CHEESEMANS ECOLOGY SAFARIS 555 North Santa Cruz Avenue Los Gatos, CA 95030-4336 USA (800) 527-5330 (408) 741-5330 info@cheesemans.com cheesemans.com Chile and Argentina Panoramic Patagonia March 3 to 16, 2019 Puma SAFARI OVERVIEW Patagonia, stretching over southern Chile and Argentina, is a sparsely populated, arid region with superb wildlife viewing opportunities. This breathtaking area encompasses the Andes Mountain Range and presents an image that is unmistakably South American. You ll begin your adventure outside of El Calafate, Argentina with spectacular Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park. Then you ll take in the beautiful vistas of Torres del Paine and explore the most southerly Chilean islands. Visiting a colony of King Penguins, viewing soaring Andean Condors, searching for Guanaco herds roaming the plains of Torres del Paine, and perhaps encountering shy female Pumas that are busy feeding their cubs are all highlights of this magical land. Soak up majestic scenery while appreciating the diversity of animals Patagonia has to offer. HIGHLIGHTS: Track female Pumas while they search for food and care for their young. Explore a King Penguin colony in beautiful Tierra del Fuego. Experience the astounding wingspan of an Andean Condor as it soars above the mountains of Torres del Paine. COST: $7,400 per person, double occupancy, airfare not included, singles extra. See the Costs section on page 5. Page 1 of 7
GROUP SIZE: 8. DAYS: 14 days total, including estimated travel time. LEADER: Rodrigo Tapia. CONDITIONS: This is a non-smoking tour for people who are very interested in all wildlife and spending the maximum time in nature. See the Conditions section on page 7. Date Description Accommodation Meals Mar 3 Depart home. Mar 4 Arrive in El Calafate, Argentina. Enjoy a welcome dinner Kau Yatun Hotel, D together. El Calafate Mar 5 Los Glaciares National Park to visit Perito Moreno Glacier. B, L, D Mar 6-7 Two days taking in the views of the spectacular Paine towers Hotel Las Torres, B, L, D and great wildlife in eastern Torres del Paine National Park. Torres del Paine Mar 8-9 Puma tracking on a private ranch located at the eastern border of Torres del Paine National Park. Mar 10 Birding and photography en route to Puerto Natales. Hotel Remota, B, L, D Mar 11 Explore Cerro Benitez in search of Andean Condors. Puerto Natales Mar 12 Mar 13 Mar 14 Mar 15 Mar 16 Drive to Punta Arenas and visit Olga Teresa Ranch for Andean Condor roosting sites. Hotel Diego de Almagro, Punta Arenas Hosteria Yendegaia, Porvenir Take a Ferry to Tierra del Fuego Island to visit a King Penguin colony. Spend the day exploring Tierra del Fuego. Morning in Tierra del Fuego then fly to Punta Arenas and connect to homeward flights. Arrive home. B, L, D B, L, D B LEADER Rodrigo Tapia Rodrigo developed his lifelong passion for birds at the early age of ten, which led to his studies of Biology at Universidad Católica de Valparaíso and Cornell Lab of Ornithology. He spent years researching birds for different organizations throughout Chile and Antarctica and also worked as a birding guide, guide instructor, independent researcher, and birding consultant. He is also interested in increasing public awareness of birds through children s education, lectures, and birding festivals. Since 2006 he has led birding, wildlife and wildlife photo tours. Rodrigo has done it all! Page 2 of 7
OPTIONS Our Chile and Argentina safari is timed to take consecutively with our Antarctic Peninsula February- March 2019 expedition. See the detailed itinerary here or contact us for more information: www.cheesemans.com/trips/antarctic-peninsula-feb2019. DETAILED ITINERARY Mar 3 ~ Depart home For most, you will travel through Santiago, Chile on your way to El Calafate, Argentina. Mar 4 ~ Arrive in El Calafate, Argentina El Calafate is the main Argentine gateway to one of the most spectacular landscapes of Patagonia: the Austral Andes Glaciers. If continuing from Antarctica, you will fly the short distance from Ushuaia to El Calafate. For more information about our Antarctic Peninsula expedition, please visit: www.cheesemans.com/trips/antarctic-peninsula-feb2019. Mar 5 ~ Los Glaciares National Park The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the few glaciers on this continent that constantly advances and recedes (at present, it is the only