Ensifera Hummingbird Garden
The Sword-billed Hummingbird lives high in the Andes at 2400-3600m (7,875-11,810ft).
Ensifera Ensifera Hummingbird Garden is the best place in the Sacred Valley to see hummingbirds.
The place is named after the Sword-billed Hummingbird, whose scientific name is, you guessed it, Ensifera ensifera.
There are a lot of things to like about these gardens. One is how many natural branches and places to hide the hummingbirds have, while still being close to the blind where visitors sit. I loved being able to get photos relatively close. (I shoot with a Sony a7iii and had a 240 lens on that day).
Another is that you can enjoy breakfast or order drinks throughout the day. I went for breakfast with a friend and we had a great time watching birds while we ate.
The Sparkling Violetear
This is the most common hummingbird in Cusco and the Sacred Valley. It’s also one of the most unique with the purple feathers that stick out like ears.
The Tyrian Metaltail
You have to catch this one at a specific angle to see the metallic shine of its forehead and neck feathers.
The Black-tailed Trainbearer
This is one of the most striking hummingbirds I’ve ever seen. What looks like a dark chin shines like the Tyrian Metaltail’s throat at the right angle.
The Shining Sunbeam
This hummingbird lives in the mountains from 2500 as high as 4600 meters above sea level (8,200-15,000ft).
The White-bellied Woodstar
This was the smallest of all the hummingbirds I saw at the gardens. Scroll down for a series of photos of the Woodstar with bees, so you can see just how small it is.
The Green and White Hummingbird
This hummingbird is endemic to Peru (not found anywhere else) and only lives in a few places of humid forest 1000-2750 meters above sea level.
Sometimes I wonder what birds are saying to each other.
The Giant Hummingbird Patagona Gigas, is the largest hummingbird in the world and can measure up to 21cm/8.25in. While it’s not as colorful as most hummingbirds, I think it’s just as beautiful.
I was thrilled with how many close photos I got of hummingbirds that day! (Scroll right or click on the thumbnail).
As much as I love taking photos without hummingbird feeders, they’re sometimes helpful.
One great thing about hummingbird feeders is that you often get to see different species interact. I especially liked seeing how small the Woodstar and Trainbearer are compared to the larger Sparkling Violetear, Shining Sunbeam and Swordbill.
Feeders are great for interactions and for scale.
The Sunbeams were much more social than the other species. I never saw two of any of the other hummingbirds together, much less three. I like how the Trainbearer’s tail and Swordbill’s beak look even more disproportionate when they’re at the feeder.
I loved seeing the Woodstars with bees, because it highlighted just how small these hummingbirds are.
The gardens are owned by a local family who has found a wonderful way to move their family’s land from being agricultural to an eco-tourism haven. Visiting is a great way to support independent environmental initiatives.
All visitors can use laminated copies of this list of the most common hummingbirds at the gardens.
Camp at Ensifera Ensifera
If your tent doesn’t have a rainfly, or if you don’t have a tent, you can use the shelters built around the camping area.
How to get there?
From Cusco, drive past Chinchero (and the new airport that’s not done but very visible) through Urubamba to Yanahuara.
Maybe walk the last bit
Unless your vehicle is good with rough dirt roads, you might want to walk the last section. Below are two hotels that are on the same road, in case you get lost.
