Small group trip to observe and photograph the unique array of mammals and birds of the southernmost regions of Chile: Patagonia’s Chiloé Island, Torres del Paine, and Tierra del Fuego. This comprehensive itinerary presents us with the unique chance of exploring Patagonia and its mammals and birds. Most of the tours coming to the area are focused on beautiful landscapes and on the bigger animals that are the easiest to watch; with us, besides exploring and admiring the landscapes you will see a significant part of the endemic mammals and birds of the region, several of them very rare and/or difficult to observe. Ferry crossings and pelagic trips in Chiloe Island and the Magellan Straits are both very good for seabirds and marine mammals: Blue and Humpback whales and other cetaceans such as Chilean and Peale’s dolphins, South American Sea Lion, two species of local and highly range-restricted otters. Magnificent seabirds including several tubenoses like Black-browed Albatross, Southern Giant Petrel, Southern Fulmar and Pincoya and Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, and up to three penguin species including Humboldt, Magellanic and King. In land, up to three species of fox including Darwin’s, Chilla and Culpeo, Puma and Guanaco, Huemul Deer, Hairy Armadillo, Patagonian Hog-nosed Skunk, Patagonian Weasel, and other mammals of the Valdivian temperate rainforest like the tiny Pudu Deer and hopefully Kodkod, one of the world’s rarest cats. Forest birds such as the magnificent Magellanic Woodpecker and endemic tapaculos, and rare waders including Magellanic Plover, Tawny-throated Dotterel, Rufous-chested Dotterel, Two-banded Plover and seedsnipes. As you can see, the variety of subjects on this quest for the mammals and birds of Patagonia is almost endless… like the memories you’ll keep of this memorable experience.
MAMMALS & BIRDS OF PATAGONIA
Main trip: Chiloe Island, Torres del Paine & Tierra del Fuego
Pre-Extension Northern Chile for Andean Cat and other wildlife (7 days) | Post-Extension Falkland Islands (8 days)
17 days • October/November 2020 (Dates to be determined)
Price: TBA | Maximum group size: 7 guests + Tour Leader Claudio F. Vidal
Mammals and Birds Patagonia
Itinerary in Brief (17 days)
Day 1 • Thursday • Departure from Seattle (SEA) – Flight to Santiago, Chile (SCL)
Day 2 • Friday • Arrival to Santiago, Chile – Trip to the Andes (Farellones) – Overnight at Hotel Las Condes, Santiago (1 night)
Day 3 • Saturday • Morning flight to Puerto Montt – Drive to Puerto Varas – Afternoon visit to Vicente Perez Rosales National Park – Overnight at Hotel Cabaña del Lago or Hotel Cumbres (1 night)
Day 4 • Sunday • Puerto Montt – Chiloe Island and Tepuhueico Park – Overnight at Hotel Tepuhueico, Tepuhueico (2 nights)
Day 5 • Monday • Tepuhueico Park for Darwin’s Fox, Pudu Deer and woodland birds
Day 6 • Tuesday • Quellon – Yaldad Inlet boat trip for Chilean Dolphin – Castro – Overnight at Hotel Parque Quilquico, Castro (2 nights)
Day 7 • Wednesday • Boat trip to Puñihuil and Metalqui islands for marine mammals and seabirds
Day 8 • Thursday • Chepu for Southern River Otter – Caulin Bay – Overnight at Hotel Cabaña del Lago or Hotel Cumbres (1 night)
Day 9 • Friday • Boat trip off Reloncavi Gulf for Pincoya Storm-Petrel – Flight to Punta Arenas – Overnight Hotel Diego de Almagro or Hotel Cabo de Hornos, Punta Arenas (1 night)
Day 10 • Saturday • Ferry to Tierra del Fuego – Useless Bay for King Penguins – Overnight Yendegaia House, Porvenir (1 night)
Day 11 • Sunday • Drive to Torres del Paine – Pali Like road – O/N Hotel Las Torres Patagonia, Torres del Paine (5 nights)
Days 12/13 • Monday & Tuesday • Torres del Paine National Park: puma tracking
Days 14/15 • Wednesday & Thursday • Hikes in Torres del Paine National Park
Day 16 • Friday • Punta Arenas – Flight to Santiago – Connecting flights home
Day 17 • Saturday • Arrival to Seattle
Trip Highlights
• Explore lush and pristine Valdivian temperate forests, home to many endemic tapaculos and other woodland birds.
