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Experience dramatic landscapes, lush cloud forests alive with birdlife, humid montane forests, sections of the ancient Inca Trail, and ancient citadels hidden among the Andes on this 9-day Birding Tour to Machu Picchu, an unforgettable journey for birders, hikers, and nature lovers alike.
From the highlands around Cusco to the humid cloud forests of Abra Málaga, each day offers opportunities to spot a remarkable variety of bird species in their natural habitat, including many endemics. Hummingbirds, tanagers, parrots, and the iconic Andean Cock-of-the-rock are only a few of the species that can be found on this 9-day birding tour to Machu Picchu. The tour also includes important birding areas such as the Ensifera of Yanahuara, the Hummingbird Sanctuary of San Salvador, Abra Málaga, and the forests surrounding Machu Picchu.
One of the highlights of this trip is the visit to Chonta, one of the best places in the Cusco region to observe the majestic Andean Condor soaring above the dramatic Apurímac canyon. Watching these massive birds glide across the mountain landscapes is often one of the most unforgettable moments of the entire trip.
Beyond birdwatching, this itinerary allows you to experience the cultural and natural diversity of the Peruvian Andes. Explore ancient Inca sites, walk through scenic valleys surrounded by snowcapped mountains, and hike part of the historic Inca Trail before arriving at Machu Picchu.
Carefully designed by local birding guides from Cusco, this itinerary combines years of exploration, field experience, and knowledge of the region’s birdlife to create a journey that feels both authentic and rewarding for birders, photographers, and nature lovers alike.
Join us for the adventure of a lifetime – give us a call at +51 984 464 391 or shoot us an email at [email protected] to learn more or book your spot today!
This trip is officially operated by Peru Summit Adventures, a 100% local tour operator based in Cusco
Traveling with us you are making a big difference in favor of the environment, our trips are rated as eco-friendly trips to ensure that fragile ecosystems are protected and maintained for future human generations, also maintain ecosystem and environment integrity through considering a sustainable and ethical business model. Making genuine and sustainable itineraries often translates to real costs, with a host of responsible travel practices that underpin our prices.
Upgraded Comfort
UPGRADED COMFORT: Premium or Comfort trips are led by Peru Summit Adventures experts, an experienced crew at your side, or top trip leaders/guides, and tap into private local experts' resources to allow for in-depth exploration and special access to unique sites that only the local leaders/guides know. Itineraries are carefully crafted and fully planned, with plenty of free time to roam. Camping gears are high-end and accommodations are high-end or best available. Ground transportation and most meals (especially in hikes) and activities are included in the trip price.
MODERATE – DEMANDING, Travelers should be physically fit and prepared for multiple hours of activity. Certain days might have more challenging physical activities with full-day hikes (6-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 2,400 feet). 2-day to 3-day trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 13,000 feet are in this category.
Wildlife, Natural History, Photography & Cultural Adventures
While we expect the tour will run as the itinerary describes to Birding Tour To Machu Picchu, Cloud Forests, Andes & Inca Trail. Participants should accept that there is the possibility of changes, being necessary liable to local conditions, eg, strikes, natural disasters, these changes might be at the discretion of your travel company.
3 nights at local families lodge, the last night at a cozy 3-star hotel in Machu Picchu Pueblo.
MIn 2 ppl, Max 6 ppl
Minimum of 02 people is needed to depart. Family groups, couple travelers, friends, or even if you’re a SOLO traveler, you are welcome to our trips. Price is per person, which is based on two people who might share a room/tent. The itinerary is described and based on shared services as well as semi-private service; however, if you are looking for a private service, that would be upon request.
YES. To protect MACHU PICCHU, the number of people allowed a day is limited to 3500 (spaces may vary depending on new regulations). That is why you should reserve your space as soon as possible. Spaces can be filled up three to four months in advance. Spaces fill more quickly in the high tourist season, from May to September. If you're planning to hike up to Wayna Picchu mountain, please let us know at the moment you are booking the tour (tickets for Wayna Picchu is limited, 400 tickets a day).
