Condor Watching Tour in Cusco
Condor Watching Tour in Cusco
Witness one of South America’s greatest wildlife spectacles: the Andean Condor soaring over the dramatic Apurímac Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world. This full-day condor tour from Cusco is designed for birdwatchers, nature lovers, and photographers who want the best chance to see condors in their natural habitat—along with a rich variety of high-Andean birds, hummingbirds, and raptors.
Because we start early—when birds are most active—you’ll have the entire day to scan the skies, explore scenic viewpoints, and enjoy an immersive Andean birding experience.
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Apurímac’s steep cliffs, strong thermals, and open skies create ideal flying conditions. Condors often glide effortlessly along the canyon walls, using rising air currents to gain altitude with minimal wingbeats—an unforgettable sight, especially when they pass close to the viewpoints.
This tour is not just a “quick stop.” It’s a full-day program paced to maximize observation time and wildlife chances.
The Apurimac Canyon is home to an array of birdlife, including colorful hummingbirds, elusive raptors, and a variety of endemic species. With its diverse ecosystems, the canyon presents a unique opportunity for birders to encounter a wide range of avian species, making it an optimal addition to any birder’s itinerary.
Apurímac’s steep cliffs, strong thermals, and open skies create ideal flying conditions. Condors often glide effortlessly along the canyon walls, using rising air currents to gain altitude with minimal wingbeats—an unforgettable sight, especially when they pass close to the viewpoints.
This tour is not just a “quick stop.” It’s a full-day program paced to maximize observation time and wildlife chances.
We depart Cusco at 7:30 a.m., heading toward the canyon through classic Andean scenery—villages, valleys, and mountain passes. Your guide will share context on the landscapes, bird habitats, and local culture along the route.
As we approach the canyon, the terrain becomes increasingly dramatic. On clear days, the route can also offer spectacular mountain and glacier views.
At the canyon rim, we begin condor watching from strategic lookout areas. With binoculars ready, we scan the thermals for large soaring birds and identify species by shape, flight style, and behavior.
We combine viewpoint scanning with short walks to cover different angles and microhabitats. Besides condors, the canyon frequently produces sightings of:
We pause for lunch surrounded by the vast canyon landscape—ideal time for photography and continued scanning.
When the condors appear, you may see them circle, glide, and “model” along the canyon edge. With wingspans reaching around 10 feet, their size and control in flight are truly jaw-dropping. Your guide will explain condor biology, ecology, and current conservation challenges.
After a final round of observation, we head back to Cusco, arriving in the evening.
This tour also highlights why condors need protection. Your guide will discuss major threats such as habitat pressure and human impacts, and explain conservation efforts aimed at ensuring Andean condors continue to soar over Apurímac for generations.
The Apurimac Canyon and its surrounding areas are home to a wide range of avian species, thanks to the diverse ecosystems found within the region. Tour participants can expect to encounter a plethora of high Andean birds, including some endemics:
Notes: You Can explore the bird sighting in the Ebird Platform *Endemic Species
Your Condor Watching Tour from Cusco starts with hotel pickup at 7:30 AM. We drive through spectacular Andean scenery toward Limatambo, making strategic birding stops along the way to look for local species. From there, we continue up a winding mountain road to the Chonta community, where you’ll enjoy panoramic views—often with impressive glacier scenery on clear days.
Lunch is served at a scenic viewpoint. Then we walk about 4 km on a well-marked trail to the Condor Lookout over Apurímac Canyon, the best place to watch Andean Condors soaring on thermals. After condor viewing, we return to Cusco for hotel drop-off in the late afternoon/early evening. Timing may vary with weather and group pace.
Pickup is usually between 7:30 AM. Please be ready outside your hotel or at the confirmed meeting point during this window, with luggage packed and easy to load
The Tour is ending by 6:00 PM
Yes. This itinerary is excellent for photography thanks to:
Birding groups are small usually 6 – 8 people
Yes. The Apurímac Canyon is one of the best landscapes near Cusco to look for Andean Condors because the cliffs and strong thermals create excellent soaring conditions. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the itinerary is designed to maximize your chances.
Absolutely. We encourage it. eBird is excellent for hotspot checklists and recent sightings, and Merlin helps with quick identification in the field.
It can be arranged either way depending on your preference and availability. Private tours are ideal for photographers and serious birders who want more control over pacing.
Driving time is usually about 2 hours each way, depending on traffic, weather, and road conditions.
Yes. Beginners enjoy it because sightings are frequent and habitats are easy to observe. Experienced birders appreciate it for endemic targets and the efficient route.
Not required. A scope is very useful at Huacarpay, and the guide can bring one to help everyone get good views of distant waterbirds.
Recommended essentials:
Review the complete packing list in the Download Files Section
It’s moderate and adaptable. Most birding is done with short walks and frequent stops, but conditions can include uneven ground, cold mornings, sun, and high elevation
Cusco birding is high-elevation birding. Huacarpay is already above (3,500 m), and Rumichaca can be higher. If you’re sensitive to altitude, we recommend acclimatizing in Cusco first.
Numbers vary by season and conditions, but Huacarpay alone can produce around 30+ species on a good day, and the full-day route often increases the total significantly due to the variety of habitats.
Two key Cusco-region endemics that birders target on this itinerary are:
No. Condors are wild animals and their movement depends on weather, thermals, and feeding patterns. That said, we choose reliable areas and timing to increase the probability of sightings.
It’s a full-day excursion, typically 10–12 hours total, including driving time, viewpoint sessions, short walks, and breaks.
We focus on established viewpoints near the canyon rim (often accessed via the Chonta area). Your guide will choose the best lookout points based on wind, light, and condor activity.
Apurímac is extremely deep with steep walls, which generates thermal updrafts. Condors use these rising air currents to glide close to the cliffs, often offering excellent viewing and photography opportunities.
Besides condors, the area can produce raptors, hummingbirds, and dry-valley specialties. Possible species include Andean Flicker, Mountain Caracara, Giant Hummingbird, and regional endemics such as Apurímac Brushfinch, Creamy-crested Spinetail, Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch, and Rusty-fronted Canastero (season/conditions dependent).
It’s built for condor watching and Andean birding, but it also includes impressive landscapes and cultural scenery along the route—ideal for nature travelers and photographers.
Yes. The combination of wide canyon views, strong daylight, and soaring birds makes this tour excellent for photography. Condors may fly close, but a telephoto lens is recommended for best results.
Not required, but a scope can help for distant birds. If you don’t have one, it’s still a great tour with binoculars. (If you offer scopes, you can add: “Your guide carries a scope.”)
Cusco region tours are at high elevation. You’ll be birding at Andean altitudes, and some people may feel shortness of breath. We recommend spending at least 1 day acclimatizing in Cusco before this trip.
Walking is generally light to moderate, with short hikes and viewpoint stops. The main challenge is often altitude and wind, not technical terrain.
Condors can be seen year-round, but conditions vary. In general:
If conditions change (rain, heavy wind, fog), the guide may adjust the schedule, switch viewpoints, or change timing to improve visibility and safety.
Yes, participants can be delivered at the airport in Cusco at the end of the tour
Please consider visiting our main Faqs page;
The Download Files tab provides travelers with easy access to all essential documents related to your birding tour. Organized in a simple PDF format, this section ensures that you can quickly view, save, and print the information you need for your journey.
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