Paola, member of our Housekeeping team, was performing her routine inspection of the casitas and verifying everything was in order. Upon finishing the inspection, suddenly she heard a noise that came from the trees located near Mayu Spa – it was a snake. Paola went in search of the Inkaterra Explorer Guides team, Hiroshi and Juan Pablo, who caught the reptile and placed it in a safe environment. Both proceeded to determine which species it was. Hiroshi took photos of the animal and sent them to a biologist at the University of Cusco, who identified the reptile as an Andean snake (Tachymenis peruviana).

Known also as Peruvian or Northern short-tailed snake, it is characterized by its yellowish gray or brown coloration and its small size (it does not exceed 45cm, but some specimens reach up to 60cm). It is an opistoglip reptile; the latter teeth have an anterior grove through which the poison drains. It has a shy behavior and lives in Puna grasslands, wetlands, scrublands, and others. It is carnivorous, with a clear preference for amphibians, such as the spiny toad.

Date: October 1st 2019
Time: 8:00am
Location: Mayu Spa Surroundings

Inkaterra Explorer Guide Hiroshi along with other guides took advantage of the sunny morning at the Urubamba Valley to perform cleaning activities at the chicha house. Here, our travelers learn about the preparation of the ancestral Chicha de Jora beverage, taking part of the harvesting, grinding, fermenting, and tasting of their own Inca drink. When the cleaning was finished, a beautiful Andean deer (Hippocamelus antisensi) surprised everyone, as it remained grazing in the farms of the property.

Knowing also as Taruca in the Aimara and Quechua languages, the Andean deer (Hippocamelus antisensi) is a diurnal mammal, very shy, surly and does not hesitate to run away when noticing human presence or any sign of threat. During the Inca period, it was considered the cattle of the Apus (Andean gods in Quechua), a symbolism that prevails in folklore and hunting rituals. Nowadays, the Andean deer is endangered due to excessive hunting and habitat loss.

Date: August 08th 2019
Time: 11:30am
Location: Chicha House

June is one of the magical months in the city of Cusco due to the winter solstice. Hiroshi, our explorer guide, along with a group of travelers took advantage of the wonderful afternoon to go for the Twilight Walk excursion and to appreciate the magic effect of the sun between day and night while learning about the importance of astronomy in the Andean world. That night the sky was very clear showing travelers the Milky Way in all its radiance, and took the opportunity to capture with photographs this great gift from the firmament.

In the Inca Empire, astronomy played a very important role being the basics of religion, politics and agriculture. Within their conception of the cosmos, the Incas appreciated the Milky Way as the celestial personification of their sacred river, Vilcanota; for this reason, they named this galaxy in Quechua as “Hatun Mayu” which translated into Spanish means “Río Grande”. The Milky Way was a very important part in the structure and creation of the Andean world, where Inca astronomers codified different events throughout their existence. Currently, the night of June 21^st is the coldest of the year and it is when the position of the Milky Way shows its maximum splendor in relation to the Sacred Valley and the city of Cusco, showing a spectacular view of the galaxy.

Date: June 21^st, 2019
Time: 6:30 pm
Location: Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba Surroundings

Inkaterra Explorer Guides Hiroshi and Juan Pablo took advantage of the clear morning to take a walk along the hillside Challa Huasi, known as “house of the viewer” looking for birds in the valley’s habitats. Back to the hotel, they heard a very peculiar sound coming from the mountains, when suddenly they noticed the imposing presence of a bird came down from the mountains towards the valley, it was a black-chested buzzard eagle (Geranoaetus melanoleuscus). The sighting confirms the great biodiversity that can be found at Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba’s areas of influence.

The black-chested buzzard eagle lives in mountains or hills where it remains on the lookout for its prey such as hares, birds, snakes and carrion. This bird is easy to identify in flight by its black and white contrast and especially by its characteristic short flutter and upright tail.

Date: June 24th, 2019
Time: 10:30 am
Location: Challa Huasi Mountain

Inkaterra Explorer Guides Hiroshi and José Luis along with a group of travelers took advantage of a wonderful sunny afternoon at the Sacred Valley to go for the “Twilight Walk” excursion. They started the hike towards the Challa Huasi Mountain to enjoy the magical effect of the sunset. While savoring the twilight, they heard a birdcall. It was a band-winged nightjar (Caprimulgus longirostris) flying over the area. The travelers were delighted with this sighting under the moonlight.