• Up to three dolphin species including Peale’s, Chilean and Commerson’s.
• Two species of local and highly range-restricted otters.
• Boat trips and ferry rides looking for interesting seabirds, including several tubenoses, and marine mammals.
• Up to three species of fox including Darwin’s, Chilla and Culpeo.
• Comprehensive day trips to Patagonia’s Torres del Paine with a focus on finding Puma.
• Rare waders including Magellanic Plover, Tawny-throated Dotterel, Rufous-chested Dotterel and Two-banded Plover, and Seedsnipes.
• Up to three penguin species including Humboldt, Magellanic and King.
• Two dedicated days to hike to Torres del Paine, Patagonia’s premier trekking destination.
Detailed Itinerary and Activities
Day 1 • Thursday • Departure from Seattle (SEA) – Flight to Santiago, Chile (SCL)
Day 2 • Friday • Arrival to Santiago, Chile – Trip to the Andes (Farellones)
Up in the quiet village of Farellones we will concentrate in finding the best spots to watch for soaring Condors, which regularly gather around the cliffs overlooking the impressive canyons. We will continue exploring the barren scree slopes, looking for a variety of typical Andean birds, including Mountain Caracara, Black-winged Ground-Dove, White-sided Hillstar, Mountain Parakeet, Rufous-banded Miner, Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant, Yellow-rumped Siskin, among many others.
The road to Valle Nevado (the highest spot of our journey at nearly 3,000 m / 9,000 ft) constantly offers stop opportunities for impressive vistas of the Andes. We will also study the meadows to study the several plant species occupying these extreme habitats. From October until February you can experience the phenomenal blooming of several mountain wildflowers including Alstroemerias, Rhodophiala, Schizanthus, just to mention a few.
This trip is an excellent introduction to the Andes, its flora and fauna, and to contemplate it most conspicuous inhabitant, the mighty Andean Condor.
Overnight at Hotel Las Condes, Santiago (1 night)
Day 3 • Saturday • Morning flight to Puerto Montt – Drive to Puerto Varas – Afternoon visit to Vicente Perez Rosales National Park
Today we will explore the first national park established in Chile, Vicente Perez Rosales (1926), which honours a leading figure from the colonization times of these territories, back in the late XIX century. The park holds nearly 231,000 hectares (app. 570,000 acres) of pristine temperate forests, lakes and dramatic peaks, including the omnipresent Osorno Volcano (2,652 m/8,700 ft.). On our vehicle, we will ascend the foothills of this volcano and will see the dramatic vegetation changes as we gain altitude. From the ski resort area of Las Burbujas, we will have a splendid view of Llanquihue Lake, Petrohue River and the distant Calbuco Volcano and even of Reloncavi Sound. We will study the trees, shrubs and herbs of these woodland trails and along the volcanic slopes. Later we will travel along the fast-flowing waters of Petrohue River to see its dramatic rapids and maybe the specialist of this turbulent environment, Torrent Duck. By the end of the day we will reach the shores of the stunning Lake Todos Los Santos and we will see the distant and imposing peak of Tronador Volcano, which demarks the border with Argentina. Your guide will provide interpretation about the geology and the many volcanic events that have modelled the surroundings.
Overnight at Hotel Cabaña del Lago or Hotel Cumbres (1 night)
Day 4 • Sunday • Puerto Montt – Chiloe Island and Tepuhueico Park
Departing from Puerto Varas, we will take a ferry across the Chacao Channel to the magical island of Chiloé, a place full of traditions, legends, customs and unique wildlife, where we’ll explore several different locations and environments. After a few hours we’ll arrive at the lush Tepuhueico Park, a magnificent, untouched example of Valdivian Temperate Rainforest.
Overnight at Hotel Tepuhueico, Tepuhueico (2 nights)
Day 5 • Monday • Tepuhueico Park for Darwin’s Fox, Pudu Deer and woodland birds
We will have the whole day to explore the pristine Tepuhueico woodlands, which are part of the unique ecosystem known as Valdivian Temperate Rainforest. Tepuhueico Park has the reputation of being a highly reliable place to see the critically endangered Chilean endemic Darwin’s Fox. A few hundred individuals of this fox survive in the ecotone between the dense temperate forests and the coast. We will have interesting walks in search of Darwin’s Fox, Pudu Deer (the second smallest deer in the world) and the Kodkod or Guigna (a very rare woodland cat). While searching for this array of enigmatic and poorly known mammals, we find several endemic birds of the Patagonian woodlands such as Black-throated Huet-huet, Chucao, Ochre-flanked and Magellanic tapaculos, Patagonian Tyrant, Des Murs Wiretail, Chilean Pigeon, Magellanic Woodpecker, Chilean Hawk and Green-backed Firecrown.
