Piuray Lake Birding Tour 2 Days
Two days of high Andean birding from Cusco: Piuray and Huaypo lakes near Chinchero and the puna lakes above the Lamay valley, with Giant Coot, Andean Goose and ground-tyrants, ending in Cusco or the Sacred Valley.
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
Piuray Lake and the Vilcanota high Andes
We pick you up at your hotel in Cusco and drive to the Inca town of Chinchero, stopping at Piuray and Huaypo lakes, where waterbirds abound: Cinnamon, Puna and Yellow-billed Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, Andean Duck, Andean Goose, Silvery and White-tufted Grebes, Andean Gull, Puna and Andean Ibis and Andean Coot. The grassy areas often hold Short-billed Pipit, Slender-billed Miner, Andean Lapwing and sometimes Puna Snipe, and Variable Hawk, Cinereous Harrier and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle are often seen.
Crossing the Maras plateau, with views of the Vilcanota range, we head up the Lamay valley to the high puna grasslands and lakes, where a short hike can find Giant Coot. In the southern winter, ground-tyrants and sierra-finches are always present, along with possibilities such as Cream-winged Cinclodes, Peruvian Sierra-Finch, Streak-throated Canastero, White-winged Diuca-Finch, Common Miner and Rusty-fronted Canastero. At the end of the tour we take you back to Cusco or drop you off in the Sacred Valley.
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
- One night in a lodge
- Meals: breakfast, lunch or picnic, and dinner
- 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
- Plastic bags (to keep everything dry)
- 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
- Water bottle
- Money for soft drinks or beers and handicrafts
Bird Watching Piuray lake
| 1-2 Pax | 3-5 Pax | 5-10 Pax |
| US$400 | US$350 | US$250 |
Questions about this tour
Where does the tour end?
We take you back to Cusco or drop you off in the Sacred Valley, whichever suits your itinerary.
Which birds are the highlights?
Andean waterbirds at Piuray and Huaypo lakes, such as Andean Goose, Silvery Grebe and Puna Ibis, and Giant Coot on the high puna lakes, plus ground-tyrants and sierra-finches.
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.
