The Pacific coast of South America is home to at least eleven endemic seabirds, along with many species of cetacean. This voyage is available in two sectors, leg one starts from Costa Rica, sails down the Humboldt Current region and finishes in Valparaiso, Chile. Leg two starts from Valapraiso and continues on south through the Chilean Fjords and disembarks at Ushuaia (Tierra del Fuego) in search of many of them. For those who have already visited Antarctica from Argentina, new seabirds should include Humboldt Penguin, Pacific, White-capped, Salvin’s and Waved Albatrosses, Masatierra (De Filippi’s), Stejneger’s and possibly Juan Fernandez Petrels, Westland Petrel, Pink-footed Shearwater, Elliot’s (White-vented), Markham’s, Galapagos (Wedge-rumped) and Hornby’s  (Ringed) Storm-Petrels,  Peruvian Diving-Petrel, Peruvian Pelican, Neotropic, Rock, Guanay and Red-legged Cormorants, Gray, Band-tailed and Swallow-tailed Gulls plus chances for Peruvian and Trudeau’s Terns and numerous Inca Terns. As we journey south we will also see a selection of South American landbirds on the port visits and the ship’s included shore excursions including to Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile. We ran similar voyages in 2005 and 2006 (report on our website) with great success.  An astonishing 17 species of cetacean were recorded too addition to a number of possibles. They included, Orcas, Southern Rightwhale , Chilean, Peale’s, Dusky and other dolphins, Pygmy Blue, Fin , Sei , Humpback, Pilot and Sperm Whales plus several beaked-whales. Add the outside chance of Burmeister’s Porpoise and Commerson’s Dolphins, just two more reasons to be out on deck all day long.

 

We will be following in the footsteps of early explorers and naturalists of which Charles Darwin is the most famous. At the beginning of our journey we will sail past the desert coastline of Peru and Chile with the Andes often as a backdrop. We continue on south with spectacular scenery all the way, the Chilean Fjords flanked by glaciers with forested snow-capped mountains and finally the wild desolation of the Tiera del Fuego. The opportunities for photography are excellent, both wildlife and landscape.

 

Our vessel for this voyage will be Prince Albert II, the most luxurious expedition cruise ship and the prices include all drinks and onboard gratuities. All cabins and suites are outside, with windows  and private facilities (bathtub/shower/washbasin and WC) plus plenty of storage space and a writing desk. The ship has two observation lounges, a world-class dining room (and 24 hour room service), wet room, medical centre, library, bar, lecture theatre, library/internet café, fitness room, spa, laundry and shop/boutique. She carrys a maximum of 132 passengers, she is equipped with a fleet of Zodiacs for shore excursions and cruising. Subject to numbers booked, we may arrange some exclusive birding excursions in addition the ship’s own. An optional excursion will be a spectacular short flight over the Nazca Lines of Peru during leg one.  

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Itinerary

Leg 1

Day 1: Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica.Board our vessel and sail early afternoon.

Day 2: Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica, our first seabirds should include Least Tern and Neotropical Cormorant.

Day 3: Isla de Coiba, Panama, today should add Brown Booby and Brown Pelican.

Day 4: At sea, crossing the deep waters off the coast of Colombia should yield some interesting species such as Pink Footed and Galapagos Shearwaters, Galapagos (Wedge-rumped) and Madeiran (Band-rumped) Storm-Petrels, Nazca Booby and Sabine’s Gull.

Day 5: Isla de la Plata, Ecuador. Sometimes known as ‘the poor man’s Galapagos’!, this island has a small colony of Waved Albatross and other pelagic breeders include Nazca, Red-footed and Blue-footed Boobies, Red-billed Tropicbird and Magnificent Frigatebird. Hornby’s Storm-Petrels have been recorded aboard ships at night here so we will keep our eyes out for them too. Lanbirds may include Short-tailed Woodstar, Long-tailed Mockingbird and Collared Warbling-Finch.

Day 6: Guyaquil, Ecuador. We may see our first Grey Gulls around the harbour. A city stop, we may plan an optional nature reserve visit where a range of interesting species can be seen.

Day 7: At sea. As we head south again we should see our first Peruvian Boobies and Inca Terns. Today may be the best change of Peruvian Tern and our first Markham’s Storm-Petrels.

Day 8: Salaverry, Peru. The shoreline here can yield Peruvian Pelican, Guanay Cormorant, Great Grebe, Grey-headed Gull and Black Skimmer

Day 9: At sea, more chances for Waved Albatross and Swallow-tailed Gulls plus Peruvian Diving-Petrel, a very range-restricted species.

