Cuzco Birding Tour
Apurímac Canyon Condor & Birding Tour
Wild Andean Condors at eye level over a 1,900-metre canyon — plus the Apurímac valley’s own endemic birds, in one full day from Cusco.
Duration
Full day (~13 hours)
Departure
5:30 AM from your Cusco hotel
Altitude
2,600–3,600 m (canyon rim ~3,400 m)
Walking
~7 km round trip on a good community trail
Best months
Year-round; May–October has the clearest skies
Group
Private departure — your party only
Fitness level
moderate— Altitude up to ~3,600 m and a ~7 km round-trip walk on a good trail — spend 24–48 h acclimatizing in Cusco first.
Overview
Apurímac Canyon Condors (Chonta)
Two and a half hours west of Cusco, the Apurímac River has carved one of the deepest canyons in the Americas — and above it, at the community-run Chonta viewpoint, wild Andean Condors ride the thermals so close that they pass at, and often below, eye level. No cages, no baiting: this is one of Peru’s most reliable places to watch the world’s largest flying bird doing exactly what it evolved to do.
For birders the Apurímac valley holds a second prize: its dry inter-Andean scrub is home to birds found nowhere else on Earth. On the slopes around Limatambo and on the walk in to the mirador we target Apurimac Spinetail, Apurimac Brushfinch, Creamy-crested Spinetail, Rusty-fronted Canastero and Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch — a compact set of Peruvian endemics that pairs perfectly with the condor spectacle.
The day runs as a private tour: an early start from Cusco, a morning of endemic hunting in the dry valley, the gentle 3.5-kilometre walk out to the canyon rim, a field lunch at the overlooks while condors patrol the void below, and an optional stop at the Killarumiyoc Inca temple on the way home. Full-frame wingspans, endemic ticks and Inca stonework — all before dinner in Cusco.
Highlights
- ✦Wild Andean Condors soaring at eye level over the Apurímac canyon — one of Peru’s most reliable colonies
- ✦Five Peruvian endemics possible: Apurimac Spinetail, Apurimac Brushfinch, Creamy-crested Spinetail, Rusty-fronted Canastero and Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch
- ✦Field lunch on the canyon rim, 1,900 m above the river
- ✦Giant Hummingbird, Mountain Caracara, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle and Aplomado Falcon along the way
- ✦Optional visit to the Killarumiyoc Inca moon temple; community entrance fees support Chonta village
Pricing
4.9(28)Per person by group size
- 1 traveller$590per person
- 2 travellers$345per person
- 3+ travellers$285per person
Book now with a 50% deposit — pay the balance later.
Prices in USD. Custom & private departures available.
Day by Day
Itinerary
5:30 AM — Cusco to the dry Apurímac slopes
Early hotel pick-up and a scenic descent toward Limatambo. As the sun reaches the cactus-and-scrub slopes we make our first birding stops: Apurimac Spinetail, Apurimac Brushfinch and Rusty-fronted Canastero live in these hedgerows, with Giant Hummingbird and White-bellied Hummingbird on the flowering columns.
Chonta village and the walk in
We climb to the adobe village of Chonta (3,350 m), pay the community entrance fee and take the good, mostly level 3.5 km trail toward the rim — birding as we go: Creamy-crested Spinetail, Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch, Tyrian Metaltail, Andean Flicker and Red-crested Cotinga are all possible.
Midday — condors over the Apurímac
From the three overlooks the canyon drops 1,900 vertical metres to the river. Condors patrol the rim on the late-morning and afternoon thermals — most passes are at or below eye level, the dream angle for photography. We set up the scope, serve a field lunch on the rim and simply watch.
The walk out and Killarumiyoc
Mid-afternoon we retrace the trail, picking up anything the morning owed us, and — time and interest permitting — stop at Killarumiyoc, an Inca moon temple carved from a single granite outcrop, with Aplomado Falcon and Mountain Caracara in the surrounding fields.
Evening — return to Cusco
We are back at your Cusco hotel around 6:30–7:00 PM, checklist done over the last light on the Anta plain.
What's included
- ✓Private transport from/to your Cusco hotel
- ✓Expert English-speaking bird guide
- ✓Chonta community entrance fee
- ✓Field lunch, snacks and water
- ✓Spotting scope for the group
Not included
- –Breakfast and dinner
- –Travel insurance
- –Gratuities
What You'll See
Target species
Species shown in red are Peruvian endemics.
- Andean Condor
- Apurimac Spinetail
- Apurimac Brushfinch
- Creamy-crested Spinetail
- Rusty-fronted Canastero
- Chestnut-breasted Mountain-Finch
- Giant Hummingbird
- White-bellied Hummingbird
- Tyrian Metaltail
- Red-crested Cotinga
- Andean Flicker
- Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle
- Mountain Caracara
- Aplomado Falcon
- American Kestrel
- Variable Hawk
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Travellers on Wild Andes
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“We just got back from a full day birding tour of the Sacred Valley with Wild Andes Tours. We couldn't be happier with the day. Our guide Frank was the perfect guide. He knows the exact areas to see specific birds which is major in leading these tours.”
Jan Espe
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“Alfredo with Wild Andes provided a wonderful vacation for my sister, cousin, and myself. He volunteered to coordinate all the tour including the Amazon and Lima environs. We are birders and he ensured that we had the best birding experience. We saw over 240 species of birds!”
Debbie Jacquez
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“I had a wonderful day out with Alfredo along the coast south of Lima, first targeting some lesser known wetlands that gave some unexpected surprises, then heading to Pucusana for a boat trip out to see the boobies, cormorants, and penguins.”
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Good to Know
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Apurímac Canyon Condors (Chonta) tour?
Full day (~13 hours).
Where and when does the tour depart?
5:30 AM from your Cusco hotel.
How much does the Apurímac Canyon Condors (Chonta) tour cost?
Prices start at $285 per person and depend on group size — see the pricing table for details.
What is included in the price?
Private transport from/to your Cusco hotel, Expert English-speaking bird guide, Chonta community entrance fee, Field lunch, snacks and water, Spotting scope for the group.
Which species can I expect to see?
Key targets include Andean Condor, Apurimac Spinetail, Apurimac Brushfinch, Creamy-crested Spinetail, Rusty-fronted Canastero, among others. 5 of the tour's target species are Peruvian endemics.
Will we definitely see condors?
Chonta hosts one of Peru’s most reliable wild condor colonies, and they are seen on the great majority of visits — but these are wild, free-flying birds with no feeding or baiting involved, so no operator can honestly promise 100%. The thermals are best between late morning and about 4 PM, which is exactly when we are on the rim.
How hard is the walk to the viewpoint?
About 3.5 km each way on a well-trodden community trail with gentle grades — most reasonably fit visitors manage it comfortably. The altitude (~3,400 m) is the real factor, so acclimatize in Cusco for a day or two beforehand. Horses can sometimes be arranged in the village for those who prefer to ride.
How do I book this tour?
Reserve directly on this page with the Reserve Now form — we accept PayPal. A 50% deposit secures your tour date, and the remaining balance is payable up to two weeks before departure. See our Terms & Conditions for the full policy.
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