DAY 01: Cusco – Huacarpay Lake – San Pedro

We depart from Cusco around 04:30 a.m. arriving at Lake Huarcarpay 30 minutes later. Here we take time and spend the entire day observing highland lake and marsh birds. The best is to follow the road that goes around the lake and start seeing most of the waterfowl typical of Andean wetlands including grebes, ducks, gallinules and coots. The wet grasslands in front of the marsh are good for shorebirds and Andean Negrito. We can look for occasional migrants such as the Hudsonian Godwit (rare) and Baird’s Sandpiper. The many- coloured Rush- Tyrant and two endemic, the Rusty-fronted Canastero that can be seen around the ruins on the hillside above the Lake and a spectacular hummingbird, the Bearded Mountainner. We continue to the interesting tombs of Ninamarca, commonly known as “Chullpas”. A brief stop at Paucartambo, a picturesque Spanish colonial town, and then continue to Acjanacu pass with its elfin forest marks the beginning of the Cultural Zone of Manu Biosphere Reserve. Birders love this place because it is possible to see White-browed chat-tyrant, the Chestnut-breasted mountain-finch, Puna Thistletail, Paramo Pipit, Diademed Tapaculo, Puna Tapaculo, Masked flowerpiercer, Golden-collared Tanager, Drab hemispingus and small mixed flocks with among others, then walk down to Pillahuata site located in upper montane humid forest also known as the Coshñipata Valley where the bird species are quite different from Acjanacu. It’s possible to see many different species of birds such as the Hooded Tinamou, Stripe-faced Wood-Quail, Golden plumed parakeet, Yungas Pygmy-Owl, Gould’s Inca, Blue-banded Toucanet, Crimson –mantled Woodpecker, Sierran Elaenia, White-collared Jay, Mountain Cacique. Again, it is the best simply to bird your way slowly along the road. There will be plenty of activity, with several specialities to look for. After the first tunnel, we stop at the mixed bamboo patch on the left and try for Rusty-breasted Antpitta, and the endemic Red-and White Antpitta, which is often quite vocal in the morning. At the second tunnel the vegetation becomes more luxuriant, look for the Chestnut-bellied Mountain Tanager, Tawny-rumped tyrannuler, Band-tailed Fruiteater and the barred Fruiteater in the mixed flocks, as well as Gray-breasted Mountain Toucan.

One bird to look out for in mixed folcks is the vividly-colouder Ochraceous-breasted Flycatcher and the same thing for the spectacular Greater Scythe bill. Overnight at Orquideas de San Pedro Lodge.