Huacarpay Lake
An Easy Birding Destination in Cusco, Peru
Located just 30 kilometers south of Cusco, Huacarpay Lake is a hidden gem for birders and nature enthusiasts. This picturesque lake is an easy birding destination in Cusco, Peru, offering a chance to spot a variety of bird species in a beautiful Andean landscape.
The Huacarpay Lagoon is part of a protected natural area, formed by singular and beautiful wetlands, full of wild Tobacco, eucalyptus shrubs growing around the lake are very effective to attract hummingbirds in the area as Giant Hummingbirds, Sparkling Violetear, Green-tailed Trainbearers, and the vegetation and eucalyptus forest for owls, Great Horned Owls and others like Streaked Fronted Thornbird, Yellow-Billed Tit-Tyrant. Making it possible to check around 50 species by day.
Location and Accessibility
Huacarpay Lake is situated in the Cusco Region of Peru, approximately 30 kilometers south of the city of Cusco. The lake is easily accessible by car or bus, and the journey takes around 30-40 minutes.
Birding in Huacarpay Lake
Huacarpay Lake is a birding paradise, with over 100 species of birds recorded in the area. The lake’s shores and surrounding hills offer a variety of habitats, including wetlands, grasslands, and scrublands, which attract a wide range of bird species.
Some of the bird species that can be spotted in Huacarpay Lake include:
- Bearded Mountaneer
- Many Coloured Rash Tyrant
- Chilean Flamingo
- Rusty Fronted Canastero
- Streak Fronted Thornbird
- Puna Snipe
- Variable Hawk
- Lesser Horned Owl
- Puna Ibis
- Chilean Flamingo
Pre-Incan Ruins: A Bonus for Visitors
One of the unique features of Huacarpay Lake is the presence of pre-Incan ruins that sit alongside the lake and along the slopes. These ancient structures date back to the Killke culture, which predates the Inca Empire. Visitors to the lake can explore these ruins and gain insight into the history and culture of the region.
Surrounded by Archeological Sites
The ruins of Urpicancha were built by the Wari culture, its name could be translated as the “House of the doves”, is structures reveal the Wari’s techniques.
Located on a small plateau with a huge mountain behind to the east of the lagoon Huacarpay in Cusco. There are also a few other archeological sites in the vicinity of the lake such as; Qaranqayniyuj, Choquepucjio, Kunturqaqa, and Piquillacta. Read More
