Chile & Argentina - Ultimate Patagonia

The arrival airport for this tour is Buenos Aires International (EZE). Welcome to Buenos Aires! Upon arrival, you will meet our local agent and be transferred to the hotel. Please note, rooms are not available until mid-day typically, so if you want a room immediately for an early morning arrival, you will need to request a night ahead (additional charge at the going room rate) to get in ahead of mid-day check-in.

This afternoon, we will visit the Costanera Sur Wildlife Reserve. It is an excellent area near downtown, where we enjoy some of the Pampa’s birds, Rufous Hornero, Yellow- billed Cardinal, and the rare South American Painted-Snipe are some of the birds possible. It is easy walking, and very birdy! This evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel. Accommodation at the Buenos Aires Hotel Awa. (D)

Argentina is a long country, as is Chile. In-country flights are included in your tour price and this morning we reposition to Trelew. Welcome officially to Patagonia!

We take a mid-morning flight to Trelew, the gateway to northeast Patagonia. From the airport we drive out to Puerto Piramides, a tiny town on Peninsula Valdes, with stops for birding in route, searching for Carbonated Sierra-finch, big flocks of Burrowing Parrot, the curious Elegant Crested Tinamou, secretive White- throated Cacholote among others. The habitat is arid scrub adjacent to the sea–classic winds wept Patagonia.

Once in town, we walk a short distance to a viewpoint to see our first Southern Right Whales before dinner. Colorful murals line the walls of the Avenue of Whales we walk, a whale tail sculpture marks the city center. This population is actually on the rise, a significant conservation achievement. They are often quite active and we may see them breaching. Accommodation at Del Nomade Eco Hotel. (B, L, D)

We will spend some time near town, exploring a short road leading towards a viewpoint with a South American Sea Lion colony. These massive marine mammals display a range of behaviors around the antics of the dominant males. Vocal, and at times aggressive, we train our scopes on them for a better view. We also have chances for finding some specialty birds, Gray-bellied and Lesser Shrike-Tyrant, Gray-hooded and Mourning Sierra-Finch.

Then we will drive towards our next stop, Punta Norte. Along the road we will have chances for finding Gray Fox, Guanacos, Lesser Rhea, Patagonian Skunk, and two species of armadillos: Long Hairy Armadillo and Pichi. Accommodation at Del Nomade Eco Hotel. (B, L, D)

A great day that will combine a variety of wildlife. Guanacos and Maras (or Patagonian Cavy) are possible along the road, providing great opportunities to photograph them. By midmorning, at Punta Delgada lighthouse, we will have the chance to visit a big Elephant seal colony. Bird life includes American and Blackish Oystercatchers, Black- browed Albatross, Brown Skuas, Southern Giant Petrels, and a number of terns like South American, Sandwich, and Royal.

In the afternoon, a boat tour for Southern Right Whales is expected. Getting close to these massive giants, enough to see their blows, study their flukes and observe their behaviors is memorable!

Accommodation at Del Nomade Eco Hotel. (B, L, D)

Our main destination today will be Punta Tombo, a narrow peninsula about two hours south of the city of Trelew. Punta Tombo is the breeding site of a colony of nearly one and a half million Magellanic Penguins. You will be able to walk through the colony area, watch them waddle between bushes where they seek shade and shelter, and be able to watch them swim and enter and exit the sea–truly wonderful views. Other species frequently seen include: Dolphin Gulls, Elegant Crested Tinamous, Southern Giant Petrels, Lesser Canastero, Scale- throated Earthcreeper, and good chances of White-headed Steamer- Duck.

During the afternoon, we will devote our time to explore the Chubut River Valley for finding Burrowing Parrot, Picui Ground-Dove, and a great number of ducks.

Accommodation at Libertador Hotel, Trelew (B, L, D)

After breakfast we will visit Laguna del Ornitologo on our way to the local airport at Trelew. We will leave mid-morning from Trelew on a flight to the southern tip of South America at Ushuaia, the gateway to Tierra del Fuego National Park, and launching place for many tours to Antarctica. This is a stunning modern city now, with a scenic waterfront lined by shops framed by massive mountain peaks behind.

