Detailed Itinerary and Activities

Day 1 • Chiloé Island: Chacao Channel crossing – Puñihuil Islets penguin colony – Wooden Churches – Castro
Chiloé Island is a land of myths, legends and history, with countless and outstanding natural and cultural riches. From Puerto Montt we will drive south in order to take the ferry across the Chacao Channel. This short 30-minute journey offers great wildlife viewing opportunities and we are likely to see pods of Peale’s Dolphin, groups of South American Sea Lion and a great array of seabirds including Southern Giant Petrel, Sooty and Pink-footed shearwaters, Imperial and Red-legged cormorants, Peruvian Pelican and South American Tern. Before reaching the main island we will see groups of Black-necked Swan, actively feeding on algae along the shore.
After we set foot we will notice the interesting architecture comprising wooden houses and churches, with characteristic walls and roofs covered with shingles. Later we will aim towards the wild west coast of the island to take a short boat trip to the interesting location of Puñihuil. Here we will circumnavigate one of the islets to see one of the few mixed breeding colonies of Humboldt and Magellanic penguins. Marine Otter, Magellanic Cormorant, Kelp Goose and Flightless Steamer Duck are all usually found here, too.
After lunch we´ll drive east across the Island to reach the picturesque towns in the protected eastern coast. Here we will concentrate in studying the cultural features including the famous stilt houses set right on the rocky shore and the wooden churches of the surroundings. During the afternoon we will visit three churches representative of the XVIII colonial wooden construction whose architecture was inspired by shipbuilding, a skill most old-time islanders mastered. They are the churches of Dalcahue, Tenaún and Castro, Chiloé Island’s largest town.
Overnight at Hotel Parque Quilquico, Castro (Lunch, Dinner) (Guide).

Day 2 • Chiloé Island: Chepu River boat trip – Drive to Tepuhueico
Early in the morning we will head northwards to take our boat trip to explore part of Chepu River. This scenic watercourse is bordered by lush and dense forest and its clear waters protect a critically endangered species, the Southern River Otter or Huillin. We will attempt to see it and hopefully be rewarded by our patience and efforts to attract its interest. We will also have chances with the rare Rufous-tailed Hawk and the endemic Slender-billed Parakeet.
After our boat trip we´ll drive south across the Island to the magnificent Tepuhueico, a private reserve where we´ll spend the whole following day in the lush Valdivian humid forest, looking for stunning wildlife, mammals like Pudu Deer, many forest-dwelling bird species and several frogs and lizards that live among moss and fern-covered tree trunks of these dense, damp woods.
Overnight at Tepuhueico Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) (Guide).

Day 3 • Full Day Tepuhueico Reserve
Early in the morning we will start exploring the imposing Tepuhueico, a private reserve where we´ll spend the whole following day in the lush Valdivian humid forest, looking for stunning wildlife, including Pudu Deer, smallest deer in the world, Darwin´s Fox, the endemic Slender-billed Parakeet, Black-throated Hued-hued, Ochre-flanked Tapaculo and Des Murs´s Wiretail, and several frogs and lizards that live among moss and fern-covered tree trunks of these dense, lush woods, providing excellent chances for both wildlife and macro photography, as the miniature lichens, fungi and mosses forests are home to a whole world of insects, amphibians and other tiny creatures living on the damp soil and old, fallen trees.
Overnight at Tepuhueico Lodge (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) (Guide).

Day 4 • Cucao in Chiloé National Park – Caulin Bay – Drive to Puerto Varas
This morning we´ll visit the unique maritime temperate rainforest that grows right up to the shore in Cucao within Chiloé National Park, an area which opens to the vast Pacific in the western coast of the island,  and was visited by Charles Darwin who landed here in 1835.
On our way back to the continent and Puerto Varas 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 togeteher with Red Knot and a variety of other shorebirds.
Overnight at Hotel Bellavista or similar, Puerto Varas. (Lunch, Dinner) (Guide).

Day 5 • Full day exploring 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 Bellavista or similar, Puerto Varas. (Lunch, Dinner) (Guide).

Day 6 • Puerto Montt
This trip ends after breakfast with a transfer to the airport. (Breakfast).

Dates & Rates

Custom Private Departures: you choose the date
Available from August through April.
Departures from Santiago or Puerto Montt, Chile.

Lake District & Chiloe Island
Trip Code
CHL06
Trip Length
6 days, 5 nights
No. of guests
2
3
4+
Single Suppl.
Price per person (US$)
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
Trips are guaranteed to depart with a minimum of 2 participants.

Do you want us to arrange your flights from Santiago to Puerto Montt?
Domestic flights Santiago (SCL) – Puerto Montt (PMC) – Santiago (from US$ 200 per person).
Duration of the flight: 1.5 hours.

