condor park

An introduction to the birds of Ecuador with an interesting exhibition done by a trainer. There were not many condors but many other kinds of birds and the demonstration was in Spanish but you will be able to get the gist.

This facility has many of the birds of prey indigenous to South America on site. One of the highlights fro us was the opportunity to see a condor, We would not have seen one in the wild on our tour. Our guide, Luis, was very knowledgeable about the site and the birds it contain. I would recommend having a guide with you to provide information.The twice daily show featured several of the birds from the facility. The bald eagles put on a great show. They were allowed to fly freely but always returned although the naturalist conducting the show said on occasion it might take them a couple of days to return.

Not sure why this is called a condor park. There is only one condor, who is caged up. There are a few other birds, also in cages. They take four of them out for a demonstration flight a couple of times per day, but not the condor. The name is very misleading.

The birds fly for you off the trainers arm. The show lasts about 30 minutes and is at 9am and 3pm. The cost is around $3 per person. Don't be late!!

Taking a taxi from Otavalo was interesting and bumpy but all part of the experience. The park was very clean and the birds were all rescue birds. I loved the "show" where the birds are shared and shown. It was only in Spanish however and very fast so I couldn't get most of it but the birds were amazing. There was a refreshment place in the park but it was closed and I needed it. Bring water and food if you need it. The bathrooms were wonderful! I would highly recommend this if you are a bird lover or just want something interesting to do.

After 3 months travelling in South America and weeks in los aandos we finally saw two condors, not in the wild but in the condor park. Nice park with 2 shows per day, we did the 3.30 show. We took a taxi $5 one way, the road to the park is not easy to walk. There was no other languages than spanish. Must visit this place to see many birds.

This site now costs $4.75 to enter, a lot by local standards. For this money you might reasonably expect an English-speaking guide, but this was certainly not offered to my group of six visitors. Moreover, unbelievably, all the signs are in Spanish only, even in the visitor centre! This seems extraordinary, given that the centre is sponsored by a foreign donor, and receives lots of foreign visitors.Whilst there are a range of birds "on show", they are really badly displayed for photographic purposes, and in most cases it was impossible to take photos other than through wire netting. This could have been overcome by placing the camera lens close to the netting, but this was "not allowed".As always with this sort of "rescue" centre, one can't help wondering how many of the inmates were actually "rescued" whilst in the nest, as a nestling or an egg, rather than genuinely needing help. If only someone had spoken English!I'm sure that our visit would have been enhanced had we been present at one of the two, daily feeding sessions, but unfortunately this was not possible.

It's very well done, entertaining and impressive....beautiful! The talk was in Spanish, so all we could do is enjoy the birds, but we got the hang of it. And some of them left and never came back during the show!!! So truly the trainers work hard and respect the animals...

The tourist office in Otavalo recommended that we visit the Condor Park while in Otavalo. He also told us it was about a 30 minute walk from town. He was right about the Park, wrong about the 30 minute walk. We chose a taxi $4 for the trip up the hills. We talked to some people who walked and they said it took them 90 minutes...glad we opted for the taxi. It cost $4.75 per p err son to enter the Park, advices well worth it. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and the views down into Otavalo and San Pablo are spectacular. The raptor presentation lasted about an hour and bit was very good. The demonstrations are at 11:30 and 3:30 so time your trip accordingly. Very nice aviary displays of many other birds including Andean Condors, Bald Eagles, Owls and Hawks. We spent about two and a half hours and enjoyed every minute. The host statue front entrance will call a taxi for you when you are ready to leave.

Make sure you go when a show is scheduled and then walk the grounds. The setting is suitably grand on the top of a hill over looking the valley and volcanoes. The german owner/researcher is highly informed. The condor and it's story are both awe inspiring in different ways.

We were led to believe that Condor Park was a half hour walk from Otavalo. This was not the case, though we enjoy hiking. The route was not well marked, and we eventually went back to Otavalo and took a taxi. The park was well kept and the birds looked healthy. Effort had been made to put signs in English, which we appreciated. The bird flight demonstration was interesting but we were hampered by our pidgin Spanish and could have got much more out of the presentation if there had been a pamphlet in English to help us understand. A number of others had the same problem.The condor was enormous, as was the Harpy eagle. It is difficult to get a sense of their size until you actually view these creatures. A large bald eagle weighs 12 pounds. The condor weighed over 30! Apart from the birds in the open-air demonstration, there was very little bird activity. Some were actually attached to perches, which I found mildly disturbing. Much more could have been done to make this park more appealing, but the birds are impressive. Be prepared for taxi rides to and from the park, in addition to the entrance fee. And try to time your visit so you may see the open air flying demonstration.

The Condor Park is a well maintained and excellent experience to view raptors. Their demonstration of the various types of hawks and eagles was extremely interesting. The falconer had a special talent in his rapport with the audience which consisted of people of all ages including numerous children. The location of the demonstration was an amphitheatre on the edge of a cliff with a wonderful view that I have only seen equalled by the ancient greeks.

The care for the raptors is paramount here. The daily demonstrations are well done - all in Spanish. (Call ahead to reserve a tour in English) All the birds have been rescued from some situation. They seem to recover beautifully - sometimes to full release, sometimes to partial release.Two condors, a male and a female, are on the premises, but will not be able to live on their own. The small museum is bold and clear. Good for kids. The snack bar is open - a nice addition.

Definitely worth visiting if you've any interest in birds, especially birds of prey. Take your camera!

We walked there from Otavala with no dog problems although we stayed on the road. The park was worth the money seeing the birds up close. They looked healthy and well fed. The show was the highlight for me. Watching the falcons fly freely and come back was quite a display. I wish the presentation was part English. Beautiful setting. Have a coat because it is quite breezy and cool if a cloud cover comes over.