advancing glacier in Argentina). One huge vertical five-kilometer ice wall of this glacier sinks into the Canal de los Témpanos (Channel of the Icebergs), which connects an arm of Lake Argentino, called Rico, to its main body. Once every four to five years, the Moreno Glacier fully crosses the channel, forming a dam that causes a rise in the waters of the Rico Arm. The pressure of the water will finally rupture the ice dam, providing a spectacular show that attracts hundreds of enthusiasts from around the world. (The last collapse occurred in March 2016) The glacier was named after Francisco P. Moreno, a famous Argentine explorer who discovered Lake Argentino and is also well known as the father of the national parks in this country. The 1,770 acres (717,800 hectares) of Los Glaciares National Park harbors this amazing glacier plus another 47 huge glaciers. This park has been declared a Worldwide Natural Heritage Site. Guanacos and Lesser Rheas are likely to be seen while you are in the open areas driving from El Calafate to the glacier. Watch carefully along the edge of rocky cliffs and up above the snow-covered peaks of the majestic Andes for the Andean Condor, the Master of the Sky. Mar 6 7 ~ Torres del Paine National Park On the east side of Torres del Paine National Park, which is the leeward side, the weather is usually quite sunny and clear. You ll walk beside the impressive Towers of Paine granitic formations with wild Guanacos roaming in the foreground. At the eastern corner of Sarmiento Lake, you will reach a location that commands the most incredible views of the pinnacle peaks of Las Torres, the towers, from which the park takes its name. As you move around the park, you ll encounter herds of Guanaco, the Lesser Rhea (a ratite like Ostrich and Emu), and impressive Andean Condors soaring above. On the eastern side, enjoy the views of one of the impressive waterfalls of Paine River and, if it is clear, the fabulous granite columns of the Paine Massif from Laguna Amarga. Page 3 of 7
Mar 8 9 ~ Puma tracking You will have an experienced tracker on private land adjacent to Torres del Paine National Park to track female Pumas. March through July are the best months to attempt to find Puma as females are continually hunting to provide food for their almost fully-grown cubs. At this season, they are active during the day as well as at night and the twilight hours. To see a female Puma and her cubs against the magnificent mountain backdrop and glorious skies is one of the most impressive wildlife spectacles. Mar 10 ~ Scenic drive to Puerto Natales You ll have a scenic drive that allows time for plenty of photography stops from Torres del Paine to Puerto Natales. Mar 11 ~ Cerro Benitez in search of Andean Condors Andean Condors are abundant in the Cerro Benitez region, as they have communal roosting sites on the surrounding cliffs. Seeing Andean Condors soar right above you is quite a remarkable experience. Andean Condors are the world s largest member of the vulture family with a 10-foot wingspan. The wild landscape of rolling hills, moorland, and lakes has many species of birds and we hope to see some special ones like the very localized Ruddy-headed Goose, the handsome Chocolate-vented Tyrant, Longtailed Meadowlark, and Patagonian Yellow-Finch. The scrubby roadside vegetation provides concealment for a few species of skulking passerines, such as Austral Canastero. This area is prime to see rails, seedsnipes, and other lovely waders, such as Rufous-chested Plover and Tawny-throated Dotterel. Mar 12 ~ Olga Teresa Ranch for condor roosts Olga Teresa Ranch boasts the largest concentration of Andean Condor roosts. The steep cliff sides host as many as 100 birds with excellent access for viewing and photography. Olga Teresa Ranch is a protected space for these beautiful birds, as well as an important research site. Mar 13 ~ King Penguins on Tierra del Fuego Island Take a ferry across the Straits of Magellan to Useless Bay, Tierra del Fuego Island to visit a colony of approximately 100 King Penguins, located at a small river mouth near the Straits of Magellan. This is a private nature reserve, which aims to preserve the small numbers of Kings that remain year-round and breed here, attracted by the bounty of food in the surrounding sea. Here the vegetation is mainly wind-swept dwarfed bush and tussock grass, and