CHILOÉ ISLAND & ’S NORTHERN ARCHIPELAGO FEBRUARY 9-20, 2017 WITH MASS AUDUBON’S BOB SPEARE Discover a seldom-visited region connecting two worlds — and the Atlantic — surveying volcanoes, forests and glacial lakes interspersed along the Andean foothills. From the temperate rainforests of Tepuhueico National Park to enormous, 30,000-year-old glaciers, International Expeditions new tour to northern Patagonia blends extraordinary wildlife and natural beauty with the charming culture of the Chilotes.

UNCOVER RICH TRADITIONS Discover distinct Chiloé Island, a small, green isle populated by scattered villages where homes, boats and the famed churches are still built using the techniques taught by generations past. A closer look at the Chilote people reveals a rich spiritual culture that is based on a distinctive mythology of witchcraft, ghost ships and forest gnomes. Sample Chile’s famed wines.

CHILOÉ ISLAND & PATAGONIA’S NORTHERN ARCHIPELAGO ITINERARY

Days 1 & 2 Depart / Fly independently to necked swan, actively feeding on algae along the shore. Visit , Chile, where you are met upon arrival and the picturesque Chilote village of , seeing one of the transferred to Hotel Cabaña del Lago in Puerto Varas. Join famous wooden churches as well as the handicraft market. your Expedition Leader and fellow travelers for dinner this Chiloe’s wooden churches, declared a UNESCO World Heri- evening. (D) tage Site, have a distinct wooden construction inspired by shipbuilding. Friendly locals are sure to greet you. Continue Day 3 Embark / Quemchi Embark the Skorpios II in Puerto sailing south late this afternoon. Blue whales have been Montt to discover Chile’s Lake District. This area is known sighted in the Golfo de Corcovado for the past several years, for its incredible mountain landscapes, impressive and and might be seen from the ship. (B,L,D) ancient rainforests, and for serving as the starting point of a huge archipelagic labyrinth extending to the wild regions Day 4 Cruise: Puerto Aguirre / Punta Pescadores As you of western Patagonia. Sail from Puerto Montt through the sail, watch for black-browed albatross, as well as royal and Llanquihue Archipelago, Gulf, Chiloe Archipelago Salvin’s albatross. Navigate Moraleda Channel, where orca and Corcovado Gulf. On a clear day, you have the opportunity are occasionally observed, as well as Ferronave Channel, to observe the volcanoes and towering peaks of the Andes! arriving in the remote fishing village of Puerto Aguirre. The Heavy rainfall creates a dense southern forest, rich in a large village’s 1,800 inhabitants, most of whom earn their living variety of trees, plants and flowers. The most outstanding fishing, are always welcoming and warm, acting as guides are Chilco or fuchsia; giant ferns; Ciprés de las Guaitecas and chatting as we make our way through town. Stroll Puer- (Pilgerodenrdon Uniferum), whose wood does not rot; Canelo to Aguirre’s cobbled streets before hiking along an Austral (drimys winteri), the sacred tree of the Mapuche; Lenga forest path watching for birdlife. Set sail through Ferronave, beeches, and millenary larches. Chilean rhubarb (gunnera Pilcomayo and Costa Channels to Punta Pescadores, where tinctoria) is also native to the area. Ferns and colorful flow- we hike along the beach to observe the Patagonian flora and ers contrast with the evergreen forests. While cruising these fauna, and hear tales of the local Chonos people. (B,L,D) rich channels we are likely to see pods of Peale’s dolphin, groups of South American sea lion and an array of seabirds Day 5 Cruise: San Rafael Glacier Cross San Rafael Lagoon including southern giant petrel, sooty and pink-footed to view San Rafael Glacier aboard excursion boats. This shearwaters, imperial and red-legged cormorants, Peruvian UNESCO Biosphere Reserve was discovered four centuries pelican and South American tern. Look for groups of black- ago by Spanish navigator Juan García Teo. The 30,000-year- old glacier is known for its distinct large, blue ice-floes. Our Day 8 Puerto Montt / Disembark / Puñihuil / Parque steel excursion boats easily navigate the ice-choked waters. Quilquico Disembark in Puerto Montt and enjoy a quick San Rafael is a highly active glacier, with breaks and calving ferry ride across the , which offers great commonly observed. Early explorers reported that in 1800 wildlife viewing opportunities. Board a local boat to see one the glacier filled three-quarters of the lagoon, and photos of the few mixed breeding colonies of Humboldt and Magel- from the early 20th century show it being far longer. It is lanic penguins. Marine otter, Magellanic cormorant, kelp estimated that by the year 2030, the glacier will be gone. Sail goose and flightless steamer duck are also typically found closer to the glacier for an up-close view before sailing north here. Hike the trails of Parque Quilquico, a private 10 hectare to Quitralco Fjord. (B,L,D) reserve, where both the birding and scenery are magnificent. (B,L,D) Day 6 Cruise: Quitralco Fjord Spend the day surveying Quitralco Fjord, an ancient glacier bed surrounded by Day 9 Exploring Chiloe Island / Parque Quilquico Explore mountains and vibrant vegetation. Enjoy a dip in the hot the small towns and unique churches that make Chiloe an springs, taking advantage of the pure thermal waters after up-and-coming magnet for visitors. All the while you’ll be a day of boating excursions through the fjords and trekking amazed by the verdant and lush rolling hills that typify the through the southern rainforest. This site was declared a island. In Achao you’ll see the Church of Santa Maria de Loreto Natural Sanctuary by the Chilean National Monuments de Achao, built around 1740 and almost fully intact from Council. Quitralco — which means “Waters of Fire” — was a the Jesuit era. Explore the small fishing village of resting place for the Indian tribes which hunted and gathered and other wonderful sites before checking into Hotel Parque in the area. Lunch is a full Patagonian barbecue served Quilquico. Savor an authentic barbecue, music and ashore. Sail north later this evening, navigating the Moraleda storytelling about the island’s interesting legends and tradi- and Perez Norte Channels. (B,L,D) tions. (B,L,D)

