I have one word for this experience... awesome! It's not often that you get to be up close and personal with a female falcon (Sophie), a male falcon, and a male hawk (Connor). Dave and Andrea were very friendly, welcoming and extremely knowledgeable. The place where they do this could not be more picturesque as you overlook the ocean. We had multiple chances for the falcons and the hawk to land on our leather glove as we learned so much about these amazing birds of prey. Dave had a bird target and had us fan out in a circle right near the edge overlooking the ocean. As he started to spin it the falcon would whiz between us to get to the target. We managed to be still trees as the falcon zoomed in and out without hitting us. It was an incredible and exciting sight to see. My husband and I enjoyed the experience so much that we can't wait to try their owl experience in Ramona since we are locals. read more

I booked this through Airbnb Experiences for my husband's birthday, and it was the *best* *gift* *ever*. We were enthralled with these incredible birds and the wealth of lore and knowledge generously shared by Antonella and Dave, our falconers. It's an amazing feeling to stand on an ocean bluff and have a falcon land on your glove, to interact with these beautiful birds close-up, and to learn about the ancient art of falconry and its fascinating history and practices. It's a unique and exciting way to spend a Saturday morning in one of the most beautiful spots on the California coast. Highly recommend for the history geek, animal lover, sportsman, or flyer in your life. You get to take photos too, for all your Instagram and Facebook needs. Thanks to Dave and Antonella for the great experience and their hard work fostering and protecting these magnificent animals. read more

I surprised my husband with this and it was a huge hit! We had so much fun watching the falcon fly, catch beetles mid air, and dive. You get so close to these beautiful raptors and you get to learn a lot about them. It was a great balance of education and entertainment. I would recommend this to anyone! read more

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

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A thoroughly engaging and unique opportunity to be among these stunning birds of prey. Educational yes, but more so, a moving experience to be up close and truly immersed in the "flight" of these creatures. Impressively knowledgeable Dave took us through "a day in the life of a Falcon". On the cliffs of La Jolla over looking this beautiful coastline of ours it was easy to get lost in the beauty of their flight. Great moment to share with family or friends. read more

Total Raptor eXperience - An incredible opportunity to learn up-close and along with these stunning creatures. Breathtaking location and captivating experience. - Specialty Schools Near Me - La Jolla, California

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This was such a fantastic experience. We got to spend some time with Sophie, a beautiful lanner falcon. We were able to hold her close to us on a post, watch as she soared around the gorgeous sky and ocean by the gilderport, and watch her as she dove after a lure. Dave and Antonella were so friendly and knowledgeable. It's obvious how passionate they are about birds of prey. I highly recommend this great time. read more

My grandsons and I had a fantastic time at Total Raptor Experience. We flew a hawk and a falcon and learned about their care as well as environmental issues facing raptors. I would highly recommend the experience. read more

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I purchased the Falcon Flight Experience for my boyfriend's birthday this year. We weren't sure what to expect but it was amazing! We arrived at the Gliderport in La Jolla and were greeted by the staff. We were taken down to the cliffs by Dave and his falcon Reggie. Reggie was a beautiful bird! Dave started by telling us about Reggie and the history and information about falcons like him. Then he let Reggie go and we watched Reggie fly around the cliffs, play with crows and other hawks, and try and find a good current to fly in. After about 45 minutes, Reggie came back for some snacks and we got to feed him little bits of quail while he hopped back and forth between my boyfriend and I. For the next hour or so we watched Reggie fly around more, fed him more, and watched Dave play with him with a fake bird on a rope which Dave would swing around and Reggie would dive after! At the end Reggie finally caught his toy and got his dinner. Dave was so friendly and informative, Reggie was a joy to watch and interact with. Would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a unique experience and who loves animals! read more

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

This was truly my highlight of 2020,thus far! All I can say is go!go!go!You won't be disappointed & you won't leave feeling kind of meh.Instead,you'll be driving home in your car saying to yourself "that was f***ing incredible!"My experience was with Sophie the Falcon who was not only incredibly beautiful but also mesmerizing to watch flying,soaring & teasing the local crows midflight.I got to hold a freaking falcon on my gloved hand people!!! And then send her to fly out above the ocean and back to me!Unreal!!!!Trust me-do this for yourself or buy the experience for someone you love.It's more than worth it!!! read more

Really enjoyed the owl experience. Teri was great. Memorable and fun. Great for kids and adult kids.

