Abancay is the main city in Apurimac department and about 5 hours from Cusco. This is the best base, unless you wish to camp, to visit Bosque Ampay just above the town. Drive towards Cusco and before you get out of town there is a sign for the Sanctuary to the left and 3.7 kms further up is a visitor centre where you can park. From here there is a wide trail going uphill for about a kilometre before coming into the Poducarpus forest which is more humid. There is a small lagoon here and also a camping place. The trail continues up through the forest but can be tricky to follow due to many side trails. At about 3500 m the forest gives way to scrub and later puna grassland and agricultural fields.
In the dry scrub above the visitor centre birds like Apurimac Brush-finch, Creamy-crested Spinetail and Sword-billed Hummingbird can be seen. Once in the forest look for Apurimac Spinetail and a yet undescribed Tapaculo. Undulated Antpittas are common but hard to see. There are also rumours about an undescribed Antpitta and Hummingbird here. Above the forest is a Thistletail, probably Vilcabamba Thistletail and a chance for the rare Taczanowski´s Tinamou.
On the south side of Abancay is river Marino and across the river a small settlement called Urbanicion Marino. Go through that until the road ends and park here and continue the trail uphill for a few hundred metres. In the scrub here lives the usheri race of Pale-tailed Canastero. | 