off Valparaiso

Humboldt Current Pelagic Trip

Humboldt Current Pelagics

Humboldt current pelagics | Day trip from Valparaiso or Quintero, Chile

Scheduled and private departures

App. 6 hours, 10-20 nautical miles offshore

Humboldt Current pelagics. The Humboldt Current draws cold water from the Antarctic and pumps it north along the west coast of South America, lifting nutrients from the deep sea bottom in the form of upwelling and making these waters not only the richest, most productive marine ecosystem in the Planet, but also one of the top destinations for Pelagic Birding in the world, too.

These waters are also frequented by some interesting marine mammals, both cetaceans like Fin and Humpback whales, Sperm Whale and Killer Whale, and Bottlenose, Dusky and Southern Right-whale dolphins, Pinnipeds like South American Sea Lion and Mustelids like Southern Sea Otter. Marine turtles and big Squid are also part of the marine wildlife here, not to mention the biggest stock of fisheries in the world, like anchovy, sardine and jack mackerel.

On this pelagic trip, we expect to see a great variety of tubenoses such as Northern Royal, Antipodean, Salvin’s, Buller’s and Black-browed albatrosses. Chatham Island and Antipodean albatrosses are regularly recorded as well as Southern Royal Albatross. We should also find Southern and Northern Giant Petrels, Southern Fulmar, White-chinned, Westland and Pintado petrels, Pink-footed, Sooty and Buller’s shearwaters, and Pterodroma or gadfly petrels, including Juan Fernandez and Masatierra petrels. Small tubenoses of other families include Wilson’s Storm Petrel and Peruvian Diving Petrel. Other seabirds we may encounter are Guanay Cormorant, Red-legged Cormorant, Humboldt Penguin, Inca Tern, Chilean Skua and Grey (Red) Phalarope. Humboldt Current pelagics.

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Juan Fernandez Petrel, Pterodroma externa © Enrique Couve, Far South Expeditions

Dates & Rates

Scheduled Departures

Trip Code	CHL16
Trip Length	6 hours (6.30am-12.30pm)
Dates	2023	Oct 21, 27 \| Nov 11 \| Dec 16
	2024	Jan 13 \| Feb 3, 17 \| March 9 \| April 13 \| May 11 \| June 8 \| July 13 \| Aug 10 \| Sep 7 \| Oct 12 \| Nov 9 \| Dec 7
Price per person (USD)	$160
Trips are guaranteed to depart with a minimum of 15 participants.

The above price is per person in USD.

Private Tours

You choose the date! Departures from Valparaiso and Quintero, Chile. Ask for rates.

What the trip includes / excludes

The trip price includes: Pelagic trip (6 hours), guide services, field checklist, a free signed copy of our book “Albatross of the Southern Ocean”, snacks, hot beverages, and bottles of mineral water.

The trip price excludes: Tipping, travel insurance, and anything else of a purely personal nature.

Recommendations

Clothing

Weather conditions can change quickly at sea. If the day is clear, radiation is quite strong so the use of wide-brimmed hats and sunscream are recommended. If there is wind before the sun comes up, it may be cold, and a second warm layer is always recommended. Waterproof or water-resistant jacket and pants are ideal to have with you as they keep out the wind and keep you dry if some water splashes onto the boat in the case of windier conditions.

What to bring

Do not forget to bring your binoculars. Using them may be tricky in an environment that is constantly moving but you will find them invaluable in enjoying close views of Albatrosses.

If you are a photographer, this trip is a great opportunity to take amazing pictures of seabirds.

The lens should not exceed 400 mm, because stability on the boat is not always easy and birds usually are close enough to the boat for a below < 400mm lens to work well.

It is recommended to shoot at speeds higher than 1/1000 to get shots that are as sharp as possible.

Remember that we are in offshore conditions and sometimes some water can splash back into the boat, so you should be careful with your optical equipment.

On the boat

The boat is open, with seating for everyone, a cabin where you can leave backpacks and luggage and a small bathroom (basic).

It has life jackets for every participant and it is MANDATORY TO USE THEM for your own personal safety. The boat also has an additional lifeboat.

We will have multiple buckets with bait (chum) and fish oil to attract birds near the boat and facilitate better observations.

Field Checklist

Potential seabirds and marine mammals to be seen during this trip.

Birds

Penguins, Spheniscidae
Humboldt Penguin Spheniscus humboldti
Magellanic Penguin Spheniscus magellanicus

Albatrosses, Diomedeidae
Wandering Albatross Diomedea exulans
Antipodean Albatros Diomedea antipodensis
Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora
Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris
Grey-headed Albatross Thalassarche chrysostoma
Buller’s Albatross Thalassarche bulleri
Salvin’s Albatross Thalassarche salvini
Chatham Albatross Thalassarche eremita

Shearwaters & Petrels, Procellariidae
Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus
Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli
Southern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialoides
Cape Petrel Daption capense
Juan Fernandez Petrel Pterodroma externa
Masatierra Petrel Pterodroma defilippiana
White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis
Westland Petrel Procellaria westlandica
Buller’s Shearwater Puffinus bulleri
Pink-footed Shearwater Ardenna creatopus
Sooty Shearwater Ardenna griseus

Storm Petrels, Hydrobatidae
Wilson’s Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus

Diving-Petrels, Pelecanoididae
Peruvian Diving-Petrel Pelecanoides garnotii

Pelicans, Pelecanidae
Peruvian Pelican Pelecanus thagus

Gannets & Boobies, Sulidae
Peruvian Booby Sula variegata

Cormorants, Phalacrocoracidae
Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Guanay Cormorant Phalacrocorax bougainvillii
Red-legged Cormorant Phalacrocorax gaimardi

Sandpipers & Allies, Scolopacidae
Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria

Skuas & Jaegers, Stercorariidae
Chilean Skua Catharacta chilensis
South Polar Skua Catharacta maccormicki
Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus

Gulls, Laridae
Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus
Band-tailed Gull Larus belcheri
Grey Gull Leucophaeus modestus
Franklin’s Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan
Brown-hooded Gull Chroicocephalus maculipennis
Sabine’s Gull Xema sabini
Swallow-tailed Gull Creagrus furcatus
Elegant Tern Sterna elegans
South American Tern Sterna hirundinacea
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
Snowy-crowned Tern Sterna trudeaui
Inca Tern Larosterna inca

Mammals

Physeteridae
Sperm Whale, Physeter macrocephalus

Delphinidae
Killer Whale, Orcinus orca
Dusky Dolphin, Lagenorhynchus obscurus
Bottlenose Dolphin, Tursiops truncatus
Southern Right Whale Dolphin, Lissodelphis peroni

Sea Lions, Otaridae
South American Sea Lion, Otaria flavescens

Read more about our pelagic trips in Chile, Patagonia and Antarctica. Learn more.

Read more about pelagic birding worldwide at Ocean Wanderers site. Learn more.

Tour Registration

To book this tour, please fill in our online registration form. We will process your booking and will send you a note with space confirmation and a transfer invoice with payment instructions within 24 hours. The transfer amount is 100 USD per person. Full payment of the tour fee is due 60 days prior to tour departure.

NOTE: Inquiries received on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays will be replied to during the following working day.

Cancellation Policy

Notice of cancellation can only be accepted in writing from the person who signed the booking form and takes effect on the day such noticed is received by us.

Refunds are made according to the following schedule:

• If cancellation is made 120 days or more before departure date, the transfer amount minus 25 USD is refundable.

• If cancellation is made between 120 and 60 days before departure, the transfer is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded.

• If cancellation is made less than 60 days before departure date, no refund is available.

This policy and fee schedule also applies to pre-trip and post trip extensions, as well as any transfers from one tour to another. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself.

Humboldt Current Pelagic Trip

Humboldt Current Pelagics