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Patagonia
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© Jamie McMillan/Nature Portfolio  Imperial Cormorants and Dolphin Gulls, Beagle Channel |
Join us as we tour the wilds of Patagonia - penguins in their millions, Condors over the Andean glaciers, Southern Right Whales and Elephant Seals on their breeding grounds, the seabirds and forests of Tierra del Fuego, and some of the world's most awe-inspiring scenery!Patagonia is one of the world's wildest, and biologically fascinating areas. Forming the closest continental land mass to the Antarctic, connected to the supreme diversity of the South American tropics, and isolated from the rest of the world's temperate zones, it has a unique assemblage of wildlife, first described in any detail by Charles Darwin. Indeed it was his experiences in Patagonia as much as on the Galapagos that inspired "The Origin of Species". It is a rugged, wild country. We begin our journey in the harsh, windswept deserts of the Valdes Peninsula where we immediately get a flavour of the astonishing contrasts as we watch colourful Burrowing Parrots, inspect some lovely flowering cacti, and watch offshore for Magellanic Penguins and Southern Right Whales! Further south, we travel down to Tierra del Fuego, with its array of Southern Ocean seabirds, Antarctic scenery and evocative ancient forests, before heading up into the Andes, where Andean Condors vie for attention with some of the most stunning glacial scenery on Earth. Finally an extension will take us, in startling contrast, right up into the tropical forests of Iguazu, for a feast of tropical birding, and what many describe as the most spectacular waterfalls in the world! Itinerary Please note that this itinerary may change depending on flight schedules. Day 1 We take an evening flight from London Heathrow to Buenos Aires, arriving the next day. Days 2 - 3 We arrive in Buenos Aires in the morning, and connect with our flight to Trelew, arriving in the late afternoon. We travel straight out on to the Valdes Peninsula, looking for Burrowing Parrots and other local specialities en route. The Valdes Peninsula is a rugged headland almost cut off at its base by two huge bays, and affords shelter to a huge concentration of both birds and marine mammals. A boat trip will take us right out into one of the bays to get close to the Southern Right Whales for which the area is famous, and we have a chance of seeing dolphins and seabirds feeding on the anchovy swarms here too - on one trip Dusky Dolphins were feeding all around the boat. We stay for two nights at Puerto Pyramides, with whales visible from the shore. Two nights Puerto Pyramides |
© Jamie McMillan/Nature Portfolio  Magellanic Penguins |
Days 4 - 5 We travel to Punta Delgada, at the end of the peninsula on one day, looking at the desert flora and birds, and walking amongst an Elephant Seal colony. There is a chance of passing seabirds here including Southern Giant Petrel. Elsewhere there are rookeries of Fur Seal and Southern Sea-lion with their attendant Snowy Sheathbills. We travel back to Puerto Madryn for an overnight stay and, next day, head south to the penguin colony at Punta Tombo. Here there are possibly more than a million burrow-nesting Magellanic Penguins, together with Imperial, Rock and Guanay Cormorants, Chilean Skua and Dolphin Gull, with the very local White-headed Steamer Duck offshore. Two nights Puerto Madryn |
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Days 6 - 8 We fly south to Ushuaia, which claims to be the most southerly town in the world, on the southern coast of Tierra del Fuego. In a spectacular setting beside the Beagle Channel, surrounded by forests, mountains and glaciers, Ushuaia has a real frontier-town feel. The shoreline is excellent for birds, with Kelp and Upland Geese, Blackish and Magellanic Oystercatchers feeding on the rocks, and the lovely Dolphin Gull patrolling the harbour. Although at the equivalent latitude to southern Scotland, Ushuaia also has a true sub-Antarctic climate. We hope for at least some good weather during our stay! Next day we head for the mountains and Southern Beech forests of the Tierra del Fuego National Park. The ancient forests themselves are wonderfully atmospheric places, not unlike our beechwoods in England, but with amazing quantities of dead timber lying about. This provides good feeding for some of the local specialities including the dramatic Magellanic Woodpecker. One of the most fascinating features of this area is to see how the birds occupy similar niches to their European counterparts. The Nuthatch-like White-throated Treerunner, and the Treecreeper-like Thorn-tailed Rayadito are two examples. |
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We'll also take a boat trip on the Beagle Channel, with snowcapped peaks on either side, and with an opportunity to see something of the wonderful variety of South Atlantic seabirds. Possibilities include Black-browed Albatross, Southern Giant Petrel, Southern Fulmar, and Common and Magellanic Diving-petrels. On the water both Flightless and Magellanic Steamer Ducks can be found, and we may see the odd Gentoo Penguin amongst the colonies of Magellanic Penguins. On the trip we'll visit Harberton, one of the oldest farms in Tierra del Fuego. The settlement of the area was described by Lucas Bridges in his fascinating book, 'The Uttermost Part of the Earth', and, three generations later, the Bridges family will still be welcoming us here.
