This morning we will set out on a boat excursion of Iquique harbor, a navigation that provides a firsthand introduction to the immense biological productivity of the cold Humboldt Current ecosystem. These rugged shores offer a teeming spectacle of seabirds, including Guanay Cormorant, Peruvian Pelican and the stunning Inca Tern, alongside remarkable concentrations of marine mammals that inhabit this desert coast.

Later, we'll continue northwards across the Atacama towards Arica. We will explore the verdant oasis of the Chaca Valley in search of specialized desert-dwelling birds; our primary targets include the elusive Tamarugo Conebill and the critically endangered Chilean Woodstar, one of the rarest hummingbirds in the world.

This morning, we delve into the fertile Azapa Valley to visit the University Museum, which safeguards the world’s oldest collection of Chinchorro mummies, an archaeological treasure pre-dating those of Egypt. Our exploration continues through the valley as we seek out specialized desert-dwelling birds, including the Peruvian Sheartail and the localized Slender-billed Finch.

Azapa is celebrated for its centuries-old olive groves, and we will sample the exceptional quality of its oil before visiting a private “hummingbird garden.” This enchanting home sanctuary provides unrivaled photographic opportunities for at least four species of hummingbirds. The valley walls also showcase remarkable geoglyphs; these ancient hillside artworks, dating back to 600-800 BC, depict llamas, shepherds, and wildlife.

We then traverse the hyper-arid expanse of the Atacama — the planet’s driest desert — ascending toward the Andean foothills. Along this scenic route, we will stop to admire the striking Chandelier cactus and other resilient desert flora. Near our destination, we explore the XIIth-century Inca fortress of Copaquilla. Our base for the next three nights is the picturesque Aymara village of Putre, situated at 3,400 meters (11,483 ft).

Today we will visit the breathtaking Chungara Lake, truly one of the highlights of the trip. Before reaching it we will stop by the tiny village of Parinacota, meaning “Lake of the Flamingos.” The hamlet dates from pre-Inca days but is better known for its old adobe and clay church, a fine example of XVIIth century Andean Baroque.

The Altiplano is truly a “mecca” for wildlife. Established to protect the highest lake in the world, Lauca National Park (and World Biosphere Reserve) supports a great diversity of puna specialties. All three flamingo species – Chilean, James’s and Andean – are often found here. Chungara Lake will be the highest spot during our entire trip at 4,500 meters (14,763 ft) and is surrounded by awe-inspiring volcanoes.

The surrounding bogs, locally known as bofedales, hold interesting mammals such as herds of Vicuña and charismatic Mountain Viscacha. The landscape is dominated by the imposing Payachatas (“The Twin Volcanoes”): Pomerape (6,232m/20,446ft) and Parinacota (6,110m/20,046ft).

To see the Surire saltpan at sunrise is certainly one of the most fascinating sights of the whole Chilean Altiplano, as the lake holds one of the largest concentrations of the rare Puna Flamingo. Puna Rhea, Puna Tinamou, Chilean and Andean flamingos, Andean Lapwing and a large variety of waterfowl including Andean Goose, Puna Teal, Crested Duck and Speckled Teal are also found here.

Surire is reached after a nearly 3-hour drive from Putre, so an early start is required to see the lake at dawn. This salt flat is truly a must for birders, especially if you like flamingos, for it is one of the very few places in the world where you can find all three species of High Andean flamingos in the wild, including the rare, range-restricted and endangered Puna Flamingo. The critically endangered and even rarer Puna Rhea is also present in the area, and the lovely vizcachas living in the rocky outcrops will delight you with their tameness and funny antics.

Today we head back down to the coast, to Arica, Chile’s northernmost city. Its shores and coastal valleys were the home of the Chinchorro culture, who mummified their dead around 8,000 BC. From here we take a flight to Santiago and continue directly to Puerto Montt, the entrance to Chile’s Lake District.

If the skies are clear we will have the chance to admire a line of volcanos forming part of the southern Andes; the most striking is Osorno with its almost perfect cone-shaped outlook. The grasslands are ideal habitats for Black-faced Ibis, Chimango Caracara, Southern Lapwing, and the endemic Slender-billed Parakeet.

