So fantastic! Thought I'd just check it off a bucket list, but now I think I may just do it again! I'm sure my friends (and a few strangers) might be a little tired of me talking about this experience and showing off my pictures. Educational and you could tell that the folks run this experience really care about these precious creatures. The venue is picturesque and beautiful too! read more

Total Raptor eXperience - Specialty Schools Near Me - La Jolla, California

Did the Total Raptor Experience yesterday after my wife got me a gift card for Fathers Day. It totally exceeded my expectations and was incredidbly fun AND educational. The instructors Andrea and Dave were both so passionate, knowledgeable and friendly that I left the experience wanting to go back sometime. Highly recommend this experience to anyone in San Diego. Way to go guys great job!! read more

I love birds and have been wanting to do something like this for a while but I actually ended up here as a birthday surprise from my girlfriend this past weekend. The staff were great. They are incredibly knowledgeable about their birds. We got lucky and ended up being the only two at this time slot so we got a lot of one-on-one time with the birds The birds were awesome! You're not going to make friends with these birds but you also don't have to worry about them biting at you or anything. They are actually pretty docile. I really cannot say enough good things about this place. read more

See all

This was the most amazing experience! I got this for my husband's birthday, and we both had a blast. The two hosts were extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Everything they spoke about was so interesting and the interaction time with the birds was super fun. Having them fly back and forth between guests was very cool (I sat on the ground in between people as the hawk flew super close to my head--an awesome vantage point!) The whole experience lasted two hours and was great from start to finish. Plus, the location is so spectacular. Having this unique experience on a beautiful ocean cliff side is one-of-a-kind! read more

Total Raptor eXperience - Specialty Schools Near Me - La Jolla, California

My wonderful wife signed us up including my niece and nephew for this amazing experience via Airbnb. We didn't know what to expect but we were excited about it! We had to fill out a long legal form online basically say this could be dangerous and we are on our own. Fine with me! Life isn't safe if you want to experience something new and unique! We parked at the glider park and met up with the hosts. This location is on a beautiful cliff where hang and parachute gliders do their thing. They were all struggling to take off safely in the wind but thankfully, nobody crashed while we were there. The falcons, on the other hand, had no problems at all. When the hosts took out the first falcon, he flew off for 10 minutes enjoying the strong breeze and the amazing cool weather. The hosts took the time to explain how different kinds of falcons hunt and protect their territory from other birds. These falcons know what they are doing and they are willing to battle to control their territory. We all got multiple chances for the falcon to land on our leather glove and then take off. Beautiful birds! So fast and agile! Then, we went closer to the edge and the host had a bird target she spun around on a string. The falcon would observe from a distance and then zoom in, avoiding all of us, flying over 100 mph and attempt to snatch the target. We all stood in a circle and she explained we were like trees providing cover for the falcon so please don't move or flinch! Easier said done when an incredible bird is zooming at you faster than you can believe but we all stood strong like trees. This whole experience was unforgettable and incredible. I will never forget it! Life is definitely good with an amazing unique experience! Highly recommended! read more

We had a really fun experience for my husband's birthday weekend. The whole thing lasted about two hours. We got to fly a hawk named Logan in a large group circle. And we also had a chance to fly with a falcon along the cliffs, watching it catch beatles. The handlers were all very nice and knowledgeable. They taught us about the natural habitat and the lifespan on these raptors. How to keep them safe in the wild, etc. During our experience with Logan, he even got chased off by a wild falcon and the handler had to go track him down using the satellite GPS. It was overall a cool experience. I highly recommend it for something special and unique to do. read more

See all

David was so disrespectful. We were de-escalating a situation that occurred in David was escalating it the whole time, yelling, and being very disrespectful to me and my family this is not a good place with good hospitality or customer service. He was very rude and we would never be here again. read more

Amazing experience! We were almost 40 minutes late to our reservation due to heavy traffic, but Antonella was very patient and understanding. The experience itself was wonderful. Our falcon (Bunco) was stunningly gorgeous and the views were beyond breathtaking. Antonella is very passionate about her birds and takes very good care of them. I highly recommend this experience for those who have not tried it. read more

See all

I love the atmosphere! It was outdoors and I got to see 3 super cool owls! The guide was super respectful, interactive and fun to be around! I was really happy I got to learn more about the owls and got to hold two! I would love to come back and seem them! read more