Day 6 • Tuesday • Quellon – Yaldad Inlet boat trip for Chilean Dolphin – Castro
We will drive down to Quellon, Chiloé’s southernmost town, and from here we will visit Yaldad inlet and its scenic surroundings in our quest for the endemic Chilean Dolphin. After spending the whole morning and early afternoon on this search and studying the several species of seabirds, waterfowl and migratory waders, we will drive to Castro. Our base here is Hotel Quilquico, a delightful facility built in the traditional construction style of the archipelago. If we have time we will explore the famous wooden churches of Castro and Dalcahue, a striking part of the cultural heritage characteristic of Chiloe.
Overnight at Hotel Parque Quilquico, Castro (2 nights)
Day 7 • Wednesday • Boat trip to Puñihuil and Metalqui islands for marine mammals and seabirds
Today we’ll take a boat to explore two groups of islets that are home to a surprisingly diverse ensemble of seabirds and marine mammals. We’ll start with the closest to shore, Puñihuil Islets, where we’ll find Magellanic and Humbodt penguins, Flightless Steamer Duck, Kelp Goose and Red-legged Cormorant, among other seabird species, and Southern Marine Otter. We’ll then head south to Metalqui Islets, where we’ll watch a South American Sea Lion colony and small groups of South American Fur Seal. A careful inspection of the beaches might produce sightings of Southern Elephant Seal. On our way back to our departure site we’ll first sail into offshore waters to look for the largest animal that has ever lived on our planet, the magnificent Blue Whale. There is a recently discovered nursery area for them in this region and the presence of a few hundred individuals has been documented in the whole archipelago, particularly on its western coast and around the Gulf of Corcovado. Blue Whales can be recognized at a distance by their impressive spouts, their bluish-back coloration and their very small dorsal fins. We will also have great chances of seeing pelagic seabirds such as Black-browed Albatross, Southern Giant Petrel, and Pink-footed, Sooty and Little Shearwaters.
Day 8 • Thursday • Chepu for Southern River Otter – Caulin Bay – Puerto Varas
Early in the morning we will explore Chepu River. This meandering and pristine water course is bordered by lush, dense rainforests and its clear waters are home to a critically endangered species, the Southern River Otter. We will look for it and hopefully our patience and efforts will be rewarded. We will also have chances with the rare Rufous-tailed Hawk and the endemic Slender-billed Parakeet. On our way back to Puerto Montt we will stop at the mudflats of Caulin Bay, which holds an important part of the world population of Hudsonian Godwit, which winters here and in other extensive bays of Patagonia, along with Red Knot and a variety of other shorebirds. From here we’ll board the ferry back to Puerto Montt and drive to the beautiful town of Puerto Varas by Lake Llanquihue, where we will spend the night.
Overnight at Hotel Cabaña del Lago or Hotel Cumbres (1 night)
Day 9 • Friday • Boat trip off Reloncavi Gulf for Pincoya Storm-Petrel – Flight to Punta Arenas
Today we will take another morning boat trip to the Gulf of Reloncaví where we’ll have the exciting opportunity to see and study the newly-discovered Pincoya Storm Petrel that breeds somewhere in Chiloé archipelago. Back to Puerto Montt, we’ll drive to the airport to take a 2-hour flight down to Punta Arenas, Chile’s southernmost city, located at the very tip of the South American Continent in the Northern shore of the Straits of Magellan.
Overnight Hotel Diego de Almagro or Hotel Cabo de Hornos, Punta Arenas (1 night)
Day 10 • Saturday • Ferry to Tierra del Fuego – Useless Bay for King Penguins – Porvenir
Today we’ll take a ferry across the mythical Straits of Magellan into a land of legends, the vast Tierra del Fuego Island. After landing we’ll drive along its will explore the huge embayment of Bahía Inútil – Useless Bay – Large numbers of Kelp, Brown-hooded and Dolphin gulls and South American Tern live here, where some other seabirds and aquatic birds like Flightless and Flying steamer ducks, Kelp Goose and King, Imperial and Rock Cormorants. We will visit a nature reserve holding the only continental South American King Penguin colony, and later drive back to Porvenir to spend the night there.