Day 7 Cruise: Islote Conejos / Cross the Corcovado Day 10 Parque Tepuhueic Explore imposing Tepuhueico, Gulf where, conditions permitting, we search for migrating hiking in the lush Valdivian humid forest. Look for pudu blue and humpback whales. Visit Islote Conejos on the Quelien (the smallest deer in the world), Darwin´s fox, endemic Channel, exploring the island and viewing Magellanic penguins slender-billed parakeet (common around the lodge), black- and other birdlife. Sail north to charming Dalcahue, one of throated hued-hued, ochre-flanked tapaculo and Des Murs´ Chiloe’s loveliest towns. Stroll along the promenade, stopping wiretail. The forest is also home to frogs and lizards, which at Nuestra Señora de Los Dolores Church, built by Jesuit live among moss and fern-covered tree trunks. Enjoy excellent missionaries in 1849. (B,L,D) chances for both wildlife and macro photography, as the 12-DAY EXPEDITION

February 9-20, 2017

PRICE PER PERSON

ATENAS DECK Double Occupancy ������������������������������������������������������������������$6,398 Single Occupancy ������������������������������������������������������������������� $8,648

ACROPOLIS DECK ������������������������������������������������������������������ $6,498 miniature lichen, fungi and moss forests are home to a whole Double Occupancy Single Occupancy ���������������������������������������������������������������������$9,998 world of insects, amphibians and other tiny creatures. Hike to a stunning waterfall, where ring-necked kingfishers like PARTHENON DECK Double Occupancy ������������������������������������������������������������������ $6,598 to hunt. Hotel Tepuhueico (Tepuhueico EcoLodge) in Parque Single Occupancy ������������������������������������������������������������������$10,098 Tepuhueico is your home for the night. Venture out after OLYMPOS DECK dinner calling to attract the rufous-legged owl, nightjar or Double Occupancy ������������������������������������������������������������������ $6,648 other creatures of the night. (B,L,D) Single Occupancy ������������������������������������������������������������������$10,298

OLYMPOS JUNIOR SUITE Day 11 Parque Quilquico / Depart Travel to Castro to board Double Occupancy ������������������������������������������������������������������ $6,798 your group flight to Santiago, where you meet your independent Single Occupancy ������������������������������������������������������������������$10,548 connection home. (B,L) OLYMPOS MASTER SUITE Double Occupancy ������������������������������������������������������������������ $6,998 Day 12 Arrive Home Arrive home via independent Single Occupancy ������������������������������������������������������������������$10,848 connecting flights. (Meals Aloft) ATHOS DECK Double Occupancy ������������������������������������������������������������������ $6,648 Single Occupancy ������������������������������������������������������������������$10,298 Plus In-Country Airfare ��������������������������������������������������������������$250 Port Tax ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������$35

