Day 01: Cusco – Huacarpay - Pumachaca Ranch

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”. We continue to Paucartambo, a picturesque Spanish colonial town, and then to Pumachaca Ranch though a beautiful narrow road and semi-humid montane scrub where a Taczanowski’s Tinamou has been reported here. Common to see around Pumachaca are: White-rufted Sunbeam, Creamy-crested Spintail, Cinereous Conebill, Torrent Duck. Relax this night in the Chimney and spend the night at the comfortable accommodations.

Day 02: Pumachaca - Acjanacu

After early wake up and walk around the interesting trails, we continue up to Acjanacu pass with its elfin forest marks the beginning of the Cultural Zone of Manu Biosphere Reserve. Birders stay the night here 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-colared Tanager, Drab hemispingus and small mixed flocks with among others. Overnight camping.