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Bird Watching in Torres Del Paine (9D/8N)
offered by supplier M09819 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 9
day(s)
Group Size: 4
- 8
people
Destination(s):
Chile
Specialty Categories:
Birdwatching
National Parks
Season: October - March
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: Yes
Minimum Per Person Price: 2595 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 2795 US Dollar (USD)
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The Region of Magallanes lodges a patrimony of over 200 frequent species, which added to the occasional species corresponds to more than 50% of the national bird population. A fascinating collection of birds coupled with some of the most spectacular scenery on earth makes birding in Patagonia a superb experience. For the active birder, we can offer excitement amidst a unique culture with bird life not found anywhere else in the world.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: We suggest you take the early flight Santiago - Punta Arenas (4 hours), flying over Los Andes and observing incredible views of the Patagonian Ice Fields. Upon your arrival to Punta Arenas, considered the most southern city on the continent, a private transfer will be waiting to drive you to your hotel in down town. (Our company will offer a pick-up from the airport at 3:35 PM, corresponding with LAN airline, Flight # 285, or at 3 PM from your hotel in town). (20 minutes by transfer) (Night at Hotel Isla Rey Jorge)
Day 2: As we leave Punta Arenas we will be able to see the Strait of Magellan and the island Tierra del Fuego. Shortly after leaving town, we will stop at the Magellan penguin colony on Otway Sound. Our 3-hour drive will take us through open pampas and huge ranches (estancias) and chances are we will be able to observe one of the most typical animals in this area, the ñandu, (similar to ostrich). Along the roadside are brackish pools, the ideal habitat for Chilean Flamingo, Upland and Ashy-headed Geese, Silver Teal, Chiloe Wigeon, Black-necked Swans and noisy parties of Black-faced Ibis.
We head north to Puerto Natales, located on the Sound of Last Hope, a small fishing town surrounded by mountains, home to a colony of Blue-eyed Cormorants, and our lodging for the first night, the brand new Hotel Altiplanico, with an amazing view of the mountains and located in front of the ocean. After we settle in, we’ll have a welcome dinner with our guide regarding the program. (4 hours by private transfer) (B-L-D) (Night at Hotel Altiplanico Sur)
Day 3: After a good breakfast we head out driving along an unpaved road to the Torres Del Paine National Park. Upon entering the park we will have excellent photographic and birding opportunities as we drive alongside lagoons frequented by Chilean flamencos and black-necked swans. From here we will hike along an easy trail that follows the park border until we reach the park-ranger station at Laguna Amarga. This path provides excellent opportunities to see guanacos (Llama family) and the Andean Condor. During the next two nights, you can take advantage of one of the services in the Spa Las Torres (the only full service spa in the park). (2 hours by private transfer, 3 hours hike). (Night at Hosteria Las Torres).
(B, L, D)
Day 4: Today we will stay close to the Estancia exploring the southern beech woods of the park. The nearby river has a population of Torrent Ducks, and other species found here include the Austral Pygmy Owl, Striped Woodpecker, Rufous-tailed Plantcutter and Dark-faced Ground-tyrant. In the wetlands we can search for Ashy-headed Geese and the rare Spectacled Duck. We will also be able to observe herds of guanacos. This mammal has the most southerly distribution of any camelid. (3-5 hours walk). (Night at Hosteria Las Torres).
(B, L, D)
Day 5: Today we travel to Grey Lake, one of the highlights of the park. The road passes through a landscape of towering mountains, glaciers, wetlands, steppes and forests. This unique habitat harbors a number of species restricted to southern latitudes. Our first birding area has Magellanic Woodpeckers and the most southerly representative of the parrot family, the Austral Parakeet. Old logs and decaying trees attract the unusual White-throated Treerunner. On the steppes we may find Bar-winged Cinclodes, Scaly-throated Earthcreeper and Patagonian Mockingbird. The small wetlands regularly host both the Great and White-tufted Grebes, Andean Ruddy Duck and Red Shoveler. Forests of southern beech; Lenga, Coihue and Ñirre surround the area located on the shores of Grey Lake in the western area of the park. Then we drive to the administration area where we lodge at the shore of the Serrano River with amazing views of the Cuernos Del Paine. (3 hours by private transfer, 3-5 hours walk). (Night at Hotel Rio Serrano).
(B, L, D)
Day 6: Today we spend the day around the administration area looking for a variety of birds, including the Ashy-headed Goose, Upland Goose, Plumbeous Rail, and Austral Rail if we are lucky. We have the opportunity to stop by the visitor’s center and enjoy the small museum. (2 hours by private transfer, 3 hours walk). (Night at Hotel Rio Serrano).
(B, L, D)
Day 7: A private transfer will take us to Sarmiento Lake. Here we start an easy walk to the shore of the lake to observe the particular calcium formations and birds in several lagoons and the several lagoons and swamps. The high-altitude habitats of the Southern Andes are our destination for the afternoon. On route we should see Cinereous Harrier, Ochre-napped Ground-tyrant, Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant, Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail and the delicate Eared Dove. We can scan the cascading upland waters for Torrent Duck and, as we gain height and the land becomes more arid, seek little-known species such as Yellow-bridled Finch and the rare White-throated Caracara.
Afterwards we will drive to The Estancia Cerro Guido is one of the last remaining establishments that still retain many of the typical characteristics of the period when The Sociedad Explotadora of Tierra del Fuego was functioning. The Estancia has 60.000 hectares and about 50.000 sheep. The Villages has a beautiful view of the Paine Massif and has preserved all the typical buildings including the lodge, main house, administration office, workers houses, kitchen, bakery, school, carpentry workshop, and forge, dairy, stable and sheep-sharing shed. (3 hours walk in the morning, 3 hours by private transfer). (Night at Lodge Cerro Guido).
(B, L, D)
Day 8: The increasing interest in observing wildlife has made it necessary to have specialist guides and to provide special bird watching tours. In the Sierra Baguales area one can often observe birds that are difficult to see in other parts of the region, for example: White-throated Caracara , Yellow-bridled Finch, Patagonian Yellow-Finch, Plumbeous Sierra-Finch, Chocolate-vented Tyrant, Ochre-napped Ground Tyrant, White-browed Ground Tyrant, Cinnamon-bellied Ground Tyrant, Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant, Patagonian Mockingbird, Tawny-Throated Dotterel, White-bellied Seed-snipe, Gray-breasted Seed-snipe, Torrent Duck. We will leave from Cerro Guido Lodge and head towards Las Chinas Valley before heading up into the mountains, stopping at any time to observe a particular bird. We will have our lunch where our guide chooses before returning to our base. (Note: In the language of the gaucho bagual means a domesticated animal that has turned wild). (4 hours by private transfer). (Night at Lodge Cerro Guido).
(B, L, D)
Day 9: We will take a private transfer to Punta Arenas. (5 hours by transfer).
(B)
Note: The schedules indicated above are subject to change due to weather conditions or unexpected circumstances beyond our control, but we will try our best to keep them unaltered.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price:
4 pax USD $ 2.795 per person
5 - 8 pax USD $ 2.595 per person
Single Supplement USD $ 1.175
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Chile
Birdwatching
National Parks
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