Three nights Ushuaia Days 9 - 11 We take a short flight to Calafate, in the foothills of the Andes, to stay on a superbly-situated Estancia overlooking a small lake, where Black-faced Ibis are constantly flying to and from their colony, and Upland Geese nurse their goslings. |
| We have two days to explore the spectacular National Park of Los Glaciares. Above the Southern Beech forest rise jagged peaks interspersed with awe-inspiring glaciers. We take a boat trip right up to two of these, the Onelli and Upsala Glaciers, for a day in some of the world's most stunning mountain landscapes. This is Andean Condor country par excellence, and we've had breathtaking views of these soaring over the glaciers | © Jamie McMillan/Nature Portfolio  Watching Condors in Los Glaciares NP |
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On the second day we drive to the awesome Perito Moreno Glacier. At this time of year, the pale blue meltwater and blue and white ice is set off wonderfully by the flaming red of the Chilean Firebushes. The National Park also has some fine local bird specialities including Spectacled Duck, Austral Parakeet, and Austral Pygmy Owl, as well as a lovely range of flowers including the lovely Dog Orchid.
Three nights Calafate Days 12 - 13 We drive into Chile today, to the spectacular peaks of the Torres del Paine National Park. If you thought the Argentinian side was stunning, just wait till you get here! Some of the mountain scenery has been described as the world's most spectacular, and, being on the other side of the Andes, we can expect a distinctively different range of birds and flowers. Here amidst the mountains, Chilean Flamingos share lakes with Black-necked Swans, Chiloe Wigeon, and Andean Ruddy Ducks, while Cinereous Harriers patrol the grassy shores. However, it will be the awesome peaks all around us that will be the star attraction. Two nights Torres del Paine NP Day 14 We drive back to Calafate to catch a return flight back to Buenos Aires. Overnight Buenos Aires Day 15 We have a morning free in Buenos Aires before catching our return flight back to London, arriving on Day 16. Iguazu Extension Days 15 - 16 A morning flight will take us north-east, to the Brazilian border. We are heading for the renowned Iguazu Falls, perhaps the most exciting in the world. The falls are surrounded by humid subtropical forest, a habitat more common in adjacent Brazil and offering some superb tropical birdwatching. Tanagers, antbirds, toucans, manakins, parrots, motmots, trogons and tyrant flycatchers will thrill us. |
© Jamie McMillan/Nature Portfolio  Iguazu Falls |
The falls themselves are truly one of the world's most impressive. Access is outstanding: a series of walkways bring you right up to the thunder and spray of the water, and to the Great Dusky Swifts that cling precariously to the rocks behind. We stay in luxurious accommodation at the International Hotel on the Argentinian side, with splendid views of the falls from the grounds and excellent access on foot to the walkways.
Two nights Iguazu Falls |
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Day 17 We fly back to Buenos Aires with time for a visit to the excellent Costanera Sur reserve. If the water levels are high, this can be teeming with waterfowl, including Lake Duck, Coscoroba and Black-necked Swans, Red-fronted and Red-gartered Coots, and a host of passerines, while a variety of raptors patrol the lagoons. Overnight Buenos Aires Day 18 We catch an afternoon flight back to London, arriving on Day 19. Accommodation will be in hotels and lodges with all rooms en suite. Transport is by minicoach with driver. Boat trips last about two hours at Valdes and four hours on the Beagle Channel (with coach back). Walking: Mostly easy walks (steps down with handrails at Iguazu Falls), all taken at a slow pace. Trails can be rocky and uneven in places. Leaders: 2004 - Neil Arnold and Luis Segura (main tour), and Miguel Castelin (Iguazu) 2005 - Keith Grant and Luis Segura (main tour), and Miguel Castelin (Iguazu) |
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Numbers : Max. 14 clients Prices: Main tour: 2004 - £ 3,795 2005 - £ 3,895 Single supp.: £ 390 Deposit: £ 300 per person. Iguazu Extension: 2004 - £ 895 2005 - £ 945 Single supp.: £ 195 Deposit: £ 200 per person. The price includes scheduled return flights London/Buenos Aires, airport taxes, internal flights as outlined above, ground and boat transportation as outlined above, accommodation on a full-board basis, admissions, incidental tips, local taxes, and the services of the leaders. The price excludes holiday insurance, drinks, optional tips to the local guides and drivers, and other personal expenses. These trips will be operated in conjunction with Limosa Holidays. |
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