Cusco Birding Trip for the Condors of Chonta Town

Cusco Birdwatching Trip to See the Condors of Chonta Town

A full-day Cusco birding trip with the aim of seeing Condors and three endemics. This is an easy-paced tour, that it's possible to book on any day subject to availability, but it does involve some trail walking.

There's no doubt that the Condor is a must-see species for birdwatchers and although there are many different places in Peru and the rest of South America to see the birds, there can be no more beautiful, peaceful and lonely place to enjoy them than close to Chonta Town, not far from Cusco.

If the idea of an experience walking in the solitude and bird-filled scrubland of the high Andes appeals to you, this full-day Cusco birding tour is the one for you.

The Condor was a deity for the Incas - a god of the heights. They believed it to be the transporter of souls between earth and the spirit world and in a place like Chonta you can understand why they thought that way.

The Cusco birding trip begins in the city and after an hour and a half's drive you take an unpaved road that climbs through the mountains for another hour to the town of Chonta. The scenery along the way is unmatched with views of the Vilcabamba mountain range where the Salkantay mountain stands proud.

From the town of Chonta you go on foot on an 8km round trip to the viewpoint for the Condors. Along the trail you can see birds such as the Apurimac Brushfinch, Bearded Mountaineer, Rusty-fronted Canastero, Creamy-crested Spinetail and Streak-fronted Thornbird.

There are other places to observe these birds but this is the closest to Cusco. If you are taking in the sights of Machu Picchu then why not add a Cusco birdwatching trip to Chonta Town to your itinerary?

Cusco Birding Trip for the Condors of Chonta Town Highlights

A chance to watch Condors in a beautiful and isolated area
Views of the Apurimac Brushfinch, an endemic bird that is restricted to a really small range
Views of the Vilcabamba Mountain Range

Have a little more time to spend Cusco birdwatching on your holiday? Have a look at some longer tour options. For example the Hummingbirds of South Peru Tour

Alternative Tour Name: Cusco Birdwatching to See the Condors of Chonta Town

Day 1

Full Day Birding Tour

We will start our Cusco Condors adventure tour at 08:00 am picking you up from your hotel to transfer to Limatambo town. On the way we will enjoy impressive landscapes until we reach the Chonta Town. (If you want to have the chance to see more Cusco birds or Some Cusco Endemic Birds we can start at 6:00am for the same rate)

Once at Chonta Town, we will start an hour and a half trek to the first viewpoint. On the way we will look out for other Cusco birds and especially for the Cusco endemic birds Rusty-Fronted Canastero (Asthenes ottonis), Apurimac Brushfinch (Atlapetes forbesi) and Creamy-crested Spinetail (Cranioleuca albicapilla) and the Cusco near endemic bird Streak-fronted Thornbird (Phacellodomus striaticeps). At the first viewpoint we will have the chance to watch the impressive condor of Cusco in its natural habitat.

Following the adventure and to have a better view of these incredible Cusco birds, we will hike on a trail for about 30 minutes and then go down a few meters to the following viewpoints. Here we will also enjoy our box lunch.

On some occasions these formidable Cusco birds have flown up to 10 meters close to people. But you know how is the nature and always it will be unpredictable.

At 3:00pm we will start the return from the Condor Cusco viewpoint to the control point and then to the city of Cusco.

Approximate arrival time in Cusco: 7:00 p.m.

End of the tour.

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Why should I book the Condores of Chonta full day birding tour?

This is the closest place to the City of Cusco where you can have the chance to watch the biggest bird of the Peruvian Andes…the Condor.

How many people is the maximum in this group?

Depending on the features of the paths and trails; and of course, according to the new protocols after the COVID pandemic, 06 people is the maximum in our groups.

Do I need to be in good shape to do this tour?

This tour will take place in the heights of Cusco where you will have to walk on a path, so it is advisable to be in good physical condition to fully enjoy the experience.

Why book with Machu Picchu & Cusco Birding?

Machu Picchu & Cusco Birding can offer affordable South Peru birding tours without sacrificing on the quality of service as we are just a small travel operator working from Cusco, a city not as expensive as capital city Lima, with an office located on our own property. We also have a team of ornithologist experts who are in an extremely professional way and our tours offer matching cultural activities in the afternoon and culinary experiences at night which benefits more Peruvians.