So only book with them if you don't actually care about getting cancelled on at last minute. Booked and paid months ahead through Airbnb, and the week of they cancelled on us with no explanation given. I'd already presented this as a gift for my husband's birthday, and scheduled a whole weekend traveling from out of town around it. read more

My wife and I did a private hawk/owl experience this past weekend and it was truly amazing. Fun, educational, and fascinating! Terry was our guide and so knowledgeable and passionate about the birds. It was a birthday experience for my wife and she loved it. It was a great afternoon spending time with the birds and a master falconer. We learned so much about the raptors we see and hear every day (we live in rural Vista). Highly recommended! read more

One of the greatest experiences I've had in my 34 years! I learned so much about these fascinating birds, I didn't expect to leave with such an affinity for raptors but they are such amazing, complex creatures! The atmosphere Total Raptor eXperience provides is educational, relaxed, welcoming and fun. The La Jolla location adds the bonus of a stunning backdrop. Dave and George were our instructors / handlers, both really gracious and knowledgeable. I can't wait to book another class to meet the owls and other birds! read more

Beautiful place, and a beautiful experience. Please come out here if you're even remotely curious as to how everything works.

Such a great experience! Very informative, fun and interactive. We can't say enough about what an awesome time this was for our family. And amazing pictures to boot! read more

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

I would give 6 stars to this company if I could. Dave and his team are a true pleasure to be around. They are all kind and considerate and really make the effort to make you feel safe, make sure you have fun, and pass along a little knowledge about Falcons along the way. I am immensely grateful to Total Raptor Experience for making my first Parahawking experience (it will definitely not be my last) so much fun. I was ecstatic to learn that this unique sport had made its way over from Nepal to my backyard in San Diego. There are only a few places on this planet where you can experience Parahawking and I am so glad I picked Total Raptor Experience to give me an introduction into Parahawking. The day began with a demonstration of how the raptors are trained, fed. You get a brief lesson as well. After all, you need to learn how to be a reliable flying partner for the bird. My flying partner was a 3-year-old female falcon named "Sophie". Seeing her up close, watching the little nuances of her movements, was a treat in itself. The hawks are cool to watch on the ground but they are mesmerizing once they take flight into the air. When we launched our tandem paraglider off the cliffs of Torrey Pines, I was left almost speechless. Flying out over the sandy terrain with the Pacific Ocean sparkling under me was stunning. It's a beautiful view but, when the falcon joined us in mid-air, the experienced became something entirely out of this world. Falcons are ethereal in the air. The can dive at 90 mph or they can delicately perch on a landing rod (where my modified Go Pro was conveniently positioned). For nearly 30 minutes, I watched this incredible bird in its element, I got to see the smallest details of its mid-flight behavior up close; it was such a privilege. Spectators on the beach and cliffs kept cheering up at us during the flight. The bird deserves all the credit. It really captivates everyone on the entire cliff and getting a front-row seat in the air and on the ground with it was such a worthwhile way to spend my day. Thank you Dave, I had a blast and my pictures and videos turned out amazing! read more

Had a GREAT time today meeting the falcon's! Dave and Antonia were so nice and knowledgeable. Best of all, we did the group class and still had plenty of engagement with the birds landing on our gloves. Highly recommend for any bird lover!! read more

This was an incredible experience with a Master Falconer and her beautiful birds. My 11 year old son and I booked a private experience with Ms Terri. This lovely, kind, super smart, and focused lady gave us a once in a lifetime experience with her hawk, owl and another beautiful bird of prey. We were Blessed to have the bird fly to us, sit and stand with the birds on our arm and even use a lure. The bird went up in a tree and swooped back down. But there was more! This talented lady has an incredible property where we were able to see her hug her emu, pick up and love on her goose, saw her alpaca, and feed her two 150 lb tortoise. There was so much to absorb and enjoy!! It really was worth every penny and the drive. Ms. Terri is a lady who has incredible knowledge about raptors and her animals. You will have a wonderful time!!! read more

Amazing!! Once in a lifetime experience. David and Anto and the falcon, Sophie were awesome. The spot in Torrey Pines Park is spectacular. We watched the falcon soar and simulate hunting behavior. She played with a wild Peregrine falcon and some crows. She so's fast and beautiful--just mesmerizing. David and Anto are biologists and committed to the understanding and preservation of these animals. We got to catch the falcon on pole. There's nothing to be afraid of. If you are a little scared you can sit on the ground and the falcon will ignore you but nobody in our group did that. We loved it and will do it again. read more

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I purchased two passes ( 70 each I believe ) off of AirBnB experiences. It was an amazing time! We were able to learn about falcons and hawks while having them fly to our arms. They provided gloves and treats for the birds. We met at the glider port around 8:45am to fill out paper work then started around 9am. We got some awesome pictures on our cellphones and some cool footage by their promotional photographer. It was both unique and educational. This is definitely something you need to do once in your life! read more

