Chile
Arica Area - Alacran Peninsula and the Azapa Valley
Alacran Peninsula
Birders headed for Lauca National Park would benefit from a day or two in Arica. The Alarcan Peninsule, on the southern outskirts of the city, may afford views of a number of pelagic species including Peruvian Diving Petral, Antarctic Giant Petrel, and Antarctic Prion. Humboldt’s Penguin may be seen, and a number of gull and tern species.
Azapa Valley
The valley runs towards the mountains from Arica. The recommended birding site, at San Miguel de Azapa, can be reached by collective taxis from Arica in about 25 minutes. The taxis leave from Maipu (between blocks 500 and 600) and R. Lynch. Ask to be dropped off at San Miguel de Azapa. This site is the southern extreme for several bird species. Look especially for Chilean Woodstar on any flowering shrubs, many of which can be found around the buildings of the University of Tarapaca, and for Slender-billed Finch in the olive and citrus groves common near San Miguel on the far side of the road from the university.
For more detail see Pearman, The Essential Guide to Birding in Chile of if that is not available see Wheatley, Where to Watch Birds in South America.
Lago Penuales National Reserve (9,260 hectares)
The lago, surrounded by slopes and rolling hills, serves as a reservoir for water for Valparaiso and Viña del Mar. The forests of quillai, peumo and litri, among other species, are home to a large variety of birds and animals. For birds, the most special things to look for are Chilean Tinamou, Black-headed Duck, Moustached Turca, Dusky Tapaculo, Patagonian Tyrant, and Great Ant-shrike.
Mammals include foxes (gray and red), as well as coupu (kind of beaver), cururo (a species of field mouse), and chinchilla.
The reserve is on the main road, route 68,from Santiago (62 km. east of the reserve) to Valparaiso and Vina del Mar (29 kms. west), and thus easily accessible from the capital or the coast.
For those who enjoy fishing, you can fish from the banks of the reservoir for pejerry.BR>
http://www.gochile.cl/eng/Guide/ChileNationalParks/Chile-National-Parks.asp
For more information including a fuller bird list (71 species) see Pearman, The Essential Guide to Birding in Chile or if that is not available see Wheatley, Where to Watch Birds in South America. Laguna del Laja National Park (11,880 hectares)
This park’s main attraction is the emerald green lagoon, bordered by irregular shores of volcanic ash and sediment, which gives the park its name. The Antuco Volcano looms above this beautiful park, a home to glaciers and waterfalls. Mountain cypresses and ancient araucaria trees dominate the landscape. The key birds perhaps are the Chestnut-throated Huet-huet, Spectacled Duck, Yellow-bridled Finch, Chilean Tinamou, Ochre-flanked Tapaculo, and Great Shrike tyrant. For a longer list (45 species) see Pearman, ”The Essential Guide to Birding in Chile”.
The park is located in Bio Province, in the precordillera of the Andes. It is reached over the road Los Angeles-Antuco-Lagune del Laja. Sixty-four km of this road are paved, the remaining twenty-nine km are gravel. The park is reachable all year round, but chains are recommended in winter in case of snow. Distances: Los Angeles: 93 km; Antuco:30 km; Abanico:10 km.
The administration for the park is located in Chacay sector (4 km from the park entrance and 12 km from the hamlet of Abanico). The ranger station, where the entry fee is collected, is 100 m. from the park entrance.
There are a number of hiking trails in the park, including Los Pangues-Meseta Los Zorros (4 hours), with views of Sierra Velluda and the valley of the Laja, and of high country flora and fauna. The Estacionamiento Endesa-Salto Las Chilcas (2 hours 30 minutes) for observation of flora and fauna, volcanic deposits, and the headwaters of the Laja River. And the Estacionamiento Endesa-Río Laja (3 hours 30 minutes): observation of flora and fauna, geological features, and the Laja River.
Services: Gasoline: Los Angeles (93 km from the park); Public telephone: Antuco (30 km. from the park); food supplies: Abanico (10 km. from the park) and in Antuco; police: Abanico and Antuco.
Local Accommodation:
There is a camping area at Desarrollo Lagunillas, 2 km. from the park entrance, with 20 sites, which have electric lights, cooking facilities, tables which seat 8 people, trash receptacles, drinking water (one spigot for each three units), two sanitary facilities with bathrooms, hot water showers, and a laundry area. There is a similarly equipped picnic area also at this location.
In Lagunas, 2 km from the park entrance, there are 4 cabins, with heat, each with living room, dining room, bathroom, 3 bedrooms (2 person each), electric lights, hot water. The restaurant here can serve 60 people. In addition basic camping and picnicing supplies can be bought here. These facilities are in operation year round.
