Community of Abra Málaga Thastayoc
The community of Abra Málaga Thastayoc is located amidst a chain of snow-capped mountains in the Vilcanota Mountain Range, being La Verónica the most important one and locally known as Huacaywillki, surrounded by lagoons, wetlands at the basin headwaters, important for collecting water. There are also fragments of native forests of Polylepis or queuñas, which is the species that grows at the highest altitude in the world. In this area, it has been carried out evaluations of flora, avifauna, mapping, and socio-economic diagnosis, as well as monitoring plans for the ecosystem care, implementing different conservation programs, being the main ones the afforestation and reforestation campaigns with native species, and other conservation strategies.
The Agrarian Association Thastayoc Abra Málaga, owner of the Conservation Area, has a population grouped into 34 families.
The Abra MálagaThastayoc is located in the department of Cusco, province of Urubamba and district of Ollantaytambo, 130 kilometers away from the city of Cusco and on the slopes of the snow-capped mountain Huacaywillki. Its main river is the Kosñirity that passes through the ACP, and the rivers Inkaraccay and Thastayoc that pass through the community and give origin to the main river of Peñas.
As an access route to the Private Conservation Area, there is an asphalted road to Cusco - Ollantaytambo (90 km.), and from Ollantaytambo to the pass of Abra Málaga (40 km.), where the ACP interpretation center is located as well as the starting point for entering the Polylepis forest and other landscape areas.
Geographic Characteristics
The forest of Abra Málaga Thastayoc ranges from 3,600 to 4,400 m.a.s.l. It is formed by a homogeneous forest of Polylepis sp. and other endemic avifauna species.
Tourist Aspects
One of the main activities of this route is the birdwatching. It is in the forest of Polylepis and in the buffer areas of the ACP where you can see several endemic species. The tour can start with:
Peñas
It is the sector that continues after Ollantaytambo, with dry climate and abundant vegetation where you can see some endemic birds, such as: Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch, Creamy-crested Spinetail and White-tufted Sunbeam, while the Junin canastero and the Rusty-fronted canastero can be found beyond the road. You can also see a wide variety of hummingbirds, such as Green-tailed Trainbearers, Purple-backed Thornbill, Giant Hummingbird and Great Sapphirewing.
ACP Abra Málaga Thastayoc - Royal Cinclodes
It is the most visited part of ACP Abra Málaga Thastayoc Royal Cinclodes. From the road, at less than 30 minutes of walking at an altitude of 4,250 meters, there is a Polylepis pepei forest, and, on the slopes of the snow-capped mountain of Kosñirity, small fragments of Polylepis serícea.
Through a wide path you reach the first viewpoint where you can see the forest with several fragmented areas. The total route is 7 km., and you can choose the most suitable route for you and the species you want to see. The main endemic species to see are: Royal Cinlodes, Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant and White-browed Tit-Spinetail; other species, such as Tawny Tit-Spinetail, Puna Tapaculo, Line-fronted Canastero, Giant Conebil, etc.
It is the most visited part of ACP Abra Málaga Thastayoc Royal Cinclodes. From the road, at less than 30 minutes of walking at an altitude of 4,250 meters, there is a Polylepis pepei forest, and, on the slopes of the snow-capped mountain of Kosñirity, small fragments of Polylepis serícea.
Canchayoc
It is the area that is in the direction of Quillabamba, with a rather humid climate. Here you can find other Polylepis species accompanied by bamboo vegetation, and, among the bird species, you can see MarcapataSpinetail, Unstreaked Tit-Tyrants, Puna Thistletail, Undulated Antpitta, Parodi’s Hemispingus and Scarlet-bellied Mountain-Tanager, among other common species of the area.
Alternate Routes
From the Community of Thastayoc, a trekking of one to two days begins with direction to the ACP Choquechaca, passing through the lagoons of Kataccocha, Kelwaccocha and Komerccocha, and the pass and snow-capped mountain of Huaccractanca, reaching the queuña forest of Choquechaca. From here, there are several directions continuing towards Pumamarca, community of Huilloc, Patacancha or Rumira Sondormayo.
There is a second alternate route starting the trekking from the ACP, then through the community of Panticalle, Alfamayo, Huyro, Santa Maria, Santa Teresa, to reach the Archaeological Center of Machu Picchu.
