The Lands of Carmenere & Malbec

This birds, nature, and culture tour celebrates the extraordinary diversity of central Chile and western Argentina, tracing a route from coastal wetlands and Andean peaks to wine country, desert scrub, and high elevation puna. With world class birding, spectacular scenery, and visits to celebrated vineyards, each day brings a rich mix of natural and cultural experiences.

We begin in Chile, where the Andes form a dramatic backdrop as we explore high peaks, deep valleys, and rocky slopes east of Santiago. Here we search for iconic endemics such as Moustached Turca, Crag Chilia, Giant Hummingbird, and a variety of ground tyrants and ovenbirds while Andean Condors circle overhead. Continuing south, wine country in the Maule Valley pairs birding with an introduction to Chile’s renowned reds, including the region’s signature Carmenere. Our forest lodge in Altos de Lircay offers access to Southern Beech woodlands home to Magellanic Woodpecker and charismatic tapaculos.

Returning toward the Pacific, we explore estuaries and coastal wetlands for Many colored Rush Tyrant, rails, bitterns, and a wealth of shorebirds and waterfowl. A pelagic trip from Valparaíso takes us into the rich Humboldt Current, where albatrosses, penguins, diving petrels, and boobies gather in impressive numbers. Visits to the Casablanca and Colchagua valleys provide opportunities to sample white wines, explore local history, and visit Pablo Neruda’s famed “poets’ coast.”

Crossing the Andes toward Mendoza, we traverse high elevation bogs and puna in search of Gray breasted Seedsnipe, Creamy rumped Miner, and the striking Diademed Sandpiper-Plover. On the Argentine side, Monte desert scrub, cactus valleys, and wetlands support Red tailed Comet, White throated Cacholote, Steinbach’s Canastero, and Cinnamon Warbling Finch. With excellent food, spectacular scenery, and a balance of birding and cultural exploration, this itinerary offers a vibrant and deeply enjoyable taste of the southern Andes.

This route spans Andean peaks, temperate beech forests, coastal wetlands, and the cold Humboldt Current in Chile, transitioning to Argentina’s Monte desert scrub, cactus valleys, puna grasslands, and vineyard oases. These varied habitats support Andean Condors, tapaculos, high elevation specialists, seabirds, and Argentine endemics such as the Sandy Gallito and Cinnamon Warbling Finch.