Parque Cóndor Otavalo

Location:
Comunidad de Pucará Alto; Parroquia Eugenio Espejo, Otavalo
Otavalo, Ecuador

Birdwatching

By Wendy van Driel

Otavalo now has a Parque Cóndor, a beautiful place to view special birds, like the rare Andean Condor and several other birds who need to be rescued. In the Parque Cóndor, they take care of these birds and at the same time entertain the people visiting the park with fly-shows and explanations. Furthermore, the Parque has a beautiful view over the San Pablo Lake and the surroundings of Otavalo. It's a nice hike from Otavalo.

There are about 60 or so birds at the park at any given time: all have been rescued or given to the park. When possible, the park staff try to return the birds to the wild. The minimal entry fee and donations go to support the birds, which can consume dozens of baby chickens per day! If you go, be sure to be there at 11:30 or 4:30, because that's when they take some of the birds out to exercise: they soar around for a while and then return to their trainers.

Getting There
From the Panamerican Highway entrance to the San Pablo lake at Espejo, follow the signs.

Walking from Otavalo uphill, just ask around.

Taxi from Otavalo, about $3-

Travel Tips: Can be cold, and wear sunscreen. Some people were complaining that bugs were biting them, too.

Price Description: $2.50 entrance. It can be cold, so bring a jacket.

Relative price: Mid-Range

Open Hours from:10:00

Open Hours to:17:00

Days Closed:Monday

Travel Skills: None

You Need to Bring: Can be cold

To See and Do: After visiting the Parque Condor, you can walk further to the Peguche Waterfall in Peguche, or visit the nearby sacred tree "el Lechero".

Contact Information:
Phone: 06-2924429
E-mail: condor(at)remove-this.accessinter.net
URL: www.parquecondor.com

Traveler Reviews of Parque Cóndor Otavalo

good cause!

Rating: 75%

The idea to save these birds is very good!

By V!VA User, Sep 06, 2005

A Must See in Imbabura

Rating: 100%

This park was incredible. The park it self is high on a hill (mountain) overlooking Lake San Pablo on one side and Otavalo on the other. It is full of different raptor birds from both North and South America. The park is laid out in a easy walking fashion. They just recently finish with a section just for owls, and they have quite a few different species. The best part of the park is the bird show that they put on. The show is put on in their open air park at the edge of the park that overlooks the valley and Mt. Imbabura beyond. They bring out a number of species of bird that are trained and let them fly and catch food as it is thrown in the air. All and all it is well worth going too. The park director, Joep Hendriks, has done a fantastic job. Head on up and see him. The park is open every day except for Monday.

By V!VA User from Greenville, SC, May 25, 2006

don't miss them

Rating: 75%

You have 2 exibitions a day: one at 11.30 and the other at 16.30. If you miss them, you miss a lot.

By francesco from italy, Mar 26, 2008