Sign up for a two-hour tour where you first meet up in the Discovery Center for a short presentation about these amazing birds. After the presentation, you can tour the visitors center and learn interesting facts about these animals, from how they lived before Western settlers came, to how old hunting and trapping techniques led to a very long and disastrous fall for the species. Discover what is currently being done to help the animals recover and how they are being re-introduced to the wild.

After the presentation, climb into one of their vans with a personal guide and head toward Big Sur Road where tracking these incredible birds begin. As you travel, you are able to keep an eye on the sky and coast without having to worry about the road. Guides are equipped with special radio telemetry equipment that are tuned to pick up radio signals from the birds that are wearing radio trackers. When they pick up signals from a bird, they will find the nearest pullout spot to begin looking. If you are really lucky, you see these Condors soaring high above you! At times, lucky visitors have the treat of viewing birds feeding on the shore. If you would like to help track these animals, you can have a chance to hold onto the radio transmitter. Your tour will continue up and down the coast and the cliff faces in search of these powerful birds.

These birds are masters once in the air, with a span of 9-10 feet their huge wings don’t falter at all!! Their heads come in different colors (yellow to red), with bare necks. Their large black wings are distinguished by the white triangle shape on the bottom; they are very graceful floating in air!

At the end of your two-hour tour, you will be driven back to the Discovery Center where you are free to continue exploring the visitor center at your leisure. No matter what, this tour will bring out your curiosity of the mighty birds.

To attend one of these small group guided tours, please note that only six people are allowed at a time, and spots fill up fast! Make your booking as soon as you are able; tours are $75/person. Private Group tours are available for a minimum of 10 people for $145/ person. Book weeks in advanced as they fill up! Make sure to bring your camera (make sure it has a good zoom too!) and anything else that you may need for California’s crazy weather. For those who wish to still have a chance to see the condors, there are many good spots along Big Sur to try to spot them. Keep your eyes open as you drive along the shore, look on their website for key spots to sport them, or email them for more specifics. These animals are amazing, and are truly special to California.

*Also please note these are wild animals. Many may have been cared for by human hands, but are now flying free. Sightings are not 100% guaranteed, as they soar where the updrafts take them. However, be patient and maybe one or even several may show themselves!*

For further information, visit their website HERE.

**Since my travel on this tour, this incredible organization has undergone growth and changes. They now have a larger main office facility in Monterey, their randevu location at the Discovery Center, available for tours more days of each week (even private tours up to 10 people), and prices have increased. However, this tour is worth every cent because it was amazing to learn more about these powerful animals and to see them soaring!**