Arrival in Santiago and transfer to our hotel.

La Campana National Park (350-630m) is our destination this morning. This is a good site for Dusky-tailed Canastero, Chilean Pigeon, Striped Woodpecker and Moustached Turca but our main quest will be the endemic White-throated Tapaculo. We’ll spend some time on Dusky Tapaculo, a species restricted just to this area of Chile. Others include Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail, Giant Hummingbird, the inquisitive Thorn-tailed Rayadito, White-crested Elaenia (of the southern form chilensis), Tufted Tit-Tyrant, Fire-eyed Diucon, Austral Thrush, Chilean Mockingbird (a widespread endemic), Chilean and Blue-and-white Swallows, Common Diuca-Finch, Austral Blackbird and Black-chinned Siskin. Other target species include the impressive Moustached Turca (a large Tapaculo endemic to central Chile). In the afternoon we’ll head for Reñaca and our shoreline hotel where Inca Terns, Red-legged Shag as well as Chilean Seaside Cinclodes are on the rocks. After a full and varied days birding we’ll relax in our fabulous coastal view overlooking the Pacific. Night Hotel Oceanic. B:L:D

Morning pelagic 12 miles from the coast. We have the chance of five species of Albatross including Salvin’s, Buller’s, Royal and Wandering. Tubenoses are a main feature of these Pelagics and we’ll hope for Southern Fulmar, De Filippe’s, Masatierra and Westland Petrels, Peruvian Diving-Petrel as well as the more numerous White-chinned and Cape Petrels and Northern Giant Petrels. Wilson’s Petrels often “foot-patter” close to the boat and we often see large numbers of Grey Phalaropes. Others include Guanay and Red-legged Cormorants, Kelp Gull and South American Tern. Our post lunch excursion will be at Laguna El Peral. We should see a wide variety of species here including Black-necked Swan, 3 species of Coot, Spot-flanked Gallinule, the rare Black-headed Duck, Plumbeous Rail, Lake Duck, Great Grebe. Many-colored Rush-tyrant, Wren-like Rushbird and Common Diuca Finch are here too. We’ll drive to Santiago this evening for overnight in the capital. B:L:D

El Yeso road: The bog here at 2500m is a favourite site of Diademed Sandpiper-Plover and this is probably the bird El Yeso is famed for. We’ll stop in the valley however before gaining height for the Crag Chilia and the lower reaches hold Moustached Turca both Chilean endemics. We see a variety of Sierra-Finches and Furnariids here; the latter includes Grey-flanked Cinclodes, Rufous-banded Miner, Creamy-rumped Miner, Scale-throated Earthcreeper. Ground-Tyrants are everywhere including Rufous-naped, White-browed, Ochre-naped, Cinereous and Spot-billed. Our best views of Andean Condor will probably be here in this valley and Torrent Ducks are regular on the streams. One of the hummers we’ll be looking for up here is the White-sided Hillstar. We have a chance at both Black-billed and Great Shrike-Tyrants here. Night in Santiago. B:L:D

Early hours of the morning at a provincial park where we have another chance at White-throated Tapaculo should we have missed it. Chilean Hawk is here too but rare. Later this morning we will drive southwards to Talca for an overnight stay. In the afternoon we will explore the extensive Nothofagus forest in the Andean foothills in the Alto Vilches national park. In particular we will be listening for the nasal scolding of Chile’s least known Tapaculo, the Chestnut-throated Huet-huet, perhaps the most missed Chilean endemic on most tours. We will also be looking for Rufous-tailed Plantcutter and more Nothofagus forest endemics such as Austral Parakeet (the worlds most southerly parrot species), the plump Chucao Tapaculo with its explosive voice, Magellanic Tapaculo, Striped Woodpecker, Chilean Flicker, White-throated Treerunner and Patagonian Sierra-Finch. This will be our first opportunity to see the Magellenic Wodpecker which is quite common here. Other birds include Thorn-tailed Ryadito and Fire-eyed Diucon. We’ll stay at a nearby hotel. Night in Talca. B:L:D

Another morning at Vilches to look for birds we may have missed in this pretty forest before we return to Santiago in the evening making selected stops along the way. Night in Santiago B:L:D

All days birding the Puyehue NP, including a visit to Crater Renhuel (440-1250m). Target birds here include Black-throated Huet-Huet, Chucao, Magellanic and Ochre-flanked Tapaculos, Des Murs’ Wiretail, White-throated Treerunner, Green-backed Firecrown, Thorn-tailed Rayadito, Patagonian Tyrant, and Black-chinned Siskin. We’ll also have a second chance at Magellanic Woodpecker and this magnificent beast will be one of our priorities. Higher up, at the crater of the Volcan Raihuen, we will search for Dark-faced Ground-Tyrant and the striking Yellow-bridled Finch. Red-tailed and Chilean Hawks are here too. Nights at Antillanca. B:L:D

To the airport and morning flight to Punta Arenas. On arrival we’ll check into the hotel and have lunch head out in search of Steamer Ducks (both Flightless and Flying), Lesser Rhea and an afternoon coastal excursion looking for Dotterels and more Afternoon and evening birding near Punta Arenas. Ancient forests of twisted, stunted Nothofagus (southern beech) trees reflect the harshness of the southern temperate climate and contribute to the distinctive flavor of Patagonia, a world apart from the rest of South America. Some birding on the coast near the hotel should produce Black-browed Albatross, Flying Steamer-Duck and Magellanic Oystercatcher, Imperial Shag, Upland Goose, Flying and Fuegian (Flightless) Steamerducks, Two-banded Plover, Chilean Skua and Kelp and Dolphin Gulls. The tiny Austral Negrito is ubiquitous. We’ll stay at a comfortable hotel here. Night Hotel Finis Terra. B:L:D

We’ll then take the ferry crossing to Porvenir on Tierra del Fuego. We should see scores of Southern Giant Petrels, Magallenic Diving Petrels, Chilean Skuas, Black-browed Albatross, Cape Petrelas and more. Afternoon birding Tierra del Fuego including Laguna Verde, Laguna Santa Maria and Bahia Inutil. Common and rarer birds for the next couple of days will be Ruddy-headed, Ashy-headed, and Upland Goose, Two-banded Plover, Magellanic Plover, Chilean Skua, Canary-winged Finch, Rufous-chested and Tawny-throated Dotterels, Lesser Rhea and Flightless Steamer-Duck. Black-necked Swan, Crested Duck and Kelp Goose. B:L:D

Early morning birding to a Magellanic Penguin colony and a last chance to see Austral Canastero and Flightless Steamer Duck then the airport and flight to Santiago (arriving mid-afternoon) and connecting international flights. B: