Cusco Birding at Balcón del Diablo Trip, Peru - 0.5 Day

Fifteen minutes out of downtown Cusco we were in farmland picking out common species and finding rarer endemics. Our guide Oscar was knowledgeable and fun to talk with in excellent English. We aren't "listers" and didn't have specific targets; we just wanted a morning away from our tour group, a pleasant hike with Inca ruins and pretty scenery and, with a second stop at a lagoon, 25 new avian friends. The entire operation - reservation, communication, driver, timing - was very professional. Jose Luis was very accommodating in handling our special requests.

We had a fantastic time birding with Jose! Thanks to him, we saw many amazing birds. This tour is exceptional in so many ways - birds, guide, and beautiful scenery. I really appreciated that Jose was always very clear about the plan for the tour, and overall communication was excellent. The care and enthusiasm that Jose brings to the tour made it one of the best on our 2+-week Peru trip. We combined Balcon del Diablo with a stop at a hummingbird garden, which I also highly recommend (sword-billed hummingbird!). If you're in Cusco for birding, this tour is a must!

This is was an excellent tour. Jose is a great guide. He's friendly, knowledgeable and has a deep passion for birds. Balcon Del Diablo is a beautiful place with incredible birds. Some of my favorites were Bearded Mountaineer, Shining Sunbeam and Tit-like Dacnis. Anyone looking to visit a great birding spot just 15 minutes outside of Cusco should absolutely take this tour.

We connected with Jose Luis a few months before our trip to Peru and were able to get information on this tour. Jose provided excellent communication and helped us set up a full day birding trip that included Balcon del Diablo in the morning and Sacred Valley hummingbirds in the afternoon. Jose was extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic and personable. He was a great host and a great ambassador for the world of birding guides. He pointed out endemic species in both locations and helped us get great looks and photographs for all of our target birds. The morning tour in Balcon del Diablo was excellent. Jose picked us up from our hotel bright and early and provided snacks and coffee once we got to the site. We saw a bearded mountaineer hummingbird, creamy-crested spinetail, chestnut-breasted mountain finch, and many others. Jose went above and beyond to provide us with an amazing experience and also helped us set up another bird tour in Lima with a guide friend of his on a day that we had free. I feel confident anyone who takes a tour with Jose will have an excellent experience!

Jose Luiz made my trip to Cusco very special with a full day of bird watching in two places. Even without a birding companion, I settled in alone, something other tour operators wouldn't do without an extra fee. He made the whole process easy by booking online in advance and then meeting me at my hotel two days before our tour to take care of the business transaction. (He also saved our group's side trip to Machu Picchu by making sure we had purchased our tickets in advance. Something we had overlooked). I chose two separate trips to complete a full day of bird watching with a lunch break at my hotel. The first stop was Huacarpay, a nearby area of freshwater marshes, and the afternoon stop was Balcón del Diablo. Huacarpay was more productive with about 40 birds (most of the birds alive to me), but Balcón was an idyllic setting in a high-altitude protected valley that gave us some endemic Peruvian birds. In total, I managed to record about 45 birds alive that day and left with a big smile. Jose Luiz and his assistant Stephany treated me more like a close friend than a client. The breakfast and coffee from the back door in the morning was a nice touch. Also in Huacarpay, where there are pre-Inca ruins, José Luiz also turned it into an interesting history lesson. Thank you for a great experience! Paraphrased/Unique Content Jose Luiz made my tour to Cusco extremely exceptional with an entire day of bird watching in two spots. Indeed, even without a birding partner, I got comfortable alone, something other visit administrators wouldn't manage without an additional expense. He made the entire cycle simple by booking on the web ahead of time and afterward meeting me at my inn two days before our visit to deal with the deal. (He additionally saved our gathering's side outing to Machu Picchu by ensuring we had bought our tickets ahead of time. Something we had disregarded). I picked two separate trip to finish an entire day of bird watching with a mid-day break at my inn. The main stop was Huacarpay, a close by space of freshwater swamps, and the evening stop was Balcón del Diablo. Huacarpay was more useful with around 40 birds (the greater part of the birds alive to me), yet Balcón was an unspoiled setting in a high-height secured valley that gave us some endemic Peruvian birds. Altogether, I figured out how to record around 45 birds alive that day and left with a major grin. Jose Luiz and his collaborator Stephany treated me more like a dear companion than a customer. The morning meal and espresso from the secondary passage toward the beginning of the day was a pleasant touch. Likewise in Huacarpay, where there are pre-Inca ruins, José Luiz additionally transformed it into a fascinating history exercise. Much thanks to you for an incredible experience!