MACHU PICCHU EXTENSION

Transcription

1 406MP Rev 12305ew MACHU PICCHU EXTENSION JULY 16 21, This optional extension can be either a post-trip to the Galapagos Islands Cruise, July 6-17, or a pre-trip to Amazonian Peru, July We will visit the ancient Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, considered by many to be the most spectacular archaeological site on earth. In addition to the incredible ruins, we can expect to see a good assortment of Andean birds, many from the grounds of our comfortable hotel. July 16, Day 1: Arrive Lima. American Airlines offers direct flights to Lima from Miami and Dallas-Fort Worth which depart in the late afternoon and arrive in the late evening (subject to change). After clearing customs, participants arriving on either flight will be met by our ground operators and transferred to our hotel for a short overnight stay. Those arriving only for the pre-trip might wish to consider arriving a day early in order to rest, because typically international arrival flights are quite late and Cuzco flights depart early in the morning. Participants continuing from the Galapagos cruise will fly from Guayaquil, Ecuador, to Lima, leaving late in the afternoon and arriving by early evening. NIGHT: Hotel Jose Antonio, Lima July 17, Day 2: Morning flight from Lima to Cuzco; birding at Lago Huaparcay. After an early breakfast, we will fly from Lima to Cuzco. Upon arrival, we ll travel to picturesque Lago Huaparcay, about a 45-minute drive outside Cuzco, for birding. Mid-day or early afternoon we will leave Lago Huaparcay and continue down the Vilcanota Valley (called Urubamba once one reaches lower elevations), passing the city of Pisac en route to Urubamba. We should arrive relatively early in the evening at our hotel, a charming country inn, with time for relaxing or some birding around the grounds at dusk. Birds are usually numerous and relatively easy to see at Laguna Huaparcay (elevation 10,500 feet) and in the surrounding arid hills. Possibilities include White-tufted and Silvery grebes, Puna Ibis, Speckled and Puna teals, Yellow-billed Pintail, Andean Duck, Aplomado Falcon (scarce), Cinereous Harrier, Plumbeous Rail, Common Moorhen, Andean Coot, Andean Lapwing, Andean Gull, Spot-winged Pigeon, Bare-faced and Black-winged ground-doves, Andean Flicker, Rusty-fronted Canastero, Slender-billed Miner (uncommon), Wren-like Rushbird, Spot-billed and Rufous-naped ground-tyrants, Andean (Rufous-backed) Negrito, White-browed Chat- Tyrant, Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, Chiguanco Thrush, Yellow-winged Blackbird, Band-tailed Seedeater, and Greenish Yellow-Finch. This is also an excellent location to look for the spectacular Bearded Mountaineer, a hummingbird endemic to Peru. Black-tailed and Green-tailed trainbearers are seen here occasionally. After lunch we will continue down the Urubamba Valley, watching for Red-backed Hawk, Andean Swift, and other species en route. The drive will take us along the rushing Urubamba River, where we may see Andean Gull, Torrent Duck, and perhaps the local Spot-winged Pigeon. NIGHT: Posada del Inca Yukay, Urubamba

2 Machu Picchu Extension, Page 2 July 18, Day 3: Urubamba to Machu Picchu. Following some early morning birding around Urubamba, we ll catch the late morning train to Machu Picchu. Once aboard the train, we have a two-hour ride to the ruins, along a route that follows the bottom of the Urubamba River valley. Torrent Ducks, White-capped Dippers, and more tremendous views of Mt. Veronica are part of this fascinating trip. Upon arrival we will check into our hotel and then board a bus for the ruins, where we will have a late lunch. We plan to spend the afternoon at the ruins on a guided tour. Although we may try to see the Inca Wren before we start the guided tour, there will not be much birding this afternoon. The ruins have relatively few birds, and you will want to spend your time enjoying the ruins and the spectacular setting this afternoon. On rare occasions we have seen an Andean Condor from the ruins, so be sure to keep your eyes open! NIGHT: Hotel Machu Picchu Pueblo July 19, Day 4: Machu Picchu. We will have the entire day to explore the ruins of Machu Picchu, along with various birding options nearby. Little needs to be said about the incomparable beauty of this place, one of the most famous and spectacular archaeological ruins in the world. Located on a high ridge, the old city is surrounded on three sides by sheer cliffs that fall away to the river far below. Across the river on all sides are huge mountains covered with cloud forests. In the distance, even higher snow-capped mountain ridges can be seen. We may never know the true origins of this remarkable site. Whether ancient fortress, secret city, or elaborate agricultural station, it humbles us when we stand before