Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego

(8 days / 7 nights)

During this journey we shall be surrounded by some of the wildest and most impressive landscapes on Earth. Beginning in Punta Arenas we will cross the mythical Straits of Magellan, and while so doing, we shall enjoy the company of Peale's dolphin and the graceful flight of Black-browed albatrosses and Antarctic giant petrels. On the windswept steppes of Tierra del Fuego, we shall find a great diversity of ducks and geese, whilst Chilean flamingoes are also present. The Torres del Paine National Park is considered one of the most beautiful national parks in the world. A huge diversity of habitats including steppes, shrublands and Nothofagus forests, all set in a landscape of extraordinary beauty and dramatic mountains and glaciers.

“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 Punta Arenas
Otway Sound & Rio Verde

After meeting your guide at the airport (before 1pm), upon your arrival from Santiago, you will be transferred in a private vehicle to Otway Sound to visit its Magellanic Penguin colony. We will be able to see our first Lesser Rhea along the road. Later we will visit the inland sound of Skyring and Fitz Roy Channel. Here we expect to see some dolphins and we will be scanning the surrounding cliffs, which hold an Andean Condor roost.

Hostal Terrasur or similar, Punta Arenas (2*).
Available upgrade to Hotel Cabo de Hornos or similar (4*).

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Ferry to Tierra del Fuego
Laguna de Los Cisnes Area

On our ferry crossing to Porvenir, Tierra del Fuego, we will enjoy the company of Black-browed Albatrosses and Southern Giant Petrels and Magellanic Diving-Petrels. Among our target species in Tierra del Fuego will be interesting shorebirds such as Two-banded and Magellanic Plovers and Rufous-chested Dotterel. Then we will explore the shrubby slopes and moorlands of the Baquedano Hills, as we search for specialties such as Magellanic Horned Owl, Austral Canastero and the stunning Black-throated Finch.

Hotel España, Porvenir (2*).

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Birding Tierra del Fuego
Useless Bay

Today we will explore the huge embayment of Bahía Inútil - Useless Bay - where it is likely to find a wealth of seabirds and other aquatic birds. We will concentrate in finding Flightless Steamer-Duck, Kelp Goose as well as King, Imperial and Rock Shags. We might find large numbers of gulls such as Kelp, Brown-hooded, the beautiful Dolphin Gull and South American Tern. Along the bay we will have a slight chance of finding King Penguin.

Hotel España, Porvenir (2*).

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Ferry to Mainland
Pali Aike Road - Drive to Puerto Natales

Today we will cross the windswept steppes of Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia in search of its specialties including Ruddy-headed Goose, Least Seedsnipe, Tawny-throated Dotterel, Short-billed Miner, Band-tailed Earthcreeper and Chocolate-vented Tyrant. A short ferry ride will allow us to be on mainland once again and if we are lucky to see the striking Commerson's Dolphin following the wake. Chilean Flamingos, Upland Goose, Coscoroba Swans, Silver Teal, Black-headed Duck, Rosy-billed Pochard will be possible to see. Thousands of waders such as Wilson's Phalarope, Baird's and White-rumped Sandpipers will be common at the roadside wetlands while we explore and enjoy of the beauty of this "big sky" open country.

Weskar Lodge or similar, Puerto Natales (3*). Available upgrade to Hotel Costa Australis or similar (4*).

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Torres del Paine National Park

During our journey to the park, we will observe how the strong southerly winds have sculpted the vegetation of the Patagonian steppes. We will try to find southern grey foxes and Patagonian skunks while enjoying our first contact with southern beech (Nothofagus) forests. We will scan the fast-flowing rivers hoping to find the remarkable Torrent Duck. In the eastern side of the park, we will delight in seeing groups of the most southern representative of the camelid family, the charismatic Guanaco. The reed-fringed lagoons can be very interesting; we hope to find Andean Duck, Silvery and White-tufted Grebes and with luck the elusive and recently re-discovered Austral Rail.

Hostería Las Torres, Torres del Paine (4*).

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Torres del Paine National Park

Today we will visit Lake Grey to enjoy the dramatic sight of its southern shore dominated by stunning blue icebergs. Our visits to the surrounding sub-Antarctic forests will provide ample opportunity to observe Thorn-tailed Rayadito, White-throated Treerunner, Austral Parakeet, Austral Parakeet and the striking Magellanic Woodpecker.

Hostería Las Torres, Torres del Paine (4*).

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Drive to Punta Arenas
Sierra BAguales

During the morning we will explore the Baguales Range, located north-east of Torres del Paine. Along the road, in the scrubby gullies, we will look for interesting passerines such as Patagonian Mockingbird and Gray-bellied Shrike-Tyrant. As we continue exploring this montane habitat we might find the local White-throated Caracara, Grey-breasted Seedsnipe, Cinnamon-bellied and Ochre-naped Ground-Tyrants, Patagonian and Greater Yellow-Finches and the stunning Yellow-bridled Finch. A sensational vista of the eastern flank of the Paine Massif will be a superb grande finale to this exciting journey of discovery among the natural wonders of the "end of the world". Later, we will be transferred to Punta Arenas.

Hostal Terrasur or similar, Punta Arenas (2*). Available upgrade to Hotel Cabo de Hornos or similar (4*).

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Transfer to Airport

Transfer to Punta Arenas airport where our trip ends.

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Extensions

Birding Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego can be combined with one of the following optional extensions:

. Beagle Channel and Navarino Island (3 days / 2 nights), birding journey at the edge of southern South America.
. Northern Chile (5 days / 4 nights), birding in oasis valleys and the altiplano.
. Central Chile (4 days / 3 nights), endemics and specialties from the Andes mountaintops to the sea level.

Dates & Prices

This program is operated as both a schedule departure (leaving on a set date) and a custom trip (flexible option which runs on a date you choose giving you more privacy).


Main Trip:8 days / 7 nights.
Meet/Depart:Punta Arenas, Chile.
Group Size:Maximum group size of 6 participants.

Trip A: Sat Jan 19-26, 2008
Trip B: Sat Feb 2-9, 2008
Trip C: Sat Oct 18-25, 2007
Trip D: Sat Nov 15-22, 2008
Trip E: Sat Dec 6-13, 2008

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.
Upgrade to Hotel Cabo de Hornos or similar, Punta Arenas (2 nights) and Hotel Costa Australis, Puerto Natales (1 night): TBA per person, double occupancy. Single Room Supplement: TBA.

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

The trip price excludes:
Domestic flights (Santiago - Punta Arenas - Santiago), tipping, travel insurance, à la carte dishes, snacks, drinks, laundry, telephone calls and anything else of a purely personal nature.

Do you want us to arrange your flights from Santiago to Punta Arenas?
Domestic flights Santiago - Punta Arenas - Santiago (approximately US$ 160-300 per person).
Duration of the flight: 4 hours (with a stop-over in Puerto Montt).



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.