This afternoon, after settling in, we will spend time exploring the Martial Glacier Area, as well as searching for Dark-faced and Ochre-naped Ground-Tyrant, the delightful Yellow-bridled Finch, and the cryptic White bellied Seedsnipe.

There are many good restaurants to choose from here, and we’ll select one to enjoy our dinner tonight.

Accommodation at Tolkeyen Hotel, Ushuaia (B, L, D)

Tierra del Fuego National Park showcases southern temperate rainforest. We will explore some of the trails it offers and visit the dense Southern Beech Forest, home of the Ashy-headed Geese, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Chiloé Wigeon, Yellow-billed Pintail, Fire-eyed Diucon, Great Grebe, the rare Magellanic Tapaculo, the charismatic Magellanic Woodpecker, and nuthatch-like White-throated Treerunner.

After lunch we will get onboard a catamaran and have unparalleled views of the Beagle Channel and the southern end of Tierra del Fuego. Bundled up with the wind in our hair, we will be looking for Black-browed Albatrosses, Blackish and Magellanic Oystercatcher, and the rare Blackish Cinclodes which occurs on the margins of small islands that dot the channel. Accommodation at Tolkeyen Hotel, Ushuaia (B, L, D)

The next leg of our journey is a flight south to El Calafate. After arrival, we will spend some time near town visiting the Laguna Nimez area. This lush wetland seems an anomaly in arid Patagonia, and we hope to find Cinereous Harriers, Lake Duck, and a chance for one of highlights of the trip for our birders and photographers, the Magellanic Plover. We then drive into the mountains, crossing into Chile.

We have chances to observe wild guanacos, and also on the way in some ridges we will be able to see Andean Condors, and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle. Once we reach the border, get the stamp for Chile then immediately arrive to Cerro Castillo and our hotel located in this little town. Accommodation at Hotel Estancia El Ovejero Patagonico. (B, L, D)

We will have an early start this morning. At 4:15 a.m. we will drive from the hotel to the Sarmiento area where we will visit Laguna Amarga farm, which is the best place to see Pumas. Upon arrival, our trackers will be waiting there for us, and from here we will look for these amazing cats. Pumas normally start early in the morning for hunting time, Guanacos are the main pray, so hopefully we will witness this moment. We will spend at least 3 hours out on the farm, and then afterwards return to the hotel, rest, and have lunch.

In the afternoon we will search again for Pumas, at this time, they like to relax and laydown for long periods of time, great chances for photographs! The experience with Pumas right now is a wild cat fan’s dream! Following this, we will return to hotel for dinner. Accommodation at Hotel Estancia El Ovejero Patagonico. (B, L, D)

Today we will visit Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. Guanacos, Lesser Rhea, and Chilean Flamingos are popular visitors. The splendid Paine Massif will be visible, and we traverse the park, on spectacular internal roads with stunning views and great places to stop for wildlife.

We have the full morning for wildlife viewing and then start our way to over to the coast. Just a short drive away is a scenic town we just have to enjoy a night in.

We will be favored with some afternoon time in this small town, Puerto Natales, where we have time to walk the picturesque waterfront area, with elegant Black-necked Swans making plenty of appearances. In the evening, we will have a delicious local meal. Mountains frame the waterfront view, and a dock jutting out into the sea lets us get close to many species. Accommodation at Casa de la Patagonia, Puerto Natales. (B, L, D)

Today we will leave from Puerto Natales, making our way to Punta Arenas, but definitely will stop to visit one of the most impressive places to see Andean Condors, here there is a huge ridge where Condors roots, when wind currents are good enough, they come and fly around, we will bring a box lunch and enjoy this nice time here. After lunch we will continue our driving time to Punta Arenas and will check in at our hotel, enjoy dinner paired with some local beer. Accommodation at Hotel Diego de Almagro. (B, BL, D)