Birds Of Chile – Atacama To Patagonia

The Trip

Day 1: Santiago And Flight to Arica
Arrive Santiago (or transfer from Hotel) to connect to Arica, the northernmost city of Chile. Once arrive to Arica explore the shores of the Pacific Coast. The waters of the Humboldt current are some of the richest in the world. (L/D)

Guanay and red-legged cormorants, willet, kildeer, Peruvian thick knee, Peruvian booby, belcher and grey gull, seaside cinclodes.

Day 2: Arica – Lluta River Valley – Putre
Early birding at the estuary of the river Lluta for shorebirds and gulls and rarities. Later explore the valley which is an oasis within the arid Atacama Desert. The cactus-clad Atacama is one of the driest deserts in the world. Explore the river valley to look for the endangered Chilean woodstar In the afternoon drive up into the high Andes to the Aymara village of Putre (3,400m.) (B/L/D)

Oasis hummingbird, Chilean woodstar, Peruvian meadowlark, slender-billed finch, tamarugo conebill, slender-billed finch, Peruvian sheartail, white crested tufted-tyrant, Andean swallow among others.

Day 3: Lauca National Park
Explore the stunning landscapes of the High Andean Plateau (Over 4,000 – 4,500m). Lauca is a unique eco-system of cushion bogs, saltpans, meltwater lakes and snow-capped volcanoes that soar to 6,300m. Lake Chungara is one of the highest lakes in world. As well as the birdlife there are unique mammals such as vizcachas, vicuñas and wild cats. At night enjoy a stargazing tour in one of the clearest skies on earth. Stay in Putre (B/L)

Chilean, puna and andean flamingos, puna ibis, puna plover, andean lapwing, grey-breasted seedsnipe, diademed sandpiper-plover, andean flicker, cordilleran canastero, andean negrito, black siskin among other species.

Day 4: Lauca National Park – Putre – Arica
A day exploring the area around Putre for rare species that inhabit the high moorland or puna shrubs. Stay in Arica (B/L/D)

 Hooded siskins, thick-billed siskins, golden billed saltator, blue and yellow tanager, andean hillstar, creamy- breasted canastero, sparkling violetear, mountain parakeet, aplomado falcon.

Day 5: Chaca & Azapa Valleys & Oasis
A day to look for more birds of the Humboldt Current and to explore the valleys of Chaca and Azapa searching the specialties of the area. Stay in Arica. (B/L/D)

Croaking ground dove, chilean woodstar, peruvian meadowlark, slender-billed finch, cinereous conebill, bran-coloured flycatcher, common tern, South american tern, wedge- rumped & winged storm petrel

Day 6: Fly To Santiago – Batuco & Lampa wetlands
Fly to Santiago. Visit the wetlands around the airport area looking for central Chile specialties. Stay in Santiago (B/L).

Southamerican-painted snipe, cocoi heron, rosy-billed pochard, black-headed duck, coscoroba swan, borrowing owl, Chilean tinamou.

Day 7: Central Chile – El Yeso Valley & Maipo River
A day birding at the scenic Andes mountain range, south-east from Santiago. Exploring El Yeso reservoir and Maipo Valley looking for some specialties of the area like the captivating diademed sandpiper-plover. Stay Santiago (B/L)

Black-billed shrike tyrant, diademed sandpiper-plover, yellow-rumped siskin, Craig chilia, moustached turca, thick-billed siskin, mountain parakeet.

Day 8: The Central Andean Range
Spend the morning in Farellones area, looking for more birds of the Central Andean Range including at the highest elevation of Valle Nevado area – a good area for raptors. Look out for great views on Andean condors taking off and landing. Pus chances to spot Black-chested Buzzard Eagles and the extremely handsome mountain caracara. Stay in Quintero. (B/L)

Andean condor, mountain caracara, white-sided hillstar, rufous-banded miner, creamy-rumped miner, Chilean mockingbird, greater yellow-finch, magellanic-horned owl.

Day 9: Pelagic Birding the Pacific Coast
A full birding day along the Pacific Coast of central Chile, visiting different areas of lowland wetlands and patches of coastal mountain range. Leave the coast with a stop at the National Park La Campana, one of the last spots of Chilean palm trees (Jubaea chilensis) forest to look for the elusive white-throated tapaculo. Stay in Quintero. (B/L/D)

Seaside cinclodes, guanay cormorant humboldt penguin, red-legged cormorant, warbling doradito, many-coloured rush-tyrant, black-headed duck.

Day 10: Coastal mountains – National Park La Campana
Looking for the endemic birds of the picturesque coastal mountain range and at National Park La Campana. visiting different areas of wetlands and patches of coastal mountain range. Look for specialties as the ticking doradito and the dusky tapaculo among others. Stay in Vilches (B/L/D)

White-throated tapaculo, striped woodpecker, dusky tapaculo, giant hummingbird, dusky-tailed canastero.

