Itinerary

Southern Right Whale © Luis Segura/Trogon Tours.

Click here to see more photos from our 2007 trip to Argentina.

Days 1 - 3
Pre-Tour Extension in Iguazú Falls. Click here for Details.

Day 4, Oct 13th
For those participating in the extension we will have another opportunity to view the falls before flying back to Buenos Aires. After our arrival in Buenos Aires we will transfer from the domestic airport to our hotel. Those arriving at the International airport for the start of the main tour will transfer to our hotel. Afternoon birding tour to Costanera Sur Nature Reserve in Buenos Aires. Birds we are likely to see include Crested Duck, Black-necked and Coscoroba Swans, Pale-breasted Thrush, Monk Parakeet and Rufus-collared Sparrow.

Overnight:
Hotel Lafayette in Buenos Aires
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Day 5, Oct 14th
Our early morning flight will take us to Trelew or Puerto Madryn, depending upon the airline we choose. On arrival we will tour Punta Tombo to experience the sights and sounds of the largest nesting colony of Magellanic Penguins. There are approximately 200,000 active nests in the colony with approximately half a million total birds present. Other birds we are likely to see at or near the colony include Kelp and Dolphin Gulls, South American and Cayenne Terns, Chilean Skuas and Lesser Rheas. Having saturated our senses we will return to Puerto Madryn for overnight.

Overnight:
In Gaiman at Posada los Mimbres.
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Mara © Luis Segura/Trogon Tours.

Day 6, Oct 15th
Morning birding in the area of the Lower Valley of the Chubut River where we are likely to see White-headed (Chubut) Steamer Duck, Chimango Caracara, Southern Lapwing and Eared Dove. Afternoon transfer to the small village of Puerto Piramides on the Valdes Peninsula birding en-route with possible birds seen including Burrowing Parrot, Elegant Crested-Tinamou and Cinereous Harrier. On arrival to Puerto Piramides we will take a boat tour for to watch some of the nearly 600 Southern Right Whales that visit Nuevo and San Jose Gulfs for birthing and breeding. Two nights in Piramides.

Overnight:
In Puerto Piramides at 'The Paradise'.
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Day 7, Oct 16th
Today we have a full day tour of the Valdes Peninsula, a provincial reserve, proclaimed by UNESCO as a Natural Heritage Site. Birding will include views of the Lesser Rhea, possibly with chicks, Patagonian yellow-Finch, the endemic White-throated Cacholote, Kelp Gulls, Southern Giant Petrel, South American Tern and Magellanic Penguin. We will also visit colonies of marine mammals on the outer coast of the Peninsula, including the Southern Elephant Seals and Southern Sea Lions. There will also be a possibility of sightings of Orcas. In addition we will be on the lookout for Guanacos and Maras (Patagonian Cavy), a rare species of rodent.

Tufted Tit-tyrant © Luis Segura/Trogon Tours.

Overnight:
In Puerto Piramides at 'The Paradise'.
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Day 8, Oct 17th
Today we will transfer to Trelew or Puerto Madryn for a two-hour morning flight to Ushuaia, the southern-most city in the world. Ushuaia is located on the shores of the Beagle Channel and surrounded by snow-clad mountains. In the afternoon we will bird the surroundings of the city and the shores of the Beagle Channel. Birds we are likely to see include Austral Thrush, Dolphin Gull, Imperial Shag, Kelp Goose, both Flying and Flightless Steamer-Duck and both Blackish and Magellanic Oystercatchers. We will spend the next three nights in Ushuaia.

Overnight:
The Tolkeyen Hotel in Ushuaia
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Day 9, Oct 18th
We have a full day tour to Tierra del Fuego National Park ahead of us today. The Fuegian Forests of the park are home to the 'False Beech', Nothofagus Betuloides and Pumilo, also found in New Zealand, remnants of the ancient Gondwana landmass that once joined these two distant regions. It is here where we'll have our best chances for birds such as Austral Pygmy Owl, Magellanic Woodpecker, and other Andean woods specialties such as Thorn-tailed Rayadito,Tufted Tit-tyrant and Fire-eyed Diucon. The forest is also home to the Culpeo or Fuegian Fox.

Overnight:
The Tolkeyen Hotel in Ushuaia
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Snowy Sheathbill © Luis Segura/Trogon Tours.

Day 10, Oct 19th
This morning we will board a catamaran for a full day excursion on the Beagle Channel, named after the HMS Beagle, the ship that carried Charles Darwin to this part of the world. Today we will have the chance to see a mixed colony of Magellanic and Gentoo penguins, as well as different species of Pelagic birds including Chilean Skua, Black-browed Albatross, Southern Fulmar, Pintado Petrel, Wilsons Storm-Petrel and Magellanic Diving-Petrel.

Overnight:
The Tolkeyen Hotel in Ushuaia
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Day 11, Oct 20st
This Mornings flight to El Calafate is approximately one hour long. On arrival, we will bird our way to El Chalten, located in the transition zone between the Patagonian Steppe and the Sub Antarctic forest that is dominated by tall and short deciduous Beech. This small village sits within Los Glaciares National Park at the foot of the world famous Mount Fitz Roy. In this area, we will have the chance to see birds of the Patagonian high plateau. Birds we will look for include Austral Parakeets, Spectacled duck, Torrent Duck, Cinnamon-bellied Ground-Tyrant, Rufus-tailed Plantcutter and Magellanic Woodpecker. Two nights in Chalten. Mammals we are likely to see include Seven-banded Armadillo, Guanaco and Patagonian Grey and Red Foxes.

Overnight:
Posada Lunajuim in El Chaltén
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Hooded Grebe © Luis Segura/Trogon Tours.

Day 12, Oct 21nd
Today we will have a VERY LONG drive, in search of two of the most spectacular and unique birds of Patagonia: the Hooded Grebe and the Austral Rail. From El Chalten, we will take off for the Patagonian High Plateau, where we'll spend the entire day searching for these two, and other specialties. Other species we are likely to see are; Chocolate-vented Tyrant, Tawny-throated Dotterel, Short-tailed Miner, Dark-faced Ground-Tyrant, and Least Seed-Snipe. With a little luck we may also find Hog-nosed Skunk and Hairy Armadillo.

Overnight:
Posada Lunajuim in El Chaltén
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Day 13, Oct 22rd
This morning we will drive to El Calafate. On arrival we will visit Laguna Nimez, a nature reserve located in town where we will have our best chances for the Magellanic Plover, Two-banded Plover and some of the migrant shorebirds. Other birds we are likely to see include Cinereous Harrier, Black-faced Ibis, Chilean Flamingo, Ashy-headed Goose, Southern Widgeon, Aplomado falcon and Chilean Flicker. After birding in town we will proceed to our lodge, located 20 Km. west of the city on the way to Los Glaciares National Park.

Overnight:
El Galpon del Glaciar near Calafate
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Day 14, Oct 23th
Today we set out for a full day visit to Los Glaciares National Park where we will have our best chances for Andean Condors. Our main focus in the park will be the magnificent Moreno Glacier, the only advancing glacier in Argentina, where ice falling from the face of the glacier adds an element of excitement to the visual splendor. In the surrounding marshes we will look for Black-necked Swan, Andean Ruddy-Duck, Lake Duck and South American Snipe. Other birds we may be lucky enough to see are Lesser Horned Owl and Patagonian Tinamou.

Overnight:
El Galpon del Glaciar near Calafate
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Day 15, Oct 24th
This morning we will take a two-hour flight to Buenos Aires where we will connect with our international flights home.
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Click here to see more photos from our 2007 trip to Argentina.