such a magnificent panorama. It may be difficult to even think about birds in such a setting, but all around the ruins we may see White-tipped Swift; Black-tailed Trainbearer; White-winged Black-Tyrant; Tufted Tit-Tyrant; White-crested, Sierran and Highland elaenias; Blue-and-white Swallow; Spectacled Redstart; Cinereous Conebill; Slaty and Black-throated flowerpiercers; Inca Wren; and Rufous-naped Brush-Finch. Andean Condors are sometimes seen drifting overhead. Our activities today and tomorrow may vary depending upon the weather and your personal interests. You will certainly have the opportunity to return to the ruins this morning and tomorrow, as well, if you wish. There is excellent birding on the hotel grounds (it is at the bottom of the valley and more than 1,500 feet lower in elevation than the ruins). We may offer an early morning walk up to the Sun Gate (called Inti Punku) above the ruins this morning, although, because of the elevation, this is a moderately strenuous walk. This walk does provide numerous fine overlooks of the ruins and the mountains (we will be well above the ruins at this point), and the birding in the vicinity of the Sun Gate and beyond can be quite good, with many species that do not occur at lower elevation around the hotel. Because of the elevation and the steepness of the trails, we will walk slowly this morning. Some of the birds we may see on our walk to the Sun Gate include any of those mentioned above (paragraph 1), as well as Sickle-winged and Andean guans; Buff-thighed (Greenish) Puffleg; Amethystthroated Sunangel; Sapphire-vented Puffleg (scarce); Crimson-mantled Woodpecker; Crowned Chat-Tyrant; Highland and White-crested elaenias; Citrine Warbler; Parodi s and Oleaginous hemispingus; Grass-green Tanager; Blue-and-black, Saffron-crowned, Beryl-spangled, and Yellow-scarfed tanagers; Rusty-and-yellow Tanager; Cusco Brush-Finch; and Tricolored Brush-Finch. Our richest birding area will likely be the grounds of the hotel where we stay, and we ll get our introduction to the birds of the hotel and valley floor this morning or in the afternoon after we return from our morning walk to Inti Punku. Here we should see many of the following: Torrent Duck; Fasciated Tiger-Heron (now rare); Andean Guan; White-throated Quail-Dove; Plum-crowned and Red-billed parrots (irregular in occurrence); Mitred Parakeet (irregular); Green and Sparkling violetears; Green-and-white and Speckled hummingbirds; Bronzy and Gould s incas; Chestnut-breasted Coronet; Long-tailed Sylph; Booted Racket-tail; White-bellied Woodstar; Andean and White-tipped swifts; Highland Motmot; Crested and Golden-headed quetzals; Olivebacked and Spot-crowned woodcreepers; Azara s Spinetail; Variable Antshrike; Masked Fruiteater; Whitewinged Black-Tyrant; Dusky-capped Flycatcher; Smoke-colored Pewee; Mottle-cheeked Tyrannulet; Sclater s Tyrannulet; Plumbeous-crowned Tyrannulet; Bolivian Tyrannulet; Streak-necked Flycatcher; Golden-crowned Flycatcher; Torrent Tyrannulet; Glossy-black Thrush; Slate-throated and Spectacled redstarts; Pale-legged Warbler; Tropical Parula; Dusky-green Oropendola; Capped Conebill; Rusty Flowerpiercer; Thick-billed and

3 Machu Picchu Extension, Page 3 Orange-bellied euphonias; Golden-naped, Saffron-crowned, Beryl-spangled, Silvery-backed, Bay-headed, and Black-capped tanagers; Blue-winged Mountain-Tanager; Oleaginous Hemispingus; Common Bush-Tanager; Pale-legged and Russet-crowned warblers; and Chestnut-capped Brush-Finch. There is also a fair chance of seeing an Andean Cock-of-the-rock on the hotel grounds, and when favorable trees are fruiting, this species comes repeatedly each day to feed. NIGHT: Hotel Machu Picchu Pueblo July 20, Day 5: Morning at Machu Picchu, afternoon train back to Cuzco. We ll have another morning for a return to the ruins or for more birding. After lunch we will board the train at 3:00 p.m. for the approximately five-hour trip back to Cuzco. If attendance is high at the ruins, we may travel only part way by train and then be transferred to a bus for the remainder of the trip. NIGHT: Novotel Hotel, Cuzco July Days 6-7: Cuzco to Lima, departure for home. During the early morning hours we may have a little time to explore Cuzco before our mid-morning flight to Lima. Once in Lima, we will transfer to day rooms in our hotel to rest, and after a farewell dinner, we ll transfer back to the airport for overnight flights which will arrive in the United States the next morning. DAY ROOM: Hotel Jose Antonio, Lima Please Note: The Machu Picchu trip can be taken in conjunction with either our Galapagos Islands Cruise, July 6-17, 2006, or with our Amazonian Peru departure, July 21-31, Please contact the VENT office for details at VENT (8368). EXTRA ARRANGEMENTS: Should you wish to make arrangements to extend your stay, please contact