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Once in a Lifetime Big Sur Eco-Experiences

All eco-experiences begin and end at our Big Sur Ornithology Lab in Andrew Molera State Park, located just off of Hwy 1, 20 miles south of the Carmel Crossroads.

California Condor Viewing Tour
$50/person (2nd Sunday of every month)
Other tours throughout the year are offered as well - call to check availability.
These tours are continuing uninterrupted.
This two-hour tour will take you down the coast with our knowledgeable staff to view magnificent and endangered California condors. We will use radio telemetry to track wild birds while taking in the beautiful Big Sur coast. 

California Condor Viewing Tour and Base Camp Visit
$250/person (min. 4 / max. 6)
Due to the recent fires in Big Sur, this tour is currently not available. Please check back in 6 months. For more information on the fires and how the condors have been affected, CLICK HERE
This is a full day experience to our remote base camp and rearing / release facility. Travel high into the Big Sur wilderness on a private dirt road, stopping for views and to track the birds. Once at our base camp we will view the feeding slope, take data, tour the camp and take in views of the ocean 2,800 feet below! Wild birds often perch near the cabin and are frequently seen on the feeding slope. This tour includes lunch and snacks.

Overnight Tour
$500/person (minimum 2/maximum 4)
Due to the recent fires in Big Sur, this tour is currently not available. Please check back in 6 months. For more information on the fires and how the condors have been affected, CLICK HERE
This unique experience includes the above in addition to spending the night at our condor base camp and facility. Relax on the front porch while watching condors fly in to roost as the sun sets over the ocean far below. Once the sun goes down, we will hike one mile to the feeding slope where we will place supplemental food for the wild birds. In the morning, observe wild condors feeding. Meals included.

Teen Condor Wilderness Camps - click here for more information
This educational experience is for 13-18 year olds interested in what it takes to be a wildlife field biologist working with endangered species. It is an intense field experience and not for the faint of heart! Over 3 days teens will receive a crash course in basic ornithology, meet ornithologists and condor biologists, learn about the condor reintroduction program, track wild condors utilizing GIS and radio telemetry, and participate in a work project directly benefiting the condors, while camping along the coast and at our remote condor base camp.

Songbird Viewing Tour
Call for scheduling and pricing
We can tailor a tour to meet your specific interests - whether you want to add to your life list, are interested in birding at a specific Monterey County location, or simply want an introduction to the amazing world of birds.  With our years of experience in bird research and conservation, we are experts in knowing the best birding locations in the county.

Our Best Birding in Big Sur Tour is a three-hour tour focused on the birds found along the Big Sur River in Andrew Molera State Park. Meet at our Big Sur Ornithology Lab and walk along the river to the headlands overlooking the ocean. You will search for rare birds while enjoying spectacular views of the river and the Big Sur coast. This area was named an Important Bird Area because of its amazing bird diversity. Over 375 bird species have been recorded inside Andrew Molera State Park, and it is not uncommon to see 50 to 75 species on this tour.

Our staff has considerable knowledge of where condors are most likely to be seen - as well as tracking equipment - however condors are wild birds and we can never guarantee a sighting. That being said, nearly all of our tours are successful in viewing free-flying California condors.

For more information, or to schedule a tour, contact
Alena Porte, Education Coordinator at alenaporte@ventanaws.org