Antisana Condor Sanctuary day trip from Quito: See Andean Condors

Condors, hummingbirds and a 3.3-meter wingspan above the clouds

This birdwatching day trip from Quito takes you to Antisana National Park, a nature reserve above 9,843 feet where you track Andean Condors, the largest flying birds on earth, and a dozen hummingbird species in their high-altitude habitat. A professional guide drives you through páramo grasslands and past the Antisana Volcano, with lunch at a viewpoint where condors return to rest. The route follows the path Alexander von Humboldt walked in 1802.

Step-by-step itinerary

Antisana Condor Sanctuary day trip

• Pick up from Quito hotel
• Drive through rural Andean landscapes
• Arrive at Antisana National Park
• Observe Andean Condors and other birds
• Visit Andean Ibis meadow and Mica lagoon
• Enjoy panoramic views of Antisana Volcano
• Lunch and birdwatching at Tambo Condor viewpoint
• Return to Quito city

The experience

The drive out of Quito climbs into the Eastern Andes through rural farmland and barley fields, leaving the city behind for open valleys and snow-capped peaks. You enter Antisana National Park, a reserve that protects the species most birdwatchers come for: the Andean Condor with its 3.3-meter wingspan, which glides across the mountains using air currents and covers vast distances without flapping. The park also holds caracaras, white-tailed deer, and the rare Andean Spectacled Bear if the day aligns.

The stops move through the reserve's different zones. At the Antisana Grassland and Mica Lagoon, you watch for the Andean Ibis, Variable Hawk, Carunculated Caracara, Tawny Antpitta, Paramo Pipit, and Aplomado Falcon among the páramo vegetation. The landscape opens to a panoramic view of the Antisana Volcano itself: 18,713 feet high, the fourth-highest peak in Ecuador, last active between 1590 and 1600. You'll see where Humboldt and other naturalists stayed centuries ago, a reminder that this reserve has drawn explorers for two hundred years.

Lunch happens at Tambo Condor, a lodge with a viewpoint overlooking a condor nest. This is where the birds return after hunting, and where hummingbird feeders draw the Shining Sunbeam, Giant Hummingbird, and occasionally the Black-Tailed Trainbearer. Bring a camera with a telephoto lens and extra batteries. The light at this altitude is sharp, and the species move fast. Warm layers matter. The high elevation brings wind and drizzle typical of the Andes.

What’s included

• Professional birdwatching guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel pickup and private transportation throughout the day.
• entry to Antisana National Park.
• lunch at Tambo Condor with views of the condor nest and hummingbird feeders.
• ecosystem interpretation and access to high-altitude páramo grasslands, the Mica Lagoon, and panoramic views of the Antisana Volcano.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 05:15 and 07:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (7 to 12 years) · Infant (5 to 6 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 30 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Galapagos My World

Is this one for you?Book this if you're photographing high-altitude species and want a guide who knows where the Andean Condor and rare hummingbirds appear across different zones. The seven-hour format gives you time to track multiple birds rather than rushing through one area.

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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: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (7 to 12 years); Infant (5 to 6 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What is the Andean Condor and why is Antisana the place to see one?

The Andean Condor is one of the largest flying birds in the world, with a wingspan reaching 3.3 meters (10.8 feet), and it is a national symbol of Ecuador. Antisana National Park is one of the best places in Ecuador to observe them, as they glide across the Andean mountains using air currents and often return to rest at viewpoints along the reserve, making it a premier birdwatching destination.

How high is Antisana National Park and what should I bring for the altitude?

The reserve sits above 9,843 feet in the high Andes, where the air is thin and the weather can shift quickly. Bring warm clothing, layers, and a windbreaker: drizzle and wind are typical at this elevation. A camera with a telephoto lens, binoculars, extra batteries and memory cards are essential for capturing the birds you'll see.

Which hummingbird species will I see on this trip?

You may encounter the Shining Sunbeam, Ecuadorean Hillstar, Giant Hummingbird, and occasionally the Black-Tailed Trainbearer and Andean-Tit Spintail, especially at the hummingbird feeders at Tambo Condor during lunch. The reserve holds a dozen species across its different zones, and sightings vary by season and luck.

Does this tour include lunch, and is there a vegetarian option?

Lunch is taken at Tambo Condor, a lodge with views of the condor nest and hummingbird feeders. A vegetarian option is available: advise the operator at the time of booking if you need it.

What was Alexander von Humboldt's connection to Antisana?

The naturalist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt visited the area in 1802, staying in a house that still stands near the reserve. Other famous explorers (James Orton, Theodore Wolf, and Edward Whimper) followed him, and the route you travel passes the historic sites where these naturalists worked centuries ago.

Is there a chance to see the Andean Spectacled Bear on this trip?

The Andean Spectacled Bear lives in the reserve's diverse ecosystems, including the páramos and glaciated areas. Sightings are rare and depend on luck, but the habitat and conditions make an encounter possible on any given day.