Cool experience! The birds are very tame and the hosts were quite nice. It was a foggy day, but even so the setting was really cool. Never thought I'd love watching a hawk eat a quail's head so much Thank you! read more

On our annual trip this year, as per usual, this group of high school friends signed up for an adventure that scared us. Our falconry experience turned out to be anything but frightening. Fascinating, peaceful, spiritual -- a true bonding with nature. We came away with a great respect for these birds of prey and the history of falconry. Thank you Antonella, Terry and Dave. We loved it. read more

Total Raptor eXperience - The Divas and a Falcon! February 3, 2018 - Specialty Schools Near Me - La Jolla, California

We spent 10 days in the San Diego area and this was easily the highlight of our entire trip. It was amazing to meet the birds up close and see them fly. Come early and be prepared to hunt for parking if UCSD is in session. Bonus if the paragliders are out! read more

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

We had a wonderful experience. our hosts were knowledgeable and professional. We got up close and personal with Sophie. She's an amazing bird, such power and skill. read more

Myself and four friends went to the Ramona location. It was how I wanted to spend my 50th birthday, and l couldn't have been more delighted. Antonia set everything up according to my needs, and Terry and David made it a really special day for me and my friends. I will never forget it. I would go again in a hot minute; the only thing was, it got really chilly at the end, because it was around 5pm at the end. My call, as I wanted a later appointment, and they gave it to me. Wear layers and bring swarm jacket, just in case. All of the magnificent birds were awesome. The people were pretty special, too. If you want to get close to raptors and support people that take care of them and want to promote conservation, go here. Also, an emu. And horses and a goose and a goat and giant turtles. Also chickens. The fancy ones. But, really, they had me at hawks and falcons and owls. That was amazing. read more

What an amazing experience!! Dave is a great guy and his falcons are very cool. i would seriously recommend parahawking for anyone looking for a unique adventure It's well worth the price. read more

This is truly a wonderful and unique experience. My family and I were treated to an evening of interacting with a soaring hawk and magnificent owls. These birds of prey were beautiful, amazing to see up close and exciting to watch. My two little boys had so much fun! The presentation was well organized and informative. Highly recommend for individuals and families who have a love for animals. We will be back! read more

Had so much fun at our class. The instructors were awesome and the birds were amazing. Such a cool experience to learn about the animals and get to handle them. It was incredible. Already excited to book more classes with them. The passion they have for the birds is contagious and I appreciated all of the education. This is by far one of the best things you can do in San Diego. read more

My wife and her sister were originally excited to take this class. Her sister who was from out of town was unfortunately unable to make it the weekend of their appointment but had been in touch with the lead female of the operation about the possibility of needing to cancel and reschedule the week before the class. My wife emailed them and called when she had confirmed that her sister was unable to make it and asked if they could reschedule for another time. Her sister also emailed and the owner / operators were not at all flexible about rescheduling nor would they return phone calls. Not only would they not refund their $154.00 they wouldn't reschedule their class. Then I heard from someone who took the group class that it was not all that great. They said the falcon spent so much time in the air and there was little falcon/ human interaction. Not only that anyone at the glider port who was there watching people paraglide who got remotely close to the class or the birds were yelled at by the falconry instructors to back off. read more

This was an amazing experience. If you are thinking of doing this, I highly suggest you go for it. The pilots are great, and make sure you have a good experience. read more

Total Raptor Experience LLC- 5 Stars Terry( Master Falconer) - 5 Stars Immersive Falconry Experience Class - 5 Stars I really can't say enough good things here. If you have a passion for wildlife, are interested in falconry or are looking for a once-in-a-lifetime-memory you owe it to yourself to visit Terry at Total Raptor Experience. The class was at her beautiful private facility in Ramona. She took the time to ask me thoughtful questions at the beginning and ensure that I was getting what I wanted out of the experience. She gave me an in-depth tour and introduction to her incredible birds and other animals. She was warm, inviting, friendly, and exuding of professionalism and calming confidence when interacting with the birds and giving of careful instruction. Terry is truly a master of her craft and is able to facilitate a safe, highly hands-on and interactive experience with hawks and falcons! Her instructions were concise and easy to follow and made the entire experience an enjoyable adventure into falconry. We got to fly and handle various hawks and falcons! Ever had a hawk fly from the top of a tree and land on your outstretched arm? It's perhaps the coolest thing you will experience in the next decade! We did a ton of flying! She makes sure no one leaves without getting at least a good 10 flights in! But we did way more than that! It at no point felt rushed and Terry's passion and talent for sharing falconry is a gift. You will not want to leave! It is apparent from the beginning Terry's professionalism in Falconry begins with her care and attention to the well-being of the animals and she thoughtfully was able to answer questions and give insights into the life of a falconer and what it takes to care and train birds of prey! In addition to an incredible experience I truly feel like I made a new lifelong friend as well! Terry and Total Raptor Experience = INCREDIBLE! Thank you and I can't wait to return! read more

