If you’re staying in the Historic Centre of Cusco (3400 m a.s.l.), be ready at 04:00 in the morning. That’s when we’ll pick you up to take you to Abra Málaga (4200 m a.s.l.) in a private vehicle.

The journey to the birdwatching site takes around 3 hours. The road is fully paved and steadily climbs uphill. Keep in mind that abras (mountain passes) are usually the highest points along Andean roads.

For more information about this birdwatching tour, check out the Details and Notes tab.

You’ll arrive at this mountain pass — which connects the Sacred Valley to the Cusco jungle — around 07:00 h. The first thing that will catch your eye is the winding landscape, followed by the cold and the effects of altitude (4200 m a.s.l.).

Abra Málaga is a prime location for spotting rare and endemic bird species, such as the Andean cinclodes and the grey-breasted mountain toucan. You may also see falcons, condors, and other birds from both the mountains and the jungle.

Aside from the breathtaking views and rich biodiversity, be sure to prepare for the weather. Fog, wind, rain, hail, and even snow are common here, with temperatures ranging from –15 to 15°C.

Before starting the birdwatching tour, you’ll have breakfast at 07:15 hours in a rustic café at the Málaga Pass. It’s essential to enjoy a hot drink to help you cope with the morning chill.

Sometimes, your guide may decide that the group should have breakfast in Ollantaytambo (around 06:00 a.m.), where there are more comfortable facilities and a wider variety of breakfast options available.

After breakfast (around 07:30 h), you’ll hop back into the tourist vehicle to begin the descent towards the eastern slope of Abra Málaga. This area is a stunning transition zone between the Andes and the jungle, and you’ll stop along the way to explore wetlands and cloud forest habitats.

Stay alert, and always have your binoculars and camera ready. At any moment, the bird you’ve been hoping to spot — or one you’ve not seen in ages — might just make an appearance.

With the help of your expert guide, you may see or hear the royal cinclodes (Cinclodes aricomae), the ash-breasted tit-tyrant (Anairetes alpinus), the distinctive chestnut-fronted thornbird, and the mountain elaenia (Ochthoeca thoracica).

This eastern slope is home to many hummingbird species, also known as picaflores. With a little patience (and some luck), you might spot the green-tailed trainbearer, the purple-backed thornbill, or even the giant hummingbird.

Other notable birds recorded in the eastern zone include:

• Andean condor (Vultur gryphus)
• Royal cinclodes (Cinclodes aricomae)
• Ash-breasted tit-tyrant (Anairetes alpinus)
• Rusty-crowned tit-spinetail (Leptasthenura yanacensis)
• White-browed tit-spinetail (Leptasthenura xenothorax)
• Plumbeous sierra finch (Phrygilus unicolor)
• Chestnut-fronted thornbird(Asthenes ottonis)
• Mountain elaenia (Ochthoeca thoracica)
• Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
• Rufous-bellied seedsnipe (Attagis gayi)
• Puna snipe (Gallinago andina)
• Andean flicker (Colaptes rupicola)
• White-tufted sunbeam (Aglaeactis castelnaudii)
• Puna tapaculo (Scytalopus simonsi)
• Stripe-headed antpitta (Grallaria andicolus)

Around midday, you’ll take a break from birdwatching to enjoy a tasty box lunch in the great outdoors. It’s the perfect time to recharge before continuing your adventure on the western slope of Abra Málaga.

A change in geography, scenery — and even birds. From the jungle to the Andes. That’s the route the tourist vehicle will follow after your box lunch (around 13:00 h). Now you’ll explore the highest and coldest part of Abra Málaga.

During the ascent, the vehicle will make stops at strategic points. In this part of the tour, it’s possible to spot high-altitude mountain birds such as the rufous-bellied seedsnipe, the puna snipe, and the Andean flicker.

Con una dosis extra de paciencia y una pizca de fortuna, el abra te premiará con la aparición del cóndor andino, el rayo de sol de penacho blanco y el churrín de la puna, también llamado tapa culo de la puna.

With a little extra patience and a touch of luck, the abra may reward you with a glimpse of the majestic Andean condor, the white-tufted sunbeam, and the elusive puna tapaculo — also known locally as the “tapaculo de la puna“.

This section is perfect for capturing magical birding moments with your camera. After exploring both sides of Abra Málaga, you’ll begin the return journey to Cusco at around 14:00 h in the tourist vehicle.

Around 17:00 h you’ll be back in Cusco, after a rewarding day of birdwatching in the legendary Abra Málaga. Our tourist transport will drop you off at your hotel in the Historic Centre of the “Imperial City”.