Cusco Birdwatching and Machu Picchu - 4 Days
A four-day Cusco journey balancing endemic birding with local cuisine, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The route links Balcon del Diablo, Piuray Lagoon, Ensifera Camp, Aguas Calientes and Ollantaytambo.
About this tour
This four-day program is designed for travelers who want concentrated birding without separating it from Cusco’s best-known cultural experiences. Highland endemics, wetland birds, hummingbirds and lower-elevation Machu Picchu species appear across a route that also includes cooking, city heritage and Andean textiles.
The birding sequence moves from Balcon del Diablo to Piuray Lagoon and Ensifera Camp, then follows the train corridor to Aguas Calientes for a morning around the Ruinas Bridge and a guided Machu Picchu visit. Ollantaytambo completes the journey.
Rusty-fronted Canastero, Creamy-crested Spinetail, Many-colored Rush Tyrant, Masked Fruiteater, Green-and-white Hummingbird, Inca Flycatcher and Inca Wren are stated targets. Every observation remains subject to field conditions.
Planning a wider trip? Read our birdwatching guide to Peru.
Birds you can spot
Cranioleuca albicapilla
target
Elliotomyia viridicauda
target
Leptopogon taczanowskii
target
Pheugopedius eisenmanni
target
Tachuris rubrigastra
target
Pipreola pulchra
target
Asthenes ottonis
target
Itinerary
Day 1
Endemic Birds, Cooking and Cusco
Leave the Cusco hotel between 6:00 and 6:30 am for Balcon del Diablo, about 20 minutes away near Sacsayhuaman. Walk roughly two kilometres in search of highland endemics and other Andean birds. Around midday, take part in a short Peruvian cooking class. The afternoon city visit covers San Blas, the Stone of the Twelve Angles and Qorikancha.
Day 2
Piuray Lagoon, Ensifera Camp and the Sacred Valley
Pickup is at 7:00 am for the Sacred Valley. Make birding stops at Andean viewpoints before visiting Piuray Lagoon and a reed-fringed pond used by Yellow-winged Blackbird, Many-colored Rush Tyrant and Wren-like Rushbird. Continue to a restaurant for a Peruvian buffet lunch with an introduction from a local chef, then visit the Ensifera Camp hummingbird garden. Travel afterward to Ollantaytambo and take the train to Aguas Calientes.
Day 3
Machu Picchu Birds and Citadel
Begin near 5:30 am with a quiet birding walk toward the Ruinas Bridge, looking for woodpeckers, tanagers, flycatchers and hummingbirds, including Inca Flycatcher, Masked Fruiteater and Green-and-white Hummingbird. Continue toward Mandor Cascades if time permits. Go back to Aguas Calientes for an early lunch at the guest’s expense, then take the 2:00 pm bus for a guided visit of approximately 1.5 hours at Machu Picchu, where bamboo patches may hold Inca Wren. Travel by train to Ollantaytambo for the night.
Day 4
Ollantaytambo and Andean Textiles
After breakfast, an optional visit is planned to the Ollantaytambo archaeological site; its stated admission of USD 25 per person is not included. On the road back to Cusco, stop at a traditional Andean textile workshop. Finish at the selected Cusco hotel, a local restaurant or the airport.
Locations & map
- Balcon del Diablo - Cusco Region Peru
- Cusco - Cusco Region Peru
- Piuray Lagoon - Cusco Region Peru
- Ensifera Camp - Cusco Region Peru
- Aguas Calientes - Cusco Region Peru
- Machu Picchu - Cusco Region Peru
- Ollantaytambo - Cusco Region Peru
Availability & pricing
Availability is confirmed after your inquiry.
Transport & stays
- Private vehicle
Accommodations
- Three nights in selected 3-star hotels (days 1-3) Standard room
Policies & FAQ
Payment Terms
Insurance & Safety
Are bird sightings guaranteed?
No. The itinerary visits habitats selected for the listed species, but all observations depend on season, weather and the movements of wild birds.
Send inquiry
Ask about this tour before booking. Your preferred date is optional and availability will be confirmed after your inquiry.