Note that this is a skiing area. These facilities are probably much easier to book in the off seasons. There is a restaurant at the ski run area at Antuco Volcano (10 km from the park entrance), which is open year round.
Lodgings also in Abanico, Antuco and Los Angeles
Parque Pumalin (247,491 hectares)
The park, located in Palena Province, on the landward side of Chiloe, has abrupt relief with high volcanic mountains and steep slopes covered with larch and evergreen forests intermingled with great fiords, and canyons whose rivers pour into the lakes and lagoons. It also has many hot springs. Above 1,500 meters is a zone of rocks, glaciers, and permanent snow.
Among birds are found the Chucao Tapaculo, Green-backed Firecrown, Eared Dove, Ringed Kingfisher, Austral Parakeet, Austral Thrush, Magellanic Woodpecker, Black-throated Huet-Huet, Chimango Caracara, Crested Caracara, Chilean Flicker, House Wren, Black Vulture, Condors, American Kestrel, Great Horned Owl, and water birds, the Yellow-billed pintail (Anas Georgica), Rosy-billed Pochard, Flying Steamer-duck including Upland Goose, Ashy-headed Goose, Torrent Duck, and others.
The site can be reached overland, from the north and south via the austral highway, 20 km. south of the town of Rio Negro – Hornpiern. Also accessible by boat or plane. There are no roads within the park zone. The principal means of getting around are small planes and boats.
Pumalin Park is a private endeavor. Currently work is ongoing for the creation of interpretive trails, camping areas, shelters, and approriate signs for visitors. There are already some hiking trails.
The climate varies, from the coastal areas and valleys, where the climate is influenced by the sea and temperatures are moderate, to higher elevations, with more extreme conditions. Precipitation is greatest in the winter, and smallest in the summer.
http://www.turistel.cl/main/areas_silves/main_p_pumalin.htm
Chiloe National Park (43,057 hectares)
The warm and humid climate of the park, located in the western part of Chiloe island, makes possible the evergreen forest, made up mostly of terebinth shrubs, coigüe, luma, myrtle, tepu and larch, the latter species growing in isolated areas at an altitude of 600 meters (1,968 ft).
Key birds include Slender-billed Parrot, Patagonian Tyrant, Des Murs’ Wiretail, Chilean Pigeon, and Magellenic Woodpecker, Kelp Goose, and Chucao Tapaculo. By birding other areas of Chiloe and from the ferry en route to the island, a total of up to 60 species should be possible.
Mammals includes the fox of Chiloé Island, sea lion, mountain monkey, sea otter, Chilean shrew opossum, pudú. Some of these species are island endemics.
During the summer it is possible to rent boats at the lake.
http://www.gochile.cl/eng/Guide/ChileNationalParks/Chile-National-Parks.asp (in English), and
http://www.conaf.cl/?seccion_id=60bf6943e56bc5b45b9b7e78b829d2c2&unidad=2 (in Spanish)
See Pearman, The Essential Guide to Birding in Chile for more details or if that is unavailable see Wheatley, Where to Watch Birds in South America. Puenta Arenas and Tierra del Fuego
The area around the town of Punta Arenas, 2,140 km south of Santiago, is dominated by loake-dotted steppe grasslands and Nothofagus forests. These, together with the sea, produce a nice group of birds. The seabirds include Black-browed Albatross, Magellanic Diving-Petrel, Magellanic Penguin, Antarctic Giant Petrel, Southern Fulmar, and Wilson''s Storm-petrel. Land birds include Elegant Crested Tinamou, Upland, Kelp, Ashy-headed and Ruddy-headed Geese, Flightless and Flying Steamer Ducks, Spectacled Duck, Magellanic Plover, and many others. For more details see Wheatley, Where to Watch Birds in South America Putre and Lauca National Park
Birders headed for Lauca National Park are advised to stop for at least one night in the Indian village of Putre(3,500 meters), so that they can adjust more gradually to the high altitude. In any case, there are birds around Putre that are better seen there than in the park.
If you need gasoline, it can be purchased in Putre. Ask in the store.
Pearman, The Essential Guide to Birding in Chile lists 48 species for Putre. The prize species is White-throated Earthcreeper. On a one day stop in 2000 the list included among others the Red-backed Hawk, Black-winged Ground-Dove, Golden-spotted Ground-Dove, Bare-faced Ground-dove, Bar-winged Cinclodes, Andean Negrito, Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, and Rufous-naped Ground-Tyrant. The best spots for watching birds are the rocky river bed and banks that is crossed by the road from Putre back to the main highway, and the wet ravine behind the village.
