Sword-billed Hummingbird

Santuario de Colibríes Ensifera (Ensifera Camp), Yanahuara sector, Pucará s/n, Urubamba, Cusco. Below ACP Mantanay. Covered platform with feeders plus a separate tripod ready photography hide. GPS -13.2568, -72.1735. Elevation stated inconsistently: 3,200 m (sanctuary homepage), 2,890 m (same site, trail section), 3,000 m (Kuntur Birding, mangolink webcam)., Peru

Peak

Late Oct to mid Dec: cloud cover is already 83 to 92% but wet days are still well below the Jan peak (Cusco: 6.4 wet days Oct, 8.5 Nov, 13.2 Dec). No sword-billed seasonality data found for this site, so presence in these weeks is assumed from the species being described as non migratory in Peru, not verified.

Days needed

4 days

Coat

Not applicable

Habitat

Green season / lush

Crowds

Moderate

Also here

Bearded Mountaineer (Peru endemic), Undulated Antpitta (habituated to worms by the owner), Shining Sunbeam, Great Sapphirewing, Green tailed and Black tailed Trainbearer, Tyrian Metaltail, Green and white Hummingbird, White tufted Sunbeam (seasonal), Peruvian Pygmy Owl. Giant Hummingbird reported on guided tours to the gardens.

Light

Latitude 13.26°S. Maximum solar altitude about 80° on 1 Oct, passing almost through the zenith in late Oct and Nov, about 80° in Dec. Clear sky golden hour is roughly 25 to 40 min and the sun climbs steeply. Cloud: Cusco is mostly cloudy or overcast 83% of the time in Oct, 88% Nov, 92% Dec (WeatherSpark, MERRA 2 model on a 50 km grid, Cusco not Urubamba, so the valley microclimate may differ). That cloud is the only reason this window works. ACCESS CONFLICT: sanctuary hours are 06:30 to 17:30. Sunrise in Cusco is as early as 05:10 (21 Nov) and sunset about 18:00 to 18:20, so on a clear day both golden hours fall outside opening hours and usable soft light is under 1 h. On an overcast day soft light runs the full 11 h the gate is open. Expected: most days deliver 6 h or more. Valley walls probably delay direct sun after sunrise (open shade), not verified. Not bright: heavy overcast at 3,000 m under a roofed platform will push ISO high; freezing wings at 1/2000 s at f/2.8 is unlikely, plan perched frames at 1/500 to 1/1000 s. Ask whether the "professional photographer, unlimited time" ticket or the on site campsite allows entry before 06:30.

Weather risk

Rainy season

Atmosphere

Flat overcast gives a clean pale sky for a vertical bill silhouette. Drizzle beads on the bill and plumage. Mist at the sanctuary is not documented, do not count on it.

Permits

No permit. Book at least 48 h ahead by WhatsApp +51 974 897 869. Visitor limit 12 per session. Visit length: 2 h weekdays, 1 h weekends and holidays, unlimited for professional photographers. Photographer entry stated as both US$20 and US$30 on the same website (checked 16 Sep 2026), so confirm. Staff offer hand held feeding rings to visitors.

Getting there

About 1 h 30 min by road from Cusco via Chinchero and Urubamba. Budget option from a visitor report: colectivo Cusco to Urubamba 10 soles, taxi Urubamba to Yanahuara 30 soles. Last 3 km is a rough dirt track, cars can reach the gate. Sleeping in Urubamba or Yanahuara (Hotel Inti Punku and Sueños del Valle Sagrado are on the same road) makes the 06:30 opening realistic. Breakfast in the hide can be arranged with 48 h notice. Wi-Fi and charging on site.

Who runs trips here: Run by owner César Cusihuaman Caviedes (designs the perches, gardens and hides) with Rocío Villena. Visited on photo itineraries by Kuntur Birding; also on Tropical Birding and WINGS Manu itineraries. No guide needed.

