DAY 1 - BUENOS AIRES & COSTANERA SUR ECOLOGICAL RESERVE

Typically, overnight flight arrives early morning. After arrival, birding in Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve within the city limits of Buenos Aires. This excellent reserve includes 350ha of pampas grassland and wetlands as well as lagoons and the shores of the Rio de la Plata. Among the many interesting species found there are Black-necked Swan, Coscoroba Swan, White-tufted Grebe, Guira Cuckoo, Green-barred Woodpecker, Sooty-fronted Spinetail, Spectacled Tyrant, Masked Gnatcatcher, Patagonian Mockingbird, Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Yellow-winged Blackbird, Black-and-rufous Warbling Finch, Great Pampa-Finch, and Golden-billed Saltator. Night at a hotel in Buenos Aires.

DAY 2 - FLIGHT TO JUJUY, TRANSFER, & YAVI

Early morning flight from Buenos Aires to San Salvador de Jujuy. After arrival, drive north through the arid highlands toward the Bolivian border. Late afternoon birding around town. Main target species is the very localized Citron-headed Yellow-Finch. Yavi is the best place in Argentina to see this very range-restricted species. Other notable birds there are Bare-faced Ground-Dove, the very localized Wedge-tailed Hillstar, known from only a few locales in the altiplano on the east slope of the southern Andes in Bolivia and northwest Argentina, and Brown-backed Mockingbird. It should be noted that Yavi is located at an elevation of 11,339ft, so be prepared with suitable medication if prone to altitude sickness. Near dark transfer back to La Quiaca, a short 15km drive that offers better accommodations then Yala. After dark, we may well find Lyre-tailed Nightjars flying around near town. Night at a hotel in La Quiaca.

DAY 3 - ABRA LIZOITE & SANTA VICTORIA

This day will be devoted to birding the road through Abra Lizoite. This is one of the highest roads through the Andes, topping out at 14,465ft. It should be noted that this is a narrow dirt-road with some steep grades and sometimes unnerving drop-offs. The road offers rare access to high elevation specialties including the poorly known Red-backed Sierra Finch. Other very possible species include Puna Tinamou and Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe. The rare Diademed Sandpiper-Plover is also possible. The road continues on to the town of Samta Victoria. The Polylepsis habitat in the valles is home to birds such as Zimmer's Tapaculo, Tawny Tit-Spinetail, Rufous-webbed Bush-Tyrant, Andean Swallow, and Short-tailed Finch. Night at a hotel in La Quiaca.

DAY 4 - LA LAGUNA DE LOS POZUELOS, HUMAHUACA VALLE & TRANSFER

Depart early for nearby La Laguna de los Pozuelos. It's important to arrive early before heat waves shimmering off the lagoon make birding different. The visit requires a 1km hike from the end of the road to the lagoon. The main species of interest at this lagoon located in the high Puna steppe are Andean Flamingo, the now very rare Horned Coot, and Giant Coot. From there transfer back toward Jujuy, birding en route. We'll cross back through the arid Altiplano as we drive south. By early afternoon we should reach the Humahuaca Valley, a region of thorn bushes, cactus scrub, rocky ravines, and cultivated fields. Species we may well encounter during this drive include Lesser Rhea, Red-tailed Comet, Andean Hillstar, Giant Hummingbird, Gray-breasted Seedsnipe, Least Seedsnipe, Andean Condor, Mountain Caracara, Aplomado Falcon, Mountain Parakeet, Puna Miner, Rufous-banded Miner, Straight-billed Earthcreeper, Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant, Andean Negrito, Andean Swallow, Brown-backed Mockingbird, Black Siskin, Black-hooded Sierra Finch, and Puna Yellow-Finch. Night at a hotel in Jujuy.

DAY 5 - POTRERO DE YALA PROVINCIAL PARK & ECO-PORTAL DE PIEDRA

We'll spend the morning birding Potrero de Yala Provincial Park near Yala, not far north from Jujuy. Birding along the river toward the park offers Rufous-throated Dipper. The park itself offers a first introduction to Yungas cloud forest and lakes. Possibilities there include Red-faced Guan, Yungas Guan, Tucuman Parrot, Mitred Parakeet, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Cream-winged Cinclodes, Buff-browed Foliage-gleaner, Stripe-crowned Spinetail, Suiriri Flycatcher, White-crested Elaenia, Plush-crested Jay, Fulvous-headed Brushfinch, Rusty-browed Warbling Finch. Around mid-day transfer to Eco-Portal de Piedra, a provincial park beyond Libertador General San Martin. The habitat inside the park is dense Yungas forest. This site is a continuation of Calilegua National Park though on the other side of the Sierra de Santa Barbara. The advantage of birding there is that it's possible to stay at cabins inside the reserve rather than having to drive from town each morning. In addition, birding in the national park requires a ranger accompanying the group, which is not necessary in the reserve. The birds are all the same, but typically groups see more species in the reserve than in the national park due to the advantage of birding early mornings in the reserve. Afternoon birding along forest trails in the park. Night in cabins inside Eco-Portal de Piedra.

