The condors don’t come out until it warms up a bit. After a day of hiking in Valle de Los Cóndores, it was nice to be able to sleep in. Around 930am, we started hiking to a higher spot to position ourselves for what we hoped would be a spectacular condor show.
The condors did not disappoint.
As we were making our way to the top, Pancho spotted the first condor.
We kept hiking to get to the top for a better vantage point.
We got very lucky.
There were several condors out on this morning, and they wanted to put on a show.
There were several periods of maybe 10-15 minutes where I saw no condors.
I simply sat at the top of the mountain and took in the scenery and the warmth of the sun.
Then the swoosh sound of the long wings of the condor slicing through the air would wake me from my trance, and I would grab the camera again and start shooting.
Check out more photos from Valle de Los Cóndores!
By the way, I am pretty happy with how these photos turned out considering my zoom lens broke when I was hiking in El Chalten last year. I shot these with my point-and-shoot and using the 50 fixed lens on my D-SLR.
Go on the Hike!
Go on a hike with Educacion y Futuro (EDYFU) to Valle de Los Cóndores, and you not only get a great experience, you also help support their social programs in Tarija. They provided me a tent, sleeping bag, and even a backpack. Guides are all locals, so they know the area well, and you are supporting the local economy.
Email EDYFU in advance to coordinate your tour.
I’m headed to Colca Canyon in Peru before I get to Bolivia, so this can be my backup if I fail to spot any condors!
Good plan!
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Playing With My Food in Tomatitas
What an incredible sight – that wingspan is huge!
Mark Wiens recently posted..5 Photos that Capture the Vivid Colours of Traveling
I had no idea they were this big… Their wingspan is equivalent to my height!
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Playing With My Food in Tomatitas
You can’t know how envious I now am!!! so so fortunate and the photos are remarkable well done.
Gary the old wwoofer recently posted..National Pet-sitter Week
Thanks, Gary. There are so many things I feel fortunate to have seen in my travels, and this is definitely near the top of the list.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Playing With My Food in Tomatitas
I heard Bolivia was beautiful, yet had no idea how much. Gorgeous photos!
Thank you!
I heard the same, but I think you have to see for yourself to realize how incredible it really is.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Playing With My Food in Tomatitas
Wow–with a point and shoot? Very impressive photos.
Philip recently posted..Jati Homestay, Ubud, Bali…where I live
Well, it’s a mix of photos with my point-and-shoot and the D-SLR with only the fixed 50mm lens.
After driving myself crazy for months being pissed off that my most versatile lens was broken, I realized I just had to make the best of what I did have and try to become a better photographer
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Playing With My Food in Tomatitas
Hermosa niña, bellísimas fotografías!!!! lo mejor del mundo para vos!
Muchas gracias, Malena! Era una buena experiencia.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Ambrosia: The Tarijeño Breakfast of Champions
Wow. What an experience. I would LOVE to see condors. And the scenery is stunning as well.
Great pics with a point and shoot, too!
Barbara recently posted..Vietnam Is Crazy
It did not seem like a big deal to see the condors. I was more in it for the hike. But I was so wrong! Such incredible creatures!
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Ambrosia: The Tarijeño Breakfast of Champions
adjust goes to prove-it isn’t the lens- its the person behind the lens.
Exactly
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Foto of the Week from … Rosillas: The Ugliest Dog in South America
I love the sky. This place is so heaven. The fug makes it more fascinating. I love to visit that place and I haven’t tried reaching that top.
Azslyn Cole recently posted..Fat Burners that can Use
Very sweet pics! I didn’t get a chance to see them from so close. But saw condors having sex 😀
crazy sexy fun traveler recently posted..INTERESTING DUNE TOUR AROUND CAPE COD NATIONAL PARK SEASHORE
Ha!
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Foto of the Week from … Rosillas: The Ugliest Dog in South America
It is so breathtaking panoramic views. I want to see these stunning views. I love to fly as well.
Liz Tererk recently posted..Minoxidil for Hair Loss Treatment
Gorgeous! You’re so patient with photos and it pays off.
Rease recently posted..Food Friday: Authentic Mexican Michelada Recipe
This place is beautiful and peaceful that you don’t really need the patience to hang out waiting for the condors to do a fly-by.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..Foto of the Week from … Rosillas: The Ugliest Dog in South America
Wow you were lucky. You got some great shots! It must have been a great experience.
Dean recently posted..Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro – Machame Gate to Machame Hut
It was really special, especially because I didn’t really have high expectations. I just wanted to go for a hike
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..3 Reasons Horseback Riding is Over-Rated
I loved watching these birds in Patagonia…beautiful shots!
Andrea recently posted..Slice of Norge: Summer Price Slash
That looks like an incredible experience!
Caanan @ No Vacation Required recently posted..A Great Book
You do the coolest things!
Abby recently posted..I could get used to this
I got so lucky on this one, since this is not a touristy area, and there was no advertising for this place.
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..3 Reasons Horseback Riding is Over-Rated
Wow, this is stunning, great pictures, I would have loved to see one too.
Angela recently posted..Video: In Parco della Giara, where horses forgot to keep up with evolution
You are an amazing woman. You really reach this peak. I am amazed of what you did. I would want to visit these beautiful views.
Willa Taley recently posted..Toxic Colon : Detoxify your colon
Wow, amazing shots. And with a 50mm lens! They must have come darn close 😀
Laurence recently posted..The terrible importance of Finding Your Voice
They really did fly that close to us!
Stephanie – The Travel Chica recently posted..6 Tips for Surviving the Four Day Tour to the Salar de Uyuni
Awesome. What graceful looking birds!
Turtle recently posted..Sailing the Greek islands
Great shots! Love the last one especially!
its not the season, its how you reside! I can be just as happy in summer as I’m in winter, I might be just as comfortable in spring as I am in fall!
provided that life is great, the cash is correct,
plus the females appear allright, Im content, nno matter
what season it’s!!!
nike shoes on sale recently posted..nike shoes on sale
Stephanie, thanks a lot for this great review and those wonderful pics. I can’t add anything else, you just described perfectly the whole experience in your posts about Rosillas!
Rosillas didn’t changed much and Gollum is still alive but he got burned by the sun and now needs some lotions. Poor thing! But don’t worry, he’s ok!
I just have one favor to ask you, could you please update the link in your posts? We had a problem with the educacionyfuturo.com domain and now you can find us at valledeloscondores.com.
Again, thanks a lot for this great review!