the VENT office at least two months prior to your departure date. These arrangements may range from an extra night at the initial hotel of the tour to a week or more extension including accommodations, sightseeing, and transportation. We can very easily make hotel arrangements and often at our group rate, if we receive your request with enough advance time. TOUR SIZE: Tour will be limited to 10 participants. TOUR LEADER: Steve Hilty Steve Hilty is the senior author of A Guide to the Birds of Colombia, and the recently published Birds of Venezuela, both by Princeton University Press. Other credits include Birds of Tropical America, A watcher s introduction to behavior, breeding and diversity, originally published as part of The Curious Naturalist series. He has also written a number of scientific papers on birds and plants, and is presently preparing the text and species accounts for the tanagers for a forthcoming volume of the acclaimed Handbook of Birds of the World, published by Lynx Press in Barcelona. Steve holds a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Arizona and has worked at the Arid Lands Department at the University of Arizona, as a consultant to The Nature Conservancy, and as a stockbroker. Since 1975, he has led tours throughout North and South America, and co-led trips to India, the Orient, and Australasian regions. With three decades of experience in South America and a wide range of natural history interests, he brings a unique breadth of expertise to his Neotropical tours. At night he often turns his binoculars towards the skies for stargazing. Steve lives in Kansas City with his wife, Beverly. They have two college age daughters. FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS: The fee for the Machu Picchu Extension is $2495 per person in double occupancy and includes all lodging as stated in the itinerary and meals beginning with breakfast on Day 2 to dinner on Day 6. Quoted fees include ground transportation during the tour, all internal flights, and guide

4 Machu Picchu Extension, Page 4 services provided by the tour leaders. Fees do not include airfare from Guayaquil to Lima, airport departure taxes, alcoholic beverages, special gratuities, phone calls, laundry, or items of a personal nature. Rates are based upon group tariffs; if the tour does not have sufficient registration, a small-party supplement may have to be charged. The single supplement for the Machu Picchu Extension is $400. You will be charged a single supplement if you desire single accommodations, or if you prefer to share but have no roommate and we cannot provide one for you. TOUR REGISTRATION: To register for this tour, complete the VENT registration form and return it with a deposit of $500 per person (check or money order in U.S. dollars). If registering by phone, the deposit must be received within 10 days or the space will be released. Full payment of the tour fee is due 120 days prior to the tour departure date. CANCELLATION POLICY: Refunds are made according to the following schedule: If cancellation is made 120 days or more before departure date, the deposit less $75 per person is refundable. If cancellation is made fewer than 120 days before departure date, no refund is available. This policy and fee schedule also applies to pre-trip and post-trip extensions, as well as any transfers from one tour to another. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself. If you cancel: Your refund will be: 120 days or more before departure date Your deposit minus $75. Fewer than 120 days before departure date No refund available. TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE: Application forms for optional coverage for baggage, illness, and trip cancellation can be obtained through the VENT office. We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself against losses due to accidents or illness. Check with your insurance agent regarding coverage you may presently have via other insurance policies that may cover illness during your trip. Waiver for pre-existing conditions is available, as are other coverages such as terrorism protection; however, stipulations apply, usually requiring the purchase of the insurance soon after registering. Contact the VENT office prior to registration for details. Victor Emanuel Nature Tours is not a participant in the California Travel Consumer Restitution Fund. California law requires certain sellers of travel to have a trust account or bond. This business has a bond issued by Travelers in the amount of $50,000. CST # AIR INFORMATION: Victor Emanuel Travel is a full-service travel agency and wholly owned subsidiary of Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT). Victor Emanuel Travel will be happy to make any domestic or international air travel arrangements from your home and return. Please