DAYS 6-7 - ECO-PORTAL DE PIEDRA

All day birding Eco-Portal de Piedra. Key target species in the reserve include Large-tailed Dove, Blue-capped Puffleg, Slender-tailed Woodstar, Montane Forest Screech-Owl, Tucuman Parrot, Giant Antshrike, and White-throated Antpitta. Other possibilities include Speckled Hummingbird, Blue-crowned Trogon, Yellow-collared Macaw, Black-capped Antwren, Great Rufous Woodcreeper, Sharp-tailed Streamcreeper, Sooty-fronted Spinetail, and Yungas Manakin. Nights in cabins at Eco-Portal de Piedra.

DAY 8 - ECO-PORTAL DE PIEDRA & LAS LAJITAS

After some early birding in Eco-Portal de Piedra, transfer to the town of Las Lajitas, a drive of a little more than 2 hours. After arrival, afternoon birding outside town in the Chaco habitat. The Chaco region is one of the driest parts of Argentina. It's a region of dense thorn bush woodlands and cactus. Numerous specialty birds are found in this region (see below). Night at a hotel in Las Lajitas.

DAY 9 - LAS LAJITAS

All day birding the Gran Chaco outside Las Lajitas. Some of the many species present are Tataupa Tinamou, Brushland Tinamou, Chaco Chachalaca, Picazuro Pigeon, Spot-winged Pigeon, Blue-tufted Starthroat, White-tailed Kite, Cream-backed Woodpecker, Red-legged Seriema, Aplomado Falcon, Turquoise-fronted Parrot, Blue-crowned Parakeet, Stripe-backed Antbird, Crested Gallito, Great Rufous Woodcreeper, Red-billed Scythebill, Scimitarbilled Woodcreeper, Rufous-fronted Thornbird, Little Thornbird, Lark-like Brushrunner, Suiriri Flycatcher, Fulvous-faced Scrub-Tyrant, Fulvous-crowned Scrub-Tyrant, Cinereous Tyrant, White Monjita, Rufous Casiornis, White-browed Meadowlark, Screaming Cowbird, Ultramarine Grosbeak, Red-crested Cardinal, Black-capped Warbling Finch, Red-crested Finch, and Many-colored Chaco Finch. Also possible but unlikely in this area is the shy Black-legged Seriema and the rare Quebracho Crested-Tinamou. Both are easier to see farther south. Night at a hotel in Las Lajitas.

DAY 10 - LAS LAJITAS & JOAQUIN V. GONZALES

Morning birding outside Las Lajitas. Mid-day transfer to the town of Joaquin V. Gonzales. After arrival, birding the Chaco habitat outside town. The main target species here is Quebracho Crested-Tinamou. It's much more often seen here than at Las Lajitas. Night at a hotel in Joaquin V. Gonzales.

DAY 11 - JOAQUIN V. GONZALES, CORONEL MOLDES, CABRA CORRAL

Morning birding outside town, a second chance to find Quebracho Crested-Tinamou. Transfer south to the town of Coronel Moldes, a 3½ hour drive, birding at Cabra Corral Reservoir en route. The main target species there is Black-legged Seriema, a quite shy and not easily seen species. Night at a hotel in Coronel Moldes.

DAY 12 - CACHI ROAD & LOS CARDONES NATIONAL PARK

All day birding the scenic mountain road into and through Los Cardones National Park toward Cachi, located northwest of Coronel Moldes. The road traverses a transition zone between Yungas forest to arid scrub and cactus to puna grasslandas it gains altitude. Birds of special interest this day include Andean Tinamou, Red-tailed Comet, White-sided Hillstar, Gray-hooded Parakeet, Andean Parakeet, Zimmer's Tapaculo, Rufous-banded Miner, Rock Earthcreeper, Straight-billed Earthcreeper, Brown-capped Tit-Spinetail, Scribble-tailed Canastero, Cordilleran Canastero, Maquis Canastero, Rufous-bellied Mountain Tanager, Rusty Flowerpiercer, Black-hooded Sierra Finch. Very possible also is Andean Condor. Night at a hotel in Coronel Moldes.

