Chile: Atacama to Tierra del Fuego

15 days
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Group Tour
While its birdlist may be smaller than that of its tropical neighbors, Chile’s habitat diversity, spectacular birds, and breathtaking scenery more than make up for it. If scouring high Andean bogs for Diademed Sandpiper­-Plovers, stalking huet-­huets in lichen­ draped forest, or sifting through vast flocks of seabirds in the Humboldt Current sounds like fun, ...
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Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Visit La Campana National Park and view Endemic Dusky­-tailed Canastero on the scrubby hillsides
    • Explore Santiago and enjoy seeing endemic, Chilean Seaside Cinclodes, view offshore for Humboldt Penguins riding the waves and flocks of Inca Terns hanging in the wind
    • Visit Embalse El Yeso
    • Visit Guayacán to Talca and drive to Altos de Lircay, a Nothofagus forest reserve that holds some of Chile’s most wanted birds
    • Explore Nahuelbuta National Park

What's this trip about?

    While its birdlist may be smaller than that of its tropical neighbors, Chile’s habitat diversity, spectacular birds, and breathtaking scenery more than make up for it. If scouring high Andean bogs for Diademed Sandpiper­-Plovers, stalking huet-­huets in lichen­ draped forest, or sifting through vast flocks of seabirds in the Humboldt Current sounds like fun, check out this fascinating tour. Wine lovers will also have ample chances to sample the exquisite local harvests.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transport
Start CitySantiago
End CitySantiago

Travel Themes

  • Nature & Wildlife
  • Birding
  • National Parks

Destinations

Activities

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Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: Santiago

Your flights arrive in Santiago, and you’ll be transferred to our hotel for the night. Since most flights arrive in the morning, we’ll have some afternoon birding at wetlands near Santiago to look for Many-colored Rush-tyrant, Wren-like Rushbird, Stripe-backed Bittern, and other marshland species.

Day 2: Santiago to the Pacific Coast

We’ll head westwards towards the ocean, stopping at a large lagoon for the uniquely parasitic Black­-headed Duck. On the coast we’ll search for our first endemic, Chilean Seaside Cinclodes, and check offshore for Humboldt Penguins riding the waves and flocks of Inca Terns hanging in the wind. We’ll spend two nights in Viña del Mar on the coast.

Day 3: Humboldt Pelagic

This seabird spectacular is often described as the best in South America. The nutrient rich Antarctic waters of the Humboldt Current come loaded with seabirds. Giant ocean wanderers like Salvin’s and Buller’s Albatrosses will vie for our attention with large rafts of ...

Day 4: La Campana NP

The mixed heath and oak woodland in this park is the best site for the tricky endemic White­-throated Tapaculo. If you have looked for dowdy black tapaculos in the Andes, think again, as many Chilean species are huge and attractively patterned. While searching we may ...

Day 5: Embalse El Yeso

Today we’ll head into the high Andes for the first time, the realm of the unique Diademed Sandpiper­-Plover. The scenic mountain road leading up to the reservoir provides some outstanding Andean birding ­ we’ll check the rocky boulders for bold Moustached Turcas using them as calling-posts, and for the endemic Crag Chilia.

Day 6: Guayacán to Talca

We have a fairly long drive south to the town of Talca, where we spend the night. In the afternoon we’ll visit Altos de Lircay, a Nothofagus forest reserve that holds some of Chile’s most wanted birds: the giant Chestnut­-throated Huet­-huet, the impressive Magellanic Woodpecker, and the nuthatch-impressionist White­-throated Treerunner.

Day 7: Reserva Lircay to Angol

After another morning in Lircay, we’ll visit the banks of a large river where the lovely Burrowing Parrot can often be found. In the afternoon we head to Angol, where we will spend one night.

Day 8: Nahuelbuta NP to Osorno

An early morning departure will see us overlooking some hillside fields at dawn, scanning for the shy Chilean Tinamou. Once in the park we enter one of the most distinctive and atmospheric forests in the Americas, with an interesting mix of beech and Araucaria trees. ...

Day 9: Puyehue NP to Punta Arenas

Fields near Puyehue often have large feeding flocks of the endemic Slender­-billed Parakeet, while the forest inside can be good for shy species we may still need, such as Ochre­-flanked Tapaculo. In the afternoon we’ll take a short ferry ride over to Chiloe Island wh...

Day 10: Punta Arenas to Tierra del Fuego

An early morning departure will take us north to the moorlands of Pali Aike National Park, which play host to two impressive shorebirds, Rufous-chested and Tawny-throated Dotterels, in addition to Least Seedsnipe and Chocolate-vented Tyrant, a remarkable ground-dwelli...

Day 11: Cerro Sombrero to Porvenir

We will spend the day on Tierra del Fuego; this is the best place for the rare Ruddy-headed Goose, though finding them requires sifting through throngs of the more common Upland Geese and Ashy-headed Geese. Other possibilities include Coscoroba Swan, Short-billed Miner, and Aplomado Falcon. The end of the day will find us in Porvernir, where we’ll overnight.

Day 12: Tierra del Fuego to Punta Arenas

In the early morning we will make our way to a series of large saline lagoons where we’ll search for the monotypic Magellanic Plover, while Chilean Skuas haunt the skies above. A recently discovered King Penguin colony may also be visited before we board an early afternoon ferry back to Punta Arenas. We have one night in Punta Arenas.

Day 13: Punta Arenas to Torres del Paine NP.

An early departure from Punta Arenas will bring us north to Torres del Paine NP, with its dramatic mountain scenery; we will stay here one night. A large reed fringed lake in the park holds the rare and seldom seen Austral Rail, in addition to Silvery Grebe and waterfowl.

Day 14: Torres del Paine to Puerto Natales

We’ll explore some snow dusted valleys outside the park that hold the scarce White­-throated Caracara, and if we are lucky we may also find a flock of the rare Yellow­-bridled Finch feeding in an alpine meadow. Good numbers of regal Andean Condors are also expected. We’ll spend the night in Puerto Natales.

Day 15: Punta Arenas to Santiago

We’ll drive south to Punta Arenas and fly back to Santiago, arriving in mid afternoon with plenty of time to connect with international flights home. If you are joining the extension, we will spend this night in Santiago.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $5,890
Price per day$393
Single supplement (single occupancy)$900
Last Updated: 8/2/2018

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Tropical Birding.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • International Flights
    • Passport and Visa Charges
    • Personal Expenses

Accommodation

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Age Requirements
No age restrictions
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Additional Information
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Trip ID
tropic1-ChiAtaTro

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