This is one of the famous birding areas in Cusco, easily reach in a 02 day trip leaving Cusco or better is you are based in the Urubamba Valley, the birding is done along the road that goes to La Convencion, on the northwestern part of Cusco, this drive used to be a rough one but since road was paved, access has tremendously improved. To bird along this road selected stops are made at first at Peñas with scrubby vegetation where several interesting birds are found, some target birds include the endemics Chesnut-breasted Mountain-Finch, White-tufted Sunbeam, Rusty-fronted Canastero and Creamy-crested Spinetail as well as a great variety of hummers Giant hummingbird, Black and Green tailed Trainbearers, Great Sapphire-wing, Shinning Sunbeam, Sparkling violetear, Tyrian metatail, Sword-billed hummingbird other beauties include Golden-billed Saltator, Blue and Yellow Tanager, Andean Parakeets and many more.

As the pass is reach a short walk is requiered to get to the patch of Polylepis forest, once there a 03 hours easy hike down to valley floor is necessary to explore this unique andean habitat and its highly habitat-specialized birds, unfortunately this endemic andean habitat is quickly disappearing because of selective cutting for fire-wood, the birds we expect to find include Ash- breasted Tit-Tyrant (endemic), Royal Cinclodes (endemic), White-browed Tit-Spinetail (endemic), Tawny Tit-Spinetail, Striped- headed Antpitta, Giant Conebill, Cordilleran Canastero, Lined-fronted Canastero, Tit-like Dacnis, Blue-mantled Thornbill, Thick-billed Siskin, Andean Condor and others.

The birding in the pass itself is quiet rewarding too with several species of seedeaters, sierra finches and ground tyrants, raptors are a good possibility as well, once over the pass the habitat gets more humid, so the habitat change is quiet dramatic, Chusquea bamboo patches offers good possibilities for Parodis Hemispingus (endemic), Unstreaked Tit-tyrant (endemic), Marcapata Spinetail (endemic) several species of conebills, furnarids, mountain tanagers and flycatchers, the side fast moving streams are good for Torrent Duck and White capped Dipper.
This a good option for birders that are willing to increase their bird lists and expand their knowledge on Andean birds or just enjoy a couple of birding days in some of the most dramatic andean habitats.

Program itinerary

Services included

• Professional birding guide
• Private transport and driver
• Picnic-lunch
• Bird books for consultation
• Telescope for better scoping.

Services not included

• Tips and personal expenses

We recommend that you bring

• Considering the early starts you may apreciate warm clothing, fleece, jacket, wool cap and gloves, as the day warms up you will need a sun hat, sunglasses and sun cream.During rainny months (Oct-March) you will need rain gear.

Additional options

• Ask for our special group prices
  Ask for our 01 day trip to Malaga

Conecting sites
The Malaga area is a few hours drive from Cusco(1 hour and 45 minutes) and from Urubamba Valley(45 minutes), you can enjoy this extension after your visit to Machupicchu or Manu.