There are also two restaurants, Restaurante La Paloma and Rosamel and Restaurant La Oasis. Restaurant La Oasis also has accommodations.
Lauca National Park (3,200-6,342 meters), includes the precordillera and altiplano of far northeastern Chile (to the Bolivian border). The climate is dry, with the median temperature : 12-20º C during the day, minus 3-10º at night.
The landscape is breathtaking, irregular but dotted with spectacular volcanoes, and shallow lakes, where you can see three species of flamingos, Chilean, Andean, and Puna, Giant and Andean Coots, Andean Goose, Crested Duck, Speckled and Puna Teal. Also, the Ornate Tinamou, Mountain Caracara, Diademed Sandpiper-plover, Andean Avocet, Puna Yellow Finch, Puna Miner, Cinereous and White-fronted Ground Tyrants, White-tailed Shrike-tyrant, and the Red-backed Sierra-finch. For fuller list (71 species) see Mark Pearman, “The Essential Guide to Birding in Chile.” Also, “Where to Watch Birds in South America.”
The park, a moderate drive from Putre, is about 146 km uphill from Arica along CH-11, the main road from the coast to La Paz. This road is heavily used by truckers headed for the Bolivan capital, so birders need not feel unsafe on the road. If a breakdown occurs, a truck should be along shortly. As noted above birders coming up from the coast are strongly urged NOT to drive directly to the park. Cases of severe, and even fatal, altitude-sickness occur with depressing regularity. Overnight (at least) in the village of Putre. Bring LOTS of water with you, and drink it. Bring very warm clothes. Be prepared for chill rain or snow.
In Pratinacota, an Aymara village in the park, at least in 2000, it was possible to buy very fine goods woven from the wool of alpacas and vicunas. In the village of Chucuyo there are three rustic restaurants.
http://www.gochile.cl/eng/Guide/ChileNationalParks/Lauca/Lauca-1.asp
For further information see Pearman, The Essential Guide to Birding in Chile of if that is not available see Wheatley, Where to Watch Birds in South America.
Puenta Arenas/Torres del Paine NP
Puenta Arenas, over 2,000 km south of Santiago, is the largest town in the Chilean section of Patagonia, and the entry point for the spectacular Torres del Paine National Park. The waters around Puenta Arenas are known from their seabirds, while the grasslands with their lakes and the Nothofagus forests add interesting land and water birds. Among the more noteworthy birds are Magellanic Penguin, Elegant Crested Tinamou, Spectacled Duck, Ruddy-headed Goose, Magellanic Diving-Petrel, Magellanic Plover, and a number of noteworthy passerines including Austral Canestero. The car ferry that connects Puerta Arenas with Porvenir on Tierra del Fuego provides opportunities to see a number of the sea birds. Just short of 400 km north of Puenta Arenas, Torres del Paine NP offers, in addition to its amazing scenery, chances to see Andean Condor, Torrent and Spectacled Ducks, White-throated Caracara, Tawny-throated Dotterel, Chocolate-vented Tyrant and Yellow-bridled Finch. There are lodgings in the park. For a more complete list of species and some specific directions to promising local spots see Wheatley, Where to Watch Birds in South America(,/i> Cerro la Campana National Park
This excellent park, located about fifty km from Valparaiso, and reachable from Vina del Mar by public bus. is home to five Chilean endemics - Chilean Tinamou, Crag Chilia, Moustached Turca, White-throated Tapaculo and Chilean Mockingbird. By car the park is reachable from Valparaiso via Limache, Olmue and Granizo. The mockingbird should be easily seen on the walk up from the town to the park entrance (ditto the Chilean Flicker). In the park, if your time is limited, bird the Sendero Andinista and Cerro Ochoa trails. Striped Woodpecker, Fire-eyed Duicon, Long-tailed Meadowlark, Austeal Blackbird, Giant Hummingbird, Chilean Pigeon and Magellanic Horned Owl occur here, and Thorn-tailed Rayaditos (which respond wonderfully to squeaking) are common. If you have time, bird the Cerro Penitentes trail. From the entrance walk 6 km and take the left fork. The Penitentes trail is one km from the fork, on the right hand side. Crag Chilia is found in the rocky ravines in the woodland, Moustached Turca is found above the woodland, and Chilean Tinamou is found high up (though it can also be seen lower, on the Cerro Ochoa trail). White-throated Tapaculo can occur anywhere along this trail. For a longer list of birds and some sketch maps see Wheatley, Where to Watch Birds in South America. |