Confidence: medium · Last verified 16 Sept 2026

Guango Lodge, on the road down from Papallacta pass toward the eastern Andean slope, Napo province. Covered hummingbird garden in front of the lodge with dozens of feeders at different heights; also a bird blind. Elevation not verified this session., Ecuador

Peak

No clear peak. Papallacta climate sources disagree internally on the driest month (Aug vs Jun) but agree September has the fewest rainy days (24.2) and March the most (about 28 to 30). Aug to Nov is the least bad for rain interruptions, unverified.

Days needed

3 days

Coat

Not applicable

Habitat

Green season / lush

Crowds

Quiet

Also here

Tourmaline Sunangel, Mountain Velvetbreast, Collared Inca, Chestnut breasted Coronet, Mountain Avocetbill, Glowing and Golden breasted Puffleg, White bellied and Gorgeted Woodstar, Gray breasted Mountain Toucan, Turquoise Jay, Masked Flowerpiercer, Torrent Duck and White capped Dipper on the Papallacta river.

Light

Latitude about 0.35°S: maximum solar altitude 66 to 90° all year, golden hour about 20 to 25 min, sunrise and sunset near 06:10 and 18:15 year round (not site verified). Papallacta: rain on 24 to 30 days every month, relative humidity 84 to 92%, no distinct dry season (weather-atlas, climate-data; model data). Cloud forest overcast is effectively the default, so soft light is available most of the day. Guests sleep on site, so being at the feeders at first light is not an access problem. Darkest site in this list: forest canopy plus overcast, expect high ISO.

Weather risk

Rainy season and Fog / mist (asset)

Atmosphere

Drizzle and cloud moving through the valley; moss and epiphyte backgrounds. Frequency of visible mist not measured.

Permits

Private lodge, no permit. Feeders used by photo workshops regularly (lodge site).

Getting there

About 2 h by paved road from Quito airport (visitor review). 7 double rooms and 1 single; river side cabins quieter. Easy terrain; cold and damp, no room heating reported by one reviewer. Cost not verified.

Who runs trips here: Guango Lodge (sister lodge of Cabañas San Isidro). Regularly used by photography workshops, for example Capturing Nature Tours (TB Nature Photo Tours) Ecuador itinerary.

Confidence: medium · Last verified 16 Sept 2026

Observatorio de Colibríes (Finca La Muchareja), near La Calera, Cundinamarca, about 3,000 m. Private garden of owner Victoria Lizarralde with planted flowers and a feeder array; guest rooms on site., Colombia

Peak

Sources disagree: one says Bogotá is clearest early Jun to Sep, another that Dec to mid Mar is driest. Not resolved.

Days needed

3 days

Coat

Not applicable

Habitat

Green season / lush

Crowds

Quiet

Also here

Green tailed Trainbearer, Glowing Puffleg, Coppery bellied Puffleg (Colombian endemic), Blue throated Starfrontlet (Colombian endemic), White bellied Woodstar. PNN Chingaza and Finca Suasie nearby for high Andean species.

Light

Latitude about 4.7°N: maximum solar altitude about 62 to 90°. Bogotá is mostly cloudy or overcast 78 to 82% of the time in January and 74 to 82% in June (WeatherSpark), described overall as cool and overcast, so soft light is available for much of the day. Staying on site allows first light at the feeders. Site specific light, sunrise times and valley aspect not checked.

Weather risk

Rainy season

Atmosphere

Not documented.

Permits

Reservation required (operator Facebook page). Day admission reported around 30,000 COP in 2018; current price not verified.

Getting there

35 min from Bogotá per operator. Guesthouse on site (2018 report). Current operating status in 2026 inferred only from the website being live.

Who runs trips here: Observatorio de Colibríes, owner Victoria Lizarralde.

Confidence: low · Last verified 16 Sept 2026

Yanacocha Reserve (Fundación Jocotoco), feeder stations along the flat 2 km main trail, 3,200 to 3,500 m, NW slope of Pichincha volcano. Zuro Loma private reserve borders it at about 3,000 to 3,120 m with its own sword-bill feeders., Ecuador

Peak

Not established. No site specific cloud data found.