Day 10: Callao, Peru

Day 11: At sea we should be seeing species such as Peruvian Booby, Peruvian Diving-Petrel, Markham’s Storm-Petrel and the stunning Inca Tern. We plan to Zodiac-cruise the ‘seabird’ Islas Ballestras, home of the famous Guanay Cormorants together with Red-legged and Neotropic Cormorants, Peruvian Pelicans whilst Elliot’s Storm-Petrels patter over the waves. South American Sea Lions can be found on the beaches. In the afternoon a planned landing to explore the desert mainland around Paracas.

Day 12:At sea heading south again. New seabirds today could Hornby’s (Ringed) Storm-Petrels (6500 in 2005!) and Salvin’s Albatross whilst cetaceans seen on this travel day previously include Fin, Minke, Sperm and Cuvier’s Beaked-Whales plus dolphins and turtles.

Day 13: Arica, Chile.

Day 14: Iquique, Chile (morning). As we continue to sail south in the Current, Pterodromas should now start to appear, Masatierra (De Filippi’s) and Stejneger’s Petrels in particular, Juan Fernandez Petrel is also possible. Albatrosses should now include Pacific and Black-browed whilst Humboldt Penguins should also be seen. We will enjoy large numbers of seabirds at times, Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters, Red-necked and Grey Phalaropes  plus storm-petrels and the real chance of a goodie or two. 2005 yielded Southern Rightwhale Dolphins and Fin Whales on this sector.

Day 15: Antofagasta, Chile.

Day 16: Isla Pan de Acuzar, Chile.

Day 17: Coquimbo, Chile.

Day 18: Valpariso, Chile.

Leg 2

Day 1: Valaparaiso, Chile. Sail early evening.

Day 2: At sea. Heading further south more albatrosses should be appearing, over 30 Northern Royals in 2005. Giant Petrels will be increasing in numbers too, other new species could include Westland Petrel. Any trawlers working in the area should be surrounded by tubenoses. Cetaceans may include Fin, Humpback, Sperm Whale and Risso’s Dolphins.

Day 3:Niebla, Chile. Blue Whales occur in these waters.

Day 4: Castro, Chile. As we sail southwards we should start seeing our first Magellanic Penguins.

Day 5: Isla Magdalena National Park. We can expect our first Peale’s Dolphins anytime.

Days 6 & 7: We continue south through the Chilean Fjords, surrounded by mountains and stunning scenery. Cetaceans could include Orca and Chilean Dolphins.  Birds should now include Flightless Steamer Ducks, Kelp, Upland and Ashy-headed Geese, Black-necked Swans whilst high above, Andean Condors soar amongst the crags. Black-browed Albatross and Giant Petrels seem out of place in this scenery.

Day 8: Puerto Natales, Chile and Torres Del Paine. We will look for more condors, Lesser Rhea, Silvery and White-tufted Grebes, Lake Duck, Chilean Flamingo and Austral Parakeet and expect to see Guanacos, the wild ancestor of the Llama in this world-famous wilderness.

Day 9: At sea continuing our voyage through the fjords and into the Straits of Magellan. Additional species to our growing list should include Magellanic Diving-Petrels plus other more southerly species whilst a number of cetaceans are also possible.

Day 10: Punta Arenas, Chile.

Day 11: Garibaldi Glacier, Beagle Channel.

Day 12:We will awake in port in Ushuaia, Argentina and disembark after breakfast. 

 

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 Holiday Information

 

Tour Leader:	Ship’s expedition team including Chris Collins.
Dates:
Leg 1	Costa Rica – Chile 13th – 30th October 2010
Leg 2	Chile – Argentina 30th October – 10th November 2010

Prices:
Leg 1	Twin cabins from £3097	Suites from £3697
Leg 2	Twin cabins from £2297	Suites from £2747
Both	Twin cabins from £5125	Suites from £6122

Singles on request

Deposit : 10%

Price includes: Voyage with accommodation as booked, including all meals and drinks, Zodiac cruises and landings, ship’s shore excursions, lectures and services of expedition team, daily sea watching sessions and evening log (at sea), onboard gratuities pre-voyage information pack and WildWings day by day bird and mammal checklist.

 

Price excludes: Flights (UK –  Costa Rica, Chile – UK from £829, UK – Chile, Argentina – UK from £873, UK – Costa Rica, Argentina – UK from £790), port taxes and landing fees (Leg 1 £100, Leg 2 £50), transfers, pre/post hotels, travel insurance, optional excursions (Nazca Lines flight approx £215) and items of a personal nature.

 

2005 trip report with species list available here or on request.

 

Note: The itinerary is a guide only, as weather, ice and local conditions will dictate our exact voyage and our landings.

 

A full colour brochure is also available of the ship .