This morning we will drive southwards to the ferry across the Chacao Channel; this short 30-minute ride offers great marine wildlife viewing opportunities. We are likely to see pods of Peale’s Dolphin, groups of South American Sea Lion and a great array of seabirds including Southern Giant Petrel, Sooty and Pink-footed shearwaters, and Red-legged Cormorant.

Once on the island, we’ll take a scenic drive to the little fishermen’s cove of Puñihuil, where we’ll board a boat to nearby islets home to the only known mixed colony of both Humboldt and Magellanic penguins. Marine mammals like South American Sea Lion and Marine Otter are regulars here as well.

Early in the morning we will head exploring the rural communities of the northern part of the island. Our destination is the picturesque Chepu River, a scenic watercourse bordered by lush and dense forest and clear waters that are home to a critically endangered species, the Southern River Otter or Huillin, which we’ll attempt to see by taking a boat trip.

The fairly large reed-fringed pond of Coluco is a wonderful wetland habitat; we will enjoy seeing large numbers of nesting waterbirds such as Black-necked Swan, Chiloe Wigeon, Cinnamon Teal, Red-gartered Coot, Brown-hooded Gull and Snowy-crowned Tern. We will also have chances to spot Coipo, Osprey and passing flocks of the endemic Slender-billed Parakeet.

Today we will set out towards magnificent Tepuhueico Park, a private nature reserve that will serve as our base for the next couple of days. We will immerse ourselves in the lush and temperate Valdivian rainforest, exploring its dense woods in search of iconic wildlife. This pristine environment offers sanctuary to the diminutive Pudu Deer and a fascinating array of frogs and lizards that dwell among the moss and fern-clad trunks.

For nature enthusiasts and photographers, this site provides exceptional opportunities; the “miniature forests” of lichens, fungi, and mosses reveal a hidden world of insects and amphibians thriving amidst the damp leaf litter and ancient, fallen trees.

In the morning, we will embark on a specialized boat excursion towards the island’s eastern coast, offering majestic views of the imposing Andes. This navigation into the Corcovado Gulf grants us ample time at sea to search for marine giants; Pygmy Blue Whales are frequently observed from December through March, often accompanied by Humpback Whales.

We also have excellent pelagic prospects, including the elusive Subantarctic Shearwater. Furthermore, we will visit Metalqui, renowned for hosting an immense breeding colony of South American Sea Lions. During the afternoon, our exploration continues to the tidal mudflats near Chonchi, a critical stopover for vast flocks of migratory shorebirds, including a significant portion of the global population of Hudsonian Godwit.

We will spend most of the morning exploring Tepuhueico. Later we will drive east to reach the picturesque towns in the protected eastern coast. Here we will concentrate on studying the cultural features including the famous stilt houses (palafitos) set right on the muddy shores and the wooden churches of the surroundings.

During the afternoon we will visit up to three churches, all representatives of the colonial wooden construction whose architecture was inspired by shipbuilding. The churches we will potentially visit include those located at Nercón, Castro and Dalcahue. These remarkable temples are regarded as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and represent the legacy of the Jesuit missionaries who explored these archipelagos in the XVII and XVIII centuries.

This morning we will take a flight to Punta Arenas, the gateway to Southern Patagonia. During the afternoon, we will embark on a navigation across the mythic Straits of Magellan towards Magdalena Island. This protected reserve is home to a massive breeding colony of more than 10,000 Magellanic Penguins.

As we approach the island’s imposing cliffs, we will be greeted by a teeming spectacle of wildlife. We will have ample time to explore the interpretive trail leading to the island’s lighthouse, observing the penguins’ fascinating behavior. The island also supports a wealth of other nesting seabirds, including Imperial and Rock cormorants, Dolphin and Kelp gulls, Chilean Skua, and South American Tern.

Today we will be transferred towards the magnificent Torres del Paine National Park. During this scenic journey, we are likely to encounter iconic Patagonian wildlife including Guanaco, Southern Grey Fox, and the elusive Patagonian Skunk, while enjoying our first introduction to the lush Southern Beech (Nothofagus) forests.

As we explore the valleys, we will delve into the geological history of the area, studying the origins of the dramatic granite peaks and glacial landscapes that form the backdrop of Torres del Paine, truly one of the finest natural spectacles in all of Patagonia.