Overnight Yendegaia House, Porvenir (1 night)
Day 11 • Sunday • Drive to Torres del Paine – Pali Like road
Today we will drive across the windswept Patagonia in search of steppe specialties including Ruddy-headed Goose, Least Seedsnipe, Tawny-throated Dotterel, Short-billed Miner, Band-tailed Earthcreeper and Chocolate-vented Tyrant. A short ferry ride will take us to back to mainland and if we are lucky we’ll have the striking Commerson’s Dolphin following the wake. Chilean Flamingos, Upland Goose, Coscoroba Swan, Silver Teal, Black-headed Duck and Rosy-billed Pochard are all found here. Waders such as Wilson’s Phalarope, Baird’s and White-rumped Sandpipers will be common at the roadside ponds while we explore and enjoy the beauty of this “big sky”, open country. From here you will be transferred to Torres del Paine.
O/N Hotel Las Torres Patagonia, Torres del Paine (5 nights)
Day 12/13 • Monday & Tuesday • Torres del Paine National Park: puma tracking
During our journey to the park, we might find Guanaco, Southern Grey Fox, and Patagonian Skunk, while enjoying our first contact with Southern Beech (Nothofagus) forests. While visiting the valleys we will be given a geological interpretation of the origins of the dramatic backdrop of Torres del Paine, one of the finest natural spectacles in Patagonia. We have planned a busy day and night schedule in search of Puma in the area. We will inspect the immediate surroundings of our hotel at night as well as the puma hunting grounds located in the eastern part of the park. The area between the northern coast of Sarmiento Lake, Laguna Amarga and Laguna Azul, is known for holding one of the largest concentrations of puma in the wild. February through April is a particularly good period to look for them, as the females are actively hunting to provide food to their growing cubs; at this time they are not active just by night but also in the twilight. To see a female puma and its large-sized cubs against this magnificent mountain backdrop and dramatic skies is one of the most impressive sights in this wilderness. In company of our guide and puma tracker we will follow puma family groups and watch them from a safe distance with the help of binoculars and spotting scopes. We’ll also look for other mammals around, including the ubiquitous Guanaco, Andean or Huemul Deer, Patagonian Hog-nosed Skunk and the two foxes present in the park, Chilla and Culpeo.
We will be doing puma tracking early in the morning and late in the evening. During the remaining of the day we will be exploring other habitats of the park. We will explore the ponds on the eastern side of the park in search of more waterfowl, including Spectacled Duck, Chiloe Wigeon, Speckled Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail and Crested Duck among others. Black-necked Swan and Great Grebe are also found here. Cinereous Harrier and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle are often seen hovering in search of prey. Chilean Flicker, Striped Woodpecker and Austral Pygmy Owl will be our targets around a patch of secondary woodland. We will scan the white water rivers for the remarkable Torrent Duck. In the eastern side of the park, we’ll find groups of the southernmost representative of the camel family, the charismatic Guanaco. The reed-fringed lagoons can be very interesting: Andean Duck, Silvery and White-tufted grebes, and with luck the elusive and recently re-discovered Austral Rail, are all present here. We will visit Lake Grey to enjoy the dramatic sight of its southern shore dominated by stunning blue icebergs, and the surrounding sub-Antarctic forests will provide with chances to see Thorn-tailed Rayadito, White-throated Treerunner, Austral Parakeet, Austral Blackbird and the striking Magellanic Woodpecker.
Day 14 • Wednesday • Hike in Torres del Paine National Park
Today we will devote ourselves to hike to the French Valley (Valle del Frances). We will have an early start and be transported to Lake Pehoe; then we will take a short boat ride across to Camp Paine Grande. From here, we will hike during approximately three hours in order to reach the magnificent vistas of the valley and the imposing Paine Grande, the tallest peak of the park. This is one of my favorite spots of the whole park; the place has a exceptional beauty and forms part of the famous W-circuit on its middle section. Back to Hotel Las Torres.
