The latest edition of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s “October Big Day" was celebrated on Saturday, October 14. The event is one of the most popular and significant bird watching events in the world and is celebrated from hobbyists to scientists. October Big Day is a day where members of the birding community across the globe come together to record all the bird species they can identify over the course of one day, either visually or aurally.

For the first time, Peru was crowned first place globally on October Big Day, after registering 1,384 species of birds in our territory.

Throughout various regions of the country, Peruvian birders took part from early morning until late at night, birding through parks, beaches, valleys, different types of forest, mountainous areas and across the Amazon. Peru’s optimal geographic location ensures that this season, the country welcomes migratory birds, both boreal (from the Northern hemisphere) and austral (from the Southern hemisphere) - a great advantage in competitions such as October Big Day.

The strategic alliance of the National Chamber of Tourism and the Peruvian Navy played a fundamental role in October Big Day 2023; they allowed 38 species of pelagic birds that can only be seen on the high seas to be added to the list. This year, Peru recorded 58 species more than Colombia, which placed second.

Park rangers have sighted 727 (52.6%) species in national territory which will be registered in the protected natural areas of Peru, from Machu Picchu to Sierra del Divisor.

This year, a total of 7,529 bird species were registered by 36,526 participants from all around the globe. The results of October Big Day are validated by the Ebird.org system, a monumental citizen science project conceived by the Ornithology Laboratory of Cornell University (USA). This platform is the most visited by people with a taste for bird watching, who can record their sightings here.

However, Ebird is more than just recording sightings: it is a valuable source of information and open database for any avid bird watcher, where you can record sighting lists, as well as upload photographs and audio recordings you have recorded. You can also search for information on a specific species of bird with data on places, dates and even the person who recorded it. Or also specific regions and points, with complete lists of the birds in these areas considered of interest.

Created in 2018, October Big Day benefits from the migration season, when many species from the northern hemisphere head south to the tropics in search of warmth. In this way, October Big Day – which coincides with the celebration of World Migratory Bird Day – is a vehicle to raise awareness for the conservation of ecosystems in tropical areas, where birds that travel from extreme weather.

Peru won the Global Big Day competition in 2015, 2017 and 2021. However, this is the first time that the country has been crowned first place in the October Big Day. Our country holds second place in regards to holding the largest number of bird species in the world, according to the South American Bird Classification Committee (SACC). Competitions such as October Big Day confirm that Peru is a destination with attractive routes for birdwatching, with specialists and connoisseurs of local birds where the highest numbers of sightings in the world can be recorded.

A recent article published by the UK business newspaper The Financial Times discusses how the Peruvian tourism industry is stepping up from trekking to luxury experiences. “For years, the Inca Trail leading to the ruins of Machu Picchu was a byword for backpacker mass tourism,” writes special correspondent Andres Schipani. “But Peru is now chasing luxury tourists, who do less environmental and archaeological damage while spending more. To them, the offering is cuisine in Lima, arguably the world’s top gastronomic capital; charming hotels in the “Sacred Valley” linking Cusco to Machu Picchu; and Amazon cruises. And the south offers options including the Colca Canyon — one of few places where visitors are almost guaranteed to see condors — and the cradle of the Inca empire on the shores of Titicaca.”

The chronicle features Inkaterra, named pioneer of Peruvian eco-friendly travel, whose groundbreaking approach to sustainable travel (the brand produces scientific research as a basis for biodiversity conservation and the wellbeing of local communities) is matched by its distinctive take on luxury hospitality. Member of Virtuoso and Relais & Châteaux, Inkaterra has seven boutique hotels established in the Amazon rainforest, the Machu Picchu cloud forest, the Sacred Valley of the Incas and the city of Cusco, each of them inspired by local architecture and built with native materials in harmony with the natural surroundings. Inkaterra is also a trendsetter in high-end travel experiences, including birding and orchid observation, as 903 bird species have been registered in hotel grounds, whilst Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel hosts the world’s largest native orchid collection according to the American Orchid Society, with 372 species found in natural their habitat.

The Financial Times ends its article with a quote by José Koechlin, “the hotelier-cum-conservationist who is the founder and president of Inkaterra”, who is emphatic about Peru’s growing potential in the luxury travel industry. “Why would I ever invest anywhere else?”, José Koechlin says. “Perú has everything. And worldly travelers know it.”

Attention all orchid enthusiasts! Inkaterra Asociación is proud to announce venue and dates for the 7th Scientific Conference on Andean Orchids, which will take place in Peru for the first time this year. From November 27-29, 2023, Machu Picchu will host the main orchid event in the Andean region – an area known for its mega-biodiversity, including some of the most extraordinary orchid species in the world.

With a vast array of subjects involving orchid diversity, systematics, ecology, conservation and horticulture, the Scientific Conference on Andean Orchids summons the international community of researchers, conservation professionals, gardeners and orchid aficionados to promote the most recent advances on scientific studies and conservation of orchid species native to the region.

To register at the 7th Scientific Conference on Andean Orchids, please contact us at: aoc@inkaterra-asociacion.org. Our team will be glad to assist you, as we understand that this change may raise questions and some adjustments to your travel

The beloved Café Inkaterra, previously named by the BBC “an irresistible thatched roof and white stucco restaurant that is the first to come into view upon arrival to town by train,” reopened with new features including a refurbished bar, a BBQ grill, and a giant clay oven that brings fun and joy to guests with pizza nights surrounded by the magic of the Andean cloud forest.

The Café Inkaterra restaurant blends Andean cuisine and architecture with a contemporary approach, creating innovative fusion-style fare. Situated under a traditional Amazonian palm-thatched roof, and decorated with regional crafts, Café Inkaterra is both an experience and a destination, featuring an intimate setting overlooking the Vilcanota River. It is the ideal place for travelers to unwind, far from the crowds, after visiting the ancient Machu Picchu Citadel and wait for their train after check out.