Please allow a minimum of 2 days in Cusco before your trip begins to Birding Tour To Machu Picchu.
Since 2014 and since the very first day of our operation, Peru Summit Adventures has been blazing new trails, new ways of experiencing in Ausangate Trek and Rainbow Mountain. Our trailblazing is just one reason we are a uniquely qualified local company to ensure you have a trip of a lifetime.
Upon arrival in Cusco, our team will meet you at the airport and drive together to your hotel located in the historic part of Cusco.
We recommend arriving in Cusco in the morning, so you can have some time to rest and slowly adjust to the altitude before the tour begins.
At 2:00 PM, we will meet at your hotel and head out to explore some of the most important places in the old Inca capital. We begin at Coricancha, once the most sacred temple of the Inca Empire, where the precision of the original Inca stonework still stands beneath the colonial construction built centuries later.
From there, we continue up to Sacsayhuaman, the impressive archaeological site overlooking the city. Besides its gigantic limestone boulders and panoramic views, the open Andean surroundings often provide our first chance to spot some local highland bird species moving among the polylepis trees.
Before returning to the hotel, we will spend some time around the historic Plaza de Armas of Cusco, a lively place where colonial churches, Inca history, local people, and travelers all come together.
This afternoon tour is planned as a relaxed introduction to Cusco’s history, landscapes, and Andean atmosphere before continuing deeper into the birding route in the following days.
Easy to Moderate
We will leave the Cusco hotel at 6:00 AM and drive for 1 hour and 30 minutes towards the small community of Yanahuara, located in the Sacred Valley. Early mornings are usually the most active hours for hummingbirds, making this the perfect time to begin our birding day.
In Yanahuara Community, we visit the Ensifera Yanahuara, where we spend a few hours around the Ensifera feeders and nearby vegetation looking for species such as the Sword-billed Hummingbird, Giant Hummingbird, and Green-and-white Hummingbird. Some mornings can be very active, with several species moving constantly between the flowers and feeders. This place offers up to 12 species of birds to spot. If you are lucky, you can observe approximately 8 species.
After birding, we continue towards the famous Maras Salt Mines, where hundreds of salt pools cover the side of the mountain. Local families still harvest salt here using traditional methods that have existed since pre-Inca times.
Depending on our time, we can have lunch before the Maras Salt Mines or after. Your guide will let you know, and you will get to one of the nice local restaurants.
After lunch, we visit Moray, a unique archaeological Inca site in the Cusco region, formed by circular terraces built at different elevations, which creates different types of microclimates. The surrounding landscapes are beautiful, especially the Urubamba Mountain Range, which is spectacularly seen from this place, and especially on clear days when the mountains open across the valley.
After the tour, we drive to our hotel located in the Sacred Valley.
Easy to Moderate
Our guide will meet you at your hotel at 7 AM for another great birding day. Then you drive for 1 hour and 15 minutes towards the valley of San Salvador (still part of the Sacred Valley). The morning is focused on the Colibrí Sanctuary (Sacred Garden), where several species of hummingbirds can be observed at the gardens and feeders.
Depending on the season, it is possible to observe species such as the Bearded Mountaineer, Sparkling Violetear, Green-tailed Trainbearer, Rusty-fronted Canastero, and other small Andean birds moving through the shrubs and polylepis bushes surrounding the sanctuary.
Today, besides the birdwatching experience, San Salvador Village offers a very different atmosphere from the busy tourist places in the Sacred Valley, with traditional extensive farming areas of quinoa, corn, and potatoes. Open valleys and mountain scenery make the area feel peaceful and unique.
After having enough time at the Sacred Garden, we drive to the Pisac Archaeological Site; Pisac is one of the most impressive Inca sites in the Sacred Valley. The ruins lie along the mountainside overlooking the valley below and include massive agricultural terraces, trails, ceremonial areas, panoramic viewpoints, and the largest Inca cemetery in the Cusco region.
While exploring the ruins, there are some chances to spot highland species soaring above the cliffs or moving through the dry Andean vegetation, like the Andean Flicker or the Andean Tinamou, if you are lucky.
