ABRA MALAGA POLYLEPIS FOREST
Cusco - Ollantaytambo
Full Day
Difficulty: Moderate
Private Service
Abra Málaga and its Private Conservation Area is located in the north-eastern part of the Cusco region. Abra Malaga and San Luis cloud forest have a height that varies according to the species, living between 2,200 and 4,400 m.a.s.l, which allow you to appreciate a great diversity of birds.
Abra Malaga and Verónica glacier are very important, because they have different ecosystems, passing from the last forests of Queuña (Polylepis sp.), extremely fragile, being also the place where the most endangered flora and fauna that live in South America and puna grasslands tree lines.
What makes this full-day tour unique is the possibility of observing a variety of endemic birds specialized in the polylepis forest, to finally return to Cusco or Ollantaytambo.
We recommend to you lodge in Ollantaytambo or a nearby zone to have an earlier departure and have the possibility of cover more areas to observe some endemic birds on the way up to Abra Málaga.
Highlights:
- Polylepis Forest
- Endemic Birds
- Panoramic Sceneries
- Walking
Cusco or Ollantaytambo – Abra Málaga – Cusco
We pick you up at the hotel in our van at 5:00 am to drive towards Abra Málaga and Verónica glacier. Once we get to the pass (4,400 m.a.s.l), we start our walk over Tastayoc Private Conservation Area until reaching the Verónica glacier viewpoint (4,500 m.a.s.l). From this place we start descend to the base of Verónica Mountain looking for the specialists birds of polylepis forest, such as:
Endemic Birds:
- Chestnut-breasted Mountain Finch
- White-tufted Sunbeam
- Creamy-crested Spinetail
- Rusty fronted Canastero
- Eastern Mountaineer
- White-browed Tit-spinetail
- Royal Cinclodes
- Junín Canastero
- Tit-like Dacnis
More complicated birds to spot
- Puna Thistletail
- Blue-mantled Thornbill
- Ash-breasted Tit-tyrant
- Purple back Thornbill
- Olivaceous Thornbill
- Puna Tapaculo
- Black Siskin
- White wing Cinclodes
- Tawny Tit-Spinetail
- Giant Conebill
- White-browed Conebill
- Blue-backed Conebill
- Bar-bellied Woodpecker
- Taczanowski´s Ground Tyrant
- Puna Ground-Tyrant, and others.
Finishing our full day birding, we will be back to Cusco.
Includes:
- Private transportation
- 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
- Box lunch and snacks
Not included:
- Other requirements not specified
- Breakfast
- Birdwatching equipment*
- Tips for 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.)
- 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
This tour is a full day birding experience in the unique Polylepis forest of Abra Malaga, located near Ollantaytambo in Cusco. It is designed for birding enthusiasts looking to spot rare Andean species in their natural habitat.
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! Whether you are an experienced birder or a beginner, our expert guide will help you identify species and improve your birding skills.
You can book directly through our website or contact us by email or WhatsApp. We recommend booking in advance, as availability is limited.