Day 15 • Thursday • Hike in Torres del Paine
Another day for a great hike in Torres del Paine; today we will cover the beginning of the W circuit, on one of the most demanding hikes of the park trail system as we will be walking up on incline terrain, all the way up to the viewpoint of Las Torres (the towers). We will traverse the Asencio Canyon among forests and sensational vistas of Valle del Silencio (Silence Valley). Then we will negotiate with the steppes part of the trail, heading up along a large glacier moraine. The vista from the viewpoint is breathtaking as on a clear day you can see the three tan-colores granite spires called the towers. We will be heading back to our hotel, walking down hill.
Day 16 • Friday • Punta Arenas – Flight to Santiago – Connecting flights home
Early transfer to Punta Arenas airport for connecting flights to Santiago and home.
Day 17 • Saturday • Arrival to Seattle
Rates
5/6 guests: $8,998 per person
7/8 guests: $8,398 per person
Single Room Supplement: $1,390
What the trip includes/excludes
The trip price includes:
All accommodations, meals and guide services as stated in the itinerary, private ground transportation during the tour, boat trips, and park entrance fees.
The trip price excludes:
Domestic flights, tipping, travel insurance, entrance tax to Chile, excess baggage charges, drinks, à la carte dishes, laundry, telephone calls and anything else of a purely personal nature.
Falklands Wildlife Explorer
Itinerary in Brief (8 days)
Day 1 • Saturday • Flight to the Falkland Islands – Flight to Carcass Island – Carcass Island (2 nights)
Day 2 • Sunday • Boat trip to West Point Island – Carcass Island
Day 3 • Monday • Carcass Island – Flight to Stanley – Port Stanley (2 nights)
Day 4 • Tuesday • Volunteer Point
Day 5 • Wednesday • Flight to Sea Lion Island – Sea Lion Island (2 nights)
Day 6 • Thursday • Sea Lion Island
Day 7 • Friday • Sea Lion Island – Flight to Darwin (1 night)
Day 8 • Saturday • Transfer to Mt Pleasant airport – Flight to Punta Arenas/Santiago, Chile
Trip Highlights
• Visit the impressive King Penguin colony of Volunteer Point.
• Up to six penguins species including Rockhopper, Gentoo and Magellanic.
• Great light conditions, ideal and highly recommended to serious nature photographers.
• Visit to marine mammal colonies of Elephant Seal and Sea Lions.
• Great wildlife lodges located in remote islands.
• Scenic flights within the archipelago.
Day 1 • Saturday • Flight to the Falkland Islands – Flight to Carcass Island – Carcass Island (2 nights)
This morning you will take a morning flight from Santiago de Chile (SCL) to Mount Pleasant airport in the Falkland Islands. On arrival, you will be met by your local host and transferred to Port Stanley, the only town in the archipelago, with a population of approximately 2,000 people. Today we will fly to Carcass Island and enjoy the hospitality of one of the most comfortable lodges in the whole archipelago. This will the perfect base for the following two nights to explore the island on foot or by land rover, looking for the famous ‘Johnny Rook’ or Striated Caracara among several other avian specialties of the Falklands. Over 100 years of habitation, Carcass named after the HMS Carcass, has had three environmentally conscious owners who have avoided the introduction of rats and cats. This care and freedom from predation has made a difference that is immediately evident and needs to be experienced rather than described. Magellanic penguins nest around the settlement and a Gentoo colony is only a short walk away. There is also a large number of Striated Caracara (Johnny Rook), most of them residing right outside the windows of the accommodation. Elephant seal, Sea Lion, King cormorants and Night heron are also to be found on the island in addition to the wonderful endemic Cobb’s Wren and other small bird species on this cat and rat free island. Your hosts are outstanding and offer a home away from home in the refurbished house.
Overnight at Carcass Lodge, Carcass Island. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)(Guide).
Day 2 • Sunday • Boat trip to West Point Island – Carcass Island
The surroundings of Carcass Island are just phenomenal for wildlife encounters. We will be transferred by land rover to the wildlife sites, crossing moorlands and tussock grasslands with superb views of the coast and surrounding islands. We’ll use the morning to photograph the Elephant Seals visiting the beaches and maybe even see Orcas off the headlands. A variety of coastal birds including Magellanic and Blackish Oystercatchers, Crested Ducks, Kelp Goose and delicate Dolphin Gulls will be great subject for our wildlife photography. The lodge offers fantastic home-made cooking and simple and great facilities to relax after our photo and wildlife excursions. If you are interested in photographing Albatross at their colonies we suggest you to consider the optional boat trip to West Point Island (weather permitting). The 2-hour crossing can be productive for the birders and photographers as we have great chances to see Thin-billed Prion, Grey-backed Storm-Petrel and up to two dolphin species, including Commerson’s and Peale’s. The main goal of the trip is to approach a nesting colony of Black-browed Albatrosses, where we will learn the fascinating details of their ecology and breeding cycles.