My family and I experienced this yesterday, and we made memories to last a lifetime. Highly recommend this for anyone who wants to have a unique animal adventure. read more

This was amazing!! Did a private group experience and everyone loved it! We learned alot and getting to handle and see them up close was such a unique experience. Definitely would recommend if you are in that area! read more

Great experience. What a wonderful experience. Will do it again. The scenery was great and the hosts were very friendly. We ended up spending some extra time watching the birds. read more

We personally had a pretty horrible time at this experience. I bought this for my husband for his birthday and the class was scheduled at 11am. We arrived about 10 minutes early to see that the class had already begun. The instructor ( dark haired female) was incredibly rude. She said we were late and we needed to hurry up and fill out waivers with no explanation. Keep in mind they'd cancelled our original booking the night before and asked us to arrive at a new scheduled time. She then harshly explained that I couldn't be anywhere near the experience to take a photo of my husband. When I asked if I could purchase my own way just to take pictures she walked away from me, not acknowledging my question at all and loudly exclaimed we were late, we should have been here 15 minutes early and she could do anything for me. The older male instructor was kind enough to let me observe part of the day but the female instructor was eager to get me as far away as possible as soon as she could which she made known publicly multiple times. Such a devastating day considering id been planning this for so long. And I even offered to purchase another ticket! I wouldn't recommend this experience. read more

Had a great time learning about the birds of prey while handling them quite a bit! It was great-HIGHLY RECOMMEND! They also have an owl experience we can't wait to be apart of! read more

We booked for a private experience at the glider port in Torrey pines and it has been absolutely my favorite experience in San Diego for my vacation bar none. Antonella, Terry, and Dave were just so comfortable with their birds and taught us so much while being incredibly welcoming and friendly. The location was beautiful, and we were just awestruck as they helped us understand the history and the heritage of falconry, while getting up close and personal with those amazing creatures. The level of passion and care they have for their birds is just unquestionable, and I can tell they were excited to share that passion with us too! If you're looking to just experience birds, know that if you choose to spend your time with total raptor experience you're also getting to spend time with amazing people too! read more

Well worth it - we went to the Ramona location, but it sounds like Torrey Pines would have been great too. It is like spending an afternoon with a friend; our whole family spent a couple of hours talking to Terry, getting to hold three different birds and have one fly. If you find these birds fascinating you will thoroughly enjoy this experience. We held a barn owl and falcon, and in addition to holding a hawk we got to have him fly to different perches and then back to our hand. You can see in pictures how majestic these birds are, but to have them perched on your hand and hold them up right in front of to get a good look is really amazing. Terry obviously cared very much about her birds, and no question was too silly for her - we asked a lot of questions, and she told us a lot about the birds. It's not the cheapest way to spend an afternoon, but there isn't a crowd there - it is just you, and I don't know any other way to get so up close to birds like these. Highly recommended. read more

Awesome day, here, on the ranch. Dave and Terry brought two Lanner Falcons, a Harris's Hawk, and a Barn Owl out. Incredibly educational and simply awesome experience. It was just incredible. read more

By far the most incredible experience with animals of my life. From the moment we arrived we were greeted by people who were genuine and friendly doing what they loved and really connected with me on my love for birds. Handling all of them was really a whimsical experience start to finish, Moonshine (a barn owl with the cutest feather patterns) settled right in on my arm for over half an hour as we just spoke about the visit. I can not recommend this place enough and as someone who is visiting California from North Carolina I could honestly consider coming back just to experience this time again read more

This was a total experience. Whether you are new to birds or an advocate these folks have a lot to offer.We had the opportunity to handle a Harris's Hawk named Gray. We started by having him hop between the two of us visitors and then made our way across the field for a Longer flight experience. We then had the opportunity to work with Sophie the falcon. She also hopped between us and then we had the opportunity to watch her take full flight about the cliffs. Sophie also demonstrated how they work with lewer's. She showed off her full speed dive capabilities and was rewarded with her catch. We finished our time with the birds with a chance to video their hopping between us as well as still photos with both Gray and Sophie. This is an amazing way to learn more about these Amazing birds of prey. The team was also very informative about ways that people can help support and strengthen their environment and lives. Highly recommend this experience. Right read more