After visiting Pisac, we will drive back to your hotel in the Sacred Valley.
Easy to Moderate
Today, we will start early in the dawn, at 4 AM, our guide will come to your hotel in the Sacred Valley and drive towards Abra Málaga for 2 hours, one of the best birding areas in the Sacred Valley. As we gain elevation up to 14’160 ft/ 4316 m, the landscape slowly changes from green valleys to the dry highland mountains.
The morning will be spent exploring different sections of the cloud forest, searching for some of the species that make this area so special among birders. Depending on the weather and activity, we may encounter colorful tanagers feeding quietly in the canopy, Rufous Antpitta underneath the thick vegetation, or hummingbirds appearing briefly along the roadside vegetation, which are often found in this type of forest. You can also find some orchids along the road.
Birding here can feel very different from the open valleys around the Sacred Valley. This cloud forest is quieter, lush, and constantly changing with the fog drifting through the mountains and valleys.
After having enough time for birding, we will continue driving to Tunkiwasi Lodge, a simple but welcoming place managed by a local family located in a cloud forest, where you can still spot birds around the lodge. Staying here allows us to spend more time in the area and experience the slower rhythm of life in the mountains.
At night, you will enjoy a delicious, fresh dinner prepared by a local family.
Easy to Moderate
Today, a nice and succulent breakfast will make us ready for another great birding day. We will spend another morning birding around the cloud forests, this time focusing on some of the feeders and forest edges, where activity is usually best during the early hours of the day.
One of the highlights is visiting a local feeding station where several species of tanagers often gather at close range. Depending on the season and conditions, it is possible to observe Flame-faced Tanagers, Blue-gray Tanagers, Beryl-spangled Tanagers, and sometimes the striking Versicolored Barbet moving quietly around the fruit feeders and nearby trees. Hummingbirds are also common here, constantly moving between flowers and feeders throughout the morning.
After the feeder, we will visit a special place, where the Andean Cock-of-the-rock can usually be seen, the national bird of Peru. Males are sometimes seen displaying near the forest slopes, their bright orange-red plumage standing out against the dark green cloud forest.
The day is relaxed and flexible, allowing time to enjoy the cloud forest and continue observing species that may have been missed the previous day.
In the afternoon, we will drive back to our hotel in the Sacred Valley.
Moderate
Today’s adventure starts at 5:40 AM from your hotel in the Sacred Valley, and we will head to the train station in Ollantaytambo. The train departs at 7:05 AM, following the Urubamba River as the landscape gradually changes from the Sacred Valley into the greener cloud forests closer to Machu Picchu.
The train takes 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach the trailhead called Km 104. Upon arrival at this point, we will register at the main checkpoint, as we will hike within the Sanctuary of Machu Picchu, an area extremely protected by the national government. After the registration, we will begin the Short Inca Trail, one of the most scenic sections of the original Inca road system. The trail passes through humid forest, stone pathways, and archaeological sites like Chachabamba and Wiñaywayna (the most beautiful one) while offering occasional opportunities to observe birds moving through the vegetation along the route, like the Gray-breasted Mountain-Toucan.
As we continue hiking, the forest becomes denser and more lush, with orchids, moss-covered trees, and the constant sound of birds. Depending on the activity during the day, species such as tanagers, hummingbirds, and flycatchers can often be seen around the forest edges. This hike takes approximately 7 hours from the beginning to Machu Picchu.
One of the highlights of this hike is reaching Inti Punku (Gate of the Sun), where the first panoramic view of Machu Picchu appears in the distance after several hours on the trail.
From there, we continue down toward Machu Picchu Citadel, where we will take our time to enjoy the afternoon views of this unique, iconic Peruvian landmark, as the afternoon is when the place becomes less crowded. After that, we will reach the checkpoint and take the bus to Aguas Calientes Town.
Moderate
Today, we will start the day early at 5:30 AM from your hotel to take one of the first buses up to Machu Picchu. Visiting the site early in the morning usually offers some advantages: a quieter atmosphere, with mist slowly moving through the mountains as the citadel begins to reveal itself.