Overnight at Carcass Lodge, Carcass Island. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)(Guide).
Day 3 • Monday • Carcass Island – Flight to Stanley – Port Stanley (2 nights)
You will have part of the afternoon to visit the very interesting local museum and some free time to make your own independent explorations.
Overnight at Hotel Malvina House or similar, Port Stanley. (In-flight meal, Dinner)(Guide).
Day 4 • Tuesday • Volunteer Point
We will travel to Volunteer Point by 4×4 vehicles with a driver/guide in a journey of approximately 2.5 hours from Stanley. Named after the ship ‘Volunteer’ which called into the islands in 1815, the point is part of the Johnsons Harbour farm, one of the largest privately owned settlements. Volunteer Beach is approximately 2 miles of stunning white sand bordered by high grassy banks leading to large greens. These wonderful areas provide the perfect habitats for three breeding species of penguin: Gentoo, Magellanic and the regal King penguin, of which there are over 1,000 adults which successfully rear over 200 chicks each year. This is the largest breeding group of Kings within the islands within easy access. King penguin breeding cycle takes longer than one year meaning that any pair rears two chicks in a three year period. The egg is incubated on the feet and should the egg roll off the parent can lose interest and the egg is lost. This is a critical stage in the parenting and visitors need to be vigilant and must not disturb the colony.
Overnight at Hotel Malvina House, Port Stanley. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)(Guide).
Day 5 • Wednesday • Flight to Sea Lion Island – Sea Lion Island (2 nights)
Sea Lion is a ‘must’ in any Falkland Islands tour as this fantastic island is truly is a paradise for wildlife. Here we will see three penguin species, huge cormorant colonies and a large Elephant Seal rookery. This place is simply fantastic for nature photography, with birds, marine mammals and plants, great views and comfortable accommodations. Sea Lion Lodge will be our base for two nights.
Overnight at Sea Lion Lodge, Sea Lion Island. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)(Guide).
Day 6 • Thursday • Sea Lion Island
Sea Lion Island, the most southerly inhabited island of the Falklands group, is five miles long and just over a mile wide at its widest point, just the right size for exploring. Beautiful stands of spectacular tussock grass cover one fifth of the island and provide a perfect habitat and protection for much of the islands’ varied fauna and wildlife, including Elephant seal (the largest population on the Islands, with up to 1,800 seals) and Southern Sea Lion. Besides the tussock, there are dazzling white sand beaches, dramatic cliffs and fresh water ponds. The different bird species, which can be seen on the island, include four species of penguin and birds of prey such as Striated Caracara, one of the rarest raptors in the world. At certain times of the year, pods of killer whale circle the island in pursuit of Elephant Seal pups which can be found in the crystal clear nursery pools only a few minutes walk from the lodge’s front door! Sea Lion, a remarkable wildlife reserve where nature can really be experienced, to later share experiences and memories in the cosiness of your lodge.
Overnight at Sea Lion Lodge, Sea Lion Island. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)(Guide).
Day 7 • Friday • Sea Lion Island – Flight to Darwin (1 night)
By noontime we will fly to the Darwin settlement. Darwin, Goose Green and San Carlos are probably best known today for the parts they played during the 1982 conflict between the British and Argentines. All locations have memorials to those fallen and Darwin is the site of the Argentine cemetery and San Carlos that of the British cemetery and small museum and Bomb Alley.Darwin was once the largest settlement after Stanley, with almost 200 workers on the farm payroll. The settlement, named after Charles Darwin, who spent some time here during his travels, was established in 1859 as a centre first for cattle ranching, and later for sheep farming. Today, the number of residents is much fewer but remains a large working settlement which offers superb full board accommodation in the form of Darwin House.
Overnight at Darwin House, Darwin. (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)(Guide).
