The sky of the Andes is the preferred setting for one of the most impressive animals in the world: the Peruvian condor. This bird, the largest outside the aquatic world, is endemic to the entire Andean zone of South America and in Peru you will be able to see it fly in landscapes as beautiful as the Mirador de Chonta.
Although there are many well-known and tourist viewpoints in the Andean zone of our country, this time we want to highlight Chonta, because it is a destination where you can enjoy the flight of the condor with the greatest peace of mind.
The Chonta viewpoint is located 98 kilometers from the city of Cusco. It belongs to the district of Limatambo in the province of Anta. Geographically it is located in the Apurímac river canyon, over 3,400 meters above sea level.
For the Incas, the condor or Apu Kuntur was a "Messenger of the Gods" who flew to the upper level of the religious world (Hanan Pacha) to carry the prayers of the entire Inca population to the gods, it represents the union between the Hanan Pacha ( heaven) with the Kay Pacha (earth).
The condor symbolized strength, intelligence and exaltation or exaltation, it was an animal respected by all those who lived in the Andes, since it not only brought good and bad omens.
If you plan to travel to the Mirador de Chonta, you can take the opportunity to visit other interesting places. Here are some ideas for you!
During the Inca period, Limatambo was an important agricultural area. Here, both sugar cane and its derivatives were grown, as well as a large quantity of vegetables. Currently, Limatambo stands out for its fruitful farms, where you can take tours and try exotic typical Peruvian fruits such as lucuma, custard apple or avocado.
In Limatambo, you can also visit Tarawasi, an archaeological complex that was used as a ceremonial center and rest area during Inca times. Here you can find huge stone buildings and the typical agricultural terraces with their fountains and irrigation canals. A great place to admire the quality of the architecture and hydraulic engineering of the Incas!
The Incas not only had great devotion to Inti (sun god), but also paid a very special cult to Mama Killa (the moon), whom they considered Inti's wife and the representation of the feminine side of the firmament. Thus, this civilization built various places in honor of the moon, among which is the Temple of Killrumiyoc, in the Ancahuasi district. Considering the moon as responsible for crops and everything that comes out of the earth, Killarumiyoc was also a large Inca agricultural complex.
Here you will find terraces, water channels, platforms, cultivation areas, an ushnu or pyramid, and even a cave with petroglyphs. But the most striking element of Killarumilloc is a large rock located in the center in which the Incas carved a half moon that served as a throne for the Inca. This archaeological complex is simply exciting!
The most direct way to get to the Chonta Viewpoint is to take the Cusco-Abancay highway and continue until kilometer 80, where the district of Limatambo is located. Then, you have to take the detour to the community of Chonta along a carriage trail of approximately 18 kilometers to the viewpoint ticket office. The entrance fee is 10 soles. Finally, you have to undertake a walk of around 3.5 kilometers.
There are two ways to get there, one of them is hiring the tour with a travel agency and the other is doing the tour on your own.
On their own:
The most direct way to get there is to take the Cusco-Abancay road to kilometer 80 (Limatambo District), then take the detour to Chonta along an 18 km trail to the viewpoint ticket office and finally continue with a 3.5 km walk. . which is approximately 01 hour.
Hire the services of an agency:
This is one of the safest ways, because the tour operator will manage everything related to the tour, from transportation, food and will have a professional guide, without a doubt the most recommended.
Many are the routes that take you to Machu Picchu, but none is like the Inca Trail Tours, the most famous pedestrian path in the Americas. After flying from the capital of Perú, Lima, you will arrive in Cusco to walk for four days along a path through forests and dense fog, millenary stone steps and discovering the ruins of ancient fortifications and Inca cities, and all the time enjoying majestic views.
