ANDEAN CONDOR AND HUMANTAY LAKE
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- USD 325
Per person ?The price listed above is based on a minimum of 4 people in double occupancy. If you have any questions please refer to FAQ of send us a message.
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Trip Outline
Chonta, also known as the valley of the condors, is one of the best places to witness the largest flying bird in the world, the Andean Condor. As you enjoy delightful views of these majestic creatures, you may find yourself getting a little «out of breath» – not only from the altitude, but also from the awe-inspiring views of two fantastic glaciers of the Salcantay Massif.
The Apurimac Valley is one of the deepest in the world, and offers an excellent opportunity for sightings of condors in flight. This unique environment is also home to a diverse range of wildlife, making it an ideal destination for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts alike.
On our tour, you’ll also have the opportunity to visit the stunning Humantay Lake. This turquoise-colored lake is surrounded by towering snow-capped mountains, and is considered to be a sacred site by the locals. Our expert guides will lead you on a scenic hike to this beautiful location, where you can take in the incredible views and learn about the cultural significance of the lake.
We recommend this tour for those who want to experience the best of both worlds – the magnificent Andean Condor and the stunning Humantay Lake. Contact us for further information and to book your ANDEAN CONDOR AND HUMANTAY LAKE TOUR in Peru today. Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to witness some of the most unique and fascinating birds in the world, as well as the natural beauty and cultural significance of the Humantay Lake.
Itinerary
Chonta, the valley of the Condors.
Starting in Cusco, we will drive towards the town of Limatambo visiting the Inka shrine of Killarumiyoq dedicated to the Moon, and a blended colonial-inka construction. We will have our lunch at the community of Chonta and later start a moderate hike of 3 kilometers to the Apurimac Valley. At this point, any time is good for to witness the greatest flying bird on earth, the Andean Condor. In the way back to our lodge, right in the twilight we may try for the rare Koepke´s (Apurimac) Screech Owl(Endemic). The “Kuntur” in local language, is the world biggest flying bird and and well respected for the Peruvian Culture for it´s status of Divinity. Overnight in Mollepata
Humantay Lake
After breakfast we will drive and start to gain altitude to Soraypampa at 3,900 masl, at this point our tour leader will give us important information about techinques and safety of hiking n the highlands since the elevation and intensity of this section are high. Demanding but short, the walk of 3 kilometers will take us to one of the most beautiful lakes in the Andes. Humantay is very attractive for its turquoise colors and visually beautiful because it is located just below the Salqantay Glacier. Back in the town of Mollepata, after lunch, we will take the way back to Cusco and arrive at mid afternoon.
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Discover Peru’s Best Bird Watching Locations – Unforgettable Destinations for Bird Lovers
Publicado en Alain K04/12/2025Verificada Thank you, Manakin Expeditions. There were six of us in the van plus Danny and our driver Hilmar. We did the two week southern Peru birding and culture trip except we did not visit Machu Picchu. November is the start of the rainy season, and we had a bit of rain during the first few days. This trip was terrific. There was real mix of lodging situations but all were friendly with comfortable beds and lovely gardens. Danny’s expertise in birding (371 species for us!) Inca culture, and Peruvian history made him a terrific guide for our Peru trip. Hilmar’s driving was expert, too. He usually had to back up around curves with steep sides in order to get past a large truck. There can be nervous-making water crossings during rainy season, too. Hilmar was up to the very delicate task.Publicado en 740janetw17/02/2025Verificada Awesome expedition to birding locations Manakin Expeditions is a wonderful company with an amazing 13 day tour of Northern Peru. Our small group of 4 adults had Danny Vargas as trip leader with his brother as assistant and a driver of the van. This was a great ratio of Guides to Tourists! We traveled from east to west and crossed a variety of habitats and were able to see many diverse birds and animals. The ecolodges were terrific to stay in and the food was great. I highly recommend this company and its staff.Publicado en CtheworldCtheworld26/06/2024Verificada Amazing birding adventure with guide from Manakin Expeditions We were whisked away from Cusco with Danny a few years back for an epic birding adventure prior to the formation of Manakin. I recall that he would hear a bird and identify it while driving, without even seeing the species. We spent time viewing the Cock of the Rock and then we spent almost a week in Manu, exploring the vast and magnificent untouched beauty. We were quite remote and we had the most wonderful time. Danny led a wildlife count each evening accompanied by photos, we played games, ate wonderful food, and basked in the wildness and remoteness of the area. We also stopped in many highland areas to view hummingbirds and ruins. We saw many species of monkeys, saki, tamarin, capuchin troops, spider, woolly monkey (left me breathless), sloth, tapir, caimans, hoatzin, and too many birds to mention. This was one of the most memorable trips I have been on, and I would book time with Danny again in an instant. I always felt safe and he is extremely knowledgeable about all creatures great and small.Publicado en christopherjoel13/06/2024Verificada Great Sights, Great Birds We met Danny Vargas at our beautiful hotel in Cuzco to embark on a trip to the Manu Wilderness Lodge. On the way, Danny had the driver stop several times to see rare birds and we saw a beautiful troop of wooly monkeys. I'm a serious birder and I studied my field guide, "Birds of Peru," for at least a year prior to the trip but Danny proved to be highly competent. I quit keeping notes when I discovered how good Danny was about putting together a list of sightings each evening from memory. We saw the much sought after Andean cock-of-the-rock and Vanessa, a mostly wild tapir. We soon came to share his love of what I call chicken restaurants where chickens come in until the owner chases them out. They're great places to have indigenous Peruvian food.I've had excellent birding guides all over the world and Danny was one of the greatest of the great. I got 