See all

Didn't know what to expect when my daughter's Christmas gift was a father-and-daughter falconry experience. Total Raptor eXperience was so amazing and we had such a wonderful shared experience together. The instructor were knowledgeable, friendly, and caring for the birds and the environment. The Falcons and hawks were so beautiful, magnificent, and well trained. We really enjoyed the beautiful scenery and experience. It was better than my yearly tennis shoe gifts. read more

See all

This was an awesome experience. We had a group of four. Learning about the capabilities of hawks and falcons was fascinating. The falconers were very knowledgable with years of experience. And of course, the opportunity to have a falcon resting on your gloved arm was amazing. They are such beautiful creatures! You will get the opportunity to to have them fly from you to your friends in the group. Lots of great photos opportunities too. We can't recommend this experience enough. read more

See all

Our family of 3 went for the Raptor Experience and were blown away by how much interaction we had with the falcon and hawk. Not only did the hawk hop from person to person in the circle we formed but the falcon, soaring around us, feet from our heads, was exhilarating. I wish I could remember the two trainers who facilitated our 'experience' as their knowledge and friendliness were awesome! We will do it again! read more

We signed up for this raptor experience last minute without researching it and went into it without having any expectations. What an amazing afternoon this way! Andrea, Antonella, and Dave are super knowledgeable and passionate about these amazing birds. It was an interactive experience (meaning the birds will land on your gloved arm) and just overall such an awe inspiring afternoon. Would definitely recommend doing this and if we are ever back in the area, we would most certainly do this again. Andrea, Antonella, and Dave- thank you SO much for letting us be part of your raptors' afternoon! read more

Total Raptor eXperience - Specialty Schools Near Me - La Jolla, California

So much more than I expected, it was the perfect experience to celebrate a combined birthday and Mother Day. I suggest showing up a little early to grab a coffee and watch the paragliders take off and fly around. We got to learn about each bird, have them fly back and forth from your glove and watch the falcon fly over the cliffs. Everyone was so nice and knowledgeable, they answered all of our questions and made sure everyone had a great time. I highly recommend booking your own visit. read more

See all

Ever dream of flying like a bird? I recently had the ultimate falconry experience -- flying with falcons in California and seeing them up close with Total Raptor Experience. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity takes place along the coastal bluffs of La Jolla, Calif., overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This is the only place in the United States that offers a falconry experience like this. We joined in their falconry class to learn about the environmental importance of these birds as well as soar with them in flight. After literally being cooped up for months-- and cursing the latest coronavirus shut downs -- I was ready to enjoy some time outside in the sun and do something unique in San Diego. And trust me, it doesn't get much more unique than interacting with falcons. I met up with our teachers Antonella and Dave. Together, they formed Total Raptor Experience 4 years ago as a way to share their love and knowledge of these incredible birds. Dave has flown most of his life, starting at the age of 12. But it was a trip to Nepal that changed it all. It's here that he learned the rare art of flying with falcons, studying under Scott Mason who pioneered "Parahawking," an activity that combines paragliding with falconry. Why falcons versus other birds? In short, they're great flyers and play an important role in the environment. Falcons are a natural form of pest control, particularly in cities where you'll find an abundance of mice, pigeons and other critters. From here, Antonella helped me slip on the falconry gloves and demonstrated how to call and release their trained falcons. Antonella placed pieces of raw meat on our gloves. It sort of felt like playing fetch with my dog. Though, the falcons are much better at this game. But without a doubt, the best part of the day was getting to do the parahawking experience where I got to fly with the falcons. It was such a unique thing to do that I'll never forget. read more

This review is based solely on the customer service we received and not the actual event. We were scheduled to visit San Diego and had to cancel our trip due to covid so we reached out to the number in the email confirmation to see about cancelling our reservation. Shortly after we realized that my sister in law would be traveling to San Diego and could possibly take our reservation rather than cancel it, so we reached back out to move the reservation. We received a phone call from Antonella who was completely understanding of the situation and moved the reservation over and with a new date that fit their trip. Two weeks later we found that several family members have covid so my sister in law was no longer able to make the trip. Feeling absolutely terrible for all the back and forth and needing to cancel the reservation yet again... we reached out to Antonella via text and again, she was completely understanding and had no issue refunding the reservation for us. While we were not able to attend such a cool experience, I was impressed with the customer service and cannot wait until we can finally get out to San Diego to see these beautiful birds! read more