The morning will be for a comprehensive guided tour, where you will learn about the history of this great site and the natural environment surrounding it. The cloud forest around the sanctuary is also home to many species of birds, and it is not unusual to hear or spot species moving through the vegetation near the ruins during the quieter hours of the morning.
After having enough time to enjoy and experience this place, we will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes Town, where you will have time for lunch before taking the train to Ollantaytambo.
At 2:55 PM or 3:48 PM, we will board the train to Ollantaytambo, following once again the scenic route along the Urubamba River. Upon arrival at Ollantaytambo train station, our private transportation will meet us at the station for the final drive back to Cusco, where we will expect to arrive at around 7:30 PM.
Easy to Moderate
We will start early at 4:00 AM and will drive for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes toward the small community of Chonta, located above the impressive Apurímac Canyon and surrounded by great views.
Part of the road is not asphalt and passes through remote Andean landscapes, traditional farming areas, and mountain valleys before reaching the trailhead. From here, we continue on foot along a scenic path overlooking the canyon. This hike takes 1 hour and 30 minutes, and it is one of the best places in the Cusco region to observe the Andean Condor.
As the morning warms up and air currents begin to rise from the canyon, condors are often seen gliding across the cliffs at surprisingly close range. Watching these massive birds flying over the deep canyon is usually one of the most special moments of the entire journey.
Besides the condors, the area can also offer sightings of other high Andean species moving across the open mountainsides and rocky slopes surrounding the canyon. One of the species to spot is usually the Andean Parakeet.
After spending enough time at the viewpoints (there are several observatory viewpoints) and enjoying the landscapes of the Apurímac Canyon, we will return on foot to the Chonta Village, from where we will take our private transportation back to Cusco.
Moderate
After spending 9 days of birding, visiting ancient sites, and immersing in the local culture, and after having a memorable time, it is time to go home. We will pick you up from your hotel 2 hours and 30 minutes prior to the flight departure time, and transfer you to the airport. End of the birdwatching adventure.
Easiest
Although we do our very best possible to adhere to the schedule above, this itinerary is subject to change for several reasons beyond our control, including strikes, weather, natural disasters, and terrain conditions. On some occasions, these conditions may demand us to deviate from our original schedule, in which case we will provide the best available alternative options. And we’ll make a great experience of it!
| Number of participants | Price per person | Total ($ USD) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Participant | We have special rates for SOLO travelers. Get started by filling out the inquiry form. | Enquire Now | |
| 2 Participants | $ 5,500.00 | $ 11,000.00 | Enquire Now |
| 3 Participants | $ 5,400.00 | $ 16,200.00 | Enquire Now |
| 4 Participants | $ 5,300.00 | $ 21,200.00 | Enquire Now |
| 5 Participants | $ 5,200.00 | $ 26,000.00 | Enquire Now |
| 6+ Participants | We have special rates for groups, which are over 6ppl. Get started by filling out the inquiry form. | Enquire Now | |
| # | |
|---|---|
| 1 person (We have special rates for SOLO travelers. Get started by filling out the inquiry form.) | Enquire Now |
| 2 people $ 5,500.00 | Enquire Now |
| 3 people $ 5,400.00 | Enquire Now |
| 4 people $ 5,300.00 | Enquire Now |
| 5 people $ 5,200.00 | Enquire Now |
| 6+ people (We have special rates for groups, which are over 6ppl. Get started by filling out the inquiry form.) | Enquire Now |
Prices are quoted in US Dollars and all payments must be made in US Dollars. Prices are per person based on SEMI-PRIVATE service; we depart with 2 ppl as a minimum, 8 ppl as maximum, and an average of 4 ppl in a group. This tour is also based on a double twin-bed (matrimonial if requested) or triple occupancy in case of families or friends for hotel rooms, single rooms are subject to a single supplement fee.
