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 Full day nature and photo journey to see two true icons of the wildlife of the Andes and Patagonia: Magellanic Penguins and Andean Condors. Great opportunities to see other wildlife including rheas, dolphins and guanacos, learn about the history (and pre-history) of Patagonia and see the local rural life amidst the magnificent and remote landscapes of the 'end of the world'. Private transportation and naturalist guide services.
Daily departures from Punta Arenas, Chile. Duration: 8-10 hours. Available from October through March.
We will start our day, by visiting the active and accessible Magellanic Penguin colony of Otway Sound, located one hour drive from Punta Arenas. Here we will study their intriguing breeding behaviour as well as receive interpretation about their feeding techniques and migratory routes.
During the afternoon, we will visit the Condor roosting site of Palomares Hill. Andean Condor, is one of the world's largest flying birds, with an impressive wingspan of more than 10 feet (nearly 3 meters); these magnificent birds soar over the summits of the Andes, all the way from Venezuela down to Tierra del Fuego. In Patagonia, Condors are an usual sight and we will try to see them in the field, flying or resting on the cliffs, with the help of binoculars and spotting scopes. It is quite an amazing experience to see these colosal birds flying low, very close to the sea level.
There are very few places in the world were you can see penguins and condors on the same day, and on this trip we will discover a wealth of birds and a sample of the most common mammals of the region, amidst the dazzling scenery of the remote Chilean Patagonia.
'Penguins & Condors' Day Tour | Trip Code PUQ01
Activity Program
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08:30
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Meeting with your guide at Punta Arenas port or at your hotel.
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08:45
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Departure to Otway Sound penguin colony. We will take extra time to bird along this road, looking for specialities of the Patagonian steppes including Lesser Rhea among several other bird species, and mammals such as Guanaco, Southern Grey Fox and Patagonian Hog-nosed Skunk.
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| 10:00 |
Arrival to the small Magellanic Penguin rookery of Otway Sound. We will have extra time than the conventional general tours in order to photograph and study the behaviour of this endemic penguin species to Patagonia. Our guide will give a field talk about their breeding and feeding ecology, and some remarks about other penguin species occurring in the southern region of South America. We will also bird along the path in search of some of the local songbirds including Austral Canastero, Grass Wren, Long-tailed Meadowlark. It is a good chance of seeing Chilean Flamingo plus a good selection of southern ducks. |
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12:30
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Picnic-lunch (c. 30 minutes). |
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13:00
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Departure to Rio Verde area
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14:00
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Watching Andean Condors at their roosting sites of Palomares Hill with the help of spotting scopes and binoculars. We will inspect the road for close views of flying Condors and give an interpretation about the natural history and conservation status of Condors in South America. Along the shores of the Fitz Roy Channel we will see a good array of endemic seabirds and waterfowl to Patagonia including King Cormorants, Black-necked and Coscoroba Swans, Upland, Ashy-headed and Kelp Goose, Flightless and Flyins Steamer-Ducks, Dolphin Gull and Chilean Skua plus several others. We will have chances of seeing the rare and endemic Chilean Dolphin, the local Peale's Dolphins and South American Sea Lion.
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17:00
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Departure to Punta Arenas. The group will compile the checklist with the species of birds and mammals recorded during this birding and nature trip.
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18:00
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Drop-off at the port | End of the trip.
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As part of the trip materials you will receive a signed copy of our book 'Penguins of Patagonia & Antarctic Peninsula' [ISBN 956 8007 09 1] by Enrique Couve & Claudio F. Vidal as well as a Field Checklist. |
Departures: Daily departures from Punta Arenas. Available from 15 October 2010 through 31 March 2011.
Duration: Approximately 8-10 hours.
Prices per person:
2 guests:
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US$ 250.00 |
3 guests:
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US$ 223.00 |
4 guests:
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US$ 205.00 |
What the trip includes / excludes
The trip price includes: Private transportation and naturalist guide services during the tour, park entrance fees, lunch and snacks, and mineral water. VAT of the tour is also included.
The trip price excludes: Tipping, travel insurance, à la carte dishes, alcoholic drinks, and anything else of a purely personal nature.
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