Eight-Day Sacred Valley and Cloud Forest Birding with Birds Hotel Molino

Arrive in Cusco and travel for about two hours to the Sacred Valley, checking in at Birds Hotel Molino near Ollantaytambo before lunch. The afternoon is devoted to the lodge gardens and opportunities to photograph hummingbirds in natural surroundings. Stay overnight at Birds Hotel Molino.
Possible birds for this day, dependent on season and conditions: Andean Parakeet; Black-tailed Trainbearer; Blue-and-yellow Tanager; Bronzy Inca; Chestnut-breasted Mountain Finch; Creamy-crested Spinetail; Golden-billed Saltator; Gould's Inca; Great Sapphirewing; Green-and-white Hummingbird; Green-tailed Trainbearer; Mitred Parakeet; Mountain Velvetbreast; Rusty-fronted Canastero; Shining Sunbeam; Taczanowski's Tinamou; Tyrian Metaltail; Undulated Antpitta; Violet-throated Starfrontlet; White-bellied Woodstar; White-tufted Sunbeam.

Spend the day exploring hummingbird gardens in the Sacred Valley, with feeders offering time to observe and photograph the birds. The garden-based day also allows time to acclimatize before the higher-elevation outings.
Possible birds for this day, dependent on season and conditions: Bearded Mountaineer; Green-and-white Hummingbird; Sword-billed Hummingbird; White-bellied Woodstar.

Leave at dawn for Inkatambo/Tunkiwasi and descend into cloud forest. Follow forest trails for most of the day, seeking colorful forest birds and local specialties. Stay overnight at Tunkiwasi.
Possible birds for this day, dependent on season and conditions: Andean Cock-of-the-Rock; Andean Motmot; Blue Dacnis; Blue-necked Tanager; Chestnut-capped Brushfinch; Golden-headed Quetzal; Golden-naped Tanager; Golden-olive Woodpecker; Green Jay; Masked Fruiteater; Orange-bellied Euphonia; Parodi’s Hemispingus; Red-crested Cotinga; Saffron-crowned Tanager; Silver-beaked Tanager; Slate-throated Whitestart; Speckled Hummingbird; Summer Tanager; Thick-billed Euphonia; Versicolored Barbet; White-lined Tanager.

Continue birdwatching in the cloud forest during the morning, traveling as far as Ipal Lodge for further observation and photography. After lunch, return to the Sacred Valley for another night at Birds Hotel Molino.
Possible birds for this day, dependent on season and conditions: Andean Cock-of-the-Rock; Andean Motmot; Blue Dacnis; Blue-necked Tanager; Chestnut-capped Brushfinch; Golden-headed Quetzal; Golden-naped Tanager; Golden-olive Woodpecker; Green Jay; Masked Fruiteater; Orange-bellied Euphonia; Parodi’s Hemispingus; Red-crested Cotinga; Saffron-crowned Tanager; Silver-beaked Tanager; Slate-throated Whitestart; Speckled Hummingbird; Summer Tanager; Thick-billed Euphonia; Versicolored Barbet; White-lined Tanager.

Set out early for Abra Málaga, where trails cross Polylepis woodland, mountain scrub and open highland terrain. Search these habitats for hummingbirds, mountain finches, antpittas and tapaculos, then descend in the late afternoon to stay at Birds Hotel Molino.
Possible birds for this day, dependent on season and conditions: Andean Coot; Andean Flicker; Andean Goose; Andean Gull; Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant; Black-faced Ibis; Blue-mantled Thornbill; Chestnut-breasted Mountain Finch; Cinnamon Flycatcher; Puna Ibis; Red-and-white Antpitta; Rufous-breasted Chat-Tyrant; Rust-and-yellow Tanager; Rusty-fronted Canastero; Sierran Elaenia; Slate-throated Whitestart; Stripe-headed Antpitta; Undulated Antpitta; Urubamba Antpitta; Vilcabamba Tapaculo; Vilcabamba Thistletail; White-browed Spinetail; White-crested Elaenia.

Explore the highland scrub of the Patacancha valley during an early-morning birding excursion. Return in the afternoon for more observation and photography in the lodge gardens, concentrating on hummingbirds and finches.
Possible birds for this day, dependent on season and conditions: Andean Coot; Andean Flicker; Andean Goose; Andean Gull; Andean Hillstar; Black-backed Grosbeak; Black-faced Ibis; Black-tailed Trainbearer; Blue-and-yellow Tanager; Chestnut-breasted Mountain Finch; Creamy-crested Spinetail; Golden-billed Saltator; Golden-crowned Tanager; Gould's Inca; Great Sapphirewing; Green-and-white Hummingbird; Green-tailed Trainbearer; Mountain Velvetbreast; Puna Ibis; Rufous-collared Sparrow; Rusty-fronted Canastero; Shining Sunbeam; Sword-billed Hummingbird; Tyrian Metaltail; Vilcabamba Tapaculo; Violet-throated Starfrontlet; White-bellied Woodstar; White-browed Chat-Tyrant; White-tufted Sunbeam.

Visit Lake Huaypo, Chacán and neighboring habitats, birding through wetlands, agricultural fields and patches of woodland. Have a picnic lunch in the field before returning to Birds Hotel Molino in the evening for the overnight stay.
Possible birds for this day, dependent on season and conditions: American Golden Plover; Andean Coot; Andean Duck; Black-crowned Night Heron; Black-necked Stilt; Burrowing Owl; Chilean Flamingo; Crested Duck; Great Egret; Lesser Horned Owl; Puna Teal; Ruddy Duck; Short-eared Owl; Silvery Grebe; Solitary Sandpiper; Western Cattle Egret; White-rumped Sandpiper; White-tufted Grebe; Yellow-billed Pintail; Yellow-billed Teal.

Begin with birdwatching in the lodge gardens, then travel toward Cusco after breakfast. If the flight schedule permits, there is time to walk through the city and appreciate its Inca and colonial architecture before the return flight to Lima.
Possible birds for this day, dependent on season and conditions: Andean Parakeet; Black-tailed Trainbearer; Chestnut-breasted Mountain Finch; Creamy-crested Spinetail; Golden-billed Saltator; Gould's Inca; Great Sapphirewing; Green-and-white Hummingbird; Green-tailed Trainbearer; Mitred Parakeet; Mountain Velvetbreast; Rusty-fronted Canastero; Shining Sunbeam; Taczanowski's Tinamou; Tyrian Metaltail; Undulated Antpitta; White-bellied Woodstar; White-tufted Sunbeam.