Begin overnight flight from the US to Buenos Aires.

After your arrival in Buenos Aires we'll tour Costanera Sur. This reserve, located within fifteen minutes of downtown Buenos Aires, is a great introduction to the wildlife of the Pampas. Typical birds include Coscoroba and Black-necked Swan, three species of coot, Yellow-billed Cardinal, and Great Pampa-Finch. We'll spend the night in Buenos Aires.

After our morning flight to Ushuaia we'll make our way to Le Martial Glacier. Here we'll take a chairlift ride above timberline to enjoy views of the glacier, surrounding mountains, and the Beagle Channel, as we search for specialties such as White-bellied Seedsnipe and the rare Yellow-bridled Finch. Three nights in Ushuaia.

Today we'll board a catamaran for a boat tour of the Beagle Channel. Here we should find Gentoo and Magellanic Penguins, King Cormorant, and Snowy Sheathbill, with possibilities for several pelagic species including Black-browed Albatross, Southern Fulmar, and Magellanic Diving-Petrel, along with some marine mammals. Our second night in Ushuaia.

Our entire day will be spent birding Tierra del Fuego National Park. This will give us a chance to explore pristine Nothofagus (Southern Beech) forest typical of this far southern landscape. Special birds of this habitat include White-throated Caracara, Austral Pygmy-Owl, the striking Magellanic Woodpecker, and Magellanic Tapaculo. Night in Ushuaia.

After our morning flight to Calafate, we'll spend the afternoon birding the outskirts of town. Our main target will be the Magellanic Plover, a unique shorebird in its own family. Our next three nights are in Calafate.

We'll dedicate two full days to Los Glaciares National Park where Andean Condor is possible at any time. On one of these days we'll take a boat tour on Argentino Lake for views of Upsala, Onelli and Spegazzini Glaciers, and a good chance for seeing the handsome White-throated Treerunner. Other birds that we are likely to see include Black-necked Swan, Upland Goose, and Chilean Flamingo, among many others. Both nights in Calafate.

We'll transfer by road to the beautiful Patagonian High Plateau to spend a night at a local Estancia (ranch) near the nesting area of the Hooded Grebe. This rare bird was recently discovered in 1974 and this is the best place to find it. Another incredibly rare bird that resides here is the Austral Rail; we found both of these prized species on our 2005 tour.

Hooded Grebe, only recently discovered on the Patagonian High Plateau.

--Luis Segura - - Birding Argentina

After the drive back to Calafate we'll board our flights to Trelew. From here we'll make the short drive to Puerto Madryn, taking advantage of any birding opportunities along the way. Our first night in Puerto Madryn.

On this day we'll visit the Valdes Peninsula where, among the throngs of nesting penguins, cormorants, gulls, and terns, we'll watch the colonies of Southern Elephant Seals and Southern Sea Lions, and hope for an appearance by the Orcas that hunt these waters. We'll also search the steppe for land birds such as Lesser Rhea, Tawny-throated Dotterel, the near endemic Band-tailed Earthcreeper, Patagonian Canastero, the endemic White-throated Cacholote, Rusty-backed Monjita, and Carbonated Sierra-Finch. A second night in Puerto Madryn.

Southern Sea Lions

--Luis Segura - - Birding Argentina

Punta Tambo is the breeding ground for 700,000 Magellanic Penguins. Other birds that nest here include Rock and Imperial Shags, Chubut (White-headed) Steamerduck, Kelp and Dolphin Gulls, and South American Tern. We'll spend the day enjoying this spectacle before returning to Trelew for our evening flight to Buenos Aires, where we'll spend the night.

Today we'll head north from Buenos Aires for a day in the area known as Ceibas. This collection of grasslands and woodlands holds many special birds. Some of the more charismatic of these include White-fronted and White Woodpeckers, Scimitar-billed Woodcreeper, Brown Cacholote, and Lark-like Bushrunner. Second night in Buenos Aires.

We'll drive to San Clemente to spend three days birding the Pampas. En route we may have the opportunity to see the incredibly rare Pampas Deer. While birding the areas of San Clemente and Punta Rasa, we'll hope to see grassland birds including Greater Rhea, Spotted Nothura, Firewood-Gatherer, Hudson's Canastero, and Bay-capped Wren-Spinetail. Many of our northern shorebirds will be on their wintering grounds including White-rumped and Buff-breasted Sandpipers and Hudsonian Godwit. All three nights in San Clemente.

Return to Buenos Aires for late night flights. Overnight somewhere over the Amazon Basin.

Arrive in the US, savoring a wonderful experience in Southern Argentina.

Our birding tour to Southern Argentina will be led by Luis Segura, owner of Birding Argentina, with the expert assistance of additional English-speaking guides at each of our locations.

Approximately $5495 per person based upon double occupancy, with a minimum of seven participants. The fee may be adjusted up or down depending upon the number of people who register and the price of flights within Argentina. We will do our best to hold to the quoted tour fee. Single accommodations are available at an approximate extra charge of $625.

Expert guide service, lodging for 15 nights, plus 2 nights in the air flying to and from the US, ALL meals, entrance fees, and all air, ground and boat transportation within Argentina. ALL tips are also included in the tour fee, except for anything you wish to give to your tour leader and local guides.
Does not include cost of airfare to and from Buenos Aires. BIRD TREKS will, upon request, help you obtain the best airfare. Also not included are your travel visa, any airport taxes, the cost of alcoholic beverages, and items of a personal nature.

A $1300 deposit will assure your reservation on the tour. The balance is payable 15 September 2008. Please send your reservation soon to secure your spot on the tour and to obtain the best possible airfare.

We offer the services of our exclusive BIRD TREKS travel agent, Lori Heathcote, in arranging your air travel. Lori has 22 years of experience in the travel industry and is a veteran birder. Contact her through Bailey Travel at 1-800-224-5399, or you can e-mail lori@baileytravel.com. By dealing with Lori you have the security of a 24-hour toll-free telephone number in case of any travel emergency. She can also assist you with all pre- and post-tour travel plans.

With written notice more than 90 days prior to the first day of the tour, 100% of your deposit will be refunded, minus a $100 service fee. With 30-90 days notice, you will receive a 50% refund of the full cost of the tour. No refund can be made with less than 30 days notice. You will receive a full refund if you provide a replacement for your spot on the tour. No partial refund can be given once a tour begins. We strongly recommend that you purchase trip cancellation insurance to protect your investment in case of injury or illness to you or your family prior to or during a tour. Click on the following link to Access America or contact BIRD TREKS for information on obtaining this coverage.