4 / 5 - 3 reviews
How to get there
50km or 1hr by bus from Chivay
When to go
From April to November
Minimum stay
A few hours
Croix du Condor (Peru)
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Émilie Couillard
Practical information on Croix du Condor
Reviews of Croix du Condor
The Condor's Cross is a belvedere midway between Chivay and Cabanaconde on the Colca Valley road. It's at the top of a ravine where you can see huge condors gliding between the canyon's cliffs.
My suggestion:
The earlier you go, the better! It's at sunrise that condors take flight. Plus there are far fewer tourists. When I was there, it suddenly got crowded, meaning the peace and quiet I found on my arrival was quickly broken.
My review
It's often said that at the top of the Canyon, you can see condors fly. In truth, they don't actually fly. What they do is spread their wings and let the wind carry them. From above the sight is spectacular. These majestic birds serenely glide across a magnificent landscape, soaring between the canyon's cliffs, 1,200 metres above the base and gliding towards the snowy summit of the volcano opposite.
At the little spot where we admired the view, numerous women appeared laden with crafts, food and other goodies. They were making the most of an opportunity to sell their wares to the numerous tourists touring this part of Peru.
The Condor's Cross is a place I highly recommend, but don't be disappointed if you don't see lots of birds. When I visited, it didn't meet all of my expectations; I imagined dozens of birds swirling around the skies. In the end, I only saw one and it spent most of its time perched on a branch!
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Émilie Couillard
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Émilie Couillard
A magical place not far from Arequipa, perfect for watching the aerial ballet of the condors.
My suggestion:
To be sure to see the condors, you need to go in the morning.
My review
On top of the steep cliffs overlooking the Rio des Colca is found a unique observation site: the Condor Cross. Easily organised in Arequipa, a tour allows visitors to discover the Colca Valley and to admire these majestic, soaring birds, which are so symbolic of the Inca empire. This option is perfect for those who don't have very much time to visit Peru.
The cliffs, with their open outlook, offer a safe, natural habitat for these birds to nest. There are also large numbers of hot air currents rising up from the valley, allowing the birds to soar and to avoid wasting energy by beating their wings.
You don't need to go hunting to find these hot air currents and watch the condors. The hot air moves with the wind so you are sure to have the chance to admire these great birds that sometimes glide just a few feet over visitors' heads. Very impressive indeed!
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ClaireBrehmer
50 kilometres from Chivay the buses stop at Condor's Cross to admire the graceful flight of the Andrean raptors.
My suggestion:
You need to go at about 8 o'clock in the morning or towards 5 in the afternoon to see the condors in flight.
My review
Early one morning, on the way to my trek in the Canyon of Colca, I was lucky enough to see the majestic flight of several condors, the symbol of the Andes.
This magic moment was one of the most moving during my trip to Peru. I had to wait almost 30 minutes but my patience was rewarded. First one, then two and finally a dozen condors turning around above the canyon, barely a metre above our heads. Everybody who saw it was absolutely stunned.
I recommend you stop at Condor's Cross to experience this unique moment of natural beauty. It's an activity that even the impatient should put on their itinerary. Once the condors are above your head you'll forget you had to wait.
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David Debrincat
230 travelers' photos
