Cuzco Birding Tour
2-Day Abra Málaga Birding Tour
Both slopes of the legendary pass, a night at a birding lodge, and the Royal Cinclodes at dawn — Abra Málaga the way it deserves to be birded.
Duration
2 days / 1 night
Departure
Morning from Ollantaytambo (Cusco pickup available)
Elevation
~1,900–4,316 m
Lodging
Birders’ lodge on the Abra Málaga road
Group size
1–6
Fitness level
demanding— Two pre-dawn starts and birding up to 4,316 m — acclimatize in Cusco or the Sacred Valley for 2–3 days first. Walking is on roadsides and short trails.
Overview
2-Day Abra Málaga & Both Slopes
Our one-day Abra Málaga tour is a race against the clock: four ecosystems, five-plus endemics, thirteen hours. This two-day version slows the legend down. With a night at a birders’ lodge on the pass road, you bird the humid eastern cloud forest one day and stand in the Polylepis at first light the next — the golden hour when the Critically Endangered Royal Cinclodes actually shows.
Day one works the wet side: bamboo and cloud forest down toward Huayopata, hummingbird gardens buzzing with Gould’s Inca and Collared Inca, mixed flocks with Grass-green Tanager, and chances at Andean Cock-of-the-rock and the endemic Masked Fruiteater and Inca Wren. Day two belongs to the high country: dawn in the ancient Polylepis woodlands for Royal Cinclodes, White-browed Tit-Spinetail, Giant Conebill and Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant, then the puna and lake edges on the descent — Bearded Mountaineer and Andean Condor both possible before dinner.
Two days means no species is rushed, photography happens in the right light, and the altitude is climbed twice instead of crossed once. Departure from Ollantaytambo or Cusco; the itinerary flexes to weather and what the forest is doing.
Highlights
- ✦Dawn in the Polylepis with Royal Cinclodes — one of the world’s rarest birds, at the best hour
- ✦Both slopes of Abra Málaga: high-Andean woodland AND eastern cloud forest
- ✦Night at a birding lodge on the pass road — feeders at breakfast
- ✦Ten-plus Peruvian endemics possible, from Inca Wren to White-browed Tit-Spinetail
- ✦Hummingbird gardens: Gould’s Inca, White-tufted Sunbeam, Bearded Mountaineer
Pricing
4.9(28)Per person by group size
- 1 traveller$1,290per person
- 2 travellers$730per person
- 3+ travellers$590per person
Book now with a 50% deposit — pay the balance later.
Prices in USD. Custom & private departures available.
Day by Day
Itinerary
Day 1 — Ollantaytambo to the cloud forest
Morning pick-up and the climb over the 4,316 m pass, birding puna stops on the way. We drop into the humid east side: hummingbird gardens, bamboo for Inca Wren and Marcapata Spinetail, and cloud-forest flocks toward Huayopata — Masked Fruiteater, Grass-green Tanager and, with luck, Andean Cock-of-the-rock. Night at a birders’ lodge on the Málaga road.
Day 2 — Royal Cinclodes at dawn, puna by afternoon
Pre-dawn start for the Polylepis woodlands at ~4,200 m: Royal Cinclodes, White-browed Tit-Spinetail, Tawny Tit-Spinetail, Giant Conebill and Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant while the light is still gold. Late morning we work the bunch-grass and lake edges — Line-fronted Canastero, Puna Tapaculo, Blue-mantled Thornbill — then descend the Sacred Valley side with stops for Bearded Mountaineer and soaring Andean Condor. Back in Ollantaytambo/Cusco by early evening.
The Route
Where this tour takes you
- 1OllantaytamboStart
- 2Abra Málaga pass (4,316 m)
- 3Huayopata cloud forest (overnight)
- 4Polylepis woodlands at dawnTurnaround
Round trip — the tour returns to Ollantaytambo. Schematic map — positions are approximate and distances not to scale.
What's included
- ✓Private transport throughout (Ollantaytambo or Cusco start)
- ✓Expert English-speaking bird guide
- ✓One night at a birding lodge, private room
- ✓All meals from Day 1 lunch to Day 2 lunch
- ✓Entrance and community fees
- ✓Spotting scope for the group
Not included
- –Day 1 breakfast and Day 2 dinner
- –Travel insurance
- –Gratuities
What You'll See
Target species
Species shown in red are Peruvian endemics.
- Royal Cinclodes
- White-browed Tit-Spinetail
- Inca Wren
- Marcapata Spinetail
- Masked Fruiteater
- Cuzco Brushfinch
- Unstreaked Tit-Tyrant
- Creamy-crested Spinetail
- White-tufted Sunbeam
- Bearded Mountaineer
- Rusty-fronted Canastero
- Giant Conebill
- Tawny Tit-Spinetail
- Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant
- Line-fronted Canastero
- Stripe-headed Antpitta
- Puna Tapaculo
- Andean Cock-of-the-rock
- Grass-green Tanager
- Gould's Inca
- Collared Inca
- Shining Sunbeam
- Tyrian Metaltail
- Blue-mantled Thornbill
- Purple-backed Thornbill
- Andean Hillstar
- D'Orbigny's Chat-Tyrant
- Red-crested Cotinga
- Andean Parakeet
- Andean Condor
Gallery
From the field
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Travellers on Wild Andes
Rated 4.9 out of 5
from 28 verified Google reviews
“I had a wonderful day out with Alfredo along the coast south of Lima, first targeting some lesser known wetlands that gave some unexpected surprises, then heading to Pucusana for a boat trip out to see the boobies, cormorants, and penguins.”
Chris Paci
Google review
“We just got back from a full day birding tour of the Sacred Valley with Wild Andes Tours. We couldn't be happier with the day. Our guide Frank was the perfect guide. He knows the exact areas to see specific birds which is major in leading these tours.”
Jan Espe
Google review
“I recently returned from an 8-day custom expedition to Manu National Park with Wild Andes Tours and I could not be happier with the experience. This was my first time in the Amazon, so I wanted something truly personal and far from the typical “off-the-shelf” tour.”
Luis Jose Arana
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Good to Know
Frequently asked questions
How long is the 2-Day Abra Málaga & Both Slopes tour?
2 days / 1 night.
Where and when does the tour depart?
Morning from Ollantaytambo (Cusco pickup available).
How big are the groups?
1–6. Small groups keep the experience unhurried and photography-friendly.
How much does the 2-Day Abra Málaga & Both Slopes tour cost?
Prices start at $590 per person and depend on group size — see the pricing table for details.
What is included in the price?
Private transport throughout (Ollantaytambo or Cusco start), Expert English-speaking bird guide, One night at a birding lodge, private room, All meals from Day 1 lunch to Day 2 lunch, Entrance and community fees, Spotting scope for the group.
Which species can I expect to see?
Key targets include Royal Cinclodes, White-browed Tit-Spinetail, Inca Wren, Marcapata Spinetail, Masked Fruiteater, among others. 10 of the tour's target species are Peruvian endemics.
Why two days instead of the one-day tour?
The Royal Cinclodes and the other Polylepis specialists are most active in the first two hours of light — impossible to catch on a same-day drive from Ollantaytambo. Sleeping on the pass road puts you in the woodland at dawn, doubles your time in the cloud forest, and turns a 13-hour sprint into two unhurried days.
How do I book this tour?
Reserve directly on this page with the Reserve Now form — we accept PayPal. A 50% deposit secures your tour date, and the remaining balance is payable up to two weeks before departure. See our Terms & Conditions for the full policy.
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