This tour covers Chile’s full birding range, moving through high Andean plateaus, snow-capped volcanoes, fertile coastal plains, rich Pacific shorelines, and vibrant wetlands. The birdlife is as varied as the scenery, with highlights including Andean Condor, the critically endangered Chilean Woodstar, Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, albatrosses and petrels on an offshore pelagic trip, and the southernmost parrots on Earth sheltering in lush Valdivian forest. Throughout the journey, participants encounter a remarkable concentration of Chilean and Southern Cone endemics, making this one of the most complete birding experiences available anywhere in the country. The tour also includes meaningful encounters with conservation projects and local experts, offering insight into the research and management efforts currently underway to protect Chile’s most threatened species.
Quick overview
Dates
October 10 – 22, 2027
Number of days and nights
13 days / 12 nights
Start and end point
Starting: October 10, 2027 — Holiday Inn Santiago Airport. Arrive before 3:00 pm local time. Guide meets the group in the evening.
Finishing: October 22, 2027 — Santiago International Airport (SCL). Plan departing flights after 3:00 pm local time.
Group size
Minimum number of participants: 6
Maximum number of participants: 14
Brief itinerary
Terms and Conditions for ABA Travel and Events
Price in shared room
Single supplement
Included
Excluded
Detailed itinerary
Day 1 | Sunday, October 10 | Arrival in Santiago
Arrive in Santiago and check in at the Holiday Inn Santiago Airport, located within the airport complex and just a short walk from the international terminal. Check-in is available from 3:00 pm. In the evening, your guide will meet the group at the hotel to review the itinerary, answer questions, and go over key trip details.
Overnight: Holiday Inn Santiago Airport
Day 2 | Monday, October 11 | Birding the Arica Valleys
An early morning flight takes us north to Arica, a city near the Peruvian border and the gateway to Chile’s Big North—a region defined by the vast Atacama Desert and the high-altitude Andean steppe of the Altiplano. Despite lying within the driest desert on Earth, the valleys surrounding Arica are remarkably productive for birds, fed by Andean runoff that creates fertile oases of cultivated floodplains and riparian habitat.
Morning birding focuses on hummingbirds, with target species including Oasis Hummingbird and Peruvian Sheartail. The highlight of the day is the endemic and critically endangered Chilean Woodstar, whose global population is estimated at only around 350 individuals. To maximize our chances, we travel south to the Camarones Valley, which holds the largest known remaining population. Additional species may include Pied-crested Tit-Tyrant, Tamarugo Conebill, and Raimondi’s Yellow-Finch.
The afternoon continues with visits to key conservation areas south of Arica, guided by a ROC conservation expert. These include the Chilean Woodstar conservation zone, the Monumento Natural Picaflor de Arica, coastal Storm Petrel breeding colonies, and the Peruvian Tern conservation area. Later, we bird the Lluta River estuary, targeting shorebirds including Killdeer, Snowy Plover, American and Blackish Oystercatchers, Surfbird, Willet, and a diverse array of gulls and terns.
Overnight: Hotel Apacheta
Day 3 | Tuesday, October 12 | Birding En Route to Putre and the Geoglyphs
Today we travel inland toward Putre, a charming Andean town at 3,500 m (11,483 ft) in the pre-Andean highlands, which will serve as our base for exploring the Altiplano. The drive itself offers excellent birding through arid and semi-arid terrain, with targets including Peruvian Thick-knee, West Peruvian Dove, Croaking Ground-Dove, Groove-billed Ani, Burrowing Owl, Andean Swift, Peruvian Elaenia, Vermilion Flycatcher, Cinereous Conebill, Chestnut-throated Seedeater, Blue-black Grassquit, Slender-billed Finch, and Peruvian Meadowlark.
En route, we stop to visit ancient geoglyphs etched into the desert hillsides—remarkable pre-Columbian figures depicting animals, human forms, and geometric patterns, believed to have marked ancient caravan routes linking the coast to the high Andes. In the afternoon we arrive in Putre to settle in and begin acclimatizing to the altitude.
Overnight: Hotel Q’antati
Day 4 | Wednesday, October 13 | Full Day at Lauca National Park
A full day in Lauca National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1981, located approximately 50 km from Putre. The park is dominated by the snow-capped volcanoes Pomerape and Parinacota, both rising above 6,300 m (20,669 ft), and is centered on the iconic Chungará and Cotacotani Lakes, among the highest-altitude lakes in the world.
Target species include the most sought-after bird of the day: Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, found in elevated bogs and bofedales. Additional targets include Puna Rhea, Puna Tinamou, Puna Ibis, Andean Goose, Giant Coot, Andean Grebe, Puna Teal, Andean Gull, Andean Lapwing, Puna Plover, Andean Avocet, Mountain Caracara, Andean Flicker, White-winged Cinclodes, Puna Miner, Andean Negrito, Black Siskin, Glacier Finch, and White-throated Sierra-Finch. With favorable conditions, we may observe all three flamingo species in the region: Chilean, Andean, and Puna (James’s).
