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Patagonia

The Uttermost Part of the Earth

Sunday 28 October - Saturday 10 November 2007 (14 days)
Iguazú Falls extension to Tuesday 13 November 2007 (3 days)

We tour the wilds of Patagonia for 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. Coupled with an extension to the mighty, bird-rich Iguazu Falls, this must be one of the most varied tours we operate!

Patagonia is one of the world's wildest and most 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 Iguazú, for a feast of tropical birding, and what many describe as the most spectacular waterfalls in the world!

Itinerary
Please note that the precise itinerary may change depending on flight schedules.

Day 1
We take an evening flight from London Heathrow to Buenos Aires, arriving the next day.

Day 2
We arrive in Buenos Aires in the morning, with time for a visit to the excellent Costanera Sur reserve later. 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

Days 3 - 5
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.

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 6 - 8
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.

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 9 - 11
We fly to Trelew, arriving in the late afternoon. We travel to the coast at Puerto Madryn, looking for Burrowing Parrots and other local specialities en route. We stay for three nights at an estancia with its own Elephant Seals and Southern Sea-lions.

Next day we 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.

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. We'll spend a day in the southern part of the peninsula, with its dry steppe-like habitats. Here Lesser Rheas and Elegant-crested Tinamous stalk the plains, while Cinereous Harriers quarter the grasslands. Amongst the scattered bushes we look for local specialities including White-browed Cachalote, Patagonian Canastero, Scaly-throated and Band-tailed Earthcreepers and Mourning Sierra-finch. Amongst the mammals the remarkable hare-like Mara can be found here, while the desert-like flora will include an array of cacti in flower.

Offshore there is a chance of passing seabirds including Southern Giant Petrel, and here and there are rookeries of Fur Seal and Southern Sea-lion with their attendant Snowy Sheathbills.

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. The whales allow the small boats remarkably close, and, with luck, we'll see the huge adults 'breaching' -leaping clear from the water - or 'lobtailing' - thrusting their tail flukes out of the water before smashing them down on to the surface.

We have a chance of seeing dolphins and seabirds feeding on the anchovy swarms here too - in the past we have seen Dusky Dolphins feeding all around the boat.
Three nights near Puerto Madryn

Day 12
We have a final morning birdwatching in El Calafate before we catch a return flight back to Buenos Aires.
Overnight Buenos Aires

Day 13
We have a morning free in Buenos Aires before catching our return flight back to London, arriving on Day 14.

Iguazú Extension Days 13 - 15
A morning flight will take us north-east, to the Brazilian border. We are heading for the renowned Iguazú 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.

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 a hotel on the Argentinian side, close to the falls and the reserve, and with excellent birdwatching in the grounds.
Two nights Iguazú Falls

Day 16
We fly back to Buenos Aires to connect with the afternoon flight back to London, arriving on Day 17.

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 Iguazú Falls), all taken at a slow pace. Trails can be rocky and uneven in places

Leaders :	Keith Grant and local guides
Numbers:	Max. 14 clients

Prices:
Main tour:	£	3,695
Single supp.:	£	345
Deposit:	£	500	per person

Iguazú Extension:	£	695
Single supp.:	£	115
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. For an ex-international flight cost (Buenos Aires/Buenos Aires), please deduct £ 595 from the tour cost. This trip will be operated in conjunction with Limosa Holidays.

Patagonia The Uttermost Part of the Earth

Patagonia

The Uttermost Part of the Earth