Day 8 • Transfer to Mt Pleasant airport – Flight to Punta Arenas/Santiago, Chile
You will have a leisure morning. After breakfast, you will have some time to explore the surroundings of the settlement and watch the common wildlife. We will be transferred to the airport in the afternoon to take our flight to Santiago where our trip will conclude. (Breakfast)(Guide)
Rates
$4,398 per person (based on a minimum of 4 participants)
Single Room Supplement: $600
What the trip includes/excludes
The trip price includes:
All accommodations and meals as stated in the itinerary, meet and greet, all transfers, all internal flights using FIGAS, and full day tour to Volunteer Point with drive/guides.
The trip price excludes:
Flights from Santiago or Punta Arenas, departure tax from the Falklands (£22 – payable locally), tipping, travel insurance, excess baggage charges (20kg personal allowance, excess charged at £1 per kilo per flight thereafter), hotels in Santiago or Punta Arenas, à la carte dishes, snacks, drinks, laundry, telephone calls and anything else of a purely personal nature.
Northern Chile • Quest for Andean Cat and other wildlife
On this tour we will get a unique glimpse into the land, wildlife and people of northern Chile, the Atacama Desert and the Altiplano. Vast landscapes of strange and imposing beauty, unique birds, mammals and plants, and a cultural heritage that goes back thousands of years beyond the Inca empire, reflected in archaeological treasures, ethnic and cultural aspects of everyday life like agricultural methods, house building and food, all more than make for superb photography and a traveling experience that will treat your senses.
Itinerary in Brief (7 days)
Day 1 • Saturday • Morning flight to Arica – Drive to the highlands – Putre (1 night)
Day 2 • Sunday • Lauca National Park – Chungara Lake – Drive to Lauca Cruzani
Days 3/5 • Monday to Wednesday • Lauca National Park and search for Andean Cat (4 nights at basic accommodation)
Day 6 • Thursday • Drive to Arica (1 night)
Day 7 • Friday • Morning flight to Santiago – Start the Chilean Patagonia main trip
Trip Highlights
• Exploratory trip to look for the extremely rare Andean Cat in company of wildlife expert Enrique Couve. See trip report from Mammal Watching.
• Comprehensive visit to Northern Chile’s wildlife hotspots: Arica, Salar de Surire and Lauca National Park.
• Spectacular Andean birds such as Lesser Rhea, Puna Tinamou, Giant Coot, Andean Avocet, Andean Goose, and three species of flamingo including Chilean, Andean and Puna.
• Interesting mammals including Guanaco, Vicuña, Northern Huemul Deer and Vizcacha.
• Lauca National Park, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, and one of Chile’s finest wildlife reserves.
• A study of the rich cultural history (and pre-history) from the people of the High Andes and the Atacama Desert.
• Ideal journey for nature photographers (of all levels) as well as nature enthusiasts.
Day 1 • Saturday • Morning flight to Arica – Drive to the highlands – Putre (1 night)
Our Northern Chile wildlife adventure begins today! From Santiago airport you will catch a morning flight (c. 2.5 hours) to Arica, Chile’s northernmost city (18°S). Arica lies between the Pacific Ocean and the steep coast of the Atacama Desert and besides its natural riches, it is also a place full of history, as one of the decisive battles of the Pacific War between Chile and the Peru-Bolivia confederation (1879-1882) took place atop the cliffs guarding the bay, and long before that, its shores and coastal valleys were the home of the Chinchorro culture, who mummified their dead already around 8,000 BC, pre-dating the Egyptians by several thousand years. These places are also remarkable for the presence of some giant geoglyphs that were left by the ancient natives in the slopes of hills dominating the valley. They date from at least 600-800 years BC and mostly depict scenes reflecting the semi-nomadic life of these ancient herders, like llama caravans, shepherds, birds and other wildlife and hunting scenes.
The picturesque Andean town of Putre is located at 3,400 meters above sea level (11,483 ft); this friendly Aymara village will be our base for the day. The “pre-puna” semi-arid bushy slopes are very rich in avian life: The gardens, cultivated terraces, eucalyptus groves and rocky walls surrounding Putre are the perfect habitat for Sparkling Violetear and Andean Hillstar, Golden-billed Saltator and Blue-and-yellow Tanager are among the range of exciting birds that occur here. If we’re lucky we might spot the rare Northern Huemul Deer or Taruca and herds of Guanaco in the surrounding hills. Today we´ll explore Putre and its surroundings, and take a short drive to visit the picturesque village of Socoroma, known for still using the agricultural terraces, a system for growing crops inherited from the Inca that has come all the way down to our present time. Its old houses and church are also a fine example of the ancient adobe construction technique, which has been kept alive through generations.