The band-winged nightjar it is a nocturnal bird. It is identifies for its long bristles around a rather large beak that serves as a trap net to hunt in the air flying insects, which are its main source of food.

Date: May 18th, 2019
Time: 5:30 pm
Location:  Challa Huasi Mountain

Last 28^th of July celebrated 194 years of independence in Peru. This special day was crowned with the sighting of an Andean condor (Vultur gryphus), during a trek with the family of Inkaterra Sales and Marketing Director Liza Masias.Led by explorer guide José Lavilla, the excursion started at the Taucca community (near Chinchero) and continued until reaching Huchu Qosqo archaeological center, where the majestic bird was found posing over an Inca wall on the edge of a mountain ridge. The sighting confirms the great biodiversity found at Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba’s areas of influence, where more than 30 bird species have been registered.

Date: July 28^th, 2015
Time: Morning
Location: Chinchero

Around 10:00 am gardening staff spotted two Andean deer coming down the mountains towards a neighboring farm. As soon as we have been informed, we went to confirm the sighting. Two Andean Deer, apparently was a mother and its offspring, also known as tarucas (Hippocamelus antisensis). Tarucas are classified as vulnerable species in Peru due to poaching.

Unfortunately due to the distance of the sighting, it is unable to see clearly, but anyway, we wanted to share with you.

Date: May 27^th, 2015
Time: 10:00 am
Location: Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba surroundings

Around 11.00 am we received a call informing us that a snake was found in the ecological farm at Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, apparently an Andean Fer-de-lance, a highly venomous snake.

We went immediately to see if it was a poisonous species or not; we found that it was around 45 cm and it was not dangerous since didn’t have the typical traits of species venomous like fangs or have a diamond-like head.

Date: May 21^st, 2015
Time: 10:45 am
Location: Ecological Farm at Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba

This afternoon, the guides explorers Jose Lavilla and Angel Layme, went for a walk by the ecological farm at Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, since they were informed of a nest of birds with eggs inside between the fennel plants.

Since the nest  were very exposed it was possible to identify that it housed a family of Rufous-collared sparrow (Zonotrichia capensis).

The sparrows Rufous-collared are the most common species in South America, specially in the coast and the Andes. We share a picture of the nest for you to notice the curious egg colors.

Date: March 19^th, 2015
Time: Afternoon
Location: Ecological Farm at Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba

The afternoon of December 28 while we came back from a walk at Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba, we observed that alongside the trail was a small hummingbird nest. We got closer and noticed that there was a small chick approximately 1.5 cm and an egg of 1. 0 cm in the nest. It was a white-bellied hummingbird family (Amazilia chionogaster). Everyone was surprised of witnessing such a small and beautiful creature.

Date: December 28^th ,2014
Time: 01:30 pm
Location: Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba Trails

Very early in the morning José Luis, Inkaterra Explorer Guide, was birding around Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba. After an hour and a half of walk, observed a sudden movement among the bushes, with the help of his binoculars, spotted an Andean Mountain cat (Leopardus leopardus) the most threatened feline species in South America. Jose could not believe the sighting of an endangered animal, which has only been previously seen in zoos. Unfortunately the remoteness and feline agility prevented photograph it.

Date: November 28^th, 2014
Time: 07:30 am
Location: Around Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba

Early in the morning, the Exploratory Guide Braulio Puma, in the company of Ecotourism logistics, Claudia León, decided to go out to walk the trails of Hacienda Urubamba in search of birdlife.

Great was his surprise when a few minutes into his trip he saw a good number of birds near the trees that surround both Cerro Challa Huasi and the Ecological Chakra of Urubamba.

Here is a small list of what was sighted:

Giant Humminbird, Mountaineer, Andean Parakeet, White Bellied Humminbird, Sparkling Violetear, Mitred Parakeet, House Wren, Hooded Siskin, Band Tailed Seedeater, Band Tailed Sierra Finch, Black Throated Flowerpiercer, Chiguanco Thrush, Great Thrush, Rusty Fronted Canastero, Rufous Collared Sparrow, Golden Billed, Saltator, Sierran Elaenia, Crested Cotinga, Tailed Pigeon, Kestrel, Swift, Eared Dove.

Date: September 25^th, 2014
Time: 07:00 am
Location: Around Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba