Comprehensive natural history, photo and cultural trip to Chile's Lake District and Chiloé Island. This tour includes in-depth visits to two premier National Parks of Chile (Alerce Andino & Vicente Pérez Rosales), dedicated boat trips for two penguin species, other seabirds and mammals, and a great interpretation of the local culture of Chiloé, one of Chile's most remarkable islands. Daily departures from Puerto Montt, Chile. 5 days from Santiago or Puerto Montt, Chile.  Chile's Lake District is well-known for holding incredible mountain landscapes, impressive and ancient rainforests and by being the starting point of a huge archipelagic labyrinth extending southwards to the wild regions of western Patagonia. This is a land connecting two worlds, the mountains and the sea, and the people here inhabits the strip of land between the wet forests and the vast shorelines. This is a comprehensive journey to magnificent volcanoes, forests and lakes interspersed along the Andean foothills; here we will have splendid landscape photographic opportunities and we will attempt to discover the flora and fauna of the lush Valdivian forests, a unique ecosystem and a world's biodiversity hotspot. We will dedicate two full days to explore the fascinating and enigmatic Chiloé Island. This island and associated archipelagoes will reveal to us its unique natural and cultural riches, from penguins to otters, from elusive tapaculos to raucous parakeets, from dolphins to sea lions. Also we will have the chance to appreciate the livestyle and customs of the islanders, by visiting their towns, wooden churches, fishing boats and stilt houses.
Chile's Lake District & Chiloé Island - Trip Code CHL02 Trip Highlights • Comprehensive day visits to Vicente Perez Rosales and Alerce Andino National Parks. • Ferry rides to Chiloe Island and boat trips for Magellanic & Humboldt penguins and Marine and Southern River otters. • An interesting array of woodland birds, from endemic Slender-billed Parakeet to inquisitive Chucao Tapaculos. • Lush temperate rainforests including a variety of Nothofagus beech, myrtle trees and the ancient and endangered Alerce, one of the world's logest living conifers. • Study and photography of cultural highlights of the main island of Chiloé, its villages and towns, its wooden churches, cemeteries, fishing boats and stilt-houses. This program is operated as a custom trip (flexible option which runs on a date you choose giving you more privacy), available upon request for individuals or small private groups. The Difference of Traveling with Fantástico Sur Expeditions: • Fully flexible, hotel-based, all-inclusive trip with private transportation and naturalist guide. • Great hotel-based accommodation, superb dinning cuisine and memorable picnic lunches. • Spacious private vehicle that ensure a window seat to each trip participant. • Each vehicle and driver we use has been authorized by the Chilean Transportation Authority. • The service and expertise of a professional local naturalist leader, who will look after every logistical aspect of “your” holiday. • Top-class spotting scopes will be available for the use of our guests for a better observation and study of the wildlife and landscapes.
• You will receive a free, signed copy of one of our field guides "Birds of Patagonia" by Enrique Couve and Claudio F. Vidal. • …plus an useful pre-departure information package (maps, wildlife checklists and more).
Chile's Lake District & Chiloé Island - Trip Code CHL02 
Day 1 • Full day exploration of Alerce Andino National Park After meeting your naturalist guide during the morning, you will be transferred towards the lush and ancient woodlands of Alerce Andino National Park (39,225 hectares | nearly 100,000 acres). This extraordinary nature reserve protects pristine Valdivian temperate forests plus a significant portion of one of the few redwood conifers of Chile, the Alerce (Fitzroya cupressoides). This species honors Captain Robert Fitz Roy, Commander of the HMS Beagle, and is one of the world's longest living tree species. Here, we will have enough time to explore the trails and get familiar with the birdlife and the variety of trees, ferns, and flowering plants of these unique woodlands. Among the most conspicuous birds, we will see the curious Chucao Tapaculo and Black-throated Huet-huet as well as Thorn-tailed Rayadito and the odd-looking Des Murs Wiretail. Other intriguing creatures inhabiting the park's trails include the rare marsupial Monito del Monte and the bizarre Darwin's Frog. Do you want to know more about the Valdivian temperate forest Eco-region? Read more... Hotel Bellavista or similar, Puerto Varas (3*).(L,D)(G). Day 2 • Full day exploration of Vicente Perez Rosales National Park Today we will explore the first national park established in Chile, Vicente Perez Rosales (1926), which honors a leading figure from the colonization times of these territories, back in the late XIX century. The park holds nearly 231,000 hectares (app. 570,000 acres) of pristine temperate forests, lakes and dramatic peaks, including the omnipresent Osorno Volcano (2,652 m | 8,700 ft.). On our vehicle, we will ascend the foothills of this volcano and will see the dramatic vegetation changes as we gain altitude. From the ski resort area of Las Burbujas, we will have an splendid view of Llanquihue Lake, Petrohue river and the distant Calbuco Volcano and even of Reloncavi Fjord. We will study the trees, shrubs and herbs of these woodland trails and along the volcanic slopes. Later we will travel along the fast-flowing waters of Petrohue river to see its dramatic rapids. It is very likely to see the specialist of these turbulent environment, Torrent Duck. By the end of the day we will reach the shores of the stunning Todos Los Santos (All Saints) lake and we will see the distant and imposing peak of Tronador Volcano, which demarks the border with Argentina.Your guide will provide interpretation about the geology and the many volcanic events that have modelled the surroundings.
Hotel Bellavista or similar, Puerto Varas (3*).(B,L,D)(G). Day 3 • Chiloe Island: Chacao Channel crossing | Puñihuil Islets penguin colony | Castro
Chiloe Island is a land of myths and has countless and outstanding natural and cultural riches. From Puerto Montt we will drive south in order to take the ferry across the Chacao Channel. This short 30-minute journey offers great wildlife viewing opportunities and likely that we will see pods of Peale's Dolphins and groups of South American Sea Lion together a great array of seabirds including Antarctic Giant Petrel, Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters, Imperial and Red-legged Shags, Peruvian Pelican and South American Terns. Before reaching the main island we will see tens and even hundreds of Black-necked Swans, actively feeding on algae along the shore. After we set foot we will notice the interesting architecture comprising wooden houses and churches, with characteristic walls and roofs covered with shingles. Later we will aim towards the wild west coast of the island to take a short boat trip to the interesting location of Puñihuil. Here we will circunnavigate one of the islets to see one of the few mixed breeding colonies of Humboldt and Magellanic penguins. We will try to see the always-active Marine Otter, plus Rock Shag, Kelp Goose and Flightless Steamer-Duck. During the afternoon we will aim to Castro, Chiloé's largest town. Here we will concentrate in studying the cultural features including the famous "stilt houses" set right on the rocky shore and the wooden churches of the surroundings. Hotel Unicornio Azul or similar, Castro (3*).(B,L,D)(G). Day 4 • Chiloe Island: Chepu River boat trip | Caulín Bay | Drive to Puerto Montt
Early in the morning we will head northwards to take our boat trip to explore part of the Chepu river. This impressive water course is bordered by lush and dense rainforests and its clear waters protect a critically endangered species, the Southern River Otter or Huillín. We will attempt to see it and hopefully be rewarded by our patience and efforts to attract its interest. We will also have chances with the rare Rufous-tailed Hawk and the endemic Slender-billed Parakeet. On our way back to Puerto Montt we will stop at the mudflats of Caulin Bay, which holds an important part of the world population of Hudsonian Godwit, which winters here and in other extensive bays of Patagonia togeteher Red Knot and a variety of other shorebirds. Hotel Presidente or similar, Puerto Montt (3*)(B,L,D)(G). Day 5 • Puerto Montt | Transfer to the airport
This trip ends after breakfast with a transfer to the airport. (B). Codes: B=Breakfast; L=Lunch/Box-lunch; D=Dinner; G=Guide; *=Hotel Category
Chile's Lake District & Chiloé Island - Trip Code CHL02 2010 Dates: Available from December 2009 through May 2010 | September 2010 through May 2011. Meet/Depart: Daily departures from Santiago or Puerto Montt, Chile. Rates for Custom departures (you choose the date): | Trip Length | 5 days | 4 nights | | Number of people | 2-3 | 4+
| Single Suppl.
| Price per person
| $1,698
| $1,198 | TBA |
Trips are guaranteed to depart with a minimum of 2 participants. The above price is per person in US$, based on double occupancy. Do you want us to arrange your flights from Santiago or Punta Arenas to Puerto Montt?
Domestic flights Santiago – Puerto Montt – Santiago (from US$ 120 per person).
Duration of the flight: Santiago - Puerto Montt, app. 1.5 hours (direct) | Punta Arenas - Puerto Montt, app. 2 hours (direct). What the trip includes/excludes Single supplement will be added if single accommodations are requested. The trip price includes: All accommodations, meals and guide services as stated in the itinerary, private ground transportation during the tour, ferry fares, boat trips, plus park entrance fees. The trip price excludes: Domestic flights, tipping, travel insurance, à la carte dishes, snacks, drinks, laundry, telephone calls and anything else of a purely personal nature. Tour Registration: To register for this tour, complete the Fantástico Sur Expeditions registration form and return it (by fax or email) with a deposit of US$ 350 per person. Full payment of the tour fee is due 90 days prior to tour departure. Cancellation Policy: Notice of cancellation can only be accepted IN WRITING from the person who signed the booking form and takes effect on the day such noticed is received by us. Refunds are made according to the following schedule: If cancellation is made 120 days or more before departure date, the deposit less US$ 200 is refundable. If cancellation is made between 120 and 60 days before departure, the deposit is not refundable, but any payments covering the balance of the fee will be refunded. If cancellation is made fewer than 60 days before departure date, no refund is available. This policy and fee schedule also applies to pre-trip and post trip extensions, as well as any transfers from one tour to another. We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance to protect yourself.
Chile's Lake District & Chiloé Island - Trip Code CHL02  Enrique Couve has been birdwatching for over 40 years in his native country of Chile and is the author of the photographic guide "Birds of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego and Antarctic Peninsula", among several other bird and nature photography field guides and books. He is extremely skilled in finding and identifying birds and is an excellent nature photographer, having one of the most complete portfolios of Chile’s birds and wildlife. Enrique has travelled extensivley throughout Chile, its oceanic islands and the Antarctic Peninsula, as well as in other countries of South America. He is partner and director of Fantastico Sur Expeditions and lives in Punta Arenas with his wife and their four children.
 Claudio F. Vidal has been bird-watching since the age of 12 and he leads bird-watching and natural history tours throughout Chile. He is very keen on pelagic birdlife and marine mammals occurring in the Humboldt Current, Patagonia, and Antarctica as well as in photography, being particularly interested in photographying the wild flowers of desert and mediterranean regions of the world. Claudio is currently working on a field guide to the birds of Chile with other Chilean birders, and is co-author of the photographic guide "Birds of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego & Antarctic Peninsula". He is involved in several nature-based tourism projects in Chile, and he is also partner and director of Fantastico Sur Expeditions. He lives in Punta Arenas, the most southerly city in Chile, with his wife Soledad.
 Roberto Donoso has been part of our team since 2003, but he has been involved in the process of learning about birding and handling visitors to Chile and Patagonia since 1999. Roberto has an extensive experience leading birdwatching tours throughout Chile and Juan Fernandez islands, and his most recent trips has taken him to the Falkland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. During the last couple of years he has developed an increasing interest in mammals, particularly cats, and he is responsible of developing some of the hard-core puma and mammal tours that we are currently carrying out with clients from the US and the UK. Rob is one of the Fantastico Sur favourite guides due to his kind and charismatic personality, his particular attention to detail and his involvement with the goals and interests of our clients. Roberto lives in Punta Arenas with his wife Vjera and their two lovely girls, Vjerita and Florencia.
Check out our set of images from recent trips to the Lake District & Chiloé Island.
|
