Antisana National Park Tour: Andean Condor & Glacier Lagoons

Binoculars in hand at the condor viewpoint, watching the Andes unfold below

A private full-day tour from Quito into Antisana National Park, where your guide and itinerary adapt to what you want to see. You'll watch for Andean condors at a dedicated viewing site, walk the shores of glacier-fed lagoons, and stand before the snow-capped Antisana volcano. The guide is both driver and navigator for groups up to five. Larger groups get a dedicated driver and separate guide.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Antisana National Park

• Spot Andean condor with binoculars
• View snow-capped Antisana volcano
• Walk along glacier-fed lagoon
• Enjoy lunch at local spot
• Visit hummingbird conservation site

The experience

The tour leaves Quito and climbs into the páramo, the high-altitude grassland ecosystem that wraps the Andes. Your first stop is the condor viewpoint: a strategic spot where the birds ride thermal currents in full flight. Binoculars are provided, and the vantage opens onto the lagoons below and the vast páramo stretching toward the horizon. From here you move to a second viewpoint facing Antisana itself, the fourth-highest peak in Ecuador, where the glacier summits and the surrounding volcanic landscape come into focus.

The day centers on two lagoons formed by Antisana's melting snow. At the first, you walk the shoreline at a leisurely pace, watching for native aquatic birds and taking in the mountain air. This is where most travelers stop to photograph. The second lagoon sits within a conservation site where hummingbird feeders draw multiple species close enough to study, and the nearby cliffs remain a stronghold for condor sightings. Lunch happens at a local spot your guide recommends, serving authentic Andean food and giving you a real break in the middle of the day.

The tour runs eight to ten hours total, with the pace and stops shaped by what interests you most. You travel in a comfortable, spacious vehicle suited to the mountain terrain. Water is provided throughout, and the national park entrance fee is included. The only extra cost is three dollars per person if you want to enter the hummingbird conservation site.

What’s included

• Bottled water throughout the day.
• national park entrance fee.
• private transportation in a comfortable, spacious vehicle.
• quality binoculars for wildlife viewing.
• all taxes and fees.

Options for this experience

3 options

Grand ExpeditionUp to 10 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 07:30 and 08:00Driver and professional guide with transport options: mini van (5 passengers plus guide) or mini bus (6 to 10 passengers plus guide); pickup is included.

Family and FriendsUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 07:30 and 08:00Driver and guide with transport options: special SUV (up to 4 passengers) or mini van; pickup is included.

Mini GroupUp to 3 per booking · Guide in English or Spanish · 07:30 and 08:00Driver and guide in an SUV (Toyota, Renault, or Kia); pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:30 and 08:00

AgesAdult (12 to 96 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Andean Roots Travel

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you want the itinerary shaped around what you actually want to see: the guide adapts the stops and pacing to your interests, rather than following a fixed schedule. The private vehicle and dedicated guide (or guide-driver team) mean you move at your own pace and stop as long as you need at each lagoon and viewpoint.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

Can I really see Andean condors on this tour, or is spotting them uncertain?

The condor viewpoint is a strategic site where the birds ride thermals regularly, and binoculars are provided to help you spot them in flight. Sightings are common but not guaranteed, as with any wildlife viewing. Your guide will position you at the best times and places to watch for them.

What is the Antisana glacier lagoon like when you get there?

The glacier-fed lagoons are glacial reservoirs surrounded by páramo, with native aquatic birds living along the shores. The walk is leisurely, not strenuous, and the setting is open and exposed to the high-altitude landscape. It's a place most travelers stop to photograph and breathe in the mountain air.

How does the private tour work if I'm traveling with a group of six or more people?

Groups of up to five travel with a single expert driver-guide who both drives and leads the tour. Groups of six or more get a dedicated driver and a separate professional guide, so the guide can focus entirely on the experience and the landscape.

What's included in the price, and what do I need to pay extra for?

The price covers private transportation, the national park entrance fee, binoculars, bottled water, and all taxes. Lunch at a local restaurant is your own cost, as are any snacks at observation decks or shops. If you want to enter the hummingbird conservation site, that's three dollars per person.

How high is Antisana, and why does the altitude matter for this tour?

Antisana is Ecuador's fourth-highest peak at 5,758 meters (18,890 feet), and the tour operates in the high-altitude páramo ecosystem around it. The itinerary includes light walks, not strenuous climbs, but you should have at least moderate physical fitness. The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with poor cardiovascular health.