ENDEMIC BIRDS
ABRA MALAGA
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 varies of 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 San Luis are also 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; also puna grasslands, bamboo forest and cloud forest.
The makes unique this tour, is the chance of seeing 18 variety of endemic birds in just one birding day, it is thanks to the different attitudes and ecosystems that we can pass through only a few hours, to finally go back 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 covering more areas to observe some endemic birds on the way up to Abra Málaga.
Highlights:
- Polylepis Forest
- Bamboo and Cloud Forest
- Ipal Dry Forest
- Endemic Birds
Cusco or Ollantaytambo – Abra Málaga – Cusco
We pick up you at the hotel in our van at 5:00 am to drive in direction of Abra Málaga, in the route we will stop in several strategic points in order to see some endemic birds and other most difficult to observe, living in specific microclimates, like:
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
- 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
- Ash-breasted Tit-tyrant
- Purple back Thornbill
- Olivaceous Thornbill
- Puna Tapaculo
- Black Siskin
- White wing Cinclodes and others
- Blue Dacnis
- Speckled Chachalaca
- Plumbeous Kite
- Bananaquit
- Palm Tanager
- Blue-black Grassquit
- Capped Conebill
- White-browed Conebill
- Masked flowerpiercer
- Diademed Tapaculo
- Azara’s spinetail
- Crimson-mantled Woodpiecker
- Masked Trogon
- Sword-billed Hummingbird
- Streaked Tuftedcheek 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*
- Gratuities recommended for the staff
* 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
Abra Málaga experiences cold mornings, strong sun during the day, and potential rain at any time of year. It’s best to dress in layers and bring rain protection.
This tour involves moderate hiking at high altitude. Some trails can be steep or uneven, so participants should be prepared for short but challenging walks.
No, this tour is designed for all levels, from beginners to expert birders. Our guides will assist in identifying species and help you make the most of the experience.