Chile: Atacama to Tierra del Fuego

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.