My wife took my here for my birthday and it was awesome! The teachers were informative, kind and they really wanted everyone to learn something, to have fun and to get a selfie with the birds if that's what the guests wanted. Getting there was super easy as was the parking and the parking was free! The views overlooking the ocean were incredible! My wife and I highly recommend this experience! read more

See all

Really wanted to love this. I bought this on Airbnb Experiences as a surprise birthday gift to my partner. The day of, as we were getting ready to leave, we had an accident that required a visit to urgent care. We could no longer go and called to let them know we wouldn't be there. After everything calmed down for us, I messaged the hosts on Airbnb explaining the situation, and asked if we could reschedule to another weekend date (our original date was on a Sunday). They were surprisingly inflexible with their 'policies', very unresponsive, and had a huge lack of communication/engagement to work things out. Frustrated in trying to reschedule, I asked for a refund instead. They refused. This eventually was escalated to Airbnb support, who disappointingly did nothing to mitigate. Their policies no longer covered personal injuries. Airbnb is one of my favorite companies so I'll just say, it's true. Don't meet your heroes. This was all a terrible experience. It feels better reading other reviews with similar bad experiences though -- we weren't the only ones, there's a community of us. On the bright side and a lovely silver lining, we did get to have a private falconry experience with this gentlemen in LA. He's a little more urban, however, the experience was wonderful and super fun! Very knowledgeable and passionate. You'd get WAY more bang for your buck with Adam from Hawk on Hand. Check him out -- he was featured in the New York Times. His current offerings are fair and unbeatable around this area IMO (cheaper per person, too). After learning that there are few falconers in SoCal/it's a niche job, it'd be a shame if others didn't know there were better options to consider. We had a private falconry experience for 4 people with 3 different species: barn owl, Harris hawk, African augur buzzard. Overall, in a way, am thankful for this experience because it led me to finding Hawk on Hand. read more

This was a wonderful 2-hour experience! We met our group at the Torrey Pines glider port, which gave us gorgeous views. Antonella and Dave, both falconers, brought out a falcon and we all walked a short distance to the edge of the cliff. Over the next 90 minutes, we got to see the falcon soar along the cliffs and then return to perch briefly on each of our gloved hands. We each got to hold her multiple times, and admire her beauty! Dave also gave a demonstration of how the falcon hunts -- he'd swing a lure in the air and she'd come flying in to try to catch it. She'd fly in between us so close that you could feel the wind from her wings. Antonella and Dave also taught us a lot about raptors and their value in our environment. This is a special, unique experience for you or your visitors. We highly recommend it!! read more

A great family Christmas present even on a cold and foggy Dec. afternoon. Had to do some rescheduling to avoid an incoming rain storm, but appreciated Antonella planning ahead so we could make this experience work for the whole family. Great communication! Just being close to these magnificent creatures was a blessing, being able to actually hold them and see them fly was even more amazing! The passion behind this type of experience with these birds of prey make Dave, Antonella, and Andrea wonderful ambassadors of our wildlife and reminds us to care for the habitat of these creatures of the air. Our advice: take pictures and videos, but also just take time to put the camera away and soak up the experience. read more

The classes Introduction to Falconry & Falcon Flight blew my mind and exceeded all my expectations!!! There is literally nothing like having a falcon/&/hawk fly straight to you and stare into your eyes. Seriously remarkable how well behaved these powerful birds are by choice. Terry's story telling was captivating - the passion and knowledge she has from dedicating her life to this is contagious. Terry, Antonella & Dave gave me a new found love for these birds and how I can make changes in my life to keep them safe. These classes are worth every penny. I highly recommend taking advantage of this safe once in a lifetime experience. I was a little scared going in but as soon as I was there it is so organized and the trainers put any butterflies to eases so I was able to really step into the moment and absorb every ounce of it. read more

Total Raptor eXperience - Hawk landing! - Specialty Schools Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all

My wife and I had an amazing time with Andrea and David. My wife got this as a birthday present and we really enjoyed the whole event (about 2 hours). We are fellow bird lovers and were very happy to see that they treated their birds very kindly - didn't force them to do anything and let the birds have fun. Both staff members were extremely patient, answered all of our questions, and were very enthusiastic about what they do. Definitely recommend this! Don't forget sun protection! read more