feel free to call the VENT office to confirm your air arrangements. BAGGAGE: While traveling to Machu Picchu, you should travel with only a small- to medium-sized backpack and perhaps another hand or shoulder bag, which can be carried easily. You will be able to leave any extra luggage at the hotel in Lima. This will greatly facilitate boarding, re-boarding, and traveling on the train because there is limited luggage space on the train. In some cases, travelers may be required to board the bus at Ollantatambo for the last half of the return trip to Cuzco. With this in mind, all travelers will be much happier with a minimum of luggage for this portion of the trip (do not bring suitcases or large duffels). CLIMATE & CLOTHING: This tour is scheduled during the dry season; however, visitors should be prepared for the possibility of rain, mainly in the vicinity of Machu Picchu itself, which is at a much lower elevation than the rest of the trip and in an area of heavier rainfall. Bring an umbrella and a lightweight poncho (make sure it is

5 Machu Picchu Extension, Page 5 a rubberized and 100% waterproof; many sold today are not). This trip takes place between about 6,500 and 12,000 feet. Bear in mind that although mornings can be chilly around Yucay and Urubamba, temperatures warm rapidly by mid-morning and mid-day is quite pleasant. The Urubamba Valley can be chilly in the early mornings, and a sweater and light jacket combination (layers) will be necessary for the first few hours. Some may also wish to bring light-weight gloves. A pair of light weight, silk long underwear might be useful for sleeping at night. Around Machu Picchu (about 6,500 to 7,500 feet), mornings are generally fairly warm and pleasant, and a light jacket or sweater and light jacket should be sufficient. The train is heated, so very warm clothing for the train trip over high passes is not necessary. Participants should have long pants and long shirts to protect against a few blackflies that may be present about Machu Picchu. Clothes and hats generally should be of subdued colors appropriate for birding. A broad-brimmed hat and strong sun-screen lotion for sun protection at high elevation is recommended. Tennis shoes or other lightweight shoes appropriate for walking are sufficient (rubber boots are not necessary). DOCUMENTS: A passport valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure is required. No special visa is required ahead of time for entry into Peru by U.S. citizens. A tourist visa form, which can be filled out en route, will be given to you during your international flight to Lima. Non-U.S. citizens should check with their consulate/embassy for instructions. HEALTH PRECAUTIONS: Malaria has been confirmed in Peru, including the chloroquine-resistant strain in rural areas, although mostly in humid regions at elevations lower than Machu Picchu. However, you may wish to check with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta at 877-FYI-TRIP or for further health/malaria information as regards the Machu Picchu area specifically. Your polio, tetanus, and typhoid protection should also be current. INSECTS: Mosquitoes are often numerous in the forest, and use of a good repellent (spray and roll on) is advised. Chiggers may be present (seasonal in some areas). We recommend that all visitors to tropical latitudes treat at least one or two sets of clothing with Permethrin (available in most bait shops and hunting stores, and through ABA and some major retailers). SUGGESTED READING: Our website at offers an affiliated online store that carries a wide variety of items for birding and nature lovers including over 6,000 books. A portion of the sales from the store benefits the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. You might also want to visit such other online stores as and for those out-of-print and hard-to-find titles, or which specializes in ornithology books. Field Guides: Clements, J. F., and N. Shany. A Field Guide to the Birds of Peru. Ibis Publishing Company, The only book that deals specifically with Peruvian birds, but poor illustrations, no maps, and minimal text make this book much less useful than the Colombia and Ecuador books (below). Hilty, Steven L., and William L. Brown. A Guide to the Birds of Colombia. Princeton: Princeton University Press, This book and Vol. II of The Birds of Ecuador are the two most useful books for the present trip. The Colombia book has superior illustrations, but the Ecuador book, being newer, has more current taxonomy. Ridgely, R. S., and P. Greenfield. The Birds of Ecuador. Vol. II, Field Guide; and Vol. I, Status and Distribution. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, Vol. II is very useful for the present tour. This and the Colombia book (above) treat all but a handful of birds found in the Iquitos area.

