Day 4:
We’ll head for the Polylepis woodland at Abra Malaga. We’ll devote the whole morning to explore this unique habitat. Possibilities include Line-fronted Canastero, Ash-breasted Tit-tyrant, White-browed Tit-spinetail (endemic), Tawny Tit-Spinetail, Giant Conebill, Stripe-headed Antpitta, Puna Tapaculo, Tit-like Dacnis, Blue-mantled Thornbill, Andean Condor, Thick-billed Siskin, Junin Canastero ( endemic) and more. Our major target bird here will be the Royal Cinclodes, which we discovered here in the 80’s. On the valley floor we’ll check a variety of Ground-tyrants and Sierra-finches. After a picnic lunch we’ll concentrate on some local endemics on the west side, including Creamy-crested Spinetail, (endemic) Rusty-fronted Canastero, (endemic) White-tufted Sunbeam (endemic) and Chestnut-breasted Mountain-finch (endemic). Once again we’ll spend the night in the same hotel in the Ollantytambo. (B,L,D)