We have designed a comprehensive day and night schedule dedicated to tracking the elusive Puma within this rugged wilderness. Our exploration will encompass the immediate vicinity of our hostería during the nocturnal hours, as well as the prime hunting grounds situated in the park’s eastern sector. The vast area stretching between the northern shores of Sarmiento Lake, Laguna Amarga, and Laguna Azul is renowned for hosting one of the highest densities of Pumas on the planet.

The period from February through April is particularly rewarding for sightings, as females are actively hunting to sustain their growing cubs. Observing a female Puma with her large cubs against a backdrop of granite peaks and dramatic, wind-swept skies is truly one of the most majestic spectacles of the natural world. Guided by our expert puma tracker, we will follow these family groups from a respectful distance. Throughout our search, we will also remain vigilant for other iconic mammals, including the South Andean Deer (Huemul), Patagonian Hog-nosed Skunk, and both the Culpeo and Chilla foxes.

This morning we will explore the ponds on the eastern side of the park in search of waterfowl, including Spectacled Duck, Chiloe Wigeon, Speckled Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail and Crested Duck. Black-necked Swan and Great Grebe are also found here. Cinereous Harrier and Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle are often seen hovering in search of prey.

We will scan the white water rivers for the remarkable Torrent Duck. In the eastern side of the park, we’ll find groups of the charismatic Guanaco. The reed-fringed lagoons can be very interesting: Andean Duck, Silvery and White-tufted grebes, and with luck the elusive Austral Rail. We will visit Lake Grey to enjoy the dramatic sight of stunning blue icebergs, and the surrounding forests will provide chances to see Magellanic Woodpecker, Austral Parakeet and Thorn-tailed Rayadito.

Today we depart from Cerro Castillo and continue eastwards, traversing the vast, wind-swept steppes along the border with Argentina. We will explore the remarkable Pali Aike National Park, a landscape defined by its many extinct cinder cones that dramatically punctuate this big-sky country. This area holds a rich archaeological and paleontological legacy.

The birdlife here is equally compelling; we will search for steppe specialties such as Least Seedsnipe, Tawny-throated Dotterel, Chocolate-vented Tyrant, and the vibrant Black-throated Finch. Later, we will embark on a short ferry crossing at the narrowest section of the Straits of Magellan, where we hope to observe the delightful Commerson’s Dolphin. We then set foot on Tierra del Fuego, the ‘Land of Fire,’ named by Magellan in 1520.

We will be driving for approximately two hours along the shores of Bahía Inútil (Useless Bay), where we expect to see a great array of wildlife including Guanaco, Southern Grey Fox, the ubiquitous Upland Goose, Chilean Flamingo and a diversity of waterfowl. At sea we may see albatrosses, petrels, gulls and skuas patrolling the turbulent waters.

Parque Pingüino Rey is a private nature reserve that aims to preserve the only known continental King Penguin colony. We will have ample opportunities to observe and photograph the penguins from a reasonable distance (maximum approach distance will be given by the guide and must be respected at all times during your visit). We will also visit the Laguna de los Cisnes Nature Reserve to explore its intriguing stromatolite fields.

We will enjoy a leisurely morning exploring the immediate surroundings of Porvenir, delving into the unique wildlife and storied history of this remote Patagonian outpost. Our journey takes us to local alkaline pools, which serve as a magnet for significant aggregations of migratory shorebirds; our primary objective will be to observe and photograph the elegant Chilean Flamingo. Later, we will survey the rugged coastline to discover some of the many shipwrecks that stand as silent monuments to the maritime challenges of these mythic seas.

Following lunch, we will begin our return journey to Punta Arenas. By opting for the short ferry crossing at Primera Angostura, we stand excellent chances of encountering the striking and localized Commerson’s Dolphin. The Olga Teresa Ranch offers arguably the most accessible vantage point on the planet to observe and photograph the world’s heaviest flying bird: the majestic Andean Condor. Located just over an hour’s drive from Punta Arenas, this private estancia protects a resident population of approximately 100 condors.

The trip ends after breakfast with a complimentary transfer to the airport for your connecting flights home.

End of the trip. We hope this extraordinary 19-day wildlife expedition across Chile has provided unforgettable encounters with the remarkable diversity of animals and ecosystems of this long and narrow country — from the world’s driest desert to the lush rainforests and the remote wilderness of Patagonia.