6 Machu Picchu Extension, Page 6 Ridgely, Robert S., and Guy Tudor. Birds of South America Volume I, The Oscine Passerines: Jays, Swallows, Wrens, Thrushes and Allies, Vireos, Wood-warblers, Tanagers, Icterids and Finches. Austin, TX: The University of Texas Press, Mainly useful as a reference. Has range maps and illustrations of many species not previously illustrated but is large and not suitable for travel. Ridgely, Robert S., and Guy Tudor. Birds of South America Volume II, The Suboscine Passerines: Ovenbirds and Woodcreepers, Antbirds, Gnateaters, and Tapaculos, Tyrant Flycatchers, Manakins and Cotingas. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, A very useful reference. Has range maps and many excellent illustrations including some species not previously illustrated. Like Vol. 1, this book is large and heavy and not suitable for travel. Checklist: *Parker, Theodore A., Susan Parker, and M. Plenge. An Annotated Checklist of Peruvian Birds. Vermillion, SD: Buteo Books, Natural History of Peru and Peruvian Birds: **Hilty, Steven. Birds of Tropical America: A Watcher s Introduction to Behavior, Breeding and Diversity. Shelburne, VT: Chapters Publishing Ltd., A reprint (with updated references and a new chapter) of the original version published in Very readable and highly recommended introduction to a variety of avian natural history topics in the Neotropics. **Kricher, John C. A Neotropical Companion. Princeton: Princeton University Press, nd Edition. For those wishing a broad introduction to plant and animal life in the Neotropics. An excellent, popular introduction to a broad array of tropics (including birds). **Snow, David. The Web of Adaptation: Bird Studies in the American Tropics. Quadrangle, New York Times Book Co.: Demeter Press, A classic. Deals with fruit-eating birds and their adaptations in the American tropics. Recordings: Birds of Eastern Ecuador by Peter H. English and Theodore A. Parker, III. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, 1992 (cassette tape). Voices of the Peruvian Rainforest by T. Parker (cassette tape). Amazon: Sounds of the Rainforest at Explorama Lodge by David Michael. Cassette tape available (at least formerly) from Explorama Tours and at Explorama Lodge. Sounds of La Selva by John Moore. Ecuador: More Bird Vocalizations from the Lowland Rainforest, Vols. 1, II and III (cassette tapes) by John Moore. Voices of Amazonian Birds. Vols. I, II, and III (3 CD s) by T.S. Schulenberg, C. A. Marantz, and P. English. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, * Most Useful ** Good Background Reading TIPPING: As noted in our itineraries, tipping (restaurants, porters, drivers, local guides) is included on VENT tours. However, if you feel one or both of your VENT leaders or any local guides have given you exceptional service, it is entirely appropriate to tip. We emphasize that such tips are not expected and are entirely optional. RESPONSIBILITY: Victor Emanuel Nature Tours, Inc. (VENT) and/or its Agents act only as agents for the passenger in regard to travel, whether by railroad, motorcar, motorcoach, boat, or airplane and assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or for any reason whatsoever, or through the acts or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour. VENT and its agents can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, quarantine, or other causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as tour rates provide for arrangements only for the time stated. The right is reserved to substitute

7 Machu Picchu Extension, Page 7 hotels of similar category for those indicated and to make any changes in the itinerary where deemed necessary or caused by changes in air schedules. The right is reserved to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case full refund will constitute full settlement to the passenger. The right is reserved to substitute leaders on any tour. Where this is necessary, notification will be given to tour members. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour unless arrangements are made in sufficient time to avoid penalties. The prices of the tours are based on tariffs and exchange rates in effect October 18, 2005 and are subject to adjustment in the event of any change therein. The right is reserved to decline to accept or to retain any person as a member of any tour. Baggage is at owner s risk entirely. The airlines concerned and their agents and affiliates are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not on board their aircraft. The passenger ticket in use by said airlines, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airlines and the purchaser of these tickets and/or passenger. The services of any I.A.T.A.N. carrier may be used for these tours, and transportation within the United States may be provided by any member carrier of the Airline Reporting Corporation.