In-country airfare is subject to change and must be purchased through International Expeditions. International airfare is not included in prices above but available through International Expeditions. The trip price includes: All accommodations, meals and guide services as stated in itinerary, private ground transportation during the tour, park entrance fees and ferry fares. Mineral water is included on all transfers, ex- cursions and meals plus one bottle per person at each hotel room. One soft drink or local beer at lunch and dinner per person. Open bar on ship with all house drinks. Tipping for restaurants, porters and drivers. The trip price excludes: Domestic flights, tipping for Expedition Leader and crew, travel insurance, entrance tax to Chile for Canadians and if re- implemented for U.S. citizens, excess baggage charges, private excursions, à la carte dishes, snacks, drinks, laundry, telephone calls and anything else of a personal nature. Deposits: $600 per person deposit is due at time of booking. Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. Cancellations: $300 per person from time of booking until 90 days prior to departure. 50% of trip cost from 89-61 days prior to departure. 100% of trip cost from 60-0 days prior to departure. BIRDS OF PATAGONIA EXTENSION ITINERARY

Day 11 Puerto Montt / Punta Arenas Connect in Puerto sandpiper, Magellanic oystercatcher and dark-bellied cinclodes. Montt to your group flight to Punta Arenas, spending Visit alkaline lagoons watching for rare Magellanic plover. tonight at Hotel Diego de Almagro. (D) Spend two nights at Hostería Yendegaia. (B,L,D)

Day 12 Torres del Paine National Park Drive to Torres del Day 16 Terra del Fuego Explore Bahía Inútil watching Paine National Park, enjoying views of the windswept Pata- for steamer-ducks, kelp goose, and king, imperial and rock gonian steppes. Begin on the eastern side of the park, watching cormorants. The surrounding meadows and fields are home for spectacled, crested and Andean ducks, silver teal, Chiloe to endangered ruddy-headed goose, as well as variable hawk, wigeon, speckled teal and yellow-billed pintail, as well as aplomado and peregrine falcons. Great horned owls also nest in great, silvery and white-tufted grebes. While hiking through nearby ravines. Spend our afternoon in the only continental King secondary woodlands, our naturalist searches for Chilean Penguin breeding colony. The species congregates year-round flicker, striped woodpecker and Austral pygmy owl. Scan the in Porvenir. Search the Baquedano Hills for rufous-chested fast-flowing rivers for torrent duck. Along Torres del Paine’s dotterel, Austral canastero and white-bridled finch. (B,L,D) reed-fringed lagoons, search for recently re-discovered Austral rail. Spend two nights at Hotel Rio Serrano. (B,L,D) Day 17 Olga Teresa Ranch / Punta Arenas Cross the steppes searching for least seedsnipe, tawny-throated dotterel, common Day 13 Torres del Paine National Park While birding in the miner, band-tailed earthcreeper and chocolate-vented tyrant. piedmont and sub-Antarctic Southern beech forests of western Bordering the road are wetlands, where we may see Chilean Torres del Paine, look for thorn-tailed rayadito, white-throated flamingo, upland and ash-headed geese, coscoroba and treerunner, Austral parakeet, Austral blackbird and the black-necked swans, and silver teal, along with waders striking Magellanic woodpecker, one of the largest in the such as Baird’s and white-rumped sandpipers and Wilson’s world. Enjoy vistas of magnificent lakes and peaks. (B,L,D) phalarope. Stop at Estancia Olga Teresa, meeting local sheep farmers and observing the Andean condors which nest nearby. Day 14 Torres del Paine National Park / Punta Arenas Wind Spend tonight at Hotel Diego de Almagro. (B,L,D) along the mountain roads of the Sierra Baguales Range, looking for Patagonian mockingbird and grey-bellied shrike-tyrant. Days 18 & 19 Depart Punta Arenas / Home Depart on inde- This montane habitat is home to white-throated caracara, grey- pendent, overnight flights to North America. (B, Meals Aloft) breasted seedsnipe, rufous-banded miner, cinnamon-bellied and ochre-naped ground-tyrants, Patagonian and greater yellow finches, and the stunning yellow-bridled finch. Spend 9-DAY EXTENSION tonight at Hotel Diego de Almagro. (B,L,D) February 19-27, 2017

Day 15 Straits of Magellan / Porvenir While crossing the PRICE PER PERSON Straits of Magellan, search the skies for black-browed albatross, Double Occupancy ������������������������������������������������������������������ $3,525 southern giant petrel, cape and white-chinned petrels, sooty Single Occupancy ������������������������������������������������������������������� $4,223 shearwater and Magellanic diving petrel. Watch for other seabirds, Plus In-Country Airfare ��������������������������������������������������������������$450 including Chilean skua, kelp, dolphin and brown-hooded gulls In-country airfare is subject to change and must be purchased through and South American tern. Once we reach the island, scan International Expeditions. Porvenir’s coasts for crested duck, Chiloe wigeon, Baird’s OUR EXPEDITION SHIP Skorpios II

Designed for the Chilean Fjords The 55-cabin Skorpios II is designed to cruise the icy waters of Chile’s fjords, with open decks providing magnificent vistas. Aboard this family-run ship, you’ll find friendly, personalized service provided by the Kochifas family and their experienced crew. Take advantage of the ship’s “open door” policy to explore the bridge or even engine room, learning about navigating these historic waters.

