodge – Hadquiñas – Cusco
We will get up early in the morning to prepare our birding equipment and after breakfast we will leave in the direction of the Huadquiñas forest. Once there, we start looking for unique species of birds that live in the area, such as:
Endemic Birds:
- Inca Wren
- Masked Fruiteater
- Green and White Hummingbird
Others for Observe:
- Red-crested Finch
- Swallow-tailed Hummingbird
- Blue-tailed Emerald
- Bronzy Inca
- White-lined Tanager
- Silvery Tanager
- Blue Dacnis
- Speckled Chachalaca
- Plumbeous Kite
- Barred Antshrike
- Bananaquit
- Palm Tanager
- Blue-black Grassquit
- Golden-headed Quetzal
- Crimson-bellied Woodpecker
- Lineated Woodpecker
- Golden-collared Honeycreeper
- Striated Antbird, among others.
Finishing our morning birding we will return to our lodge for lunch. Then we will board the van to drive back to Cusco, ending our tour.
Includes:
- All transportations
- Snacks
- Ozonated water (we will provide it in all the tour, but you must carry your own canteen)
- Professional bilingual guide specialized birdwatcher
- All entrance fees
- Accommodation in Ipal lodge (basic lodge)
- Box lunch and dinner on first day
- Breakfast and lunch on second day
Not included:
- Other requirements not specified
- Breakfast on first day
- Dinner on second day
- Birdwatching equipment*
- Tips for a staff
- Services not mentioned
* If you don’t have some of the required equipment, we can rent one.
To enjoy our tour, don’t forget to bring:
- Passport or ISIC card OBLIGATORY
- Binoculars
- Photograph equipment
- Extra batteries
- Camouflaged clothes
- Sun block SPF 45 – 90
- Small backpack (canteen, snacks, etc.)
- Extra clothes
- Hat or cap for the sun and sunglasses
- Repellent
- Raincoats or rain ponchos (all year)
- Slippers or tennis shoes
- Extra cash in (soles and dollars, optional).
Frequently Asked Questions
The climate of this tour is varied, between a frigid climate with cloud and rain forests in the Abra Malaga area and semi-tropical rainforests in Incatambo.
The tour involves moderate hiking at high altitudes (above 4,200 meters). Although most of the trails are accessible, a reasonable level of fitness is recommended.
Yes, it is very likely, because we will climb up to 4400 meters above sea level, so it is recommended to bring warm clothes and some medicines for the occasion.
You can do the tour all year round, however, we recommend choosing the best season, which is from March to December, because there is less rainfall and more bird migration.
You can book directly through our website or contact us by email or WhatsApp. We recommend booking in advance, as availability is limited.