Day 2 • Sunday • Lauca National Park – Chungara Lake – Drive to Lauca Cruzani
Today we´ll visit the breathtaking Chungara Lake, truly one of the highlights of the trip, but before reaching it we´ll stop by the unique tiny village of Parinacota. Parinacota means ¨Lake of the Flamingos¨, and true to its name, the village is set among a group of lakes and ponds where these beautiful birds live. The hamlet dates from pre-incan days but it is better known for its old adobe and clay church, a fine example of XVIIth century Andean Baroque. The Altiplano (or High Andean plateau) is truly a ‘mecca’ for wildlife and we will have the whole day to discover its many secrets and stunning landscapes. Established to protect the highest lake in the world, Lauca National Park (and World Biosphere Reserve) supports a great diversity of High Andean (or ‘puna’) specialties. All three flamingo species – Chilean, James’s and Andean flamingos are often found here. Chungara Lake will be the highest spot during our entire trip (4,500 meters / 14,763 ft) and is surrounded by awe-inspiring volcanoes; this is a magnificent place and probably one of the most beautiful vistas that we will have during our whole Chilean Wildlife Adventure. The lake is full of birds including the striking Giant Coot and noisy Andean Gull. The surrounding bogs, locally known as bofedales, hold interesting mammals, all specialized to the high altitude, such as herds of Vicuña and charismatic Mountain Viscacha. The landscape of this area is dominated by the omnipresent and imposing Payachatas, meaning ¨The Twin Volcanoes¨, the Pomerape, 6232m/20,446ft and the Parinacota, 6,110m/20,046ft, situated on the border with Bolivia.
Afterwards, we will drive to Lauca Cruzani, a small hamlet located in the highlands of the park. The accommodation is basic but comfortable; this will be our base for our Andean cat search.
Days 3/5 • Monday to Wednesday • Lauca National Park and search for Andean Cat (4 nights at basic accommodation)
We will have early starts and late evening searches while looking for the rare and seldom seen Andean Cat (Leopardus jacobita). Enrique have carried out several trips in the last three years and we have slightly 50% chances to find this unique mammal. We will look at specific locations and corridors, characterized by hola (local scrub) vegetation, canyons and ravines, as the cat is in association with its prey, primarily consisting of Mountain viscacha and tinamous.
Day 6 • Thursday • Drive to Arica (1 night)
After searching during the morning, we will start heading down to Arica for a comfortable hotel by the beach.
Day 7 • Friday • Morning flight to Santiago – Start the Chilean Patagonia main trip
Early flight to Santiago in order to continue our expedition and start with the main Chilean Patagonia program.
Rates
$3,398 per person (based on a minimum of 3 participants)
Single Room Supplement: $400
What the trip includes/excludes
The trip price includes:
All accommodations, meals and guide services as stated in the itinerary, private ground transportation during the tour, and park entrance fees.
The trip price excludes:
Domestic flights (Santiago – Arica – Santiago or other route), tipping, travel insurance, entrance tax to Chile, excess baggage charges, private excursions, à la carte dishes, snacks, drinks, laundry, telephone calls and anything else of a purely personal nature.
Claudio F. Vidal
Claudio has been exploring and birding since the age of 12 and currently leads birding / nature tours and photo safaris throughout Patagonia, Chile and South America. He is one of the two founders and original driving forces behind the far South Expeditions concept and company.
Claudio has a particular interest in the seabirds and marine mammals occurring in the Humboldt Current, Patagonia and Antarctica. Botany is also one of his greatest passions, leading him to devote to the photographic documentation of wildflowers of desert and Mediterranean regions of the world, of which he possesses a vast archive. Claudio is now finishing the writing of a Field Guide to the Birds of Chile together with a team of accomplished field ornithologists, and is co-author of more than 20 books, including the acclaimed Birds of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and Antarctic Peninsula. He is actively involved in several ecotourism projects in Chile and is founding partner of Far South Expeditions since 1997. He lives in Punta Arenas.
Proud to be recognised as a BirdLIfe Species Champion
A Conservation Partner of AvesChile
Some Trips You May Enjoy
In association with:
Kowa Optics
