Ventana Wildlife Society is a private non profit, 501C-3 organization. In California alone there are 130 species of animals in the wild threatened or endangered with extinction. Ventana Wildlife Society is committed to conserving native wildlife and their habitats. Rather than dwelling on past mistakes that brought many of our wild animals to the brink, we focus on the present. We recover individual species and track the populations of many others so that conservation can be timely as well as effective. Focusing on youth education, we better ensure that future generations have the willingness and capacity to help wildlife. Our vision is to have a society who cares for and supports wildlife across the planet, particularly in California.
Our Mission
Conserving native wildlife and their habitats.
Please visit us online at www.ventanaws.org.
California Condor Viewing Tour
$50/person (2nd Sunday of every month - must sign up through Salinas office in advance)
This two-hour tour will lead you down the coast to view magnificent and endangered California condors. Our knowledgeable staff will use radio telemetry to track while taking in the beautiful Big Sur coast. December 12,
2011: January 9, February 13, March 13, April 10, May 8... Maximum 6 attendees.
Privately Scheduled Tours
If you cannot attend one of our regularly scheduled tours, you can request a tour for an alternative dates(s). If our staff can accommodate one of the date requested, a tour can be arranged for the same cost of $50 /person, but we require a minimum of four attendees and a minimum payment of $200 to be made, at the latest, one week before the tour date.
California Condor Viewing Tour and Base Camp Visit
$250/person (min. 2 / max. 6)
Spend a day with Executive Director, Kelly Sorenson in Big Sur and go searching for condors! Meet in Carmel and drive 30 miles south to Andrew Molera State Park and visit the Discovery Center and take a VWS vehicle for the rest of the tour. We will travel up to our remote condor sanctuary, high into the Big Sur wilderness on a private dirt road. Ventana Wildlife Society’s condor sanctuary is located in a coastal canyon 2,800 feet above the ocean which is only three miles away! Wild birds often perch near the cabin and are frequently seen in the areas. This tour includes lunch and snacks.
TO SIGN-UP FOR A TOUR contact cathyhamilton@ventanaws.org or 831-455-9514
All eco-experiences begin and end at our Discovery Center in Andrew Molera State Park, located just off of Hwy 1, 20 miles south of the Carmel Crossroads.
Weather cancellations
Weather in the Big Sur region changes quickly and unexpectedly. We would normally wait until Sunday to decide to cancel a tour, but with the remote location, we respect that most of you are coming from out of town. If the weather forecast on the Friday prior to the scheduled tour states that there is a 50% or more chance of rain for Sunday, the tour will be cancelled. If the tour is cancelled: you will receive either an email or phone call to let you know that the tour will not take place and to reschedule. When signing up for the tour, please make sure to provide us with the best way to get a hold of you the Friday afternoon prior to the scheduled tour (cell #, email, hotel name…).