Days needed

3 days

Coat

Not applicable

Habitat

Green season / lush

Crowds

Moderate

Also here

Black breasted Puffleg (Critically Endangered, near endemic), Great Sapphirewing, Sapphire vented and Golden breasted Puffleg, Buff winged Starfrontlet, Tyrian Metaltail, Tawny and Rufous Antpitta (worm feeder at Yanacocha), Equatorial and Chestnut naped Antpitta (Zuro Loma), Black chested and Scarlet bellied Mountain Tanager, Andean Guan.

Light

Latitude about 0.1°S: maximum solar altitude 66 to 90° all year, golden hour about 20 min. ACCESS CONFLICT: Yanacocha is open 07:00 to 15:00 and the feeders are along the trail, so the first low sun and the whole afternoon are excluded. Zuro Loma's antpitta feeding runs about 08:00 to 10:00. On a clear day there is effectively no fine art light inside opening hours; on a cloudy or misty day about 7 h. Frequency of cloud or mist at 3,400 m on the west slope not found; Quito city statistics (described as Ecuador's sunniest place) do not apply to the reserve.

Weather risk

Rainy season and Fog / mist (asset)

Atmosphere

High elfin and Polylepis forest; cloud rolling over the ridge is commonly described but not quantified.

Permits

Yanacocha entry fee reported as US$6 (birdingplaces, Mar 2026) and US$15 (BirdForum, Jan 2026) for foreigners: confirm with Jocotoco. Polylepis section needs prior arrangement with Jocotoco. Zuro Loma can be crowded on weekends and Ecuadorian holidays.

Getting there

1 h 20 min from central Quito via Nono road; last 10 km unpaved, high clearance recommended especially after rain, dusty in the dry season. Walk to the Yanacocha feeders adds time after the 07:00 gate. No lodging at Yanacocha, so dawn is not possible. Altitude 3,400 m.

Who runs trips here: Fundación Jocotoco (Yanacocha). Zuro Loma Birding, run by the family that used to operate Yanacocha. Day trips from Quito by Neotropical Nature Tours, Nature Quest Ecuador.

Confidence: low · Last verified 16 Sept 2026

Santuario de Colibríes Ensifera (Ensifera Camp), Yanahuara, Urubamba, Cusco. Same hide and platform as the Oct to Dec window., Peru

Peak

Not established. March is the least wet of the three (11.1 wet days in Cusco vs 15.5 in Jan).

Days needed

6 days

Coat

Not applicable

Habitat

Green season / lush, Mud / thaw

Crowds

Quiet

Also here

Bearded Mountaineer, Undulated Antpitta, Shining Sunbeam, Great Sapphirewing, trainbearers, Tyrian Metaltail. Bird activity during heavy rain not documented.

Light

Latitude 13.26°S, maximum solar altitude about 80 to 86° in Jan and Feb, 73 to 85° in Mar. Cusco is mostly cloudy or overcast 93% of the time in Jan and Feb, 91% in Mar (WeatherSpark model data). Soft light available for essentially the whole 06:30 to 17:30 opening, limited by rain rather than by light. Wet days: 15.5 Jan, 13.4 Feb, 11.1 Mar. One travel source says Urubamba rain in Dec to Feb usually falls in short afternoon bursts with clearer mornings; that conflicts with the model cloud figures and is unverified. Lowest light levels of the year: expect very high ISO or accept motion blur.

Weather risk

Rainy season

Atmosphere

Rain itself: visible streaks against a dark forest background at slower shutter speeds, water droplets on the bill, wet plumage.

Permits

Same as the Oct to Dec window: 48 h booking, 12 visitor session cap, photographer fee US$20 or US$30 (conflicting on the operator's own site).

Getting there

Final 3 km is an unpaved rough track; mud in the wet season will make it slower, degree not verified. Stay in Urubamba or Yanahuara so a washed out session can be repeated the next morning without a 1 h 30 min transfer from Cusco.

