The wild wonder of Cusco the Flight of the Condor at Chonta Viewpoint

One of the luckiest things that can happen to you while traveling through the Andes is to see a condor. Whether it’s flying, eating or resting, a condor sighting often occurs in very elevated areas, with their nesting sites at 16,000 feet above sea level. These majestic birds are some of the largest flying animals in the world, which has given them a mythical reputation in Andean cosmogony.

The flight of the Condors

The flight of the Condor in Cusco is located in the rural community of Chonta. This beautiful viewpoint is a favorite refuge for the birds, especially for the Andean Condor. 

Inkayni Peru Tour, your reliable agency, has designed an especial tour that takes you to the viewpoint in Chonta. This will make all the planning easier. Just book the tour with us, and we will take care of everything else.

How to get to Chonta with Inkayni Peru tours?

We will pick you up from your hotel in Cusco at 7:00 am and head to two beautiful and interesting archeological centers Killarumiyoc and Tarawasi, which possibly were used as astronomical observatories by the Incas.

Killarumiyoc:

It is located 50 km from the city of Cusco. It is in the province of Anta at an altitude of 3,650 m.a.s.l.

Killarumiyoc is a Quechua word that translated into English means “stone of the moon”. The moon was one of the most important of the Inca deities. This sacred and mysterious Inca temple was dedicated to the moon and feminine divinity. In the Inca culture, the moon was considered to be the mother of the sky and the feminine side of the universe.

Killarumiyoc

Tarawasi

Tarawasi is an archeological complex located in Cusco. Also known by the name of Limatambo. It’s located in the district of Limatambo in the province of Anta in Cusco. It is at an altitude of 2,675 meters above sea level.

Tarawasi is a compound word of Quechua, “tara” means spiny shrub that bears fruit and “wasi” means house.

The historical tradition says that this place was ordered to be built by the Inca Pachacutec in order to establish a resting place in the area on the road to Chinchaysuyo. It’s also said that it was a ceremonial center.

What can you find in Tarawasi?

Between the main buildings of the complex can be found: agricultural terraces, the Temple of Tarawasi (agricultural terraces with irrigation channels), which is the main attraction of the complex.

You can also observe the construction of windows or niches that are man-size. 

We will continue to the village of Limatambo where we will have lunch at a local restaurant, and then we will go to Chonta to have a unique experience.

Chonta community:

Chonta is a small town whose population is mainly engaged in agriculture and livestock. It is in Limatambo district in the province of Anta, at an altitude of 3400 meters above sea level.

You’ll have the choice to enjoy the natural environment and see the soar of the Condors over the Apurimac canyon which is considered one of the deepest canyons in Peru and the most scenic.

The viewpoint of Chonta

Duration:

Hiking from the community of Chonta to the last viewpoint will take you approximately 1 hour and a half.

Climate: The temperature varies from 5 °C to 22 °C

The flight of the Condor viewpoint

Inkayni tips to watch the flight of the Condors:

If you want to enjoy the flight of the condor, you have to understand that since they are in their natural habitat you must remain quiet and silent.

Rates: You have to pay 10 soles as an entrance fee.

If you want to ride a horse instead of walking, it is around 30 soles. 

Take some extra cash with you!

Condor

Condor

The Condor is one of the largest flying animals in the world, with a nearly 11-foot wingspan. 

The Incas believed the condor was one of their three totems. This Inca trinity consisted of the puma (Earth), snake (underworld) and condor (sky). Since they fly so high, the Incas thought condors were God’s messengers. 

The condor, symbolizing righteousness, was considered the most sacred bird by the Incas. It was thought to be the messenger between the earth and the heavens.

Characteristics:

• The condor is monogamous and it lives with a single mate for its whole life.
• With a wingspan of over 3 meters (10 feet), the Andean Condor is considered the largest flying bird in the world.
• It is mostly black, but males have a distinctive white “collar” around their necks and some white markings on their wings as well. Therefore, the sex of a condor can be determined whether they have a white-collar around their neck (male) or not (female).
• Both sexes have the iconic bald head, however, males are much larger than females.
• Male condors have yellow eyes and sport an eye-catching white ruff at the base of their necks. Females, on the other hand, have no ruffle and have red eyes.
• The condor weighs between 11 and 15 kg (24 – 33 lbs).

Inkayni additional notes:

• Make sure the tour operator has all the papers up-to-date needed. Licenses must be submitted by DIRCETUR.
• We recommend booking at least 2 or 3 days in advance. To do so, visit our website: Inkayni Peru tours.
• Don’t forget to carry your personal documents with you all the time.
• Take some cash with you and
• Bring your camera.

“I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.”

(Mark Twain)