We also visit the historic village of Parinacota, one of Chile’s highest permanently inhabited settlements, centered around its 17th-century adobe church—a National Monument and outstanding example of Andean colonial architecture. Return to Putre in the evening.
Overnight: Hotel Q’antati
Day 5 | Thursday, October 14 | Return to Arica and Flight to Santiago
After breakfast, we descend from the Altiplano to Arica, with possible birding stops along the way. In the afternoon, we board our flight back to Santiago.
Overnight: Hotel Ebro
Day 6 | Friday, October 15 | Birding Farellones and Valle Nevado
Our first full day in the Santiago area takes us into the Mediterranean scrublands and alpine habitats of the Andean foothills. Central Chile is one of the world’s five Mediterranean Ecoregions, and its geographic isolation has fostered exceptional endemism, earning it recognition as one of 25 Global Biodiversity Hotspots.
We make birding stops at varying elevations, searching for high-altitude specialists including Greater Yellow-Finch, Creamy-rumped Miner, and White-sided Hillstar. At our lunch stop, Andean Condors frequently soar overhead, while Variable Hawk, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, and Mountain Caracara are also possible. In the foothills, we focus on six Chilean endemics: Chilean Tinamou, Moustached Turca, White-throated and Dusky Tapaculos, Crag Chilia, and Dusky-tailed Canastero.
Overnight: Hotel Ebro
Day 7 | Saturday, October 16 | Birding the Pacific Coast and Lunch at Pablo Neruda’s House
We head west to the Pacific coast for a full day of birding in central Chile. Our first stop is the Maipo River estuary near San Antonio, one of the region’s most important wetlands. Here we encounter gulls, Black Skimmer, terns, pelicans, and targets including Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, Wren-like Rushbird, Yellow-winged Blackbird, Sedge Wren, and the rare Ticking Doradito.
At midday, we continue north to Isla Negra for lunch at Pablo Neruda’s former seaside home, now a museum—a memorable cultural counterpoint to the morning’s birding. In the afternoon, we visit coastal wetland conservation projects with habitat for Spot-flanked Gallinule, Plumbeous Rail, Black-headed Duck, Black-necked and Coscoroba Swans, and, with luck, the secretive Stripe-backed Bittern, along with the Chilean endemic Chilean Seaside Cinclodes along rocky shores. We conclude the day in Valparaíso.
Overnight: Hotel Pullman San Martín
Day 8 | Sunday, October 17 | Pelagic Trip and Return to Santiago
We depart before sunrise for an approximately six-hour pelagic trip, venturing about 20 km offshore along the nutrient-rich Humboldt Current. Chile ranks among the world’s premier pelagic birding destinations, with exceptional trips recording around 60 seabird species.
Commonly encountered albatrosses include Salvin’s, Black-browed, and Northern and Southern Royal; Buller’s and Chatham Albatrosses appear less frequently. Other expected species include Masatierra, Juan Fernández, White-chinned, and Westland Petrels, Peruvian Diving-Petrel, Northern Giant Petrel, Wilson’s Storm-Petrel, Red Phalarope, Guanay and Red-legged Cormorants, Kelp Gull, and South American Tern. Following the trip and lunch, we visit a colony of Inca Terns before returning to Santiago.
Overnight: Hotel Ebro
Day 9 | Monday, October 18 | Half Day at Yeso Valley and Lunch at a Vineyard
A morning excursion into the spectacular Yeso Valley, southeast of Santiago, where our primary target is the Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, which breeds in the valley’s high-elevation bogs and wetlands. Albatross Birding has conducted long-term research on this species, providing an excellent track record of successful sightings. Additional targets include Crag Chilia, Moustached Turca, Torrent Duck, White-sided Hillstar, Scale-throated Earthcreeper, Black-fronted and White-browed Ground-Tyrants, Greater Yellow-Finch, Andean Condor, Mountain Caracara, Creamy-rumped Miner, and Gray-breasted Seedsnipe.
In the early afternoon, we descend to the Pirque Valley for a late lunch and wine tasting at Viña Concha y Toro, Chile’s most celebrated winery, founded in 1883 at the foot of the Andes. Return to Santiago for the evening.
Overnight: Hotel Ebro
Day 10 | Tuesday, October 19 | Batuco Wetland, Flight to Puerto Montt, and Monumento Lahuen Ñadi
We begin with a morning visit to Batuco Wetland, one of central Chile’s most important freshwater wetlands, supporting a rich diversity of waterfowl, herons, rails, shorebirds, and conservation-priority species. Late in the morning, we transfer to the airport for our flight south to Puerto Montt, marking our transition to the temperate Lake District.