Making a choice of your right travel company/ tour operator is the most important decision you will make as you make your plans for a long-anticipated dreamed adventure. At first glance, some companies may seem cheaper. However, when you research a little deeper, you will see why traveling with Peru Summit Adventures assures that you will have the most memorable travel experience possible. In fact, we guarantee it, our TripAdvisor reviews say that.
Making genuine and sustainable itineraries often translate to real costs, with a host of responsible travel practices that underpin our prices, here are the reasons why you should go with us!
Besides, Machu Picchu offers one of the world’s most spellbinding travel experiences. But it’s also a world-renowned destination, and touring the site in a big group with multitudes of tourists shoving for photos, and competing to hear the guide, your once in a lifetime visit to this World Heritage Site may lose its magic. Our Machu Picchu Trips are scheduled with an average of just four travelers, allowing for a deeper exploration of the lost city of the Incas, with our Local Experts / Tour Leaders.
We are very confident the quality of our Birding Tour To Machu Picchu will get your expectations and that you will savor the best possible of cultural travel experience, nature travel experience, and adventure travel experience if you are dissatisfied, we’ll happily give you credit for an extra trip or for a future journey. It’s, to our knowledge, the best guarantee in the travel business.
Probably you will see that most of the tour operators mention it on their websites that are local tour companies, however, if you research a little deeper you will find out that’s not true, they might be although half of the operation is done from here and another half abroad, they even have NorthAmerican phone number or European phone numbers, which is a clue to find out, we are not against the foreigner companies or half foreign companies, what we are against is that they lie.
In Cusco exist just few truly local tour operators. If you did not know, foreign companies come to Peru to get rich without paying a General Sales Tax or Tax Contribution to our country. If you did not know that, according to the United Nations, for every US $100 spent on a tour in a developing country or foreign travel companies, only $5 stays in the local economy. Normally, almost all of the money flows back to large companies operating outside the destination countries. As we are a local family enterprise, we guarantee that your travel expenditures will support the local economy, and improve the lives of Peruvians through contributing to general sales tax.
Be a responsible traveller! Let’s make this world a better place for everyone and for everyone that lives in it! The natural environments that we travel to are fragile and abundant with beautiful culture and traditions that are often reliant on tourism. We have a responsibility as travelers to minimize the impact of our presence, protect what is delicate, and leave a positive influence everywhere we can.
As a locally owned and based Peruvian tour company, we integrate these practices into our in-country operations we are aiming for a style of travel that makes the world a better place for everyone, and for everyone that lives in it. Since our very first days as a tour operator, responsible business has been at the heart of what we do. Peru Summit Adventures is committed not just to treading lightly, but to making a real difference by helping and investing in local communities, education initiatives, environmental conservation projects. These values are not more than just words, they are ingrained in the culture and philosophy of our crew, daily operations of Peru Summit Adventures trips, and at our office too.
The perfect custom-made private tours, adventure tours, or expeditions don’t just happen. It takes a team of talented, knowledgeable, passionate, and experienced professionals to bring it all together and possible. Our team of Peru Summit Adventures Leaders is comprised of local trip veterans, seasoned tour veterans with rich backgrounds on history, archaeology, culture, cuisine, geology, biology, and more.
With the highest staff-to-guest ratio in the travel industry, our Trip Leaders safely deliver your trip-of-a-lifetime to maximize your Peru journeys and adventures every step of the way. Our Tour/Trek Leaders have worked extensively in the Peru isolated mountains, archaeological sites, hiking the Inca Trail (at least 150 times), Amazon jungle, and being at Machu Picchu for over 400 times at least, this guarantees your trip a unique and memorable experience.
Hotels: Cozy boutique hotels, carefully selected to make your Machu Picchu birding experience a memorable one.
We have created a custom comprehensive listing of Birding Tour To Machu Picchu, Cloud Forests, Andes & Inca Trail, Machu Picchu and Peru, Machu Picchu, and Peru travel books for this trip. Our reading list Peru is custom-designed to complement specific Peru Summit destinations. We feature a handpicked selection of travel guides, maps, literature, books on art, cuisine, nature, and culture, designed to help you get more out of your travels to Machu Picchu & Peru.
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