What the trip includes/excludes
The above prices are per person in US$, based in double accommodation. All payments are in US Dollars.
Single supplement will be added if single accommodations are requested.
The trip price includes: All accommodations, meals and guide services as stated in the itinerary, private ground transportation during the tour, boat trips at Puñihuil and Chepu, ferry fares to Chiloe Island and park entrance fees.
The trip price excludes: Domestic flights (Santiago –Puerto Montt  – 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.

Photo Gallery

Field Checklist

Checklist for the Birds and Mammals of Chile’s Lake District & Chiloe Island (possible species to be seen during this trip)

Birds

Mammals

Tinamous | Tinamidae
Chilean Tinamou Nothoprocta perdicaria

Penguins | Spheniscidae
Humboldt Penguin Spheniscus humboldti
Magellanic Penguin Spheniscus magellanicus

Grebes | Podicipedidae
Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
White-tufted Grebe Rollandia rolland
Great Grebe Podiceps major
Silvery Grebe Podiceps occipitalis

Albatrosses | Diomedeidae
Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris

Shearwaters & Petrels | Procellariidae
Antarctic Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus
Southern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialoides
White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis
Pink-footed Shearwater Puffinus creatopus
Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus

Storm-Petrels | Hydrobatidae
Wilson’s Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus

Diving-Petrels | Pelecanoididae
Magellanic Diving-Petrel Pelecanoides magellani
Pelicans | Pelecanidae
Peruvian Pelican Pelecanus thagus

Gannets & Boobies | Sulidae
Peruvian Booby Sula variegata

Cormorants | Phalacrocoracidae
Neotropic Cormorant Phalacrocorax brasilianus
Rock Shag Phalacrocorax magellanicus
Guanay Cormorant Phalacrocorax bougainvillii
Imperial Shag Phalacrocorax atriceps
Red-legged Cormorant Phalacrocorax gaimardi

Herons, Egrets & Bitterns | Ardeidae
Cocoi Heron Ardea cocoi
Great Egret Ardea alba
Snowy Egret Egretta thula
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Stripe-backed Bittern Ixobrychus involucris

Ibises & Spoonbills | Threskiornithidae
Black-faced Ibis Theristicus melanopis

Flamingos | Phoenicopteridae
Chilean Flamingo Phoenicopterus chilensis

Ducks, Geese & Swans | Anatidae
Black-necked Swan Cygnus melanocorypha
Kelp Goose Chloephaga hybrida
Ashy-headed Goose Chloephaga poliocephala
Flightless Steamerduck Tachyeres pteneres
Flying Steamerduck Tachyeres patachonicus
Torrent Duck Merganetta armata
Chiloe Wigeon Anas sibilatrix
Speckled Teal Anas flavirostris
Spectacled Duck Anas specularis
Yellow-billed Pintail Anas georgica
Silver Teal Anas versicolor
Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera
Rosy-billed Pochard Netta peposaca

New World Vultures | Cathartidae
Black Vulture Coragyps atratus
Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
Andean Condor Vultur gryphus

Hawks, Eagles & Kites | Accipitridae
White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus
Cinereous Harrier Circus cinereus
Chilean Hawk Accipiter chilensis
Harris’ Hawk Parabuteo unicinctus
Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle Geranoaetus melanoleucus
Variable Hawk Buteo polyosoma
White-throated Hawk Buteo albigula
Rufous-tailed Hawk Buteo ventralis

Falcons & Caracaras | Falconidae
Southern Crested Caracara Caracara plancus
Chimango Caracara Milvago chimango
American Kestrel Falco sparverius
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

Rails, Gallinules & Coots | Rallidae
Plumbeous Rail Pardirallus sanguinolentus
Spot-flanked Gallinule Gallinula melanops
White-winged Coot Fulica leucoptera
Red-gartered Coot Fulica armillata
Red-fronted Coot Fulica rufifrons

Oystercatchers | Haematopodidae
Magellanic Oystercatcher Haematopus leucopodus
Blackish Oystercatcher Haematopus ater
American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus

Plovers & Lapwings | Charadriidae
Southern Lapwing Vanellus chilensis
Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus
Collared Plover Charadrius collaris
Two-banded Plover Charadrius falklandicus
Rufous-chested Dotterel Charadrius modestus

Sandpipers & Allies | Scolopacidae
South American Snipe Gallinago paraguaiae
Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca
Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
Surfbird Aphriza virgata
Red Knot Calidris canutus
Sanderling Calidris alba
White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis
Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii
Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor

Skuas & Jaegers | Stercoraridae
Chilean Skua Stercorarius chilensis

Gulls | Laridae
Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus
Brown-hooded Gull Larus maculipennis
Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan
Elegant Tern Sterna elegans
South American Tern Sterna hirundinacea
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
Snowy-crowned Tern Sterna trudeaui

