The Abra Málaga Private Conservation area is located in the Cusco region. Abra Malaga is at a height that ranges between 2200 meters at 4,400 meters above sea level, which allows observing a diversity of microclimates that go from the “Cloud Forest”, at the lowest altitude, to the feet of Nevado Verónica, at the highest. It is important to preserve, conserve the biodiversity and ecological processes existing in the Polylepis forest of the Abra Málaga Thastayoc, habitat of a diversity of flora and fauna.
In this area we can find many endemic birds, among them three endangered species: the Ash-breasted Tit-tyrant, White Browed Tit Spinetail and the Royal Cinclodes.
Situated at an altitude of 3,020 meters, this High-Andean wetland comprises four permanent and one temporary lagoons, two swamps and two rivers, and is part of the Pikillaqta Arqueological Park and the National Tourist Reserve.
Among the most representative flora are various species of cactus and the “Algarrobo” tree (Prosopis laevigata), which at 3,100 m.a.s.l. probably has the highest altitude of its distribution in South America. The overexploitation of resources constitutes an important threat to the site, which is in turn facilitated by uncertainty about the ownership of the land.
This wetland provides considerable food and refuge to various threatened (Falco femoralis, Falco peregrinus, Jabiru mycteria) and endemic (Oreonympha nobilis, Asthenes ottonis, Poospiza caesar) avian species, making it possible to identify over 70 such species throughout the year.
To start this beautiful adventure, our top rated guide will pick you up from your Hotel in Cusco in our private van at 6:00 am. We will go along the road stopping to do birdwatching, during the route we will be able to observe birds such as Pointed-winged Pigeon, Rusty-flowerpiercer, Puna Ground Tyrant, Andean flicker and many more. where we will stop to enjoy an energetic lunch (at a local restaurant). In the afternoon, we will continue our trip to the community of Chonta and start the 1.5 hour walk to the Mirador del Cóndor in Chonta – Cusco.
The activity will end in the afternoon and we will return to Cusco.
On our second day, we will head to up to Abra Malaga Pass descending to 2700m. This area is covered with interesting vegetation and Chusquea Bamboo Forest where we can get special Target Birds. We will spend the whole day along the road birding and at noon we will enjoy our box lunch surrounded by the high Andean flora, and in the afternoon, we will head towards the western flank of the mountain in search of more species of birds. Later that day around 5:00 p.m. we come back straight to Cusco.
Target Birds Species: The Endemics Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant, Parodis Hemispingus plus Red and White Antpitta. Marcapata Spinetailt, Cuzco Brush Finch, Some more uncommon birds like Imperial Snipe, Undulated Antpitta, Rusty Breasted Antpitta, Trilling Tapaculo, Lacrimose Tanager, Pearled Treeruner, Highland Elaenia, Yellow Billed Cacique and many more.
We will pick up our passengers from their hotels at 4:30 am, then we will travel for 30 minutes to the Huacarpay Lagoon, there we will observe different species of Birds (accompanied by our expert guide).
At 8am, we will have breakfast, then we will continue birding arounf the wetlands. At noon we will have our picnic lunch in the area with the beautiful view of the lake and the mountains.
In the afternoon we will walk uphills, where we will catch our car and continue birding making stop alog the way, arriving by 5:00pm in Cusco city.
End of our sevices.
Many species of birds of Cusco reside in the area, but depending on the time of year we can also find migratory birds that visit tis places, we can find excellent birds such as:
Andean Goose, Crested Duck, Mountain Caracara, Andean Lapwing, Blue-mantled Thornbill, Andean Flicker, Tawny Tit-Spinetail, Streak-throated Canastero, Line-fronted Canastero, Stripe-headed Antpitta, Puna Tapaculo, Taczanowski’s Ground-Tyrant, Red-rumped Bush-Tyrant, Rufous-webbed Bush-Tyrant, Giant Conebill and Black Siskin the endemics White-tufted Sunbeam, Creamy-crested Spinetail and Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch are the main targets in this tour.
We do offer many cultural tours and treks to Machu Picchu, see here!
White Browed Tit Spinetail
Explore the sites that you will actually see along your tours.
Chota
Huacarpay Lagoon
Cusco
Sam Corporations has flexible departure dates, willing to accommodate your needs and travel requirements as far as possible. We guarantee exclusive luxurious tours of the hidden gems of Peru, whilst providing the best quality and personalized service.
You can book confidently knowing we offer the best value for your money
Sam Corporations
Our company is 100% locally owned. We directly contribute to economic development and environmental sustainability in Peru.
The quality of our service is one of our most important values which demands all our effort, determination, and courage to be successful in what we are doing and the services we provide
We aim to have a positive impact in all the areas that we visit. Through our training sessions and social projects, we empower women, indigenous communities and children
Our groups never exceed 10 people, giving you a personalized tour in our small comfortable vans
Interested in visiting only specific destinations? No problem, all our packages can be fully customized to suit your budget and schedule. Contact our travel advisors to plan the most comprehensive trip of a lifetime.
We commit socially and culturally to the community and adapt our business strategies to the preservation of the environment
There are many good reason to visit these Inca ruins and birding definitely adds to the long list. The habitat surrounding the ruins are probably the best place to see Inca Wren and another elusive endemic like Parodi’s Hemispingus. Many birders see their first Andean Coock-of-the Rock along the railway near Aguas Calientes and Torrent Duck by the Urubamba river. At the ruins, keep an eye open for flycatchers such as Streak-throated, Bush-Tyrant and White-winged Black-Tyrant.
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