Central Chile

(4 days / 3 nights)

We will explore the mountains, valleys and coast of Central Chile, a fascinating and contrasting region which holds most of the endemic bird species of the country. In the Andes will look for Diademed Sandpiper-Plover and Andean Condor while in the coast we will concentrate in the many specialties of the Humboldt Current such as Inca Tern and Humboldt Penguin. In the scrub gullies covered by xeric vegetation we will look for Chilean Tinamou, Chilean Mockingbird and the skulking White-throated and Dusky Tapaculos, Moustached Turca and Crag Chilia.

The team at 'Fantastico Sur' excel; enthusiasm shines through, whether it's sharing their avian specialities, introducing you to awe-inspiring landscapes or chatting about their countries historic magical araucaria forests and magellanic woodpecker, wind swept goas with kelp geese and magellanic plovers, stands of bamboo with skulking but stunning tapaculos. All experiences I'll never forget. I'd join a Fantastico Sur trip in the blink of an eye and would recommend anyone else to do the same.”

 

- Nigel Marven, Intrepid Film-maker, UK
Patagonia trip Dec 2006

Arrival to Santiago
El Peral NR - Montemar - Aconcagua rivermouth

After your arrival to Santiago airport and meet your birding guide, you will be transferred to the scenic Chile's Pacific coast. Here we will visit the Maipo rivermouth and surrounding coastal wetlands, including the exceptional El Peral Nature Reserve, where we will concentrate in finding the cryptic-coloured Stripe-backed Bittern, the brood-parasitic Black-headed Duck and the striking Many-colored Rush-Tyrant. We will also have a chance to find the scarce and local Warbling Doradito. Later on, we will descend towards the productive rocky coast north of Valparaíso. Here we shall search for the endemic Chilean Seaside Cinclodes and endemic seabirds of the Humboldt Current such as Red-legged and Guanay Cormorants, Peruvian Booby, Grey Gull and the stunning Inca Tern. After this introduction to the birds of the Mediterranean region of Chile, we will enjoy of the splendid accommodations of our hotel in Olmué, a very pleasant town, which enjoys one of the world's better climates.

Hostería El Copihue, Olmué (4*).


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La Campana National Park
Cachagua Humboldt Penguin colony

Early in the morning, we will visit La Campana National Park, where we will look for three interesting passerines, all endemic to Chile, Dusky-tailed Canastero, Moustached Turca and White-throated Tapaculo. We are also likely to encounter the remarkable Giant Hummingbird, Austral Pygmy Owl and Chilean Pigeon. In the afternoon we will continue exploring the coastal areas, visiting a protected breeding colony of Humboldt Penguin; we hope to be able to see here the scarce and range-restricted Southern Sea Otter. To end the day we will stop in a coastal marsh to see a variety of waterfowl including Red Shoveler, Yellow-billed Pintail, Speckled Teal and Chiloe Wigeon, all three lowland coot species, Spot-flanked Gallinule and Plumbeous Rail, which surprisingly is a rallid quite easy to spot as often walks in the open.
Hotel same as Day 1.

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El Yeso Reservoir

We will have a full day exploring the surroundings of El Yeso reservoir in the Andean foothills, where will hopefully be rewarded with sightings of the endemic Crag Chilia plus our first Andean Condors, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Variable Hawk and several other Andean specialities such as Black-winged Ground-Dove, Grey-flanked Cinclodes, Black-billed Shrike-Tyrant and Bright-rumped Siskin. Careful scanning of grasslands and streams may produce the stunning Diademed Sandpiper-plover, our main target species for the day. This is a lovely mountain spot where we will also have chances for flocking Mountain Parakeets.

Hotel Novotel, Santiago (4*).

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Farellones
Lampa Marshes

Early in the morning, we will search in the vicinity of Farellones for other Andean species including Mountain Caracara, White-sided Hillstar, Band-tailed and Creamy-rumped Miners, Cinereous, Black-fronted, White-browed and Rufous-naped Ground-tyrants plus Greater Yellow-Finch, Grey-hooded and Band-tailed Sierra-Finch. We will also look for the endemic Chilean Tinamou and Chilean Mockingbird. After an enjoyable morning birding in montane area will be transferred to Lampa marshes, located a short distance north of the city. Here our targets will be South American Painted Snipe, Rosy-billed Pochard, White-cheeked Pintail and Cocoi Heron.

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Extensions

Central Chile can be combined with one of the following optional extensions:

. Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego (8 days / 7 nights), birding journey at the edge of southern South America.
. Northern Chile (5 days / 4 nights), birding in oasis valleys and the altiplano.
. Robinson Crusoe Island (4 days / 3 nights), birding adventure in the Juan Fernández Archipelago.

Dates & Prices

This program on request and is available from September through March.

Main Trip:4 days / 3 nights.
Meet/Depart:Santiago, Chile.
Group Size:are guaranteed to depart with a minimum of 2 participants. Maximum group size of 6 participants.

RATES:
The above price is per person in US$, based on double occupancy.
Single supplement (TBA) will be added if single accommodations are requested or forced.

The trip price includes:
All accommodations, meals and guide services as stated in the itinerary, private ground transportation during the tour plus park entrance fees.

The trip price excludes:
Tipping, travel insurance, à la carte dishes, snacks, drinks, laundry, telephone calls and anything else of a purely personal nature.



TOUR REGISTRATION: To register for this tour, complete the FANTASTICO SUR registration form and return it (by fax or email) with a deposit of US$ 700 per person. Full payment of the tour fee is due 90 days prior to tour departure.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Notice of cancellation can only be accepted IN WRITING from the person who signed the booking form and takes effect on the day such noticed is received by us.
Refunds are made according to the following schedule:
If cancellation is made 120 days or more before departure date, the deposit less US$ 300 / £ 155 is refundable. If cancellation is made between 120 and 90 days before departure, the deposit is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded. If cancellation is made fewer than 90 days before departure date, no refund is available. This policy and fee schedule also applies to pre-trip and post trip extensions, as well as any transfers from one tour to another. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself.