Chonta Condor Spotting is a lesser known trip in Cusco. This is one of the preferred trips to do while you are acclimatising in Cusco.
We will be starting the tour with a visit to “Killarumiyoq”. Which in Quechua means, ” The Moon Stone”. This is one of the seldom visited sites near Cusco. The rock is carved with an image of a half moon. This was sacred to Incas. They expressed their gratitude to the Moon here through ceremony.
Also, Killarumiyoq is an ideal place to visit during the Killa Raymi (or Killarumiyoq Raymi). It is a festival honouring the moon. The locals do the ceremony on the last Sunday of August.
Chonta Canyon in Limatambo district offers an exclusive sight of the flight of Andean Condors. Condors were sacred to Incas, infact to most it still is. The valley is more than 1000 meters deep. On this one day Chonta Condor Spotting trip, you will get to see Andean condors in their natural habitat.
We have designed this itinerary to offer you both, visual and mystical experience.
Cusco Hotel Transfer
0800 AM
We will be picking you up from Cusco at 0800 AM. Then in our private transport, we will drive you to Killarumiyoq.
Here we will start our Chonta Condor Spotting tour.
Killarumiyoq, is a massive rock with a shape of a half moon carven on it. Our local expert will give you a detailed tour in which you will understand the significance of this rock to Incas.
Then we will be driving you to Limatambo. Here we will be stopping for lunch in a local restaurant.
After relishing on an authentic local meal for lunch, we will hike for an hour and a half to the View Point to spot Condors.
Usually, the Condors fly back from hunting at around 0200 PM. You are certain to spot some Andean condors here. You will also get to see over a 100 different species of birds here.
Then we will hike back to the car park. We will then drive you back to Cusco.
A very unique experience. We did this while we were acclimatising. This was a good introduction to the Inca culture and rituals. We saw plenty of Condors too. Worth it.