See all

Oh man!!! This was a surprise adventure for my birthday and it did not disappoint!! It was incredible. We met Dave the falconer and his lovely Lanner Falcon Sophi. They were both so generous with their skills. We brought our three young daughters and Dave was so patient with my sweet six year old who chatted his ear off. He answered our many questions and managed this stunning wild animal and us complete novices with such care. Also, Dave accommodated our scheduling faux pas and moved our lesson to a different time at the last minute. Between the glory of the cliffs at Torrey Pines (overlooking the ocean!!), interacting with a beautiful specimen of Mother Nature, and having a knowledgeable and generous guide to experience it with, we were enchanted. Do yourself a favor and book this! read more

See all

I did the group falconry class at the La Jolla Gliderport with Dave and Anotnella and this was an amazing experience. Sophie was flown for my class and we got to have her fly to our glove and watch her fly among the cliffs of the gliderport. Dave demonstrated lure hunting and it was incredible to see such a natural behavior. If anyone is looking for something fun, eye opening, and unreal, definitly book this class with Dave. 1000% worth it. read more

Total Raptor eXperience - Sophie! - Specialty Schools Near Me - La Jolla, California

I bought the Introduction to Falconry class as a Mother's Day present for my wife this year since she's a "Certified Bird Nerd" and especially loves raptors. I wanted to hit her present out of the park this year and we were not disappointed. In fact, it was definitely a bucket list item that she could cross off her list! We were greeted by Antonella, Dave and Terry and went through some paperwork to get started. We then were given some instructions and they did a great job setting expectations for the next 90 minutes. There were about 10 of us in the group and we all spread out into a large circle and had a Harris' Hawk named Gray Wind flew from person the person across the circle to our gloved arm perches. We did this ten times each and you really get up close and personal with this beautiful raptor. We were then given time to take videos and pictures of Gray Wind flying to each of us and could also take group family photos as well. It was so nice not to be forced to purchase photos as you see with other more commercialized activities. After the photos, we walked down the hill to get a close view of how a Lanner Falcon hunts. The Falcon's name was Reggie and Dave used bait on a string to have him make high speed passes right across our field of view as well as right between us! Reggie flew about 6 inches from my wife's ear and she even felt the rush of air as he flew past her. You could really see how Reggie accelerated as he folded his wings. We then finished up with Q&A and some great information on conservation. All in all, it was a fantastic morning and each of Terry, Dave and Antonella went out of their way to accommodate us. We both highly recommend this class for anyone with any interest at all in birds. read more

See all

Very cool experience! I love photographing birds. Having the opportunity to photograph them so close and to hold them was amazing. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. They were patient and tried to allow us time to get some good photos. I highly recommend this experience if you like raptors. read more

Amazing experience in a beautiful location! I took the Falcon Flight Encounter class at the Torrey Pines location. I had no experience with falconry when I signed up, but I'm so glad to have tried it. The instructors were so knowledgeable and the birds were fascinating to watch and interact with. I've recommended it to several people! The highlights of the class for me were definitely when Bunco flew from each participant's glove and seeing him fly around the cliffs. read more

Total Raptor eXperience - Bunco after catching the lure - Specialty Schools Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all

All the vibes all the way! Terry was extremely knowledgeable, helpful and fun; and the experience was unbeatable. Even though she can come meet you at Torrey pines, we would recommend visiting her in Ramona because she has created a truly amazing space with tons of fun birds and animals to visit with. It's also great for kids! We had a delightful time and will absolutely be back again with family and friends. read more

Total Raptor eXperience - Specialty Schools Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all

I purchased a Total experience for my wife's birthday. Had all my kids and close friend. WOW! Worth every penny and then some. The people were totally into the experience at a personal level that made us feel more than a customer. Interaction with the birds were much more than expected and is a memory of a lifetime. Yes I would do it again. read more

One of the most amazing experiences of my life. Dave and Antonella know and share a lot of information to make this educational and exciting so get ready to buckle-up and have one of the wildest rides of your life. My flight and time spent with their falcons was so exceptionally outstanding, it's difficult to put into words. read more

Total Raptor eXperience - Flying with Dave and Sophie. - Specialty Schools Near Me - La Jolla, California

