Valle de los Cóndores

South of Tarija the land breaks into canyons, and one of them holds a roosting site used by Andean condors, the enormous vulture with a wingspan approaching three metres that soars on thermals along the Andes from Venezuela to Tierra del Fuego. Birds gather on the cliff ledges overnight and leave in the morning as the sun warms the rock and the air begins to rise, which is why visits start before dawn: from a viewpoint on the opposite rim you watch them drop off the ledges and begin circling, sometimes at eye level. Numbers vary and there is no guarantee. The community manages access with local guides, and the drive out crosses dry canyon country with cactus and red rock.

What you actually see

• Condors leaving the roost - birds dropping from ledges as thermals build.
• Cliff ledges - the roosting site on the canyon wall opposite.
• Canyon country - red rock and cactus on the drive out.
• Community guiding - local guides managing the viewpoint.

When to go

April to November for the roads and clearer mornings. Arrival must be before sunrise, so departure from Tarija is in the dark. Numbers of birds vary through the year and with the weather.

Honest expectations

Sightings are not guaranteed and some mornings produce few birds or none. It means a start around four in the morning and a cold wait. The road is rough. Guides are compulsory and arranged through the community. Binoculars help a great deal.

Nearby

Tarija lies north; the Argentine border is south.