WHERE TO GO BIRDING IN PERU

Machu Picchu needs no further presentation and most birders comes here to see the ruins, but birding is actually very good here too. The only way to get here is by train from Cusco or Ollantaytambo as there are no roads. From Aguas Calientes you can either walk up (9 kms) or take a bus up to the ruins. If you are interrested in the history of the ruins there are guides at the entrance that can be hired. Around the ruins there is not much in terms of birds so you can enjoy the cultural part rather undisturbed. Inca Wren sings from the thicker scrubs surrounding the ruins and Green-and-white Hummingbird is here too. If walking up to the 'sun-gate' and a bit back on the Inca trail you can find Cusco Brush-finch.

Better birding is however done by walking from Aguas Calientes towards the ruins following the river. After crossing the bridge the road make some big switchbacks and the forest here is great and so is birding. Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Highland Motmot, Masked Fruiteater, White-eared Solitaire, Sclater´s and Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulets, Pale-legged Warbler, Ocellated Piculet, Black-streaked Puffbird and Oleaginous Hemispingus are some birds to look for here. White-capped Dippers and Torrent Ducks are in the river, also easily seen from the train.

In the outskirts of Aguas Calientes is the Pueblo Hotel which has a lot of feeders both for hummers and tanagers. However, they only allow guest at the hotel to walk around on their ground. Gould´s Inca, Chestnut-breasted Coronets, White-bellied Woodstar and Green-and-white Hummingbird are seen in the garden. They have some short trails which also offers good birding and much of the birds mentioned above can be seen here too. Around the hotel and the village flies flocks of noisy Mitred parakeets.