DAY 13 - CABRA CORRAL, AMAICHA DEL VALLE, & TAFI DEL VALLE

Early morning visit back to Cabra Corral Reservoir if Black-legged Seriema was missed the previous try. Then depart for Tafi del Valle, passing through the wine country of Amaicha del Valle and the mountainous El Infiernillo Pass in the northern section of Aconquija National Park. A key target species is Monte Yellow-Finch. Interesting birds in the valley and en route to the pass include Burrowing Parakeet, Sandy Gallito, Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail, White-throated Cacholote, White-tipped Plantcutter, Greater Wagtail-Tyrant, Black-crowned Monjita, Patagonian Mockingbird, and Many-colored Chaco Finch. Some key species in the pass itself include Ornate Tinamou, Bare-eyed Ground Dove, White-browed Tapaculo, Buff-breasted Earthcreeper, Scribble-tailed Canastero, Steinbach's Canastero, Gray-hooded Sierra-Finch, and Tucuman Mountain-Finch. Night at a hotel in Tafi del Valle.

DAY 14 - TAFI DEL VALLE & DEAN FUNES

Morning birding the grasslands upslope back toward El Infierno Pass to look for any birds not seen the previous day. Then transfer to the town of Dean Funes, about a 6-hour drive. Night at a hotel in Dean Funes.

DAY 15 - SALINAS GRANDES & CAPILLA DEL MONTE

Early morning birding at the large inland salt marsh of Salinas Grandes, not far from Dean Funes. It's imprtant to arrive there early before heat waves rising from the ponds make everything shimmer. The main target species at the ponds is the very range-restricted and poorly known endemic Salinas Monjita. Another specialty likely there is the recently described Straneck's Tyrannulet. After birding there, transfer to the town of Capilla del Monte, about an hour's drive farther south. After arrival there, the afternoon will be devoted to birding the Chaco woodland outside town. A key target species is the rare Black-bodied Woodpecker. Other possibilities include Brushland Tinamou, Chaco Chachalaca, Ash-colored Cuckoo, Little Nightjar, Blue-tufted Starthroat, Spot-winged Falconet, Olive-crowned Crescentchest, Crested Gallito, Scimitarbilled Woodcreeper, Chaco Earthcreeper, Crested Hornero, Little Thornbird, Short-billed Canastero, Greater Wagtail-Tyrant, and Rufous Casiornis. Night at a hotel in Capilla del Monte.

DAY 16 - CAPILLA DEL MONTE & ICHO CRUZ

Much of the day birding outside Capilla del Monte, another chance for the difficult Black-bodied Woodpecker as well as other species not seen the previous afternoon. Mid day transfer to Icho Cruz, about a 2-hour drive. Afternoon birding Pampa de Achala, a grassland located amidst the ruggest and isolated Sierra Grande de Cordoba, located an hour or so east of town. Our goal is to see all three, Cordoba Cinclodes, Olrog's Cinclodes, and the Cordoba subspecies of Puna Canastero, a likely future split. Night at a hotel in nearby Villa Carlos Paz.

DAY 17 - PAMPA DE ACHALA OR SIERRA GRANDE, TRANSFER, & FLIGHT

Morning birding Pampa de Achala if any of our target species were missed the previous afternoon. Alternatively or thereafter, birding the nearby Sierra Grande west of Cordoba. In addition to the three endemics at Pampa de Achala, other special birds of this area are Brushland Tinamou, Olive-crowned Crescentchest, Rufous-banded Miner, Chaco Earthcreeper, Lark-like Brushrunner, Stripe-crowned Spinetail, Chaco Sparrow, and a variety of more widely distributed species. Mid-day or early afternoon transfer to the airport in Cordoba for late afternoon or early evening flight to Buenos Aires. End of tour at the airport in Buenos Aires. Overnight flight home.

DAY 18 - END OF TOUR

Arrive home.

 

 

ADDITIONAL INFO
(Not on Menu Above)

• Country Map
• Accommodations
• Photos from Past Tours
• Travel Information

BIRDING LOCALES

• Aconquija National Park
• Amaicha del Valle
• Cabras Corral
• Capilla del Monte
• Costanera Sur Reserve
• Dean Funes
• Eco-Portal de Piedra
• Joaquin V Gonzales
• La Quiaca
• Laguna de los Pozuelos
• Las Lajitas
• Los Cardones National Park
• Pampa de Achala
• Potrero de Yala Provincial Park
• Salinas Grandes
• Tafi del Valle
• Yavi