Athos Deck Sample the Flavors of Chile During your voyage aboard the Skorpios II, settle into the spacious, recently renovated Dining Room for a delicious menu of both interna- tional and local fare accompanied by fine Chilean wines. Also savor cakes, pies, sandwiches and tea after our afternoon excursions. While onboard, you enjoy a generous open bar. Olympus Deck Parthenon Deck Skorpios II Features & Specifications

• Public spaces include two comfortable lounges, Sun Deck & Dining Room

• All cabins, en suite bathrooms & Dining Room renovated in 2012

ATHOS DECK FROM $6,648 Cabins with queen bed and picture window. Approx. 140 sq. ft.

OLYMPOS DECK FROM $6,648 Cabins with twin beds and picture window. Approx. 150 sq. ft.

OLYMPOS JUNIOR SUITE FROM $6,798 Cabins with queen bed and picture window. Approx. 182 sq. ft.

OLYMPOS MASTER SUITE FROM $6,998 Cabins with king bed and picture window. Approx. 193 sq. ft.

PARTHENON DECK FROM $6,598 Cabins with twin or bunk beds and picture window. Approx. 150 sq. ft.

ACROPOLIS DECK FROM $6,498 Cabins with twin beds and picture window. Approx. 161 sq. ft.

ATENAS DECK FROM $6,398 Cabins with twin beds or bunk beds. Approx. 147 sq. ft. All Cabins feature private baths, heating, international phone system, TV, ventilation system and background music.

Type: A1 Ice Class Vessel Staff & Crew: 34 Flag: Chile Cruising Speed: 12 knots Cabins: 46 Electricity: 220 volts Length: 230 feet Breadth: 33 feet Draft: 9.4 feet Gross Tonage: 1,520 metric tons OUR LAND ACCOMMODATIONS

HOTEL QUILQUICO HOTEL TEPUHUEICO The boutique Hotel Tepuhueico (or Tepuhueico EcoLodge) Set in a 10 hectare nature reserve, Hotel Quilquico is is a frequent stop for birders and scientists, who have con- perched on a hilltop overlooking the lush hills of Chiloe ducted studies on various animal species and fossils. The Island. The hotel boasts a 360-degree panoramic view, hotel features a dining room with panoramic views of the accompanied by a cozy reading area and satellite TV. trout-filled lake. Each of the nine spacious double rooms The 13 rooms feature beautiful views of native forest and offers private bathroom, heat and hot-water showers. the Dalcahue channel, and offer private bathroom, AC and heat, a private balcony, safe and phone. EXPEDITION TEAM

CLAUDIO VIDAL Expedition Leader Claudio Vidal is a native Chilean who is one of the leading field naturalists and ornithologists in South America. Living in Punta Arenas on the Strait of Magellan has helped foster his interest in the pelagic birdlife and marine mammals of Patagonia. A birdwatcher since the age of twelve, Claudio has co-authored many books, including Birds of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego & Antarctic Peninsula, Torres del Paine - Wildlife & Landscapes and the upcoming Field Guide to the Birds of Chile. He continues to develop resource books for Chile’s most important natural areas. Claudio has been leading birdwatching and natural history journeys in Chile for years, and has become a favorite of IE guests on our many past Patagonia expeditions.

BOB SPEARE Bob Speare worked for Mass Audubon for over 23 years as a Master Naturalist, Director of the Wildwood Camp, and Regional Director for the Southeast, Cape and Islands region. Throughout these years, he’s led numerous trips throughout the east coast from Newfoundland to Florida and to many desert regions including Baja California, Death Valley, Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. Bob has also enjoyed leading many trips to various parts of Central America and Cuba. Beyond birds and other aspects of flora and fauna, Bob enjoys butterflies, reptiles and amphibians. He also enjoys sharing his passion for photography on tours and has presented many workshops on digital photography across the state. Bob now lives in South Carolina and continues to lead trips for Mass Audubon. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE A RESERVATION CONTACT:

Massachusetts Audubon Society Karen O’Neill 208 South Great Road Lincoln, Massachusetts 01773

(800) 289-9504 or (781) 259-2166 [email protected]