Our vehicle will take us to the trail head at Piscacucho (76 kilometers by paved road and 15 kilometers by dirt road – 3 hours). From the trailhead we will follow the left bank of the Urubamba River, enjoying fine views of snow-capped Mount Veronica (5850 meters / 19,188 feet). After lunch we will visit the ruins of Llactapata before continuing along the Huayllabamba valley to our campsite near the village of the same name (2968 meters / 9737 feet).
We might see this kind of birds:
Torrent duck  Merganetta armata, American kestrel Faclo Sparveius cinnamominus,Green Violet ear Colibri coruscan,Giant hummingbird patagona gigas,Sparkling violet ear Colibri coruscan,Andean hillstar Oreotrochilus estella, Sword Billet Hummingbird ensifera ensifera,Black tailet trainbearer lesbian victoriae,Green tailet trainbearer, bearded mountaineer oreonympha nobilis, creamy crested Spinetail cranioleuca albicapilla, Rusty fronted canastero Asthenes ottonis,Yellow billet tit tyrant Anairetes flavirostris,Blue and yellow tanager thraupis bonariesis,Peruvian sierra finch phrygilus punesis,Black throated flowerpiercer diglossa brunneiventris, Black chested buzzard eagle geranoaetus melanoleucus,
Altitudes: Cusco 3400 meters / 11,159 feet; Piscacucho (Km 82): 2650 meters / 8692 feet; Llactapata: 2610 meters / 8563 feet; Huayllabamba: 2968 meters / 9737 feet

From the village of Huayllabamba the trail climbs steadily through high Andean woodland to the plain known as Llulluchapampa, just before the first pass, from where there are excellent views of the Huayanay mountain chain. After another two hours walking we will reach Warmiwañuska Pass (4205 meters / 13,795 feet), before descending as far as the canyon of the Pacaymayo River (3604 meters / 11,821 feet), where we will make our second camp. We might see this kind of bird.
Blue mantled thornbill Chalcostigma stanleyi,White tufted sunbean Aglaeactis castelnaudii,Shining sunbean Aglaeactis cupripennis,Slender billed miner Geositta tenuirostris,Cordilleran canastero Asthenes modesta,Stripe headed Antpitta Grallaria Andicolus,Red crested cotinga Ampelion rubrocristata,Tawny rumped tyrannulet Phyllomyas uropygialis,Brown backed chat tyrant Ochthoeca fumicolor,whute winget black tyrantknipolegus aterimus,Scarlet bellied mountain tanager Anisognathus igniventris, Bluish flowerpiercer Dioglossa caerulescens,Golden billioed saltator saltator aurantiirostris,Andfea corndor vulture gryphus,puna variable hawk buteo polyosoma poecilochrous,
Altitudes: Huayllabamba: 2968 meters / 9737 feet; Llulluchapampa: 3767 meters / 12,359 feet; Warmiwañuska: 4205 meters / 13,795 feet; Pacaymayo: 3604 meters / 11,821 feet

The trail climbs to the second pass at Runkuracay (3950 meters / 12,956 feet), from where there are views of both the Vilcabamba and Urubamba mountain ranges. After a short rest we will descend along a paved Inca road to the ruins of Runkuracay and Sayacmarca, which have been recently restored. Here we enter the cloud forest and in the afternoon the trail continues via a series of stone steps past the ruins of Phuyupatamarca (3640 meters / 11,942 feet) where we will camp for the night. We might see this kind of bird.
Scalet metaltail metallura aeneocauda,puna thistletail Schizoeaca helleri,Pearled treerunner Margaronis Squamiger,Undulated antpitta grallaria Squamigera,Vilcabamba tapaculo Scytalopus urubambae,orchraceus brested flycatcher,Rofopus breasted chat ttyrant ochthoeca rufipectoralis,Golden collared tanager iridonorsis taeniata,Chesnut bellied Mountain tanager delothraupis castaneoventris,Tit like dacnis dacnis cayana, Bluish flowerpiercer Dioglossa caerulescens,Moustached flowerpiercer diglossa mysticalis,White throated hawk  buteo albigula,
Altitudes: Pacaymayo: 3604 meters / 11,821 feet; Runkuracay Pass: 3950 meters / 12,956 feet; Phuyupatamarca: 3640 meters / 11,942 feet

From Phuypatamarca, the trail descends a vertiginous slope along a remarkable set of stone Inca steps, a descent of approximately three hours to the picturesque ruins of Wiñay Wayna (2665 meters / 8743 feet), an Inca site set in dense forest. The Wiñay Wayna complex was once inhabited by Inca farmers who used terracing to reclaim these steep slopes for agriculture. It is composed of around structures (which have all been restored), as well as an irrigation system and a splendid Inca temple. You will have at least an hour to explore the ruins of Winay Wayna on foot.In the afternoon we will walk for another two hours, enjoying the spectacular scenery along the way, with the Urubamba River far below, until we reach Intipunku (Sun Gate), from where we will get our first glimpse of Machu Picchu. From here it is a forty minute walk to the Inca city. We might see this kind of bird.Montane Woodcreper Lipidocolaptis lacrymiger,Trilling tapaculo Scytalopus parvirostris,black throated tody tyrant hermitriccus granadfensis,white banded tyranulet Mecocerculus stictopterus,white colared jay Cyanolyca viridicayanus,Sedge wren Cistothorus platensis,Blue and black tanager tangara varsorii,Plush cap catamblyrhynchus diadema, Bluish flowerpiercer Dioglossa caerulescens,
Altitudes: Phuyupatamarca: 3640 meters / 11,942 feet; Wiñay Wayna: 2665 meters / 8743 feet; Intipunku: 2693 meters / 8833 feet; Machu Picchu: 2460 meters / 8071 feet; Aguas Calientes: 2070 meters / 6791 feet.

Today we will make an early start to give us plenty of time to visit this lost city, which was rediscovered in 1911. Located at the top of a steep, forested hill overlooking the Urubamba River, Machu Picchu was hidden by dense vegetation for centuries until the American explorer Hiram Bingham began to clear the site.
Today the city has been completely restored and for visitors from all over the world it is an unforgettable sight.
Our guided tour includes a visit to the temples, plazas, palaces, watercourses and residential areas of Machu Picchu and you will also have time to explore the ruins independently. Our BIRDWATCHING INCA TRAIL | Photo Expedition ends.