Day 11 Altos del Lircay Natural Reserve
Drive south to the protected montane forest area of Altos del Lircay. The best place in Chile to spot the endangered burrowing parrot and other species as the chestnut throated huet huet. At night a quest for the rufous-legged owl & the austral pigmy owl. Stay in Vilches (B/L/D)

Rufous-legged owl, magellanic tapaculo, chestnut-throated huet huet, white-throated treerunner, magellanic woodpecker.

Day 12 Altos Del Lircay – Santiago Airport
Early morning birding at Altos del Lircay and Colbún Lake. This Mediterranean climate region is home to the noisy burrowing parakeet and many ducks and Andean gull. Head back to Santiago. Evening flight to Puerto Montt. Stay in nearby Puerto Varas on the shores of lake Llanquihue in the Chilean Lakes region. (B/L)

Burrowing parakeet, spectacled duck, bar-winged cinclodes, chiloe wigeon white-winged and red gartered coot.

Day 13: Endemics of the Rainforest
Explore the temperate southern beech forest, visiting three parks and protected areas in the Lake District region. This is bordering northern Patagonia. Stay in Puerto Varas. (B/L)

Magellanic wodpecker, chilean flicker, striped woodpecker, chucao tapaculo, magellanic tapaculo, black-throated tapaculo, des mur´s wiretail, white-thorated treerunner, thorn-tailed rayadito, slender-billed parakeet, chilean pigeon.

Day 14: Birding Chiloé Island
Take the ferry to Chiloé Island stop in Caulín Bird´s Sanctuary and Chacao. Birding along coast and wetlands of this Pacific island. Visit to the Penguin Colony of Puñihuil. Stay in Ancud. (B/L)

Hudsonian godwit, franklin´s gull, pincoya storm-petrel (new species), ringed kingfisher, dark-bellied cinclodes, black-necked swan, speckled teal, chiloé wigeon, black skimmer, humboldt penguin, magellanic penguin, rock/imperial & red- legged cormorants, black-browed albatross, pink footed shearwater, salvin´s albatross, wilson´s storm petrel.

Day 15: Wildlife at Chepu River
Navigation through the Chepu river and forest to reach the Coluco Lagoon. This little-known place of beaches, rivers and wetlands is rich in birds and many dead trees from a tsunami. Fly Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas in southern Patagonia on the legendary Straits of Magellan. Stay in Punta Arenas. (B/L)

Snowy-crowned tern, South American tern, red-backed hawk, cocoi heron, spectacled tyrant, wren-like rushbird, sedge wren, coscoroba swan, white-faced ibis, ochre-flanked tapaculo, among others.

 Day 16: Tierra Del Fuego
Take the ferry to Tierra del Fuego to explore the last corner of the American continent. Plenty of seabirds to see on the way including the amusing steamer ducks and rock and imperial shags. Stay in Porvenir (B/L)

Southern-Giant Petrels, southern fulmar, Magellanic diving-petrel, black-throated finch, Austral canastero, rufous-chested dotterel, fuegian snipe, short- billed miner.

Day 17:  Full Day Tierra Del Fuego – San Gregorio Steppe
Early departure from Porvenir back to the mainland crossing the steppe area of San Gregorio, a perfect spot for specialties such as tawny-throated dotterel, white-bridled finch and Patagonian tinamou among others. Overnight in Cerro Castillo (B/L/D)

Spectacled duck, Magellanic woodpecker, silvery grebe, austral parakeet, torrent Duck, patagonian sierra finch, Southamerican Snipe, Austral Pygmy Owl.

Day 18: Torres Del Paine National Park
A full day birding in one of the most spectacular parks of the world and an iconic region of Patagonia. While we admire glaciers, snowy granite peaks and breath-taking skies we will be looking for the Magellanic woodpecker, torrent duck, spectacled duck plus more specialties as the rare and endangered Austral rail. Stay in Cerro Castillo (B/L/D)

Spectacled duck, Magellanic woodpecker, silvery grebe, austral parakeet, striped woodpecker, Andean condor, cinereous harrier.

Day 19: Sierra Baguales & Torres Del Paine National Park
Early morning birding and searching of Pumas in Torres del Paine National Park. Afternoon birding at Sierra Baguales mountain range, located in the hinterland, north-east of the park. Stunning scenery of glacier-covered granitic mountains and azure lakes. Stay in Cerro Castillo (B/L/D)

Patagonian mockingbird, grey-bellied shrike tyrant, grey-breasted seedsnipe, cinnamon-bellied ground tyrant, yellow-bridled finch, and-tailed earth creeper.

Day 20: The Steppe & Punta Arenas Wetlands
Departure from Cerro Castillo to Punta Arenas for a boat navigation to Magdalena Island, one of the largest colony of Magellanic Penguins in Southamerica. Sunset at the wetlands near Punta Arenas looking for the last endemics of Patagonia as the endangered ruddy-headed goose

Overnight in Punta Arenas. (B/L/D)

Ruddy–headed goose, southern fulmar, Magellanic penguin, southern giant petrel, dolphin gull.

Day 21 To Punta Arenas
Transfer to the airport. Fly to Santiago and onward.