you may spot common seabirds, especially Southern Giant-Petrel plus Kelp and Dolphin gulls. Look for landbirds along the shore, such as Dark-bellied and Gray-flanked cinclodes. Other common species we may see include Upland Geese plus Chimango and Southern Caracaras. Mar 14 ~ Tierra del Fuego National Park Tierra del Fuego Island is dominated by several of the most unique Patagonian habitats, especially Nothofargus or southern beech forest and Patagonian steppe. Aquatic habitats, including lakes, ponds, rivers, and rocky seashore add to the excitingly distinct Subantarctic scene. The avifauna of the southern-most region of Chile also has a distinct subantarctic influence. Typical birds found on the shore and on open water at this latitude include Black-faced Ibis, Flightless Steamer-Duck, Crested Duck, Ashy-headed and Kelp geese, Magellanic Oystercatcher, Chilean Skua, and Dolphin Gull. Other Page 4 of 7
attractions in the area include Torrent Duck, Austral Parakeet, White-throated Caracara, and Magellanic Tapaculo. You ll have the chance to experience the typical Tierra del Fuego steppe along the shoreline of small lakes. Perhaps you ll find the rare Magellanic Plover, a strange southern wader that looks almost dove-like, as it picks away at the muddy edges. These birds frequently 'paddle' with their feet to disturb the animal life in the mud, a habit that often draws attention to them! Other birds that thrive in this windy terrain are Least Seedsnipe, Short-billed Miner, and Correndera Pipit. Mar 15 ~ Fly from Porvenir to Punta Arenas Spend the morning in Tierra del Fuego then take a late afternoon flight from Porvenir to Punta Arenas to connect with your flight homeward. Mar 16 ~ Arrive home Arrive home today, depending on your flight schedule. COSTS (all costs are in US dollars) Cost Type Cost per Person Trip Cost, double occupancy $7,400 Single Supplement (subject to availability) $1,750 We reserve the right to charge for cost increases that occur between when we set tour prices and the date of travel, for example, changes due to the cost of lodging and transportation. If you are a single traveler and you desire, we will find a roommate for you. If we cannot find you a roommate, we may charge you a single supplement fee. Single rooms are subject to availability. Payment Schedule Payment Due Date Amount per Person Deposit Due now to reserve your space $500 Second March 1, 2018 $1,000 Final October 1, 2018 Remaining Balance Payments will be due based on the schedule above. All reservations require a deposit to confirm reservation of your space. For reservations made after a due date, all past payments will be due with registration. By sending your initial deposit, you agree to accept our payment schedule and cancellation policy as a contract. If payments are still outstanding two weeks after the due date, your space may be forfeited. Cancellations Until the Final Payment due date, deposits are refundable except for a cancellation fee of $150 per person, which can be applied toward another tour if reserved within six months of the cancelled trip s departure date. Cancellations are non-transferrable. No refunds are given after the Final Payment due date. Page 5 of 7
Included All activities, leaders, transport, park entry fees, and accommodations as described in the detailed itinerary. Airport transfers on March 4 from El Calafate Airport and on March 15 to the Porvenir Airport. Flight from Porvenir to Punta Arenas on March 15. All meals from dinner on March 4 through breakfast on March 15. Lodging the nights of March 4 through March 14. Trip Materials - information about flights, packing, entry and departure requirements, airport transfers, gratuities, etc. Not Included All airfare, except flights listed as included, airport and departure taxes, and excess baggage fees. Passport and visa fees. Gratuities - tipping is, of course, discretionary, however we suggest budgeting about $20 to $25 per participant per day for March 5 14 with our leaders (about $200 to $250 total per participant). Emergency medical and evacuation insurance, and trip cancellation insurance. For more information see www.cheesemans.com/travel-insurance Items of a personal nature such as laundry, telephone calls, medical costs or hospitalization, room service, soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, and items not on the regular menu, etc. If you have special dietary needs, please indicate them on your Reservation/Release Form. SIGN-UP Please contact us first to check availability, reserve your space, and obtain a reservation form. To confirm your reservation, we require a deposit and reservation form from each participant. Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris Skype: cheesemansecologysafaris Email: info@cheesemans.com Website: www.cheesemans.com Telephone: (800) 527-5330 or (408) 741-5330 Fax: (408) 741-0358 OTHER DETAILS Climate This is a tour where the extremes of climate match each change of scenery. Because March is late summer in Argentina and Chile, it s a good time to visit the country. We ll mainly be in the chillier southern region so dressing in layers is best, including a waterproof outer layer to guard against windy or cold conditions anytime during the tour. Torres del Paine is notorious for its unpredictable weather conditions, but average temperatures range from lows in the mid-40s F (7 C) to highs in the upper-50s to mid-60s F (14-18 C). Page 6 of 7
Fitness Level Most walks are short distances less than three hours at a slow pace, allowing time for observation and photography. Most walking is on relatively level ground, but occasionally we may take short, steep walks to look for animals. Flight Information All airfare, except flights listed as included, is not included in trip costs. Detailed logistical information and the contact information for our recommended flight-ticketing agent are included in the Trip Materials we will send you. Please let us know if you are arriving earlier or staying later as we are happy to assist you with any extra overnights that you might want to arrange. Flights you (or a travel agent) book: Arrive in El Calafate, Argentina (FTE) by afternoon on March 4. Depart from Punta Arenas, Chile (PUQ) after 7pm on March 15. Flights we book for you: Flight from Porvenir to Punta Arenas on March 15. This flight is included in the trip cost. Conditions Non-smoking policy: We have a strict non-smoking policy. Smoking is not permitted at any time or any place during our tours. Maximum time in nature: We try to spend as much time in nature as possible to observe wildlife behavior, sometimes resulting in long days but giving you a more in-depth experience. Itinerary route: The itinerary route, stops and plans are subject to change by unforeseen circumstances beyond our control, such as weather or road conditions. Additional forms: For some of our tours, you may be asked to fill out additional forms (e.g., medical questionnaire). Medical conditions and travel risks: Travel to remote places is exciting, but it is important to understand and accept the risks, both medical and logistical. Minor medical problems can usually be treated, but because we are often far from medical facilities, there can be no expectation for immediate medical treatment or evacuation, even in cases of trauma. Anyone with health problems needing close medical supervision should not consider going on this tour. Bring enough medication for the duration of the trip for any chronic medical needs, since pharmacies are usually not available. When you send your deposit and signed Reservation/Release Form, you certify to us that you do not knowingly have any physical or other conditions that would create a risk for yourself or for other trip participants. Conservation Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris is passionate about conserving the precious regions to which we travel and we have supported many conservation efforts over the years. By visiting these areas, we contribute to sustainable conservation of these valuable wildlife habitats. We urge you to support conservation organizations that protect and restore natural habitats and write letters to tourism and government agencies to promote work in preserving wildlife. We aim to make all our trips carbon neutral by splitting the cost of carbon offsetting with our participants. For your convenience, the optional donation amount for your half of the carbon offset will be indicated on your invoice. We source high quality offsets through CarbonTree Conservation Fund, a non-profit we helped found, supporting pioneering forest conservation in the Valdivian Coastal Reserve, a Nature Conservancy project (http://bit.ly/tnc_valdivia). Page 7 of 7