Upon arrival, we visit Monumento Natural Lahuen Ñadi, a protected area preserving ancient stands of Alerce—one of the longest-lived tree species on Earth—accessible via elevated boardwalks through this extraordinary forest ecosystem. We continue to Puerto Varas in the evening.
Overnight: Hotel Pettra Puerto Varas
Day 11 | Wednesday, October 20 | Alerce Andino National Park and Chamiza Wetlands
Our morning is spent in Alerce Andino National Park, birding forest trails and boardwalks through vast tracts of Valdivian temperate rainforest. We search for southern forest specialists, including tapaculos, rayaditos, woodpeckers, and other endemic and near-endemic species.
In the afternoon, we visit the Chamiza Wetlands, accompanied by a ROC conservation expert. We learn about ongoing wetland monitoring and environmental education programs, and receive an introduction to the MOTUS Wildlife Tracking System, which monitors bird movements across the Americas to inform regional and international conservation planning.
Overnight: Hotel Pettra Puerto Varas
Day 12 | Thursday, October 21 | Birding in Chiloé: Caulín Bay and Puñihuil Reserve
A full day on Chiloé Island, one of southern Chile’s most distinctive landscapes. We begin at the Puñihuil Reserve, where a boat excursion takes us to a remarkable penguin colony where Humboldt and Magellanic Penguins nest side by side—one of the very few places in the world where these two species breed together.
We continue birding across Chiloé’s varied habitats, with a possible visit to Caulín Bay, an important intertidal wetland with concentrations of shorebirds, waterfowl, and coastal species. Midday brings a traditional Chiloé lunch before we return to the mainland and drive back to Puerto Varas.
Overnight: Hotel Pettra Puerto Varas
Day 13 | Friday, October 22 | Morning Birding and Flight to Santiago
After a relaxed breakfast and a final morning birding session, we transfer to Puerto Montt Airport for our return flight to Santiago. Plan departing international flights from Santiago (SCL) after mid-afternoon.
Highlights
| Birds |
Chilean Woodstar, Diademed Sandpiper-Plover, Andean Condor, Inca Tern, Magellanic Woodpecker, Andean Flamingo, Puna Flamingo, Humboldt and Magellanic Penguins, Salvin’s and Black-browed Albatrosses, Chilean Tinamou, Moustached Turca, Crag Chilia, Dusky Tapaculo, Chilean Seaside Cinclodes |
|---|---|
| Habitats |
Atacama Desert valleys, high Andean Altiplano (4,000–5,000 m), bofedales and high-altitude wetlands, Mediterranean scrubland and Andean foothills, Pacific coastline and pelagic waters, coastal estuaries and wetlands, Valdivian temperate rainforest, ancient Alerce forest |
| Culture & history |
Pre-Columbian geoglyphs and the Aymara village of Parinacota; lunch at Pablo Neruda’s seaside home at Isla Negra; wine and cuisine experience at Viña Concha y Toro; traditional Chiloé lunch. |
| Conservation & sustainable development |
Direct engagement with active conservation programs: the Chilean Woodstar conservation zone in Arica (global population ~350 individuals); the Monumento Natural Picaflor de Arica and its network of micro-reserves; coastal Storm Petrel breeding colonies; Peruvian Tern conservation area; and the Chamiza Wetlands program, including connections to the international MOTUS Wildlife Tracking System. |
Focus, difficulty, and comfort
Focus
Difficulty & physical strain
Comfort
Practical details
Climate & weather
The tour takes place in October, the Southern Hemisphere spring. In the north, expect warm and sunny days (75–85°F / 24–30°C) with cool nights. The Altiplano can be cold at any time—warm layers are essential. In the Santiago area, spring weather is generally mild (60–75°F / 15–24°C). The southern Lake District and Chiloé Island receive more rain; waterproof gear is recommended throughout.
Health
Consult the Travelers’ Health page of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the website of the Government of Canada for the latest information on health and vaccination requirements. No vaccinations are specifically required for travel to Chile. Altitude is a significant consideration for Days 3–5, which reach elevations above 4,500 meters. Staying well-hydrated and allowing time to acclimatize will help ensure comfort. No technical hiking is required. Participants should consult their physician about altitude precautions. Comprehensive travel and medical insurance is strongly recommended. Participants must inform ABA of any pre-existing medical conditions prior to the tour.
Passport and visas
Consult the websites of the Department of State (for US citizens) or the website of the Government of Canada or the latest information of entry, exit, and visa requirements.
Money
The Chilean Peso (CLP) is the local currency. U.S. dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels and restaurants. ATMs are readily available in Santiago and other major cities.