I took my husband for his birthday. He is hard to please, and he said to me, "that was fantasic". Dave and Antonella were amazing. Their passion for these raptors was evident. Everyone in the group was able to handle the birds numerous times. Although I didn't think it was possible, we walked away from this experience with a new found appreciation for these beautiful creatures. read more

Total Raptor eXperience - Specialty Schools Near Me - La Jolla, California

See all

I got this as a birthday gift for my boyfriend and it was so worth it! We have always admired predatory birds and this was an awesome experience! Antonella and Dave were such awesome hosts and teachers and I loved how they treated the animals with such respect. The hang gliding area was perfect for photos but there is only a porta-potty for restrooms! Bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat! read more

I was absolutely impressed with Antonella, Mark and Andrea as they worked with their Raptors and assisted in letting their Raptors fly to each one of our gloves for a "sushi" snack. We all got personal time with Ali (sp?), a 7 month old Lanner Falcon and Bunco, a 8 1/2 year old experienced Harris Hawk. We all took selfies and had other participants and staff take photos while these lovely creatures perched on our arms. These are precious memories! I bought this experience as a Birthday gift to myself and I was more than pleased! I would recommend this Total Raptor Experience to anyone! I am a Southern CA native, but moved to WA state and came to the La Jolla site just for this visit and was so impressed! The cliffs are the perfect backdrop to watch Hang Gliders practice gliding in the wind, watch storms come in, and monitor the weather for the best flying and safest experiences for their Raptors. I was surprised at Antonella's knowledge of the weather and knew when her "babies" should fly or come back for safety. Antonella's responses via email were quick too! I would absolutely come back to join this experience again!!! Thank you again everyone!!! Happy New Year!!!! read more

Total Raptor eXperience - Specialty Schools Near Me - La Jolla, California

Really wanted to like this but just couldn't ignore how passive aggressive the worker was being. I came with my family and she was being super condescending to us and honestly it felt like she was being racist. I don't usually pull this card but as an Asian American, I do pay attention to things like this. I honestly don't remember her name, we left early and were all kind of shaken up about it. I just don't understand if she was having a bad day or if she genuinely hates her life, but she definitely didn't have to take it out on us. It really ruined the "Xperience" for me read more

We experienced the falcon interaction on the cliffs next to the beautiful gliderport. The staff were knowledgeable and generous with their time. The animal we worked with displayed many amazing natural behaviors. No to be missed! read more

It was great!!! Don't let people walk onto the grass near you. Fun for all ages, instructors are awesome!

When me and some friends went to the glider port and sat on the grass to watch the sunset like we normally do, today was a bit different. We were rudely yelled by the owner of this falcon establishment to get off the grass. He was quite aggressive to everyone yelling at just about anyone who would put their foot an inch on the grass. It's a public city owned park we understand if there are para gliders landing as to why it needs to be cleared, but not to be cleared for him and his hawks. Overall was just very rude to everyone. read more

This is a once in a lifetime experience! My husband loves birds of prey and loves paragliding so there couldn't be anything more perfect than Parahawking! There are only a few places in the entire world that you would be able to do it and we are so lucky to have this in our own backyard. Antonella and Dave were amazing to work with and so laid back, easy going, genuine and kind. They love these birds and are incredibly passionate about their care and are extremely knowledgeable. My husband did the parahawking experience and we couldn't have asked for better flying conditions. The wind picked up and Dave brought out a gorgeous hawk, Sophie who was stunning and clearly loved to fly along the cliffs. Off my husband and Dave went into the sky and Sophie was eagerly joining them for their nice long flight along some of the most epic coast line. Sophie was free and able to catch her own thermals, play with other birds and soar close to the glider checking in for some delicious treats along the way! She is FAST and it was so fun to watch her! We also got to see a couple of the other birds fly along the cliffs for a while and Antonella taught us a lot about each of the birds. I literally can't even think of anything better than this and I can't recommend this amazing company and team enough - go do it, you won't regret it! read more

Had an amazing time! My husband bought this experience for my birthday and it was excellent - Dave and the team were friendly, shared great information and the experience of having a falcon land on you is one in a million!! read more

Visited the experience with Terry at their Ramona location and the class was amazing. We got to fly and train two different falcons. Terry was amazing and knowledgeable about the birds. We had a wonderful time meeting all the birds she had on the property including the barn owls and the hawks. I'd highly recommend this experience to everyone interested in birds. We had a great time. read more

See all