Abra Malaga

This famous birding area in the Cusco area can be divided into three distinct sections.
Peñas
On the dry side of the pass, this scrubby zone is home to many interesting birds. The main targets here are generally the endemics Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch, Creamy-crested Spinetail and White-tufted Sunbeam while Junin and Rusty-fronted Canasteros can be found further up the road. There is a great diversity of hummingbirds here; in addition to the sunbeam, possibilities include Black-tailed and Green-tailed Trainbearers, Purple-backed Thornbill, Giant Hummingbird and Great Sapphirewing. Golden-billed Saltator is regularly seen, while Andean Tinamou is frequently heard at dusk but elusive.
The Pass
This is perhaps the most famous part of Abra Malaga. From the road, it is a short but, due to the altitude, strenuous walk to a Polylepis forest. Although badly degraded and threatened by the nearby community's need for firewood, Royal Cinclodes does still occur here, although it has become difficult largely due to the use of tapes by some unethical birding groups. Other birds to find include two other Red Data Birds, Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant and White-browed Tit-Spinetail. Tawny Tit-Spinetail, Puna Tapaculo, Stripe-headed Antpitta and Line-fronted Canastero are also among the possibilities. It is possible to find Giant Conebill and Tit-like Dacnis in the lower part of the forest.
Canchayoc
This area is upper-elevation forest on the humid side of the pass. There is extensive bamboo in the area which is home to various Hemispinguses including Parodi's, which is usually the main target here. Plush-capped Finch is often seen in the same area, while Marcapata Spinetail and Unstreaked Tit-Tyrants are other interesting inhabitants of the bamboo. The true forest is also interesting, with Puna Thistletail, Pale-edged Flycatcher, Undulated Antpitta, White-browed Conebill and Chestnut-bellied Mountain-Tanager being possible. Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager is among the most common birds of the area.

Connecting Sites
This area is a few hours' drive from Cusco, and connects most readily with Machu Picchu via a train from Ollantaytambo. Abancay (with Bosque Ampay) is half a day's drive away.