Section 1 – Cusco to Aguas Calientes September 2008
A non-profit small group butterfly study tour researched, organized, and led by Adrian Hoskins. Our tour began in Cusco, from where we traveled by road to the small town of Ollantaytambo. Here, nectaring at roadside flowers we saw our first butterflies of the tour, including the pretty white-banded green Hairstreak Chlorostrymon simaethis and 2 species of Painted Lady Vanessa brasiliensis and V. carye.
From Ollantaytambo, we caught a train to Aguas Calientes – gateway to the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Aguas Calientes is a small and very picturesque town nestled below towering forested mountains, but these are virtually impossible to explore safely due to the very steep slopes, shown in the photographs below. Our activities, therefore, were confined to gentle strolls along the forested edges of the railway track. Here we found several beautiful black and red-banded Altinote species fluttering gracefully, and saw our first Ithomiine Glasswings Scada reckia nectaring at Senecia flowers.
Aguas Calientes – Adrian Hoskins
Aguas Calientes – Adrian Hoskins
Aguas Calientes – Adrian Hoskins