Huacarpay Lake Birding Day Trip from Cusco
A full-day birding trip from Cusco to Huacarpay Lake, easy to fit before or after Machu Picchu: Andean waterbirds, Bearded Mountaineer and other Peruvian endemics, back in Cusco in the afternoon.
About this Expedition
Pristine Biodiversity
Immersion in primary forest trails and macaw or tapir clay licks with privileged viewing.
Native Guides
Bilingual guides from the native communities of Manu and Tambopata, with spotting scopes and binoculars.
Logistics and Lodges
Private transport and boats, a cook on the trip and nights in rainforest lodges.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Huacarpay Lake birding day trip
We pick you up at your hotel in Cusco and drive south with a picnic lunch to Huacarpay Lake, a high Andean wetland surrounded by Inca and pre-Inca ruins. The lake holds Puna, Speckled and Cinnamon Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, Andean Duck, White-tufted Grebe, Plumbeous Rail and Andean Coot and, depending on the season, migrant shorebirds from North America. Our special targets here are Wren-like Rushbird, Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, Yellow-winged Blackbird, Puna Ibis and Andean Negrito. Raptors include Aplomado Falcon, Cinereous Harrier, Variable Hawk and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle.
In the dry scrub around the lake we look for the endemic Rusty-fronted Canastero and Streak-fronted Thornbird, and for the endemic Bearded Mountaineer feeding on tree tobacco alongside Giant Hummingbird and trainbearers. Peruvian, Ash-breasted and Mourning Sierra-Finches, Greenish Yellow-Finch and Blue-and-yellow Tanager are also here. On the way back to Cusco in the afternoon, time permitting, we stop near the Inca site of Tipón to look for the endemic Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch.
Included & Not Included Services
What this trip includes
- Specialist bird guide (English and Spanish) with a spotting scope
- Private transportation with a driver who knows the birding sites
- Drinking water and snacks
- Bird checklist by area
- Field guide Birds of Peru
- Entrance fees
Not included in the price
- Soft drinks and beer
- Personal expenses
- Tips
What to Bring / Packing Tips
- Binoculars
- Day pack
- Rain gear
- Sweater, fleece or light jacket
- Long pants, long socks and long-sleeved shirts
- T-shirts/Shorts
- 1 pair of hiking boots and 1 pair of light shoes or sandals
- Sunhat, sunglasses, sun block
- Insect repellent (with at least 35% 'deet') and after bite
- Water bottle
- passport
- Money for soft drinks or beers and handicrafts
Full day Birding - Huarcarpay lake
| 1-2 Pax | 3-5 Pax | 5-10 Pax |
| US$200 | US$150 | US$100 |
Questions about this tour
Can I do this trip before or after Machu Picchu?
Yes. It is a full-day trip from Cusco and you are back in the afternoon, so it fits easily into a Cusco and Machu Picchu itinerary.
Which birds can I see at Huacarpay Lake?
Andean waterbirds such as Puna Teal, Plumbeous Rail and Andean Coot, plus Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, Wren-like Rushbird and endemics like Bearded Mountaineer and Rusty-fronted Canastero.
How do I book a birding tour?
Birding tours are confirmed on request. Send us your dates and target species; we check lodges and guides, and you secure the booking with a 30% deposit.
