Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary

Cochahuasi is a small privately run sanctuary on the road between Cusco and Pisac that takes in animals confiscated from illegal trade or handed over from captivity, most of which cannot be released. The residents include Andean condors, some of them wing-damaged and unable to fly, along with pumas, spectacled bears, vicuña, alpacas and a number of parrots and raptors. Enclosures are simple and the emphasis is on explanation rather than display, with staff walking visitors round and describing where each animal came from. Condors are the reason most people stop, because seeing one this close is otherwise a matter of luck at a canyon rim.

What to look for

• Andean condors - close views of birds that cannot be released, with their histories explained.
• Pumas and spectacled bears - rescued individuals in enclosures on the hillside.
• Vicuña and alpacas - camelids in paddocks, with fleece and weaving explained alongside.
• The guided round - a staff-led circuit explaining where each animal came from and why it stays.

When to go

Open through the day, year-round. Most Sacred Valley tours stop mid-morning, so arriving early or late in the afternoon gives a quieter visit. The dry season from April to October is more comfortable for standing outside. Allow an hour, or a little more if you want the full explanation rather than the quick circuit.

Practical notes

It is a rescue centre, so the animals are in enclosures and several are visibly injured; this is not a wildlife encounter and some visitors find it sad rather than uplifting. Facilities are basic and the site is small. Tour groups arrive in waves and it is cramped when two coaches coincide. The attached shop and the circuit around it feel commercial.

Nearby

Pisac and its market lie further down the valley, and Cusco is twenty minutes back.