176 life birds on my life list, due in no small part to Danny's competence as a birder.Publicado en Janan A02/06/2024Verificada Birding & cultural tour in Peru We went on a birding and cultural tour with Danny as our guide and leader in 2019, when he was working for a different company. Danny is so knowledgeable, engaging, caring, and patient. With Danny's guidance, my birding & photography skills improved. It was the trip of a lifetime. We got to experience diverse ecosystems and encounter rare species that are a part of the delicate web of life specific to each region. We also got to see historic cultural sites, meet artisans and craftspeople, and tour the salt spring and learn about the community. I highly recommend Danny as a guide and trip leader!Publicado en Steven L31/05/2024Verificada Great Day at Abra Malaga I spent an entire day with Danny from Manakin Expeditions. We went to Abra Malaga and had a great day of birding. We saw spectacular vistas and over 31 species. Food was provided which was a nice unexpected surprise.Danny is personable, reliable and knows where to go to find the birds.I wouldn't hesitate to use him again.Publicado en James P15/05/2024Verificada Professional, dedicated, and completely customizable! Danny and the team at Manakin Expeditions are professional and beyond comparison in terms of their ability to create customized tours to suit your individual interests. I took a 16-day tour with Danny that was specifically catered to tracking down an extensive list of target bird species throughout northern Peru, and he put together an amazing itinerary that allowed us to see nearly every bird on my list! His expertise in the field and knowledge on local spots is unparalleled, and his dedication and patience for tracking down even the most elusive birds for a client is impressive. I'm a fairly experienced birder that has had many bird guides around the world and Danny is among the best I've had. The drivers we had were also professional and very friendly. The accommodations and food were great and were picked based on my budget. If you are looking for someone who will go above and beyond to give you a customized experience rather than just a one-size-fits-all bird tour, this is absolutely the company to do it with.Publicado en Alexandra H14/05/2024Verificada Amazing experience! We had an incredible experience with Manakin Expeditions. We were staying in the Sacred Valley and wanted to see some cloud forest birds, so we took a day tour to Abra Malaga. Miguel, who helped us set up the tour, was incredibly helpful. Danny Vargas, our guide, was an expert ornithologist, a conservationist, and a source of knowledge about the Sacred Valley and its surrounds. The tour was both extremely professional and very personalized, and we learned about the birds (and even picked up some birding techniques), the history, and the biology of the area. Our box lunches were delicious, our driver was friendly and professional - just an amazing experience with an extremely professional operation. I would recommend Manakin Expeditions to anyone travelling to the Cusco area or beyond, for any reason, but particularly for those wanting to spot some of Peru's amazing birds.Carga más
Publicado en Robert Shackleton21/12/2025Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. Danny Vargas and his crew hosted six of us for a 13-day trip devoted mainly to birding in the region around Cusco, including Huacarpay, Abra Malaga, Vilcabamba, and Urubamba in the high Andes but also down the Manu road to Manu biological station in the Amazon basin. The travel arrangements, lodging, and food were all excellent. Danny’s expert knowledge not only of the birds and other wildlife but also of the archaeology and history of the region contributed to making the entire trip an extremely entertaining, educational, and memorable experience. The group saw over 370 species of birds altogether, including 44 species of hummingbirds and nearly 30 species of tanagers; and as an aging birder with declining eyesight, I was especially grateful for Danny’s solicitous care in ensuring that every member of the group had a good chance of seeing every bird. In addition to the birding, Danny provided extremely interesting tours of several key Inca sites, including Sacsayhuamán near Cusco as well as Pisac, Ollantaytambo, and Vilcabamba. I unreservedly recommend Danny and Manakin Expeditions to anyone planning a similar trip.Publicado en Alberto17/10/2024Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. I recently had the incredible opportunity to visit northern Peru thanks to the expert guidance of Manakin Expeditions. This trip was everything I had hoped for and more! I was able to check off so many lifers from my list, including some of the most sought-after species. Among the highlights were the stunning Marvelous Spatuletail, one of the most unique hummingbirds I’ve ever seen, and several other endemic species that made this trip truly unforgettable. If you're a serious birder looking to expand your list and experience Peru's rich ecosystems, I highly recommend booking with Dannny. They know their birds, and they certainly know how to deliver an exceptional birding adventure!Publicado en Moses M03/06/2024Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. Amazing Birdwatching Tour at Machu Picchu! I recently went on a birdwatching tour at Machu Picchu with Manakin Expeditions, and it was an incredible experience! The organization was flawless, and the guides were extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic about birdlife. We were able to spot a variety of bird species, including some rare and beautiful ones. The backdrop of Machu Picchu made the experience even more magical. The guides shared fascinating insights about the birds and the unique environment of this iconic location.Publicado en Rubén Vargas02/06/2024Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. Our trip to Manu was unforgettable. From the moment we reached out, their responsiveness and attention to detail stood out. We spent five wonderful days in Cusco and then head to Manu, guided by Miguel and Danny. They were attentive to our interests and customized our itinerary, making sure we experienced everything to the fullest. Their dedication truly enhanced our visit.Publicado en Alexandra Heatwole13/05/2024Trustindex verifica que la fuente original de la reseña sea Google. Manakin Expeditions is an incredible operation. Miguel and Danny are knowledgeable and accommodating. Our tour with Danny was a revelation; he is a true birding expert and a conservationist. We learned so much and saw some incredible sights along the way. Anyone booking with Manakin will have an amazing experience.Carga más