Skimmers | Rhynchopidae
Black Skimmer Rynchops niger

Doves & Pigeons | Columbidae
Rock Dove Columba livia
Chilean Pigeon Columba araucana
Eared Dove Zenaida auriculata

Parrots, Macaws & Allies | Psittacidae
Austral Parakeet Enicognathus ferrugineus
Slender-billed Parakeet (E) Enicognathus leptorhynchus

Barn Owls | Tytonidae
Barn Owl Tyto alba

Typical Owls | Strigidae
Magellanic Horned Owl Bubo magellanicus
Rufous-legged Owl Strix rufipes
Austral Pygmy-Owl Glaucidium nanum
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus

Nightjars & Allies | Caprimulgidae
Band-winged Nightjar Caprimulgus longirostris

Hummingbirds | Trochilidae
Green-backed Firecrown Sephanoides sephaniodes

Kingfishers | Alcedinidae
Ringed Kingfisher Ceryle torquata

Woodpeckers & Allies | Picidae
Striped Woodpecker Picoides lignarius
Chilean Flicker Colaptes pitius
Magellanic Woodpecker Campephilus magellanicus

Ovenbirds | Furnariidae
Dark-bellied Cinclodes Cinclodes patagonicus
Gray-flanked Cinclodes Cinclodes oustaleti
Bar-winged Cinclodes Cinclodes fuscus
Des Murs’ Wiretail Sylviorthorhynchus desmursii
Thorn-tailed Rayadito Aphrastura spinicauda
Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail Leptasthenura aegithaloides
Wren-like Rushbird Phleocryptes melanops
White-throated Treerunner Pygarrhichas albogularis

Tapaculos | Rhinocryptidae
Black-throated Huet-huet Pteroptochos tarnii
Chucao Tapaculo Scelorchilus rubecula
Ochre-flanked Tapaculo Eugralla paradoxa
Magellanic Tapaculo Scytalopus magellanicus

Plantcutters | Phytotomidae
Rufous-tailed Plantcutter Phytotoma rara

Tyrant Flycatchers | Tyrannidae
White-crested Elaenia Elaenia albiceps
Tufted Tit-Tyrant Anairetes parulus
Many-colored Rush-Tyrant Tachuris rubrigastra
Patagonian Tyrant Colorhamphus parvirostris
Fire-eyed Diucon Xolmis pyrope
Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant Agriornis montana
Dark-faced Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola macloviana
White-browed Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola albilora
Ochre-naped Ground-Tyrant Muscisaxicola flavinucha
Austral Negrito Lessonia rufa
Spectacled Tyrant Hymenops perspicillatus

Swallows | Hirundinidae
Chilean Swallow Tachycineta meyeni
Blue-and-white Swallow Pygochelidon cyanoleuca
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica

Wagtails & Pipits | Motacillidae
Correndera Pipit Anthus correndera

Wrens | Troglodytidae
House Wren Troglodytes aedon
Sedge Wren Cistothorus platensis

Mockingbirds & Thrashers | Mimidae
Chilean Mockingbird (E) Mimus thenca

Thrushes & Allies | Turdidae
Austral Thrush Turdus falcklandii

Old World Sparrows | Passeridae
House Sparrow ( I ) Passer domesticus

Siskins, Crossbills & Allies | Fringillidae
Black-chinned Siskin Carduelis barbata

Buntings, Sparrows & Allies | Emberizidae
Gray-hooded Sierra-Finch Phrygilus gayi
Patagonian Sierra-Finch Phrygilus patagonicus
Plumbeous Sierra-Finch Phrygilus unicolor
Yellow-bridled Finch Melanodera xanthogramma
Common Diuca-Finch Diuca diuca
Grassland Yellow-Finch Sicalis luteola
Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis

Troupials & Allies | Icteridae
Yellow-winged Blackbird Agelaius thilius
Long-tailed Meadowlark Sturnella loyca
Shiny Cowbird Molothrus bonariensis
Austral Blackbird Curaeus curaeus

Old World Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus
Nutria Myocastor coypus
Peale’s Dolphin Lagenorhynchus australis
Chilean Dolphin Cephalorhynchus eutropia
Darwin’s Fox Pseudalopex culpaeus
Marine Otter Lontra felina
Southern River Otter Lontra provocax
Southern Sea Lion Otaria byronia
Pudu Pudu puda

Tour Registration

To book this tour, please complete our registration form. We will process your booking form and will send you (within 24 hours) a note with space confirmation and a deposit invoice with payment instructions. The deposit amount is US$ 500 per person. Full payment of the tour fee is due 90 days prior to tour departure.
NOTE: Inquires received on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays will be replied 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 deposit less US$ 200 is refundable.
If cancellation is made between 120 and 60 days before departure, the deposit is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded.
If cancellation is made fewer 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.