Who runs trips here: Ensifera sanctuary, César Cusihuaman Caviedes.

Confidence: low · Last verified 16 Sept 2026

Wayqecha Cloud Forest Biological Station (ACCA), upper Manu Road (Kosñipata), Cusco region. Feeders and plantings on the lawn below the dining hall. Elevation given as about 2,835 m (9,300 ft) by one report and 3,000 to 3,600 m by another., Peru

Peak

Unknown.

Days needed

4 days

Coat

Not applicable

Habitat

Green season / lush

Crowds

Quiet

Also here

Amethyst throated Sunangel, Violet throated Starfrontlet, Shining Sunbeam, Chestnut breasted Coronet, White bellied Woodstar, Long tailed Sylph, Gould's Inca, Red and white, Rufous breasted and Urubamba Antpitta, Gray breasted Mountain Toucan, Hooded and Scarlet bellied Mountain Tanager, Barred Fruiteater, Andean Fox.

Light

Latitude about 13°S, same high sun geometry as the Sacred Valley. Described as having constant mist with cloud regularly crossing the grounds; no quantified cloud data found. Lodging on site, so first light is accessible. One photographer found feeder light poor because tour days were spent on the road and only mealtimes were free at the feeders: a dedicated stay avoids that.

Weather risk

Rainy season and Fog / mist (asset)

Atmosphere

Cloud drifting through elfin forest; views down the Manu valley when it clears.

Permits

Private research station and lodge; no permit known for the station itself.

Getting there

Upper Manu Road from Cusco via Paucartambo and the Acjanaco pass; rough mountain road, drive time not verified this session.

Who runs trips here: ACCA (Asociación para la Conservación de la Cuenca Amazónica). Used by Tropical Birding, WINGS, Kolibri Expeditions, Kuntur Birding, Trogon Tours.

Confidence: low · Last verified 16 Sept 2026

Santuario de Colibríes Ensifera (Ensifera Camp), Yanahuara, Urubamba, Cusco., Peru

Coat

Not applicable

Habitat

Dry season / dust, Burnt / post-fire

Crowds

Moderate

Also here

Same garden list as other Ensifera windows. White tufted Sunbeam listed as seasonal, season not stated.

Light

Latitude 13.26°S. Maximum solar altitude 53 to 59° in Jun and Jul (the lowest of the year, still high), 59 to 68° Aug, 68 to 80° Sep. July is the clearest month: clear to partly cloudy 54% of the time; mostly cloudy or overcast only 56% Jun, 46% Jul, 50% Aug, 69% Sep (WeatherSpark). Sunrise about 06:05 to 06:12 in Jun and Jul, so the 06:30 opening catches only the tail of a 25 to 40 min golden hour; earliest sunset 17:27 (30 May), close to the 17:30 closing. On a clear day, usable soft light is roughly 30 to 45 min. This is the protocol's worst case: high sun, reliably clear sky, short golden hour.

Weather risk

Wildfire smoke and High wind

Atmosphere

None worth planning for. Smoke gives a brown flat haze, not usable softness.

Permits

Same booking rules. Peak tourist season in the Sacred Valley.

Getting there

Easy road conditions, dust on the track. Not recommended for this subject.

Who runs trips here: Ensifera sanctuary.

Confidence: high · Last verified 16 Sept 2026

Humid Yungas below La Cumbre: Cotapata trail, Chuspipata, old Coroico road, Zongo valley., Bolivia

Coat

Not applicable

Habitat

Green season / lush

Crowds

Quiet

Also here

Tyrian Metaltail, Violet throated Starfrontlet, Gould's Inca, Scaled Metaltail, Diademed Tapaculo at Cotapata.

Light

Not assessed in detail because there is no predictable place to put a camera.

Weather risk

Rainy season and Fog / mist (asset)

Getting there

Day trips from La Paz possible to the upper Yungas.

Who runs trips here: None found with a sword-bill feeder or reliable spot.

Confidence: low · Last verified 16 Sept 2026