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In
association
with
Trogon
Tours ARGENTINA!
Northwest Wildlife Special!
Featuring the dry Andes, Monte desert, Yungas & Chaco woodland!
September 25 - October 6, 2012
Trip Cost & Travel Planning> Registration Form>
This tour is especially for those who enjoy general natural history and nature photography. Join us on this ultimate nature travel adventure through the most representative habitats of northwestern Argentina including valleys and semi-arid Monte Steppes, dry Chaco Woodland, montane Alder Forests, Yungas Cloudforest, high Andean Puna Desert and Lagoons. This is a dream journey for naturalists who enjoy fauna, flora, photography and learning about the local culture.
Northwestern
Argentina is a land full
of spectacular landscapes
and with a vast cultural
heritage. Remnants of
buildings and roads from
the “Great
Inca Empire of the Sun” can
still be found everywhere
here, and many cultural
events and pre-Hispanic
rituals, such as that in
honor of the “Pacha
Mama” (Mother
Earth), are still celebrated
by the locals. Andean music
is heard everywhere, and
people still play their
traditional instruments.
This incredibly varied
region has a great diversity
of natural habitats, ranging
from Yungas Cloudforest
to dry Chaco Woodlands.
The three provinces in
the north-westernmost part
of Argentina, Jujuy, Salta
and Tucuman, host some
pristine representatives
of these habitats, all worth
visiting for birders to
find both diversity and
good numbers of native species.
Forming
a wedge along the southern
Andean chains of Bolivia
and northwestern Argentina,
the Yungas Cloudforest supports
one of the greatest biological
diversities in the Neotropics.
It harbors a wide variety
of forests and woodlands,
each hosting its own and
unique community of flora
and fauna, and all varying
according with their altitudinal
ranges. Wildlife is abundant
in this humid environment.
Ferns, bromeliads and other
epiphytic plants are particularly
stunning here, and they
cover every single corner
of the forest. This biological
treasure is well protected
within the boundaries of
several national parks and
nature reserves, and we
plan to explore it thoroughly
in different areas.
Just
south of the Humahuaca Valley
lays the small village of
Yala and the Yala River,
which is bordered by lush
Yungas cloudforest. Exploring
this area is a unique experience
for naturalists. Remarkable
bird species, such as Rufous-throated
Dipper, Torrent Duck, Red-faced
Guan and Lyre-tailed Nightjar,
are restricted to this particular
ecosystem. A local reserve
just above Yala protects
a good stand of pure Alder
forest, offering great chances
to visit yet another habitat,
with its own and particular
wildlife. Continuing north,
and up to higher elevations,
the Yungas and the Alder
forest are left behind,
to enter the pre-Puna.
The
Andes in this part of Argentina
are very dry, but they
are crossed by a series
of humid valleys, with Humahuaca
standing out for its unique
setting. Nestled amidst
spectacular rock formations
of the most incredible
and diverse colors, this
is the heart of one of
the
richest cacti flora on
Earth, and home to a wide
array of birds, mammals
and other wildlife. Lake
Pozuelos Natural Monument,
a mountain ringed basin
with shallow brackish water
lies some 90 km. north
of Abra Pampa, in the heart
of the Puna. It harbors
thousands of Andean, Chilean
and Puna Flamingoes so
we hope to witness the spectacle
of large concen-trations
of these creatures amidst
the solitude and grandeur
of High Andean landscape.
After
visiting the Humahuaca Valley
area, we will drive back
into the Province of Salta,
where we plan to explore
the Chaco habitats. The
Chaco habitat is well represented
in the province of Salta.
This particular ecosystem,
mainly thorny woodland,
covers most of the northern
part of Argentina, and it
is well divided into a dry,
a montane and a wet area,
each of them with different
flora and fauna. We will
spend time exploring the
dry Chaco, searching for
its unique wildlife.
No
nature tour to northwestern
Argentina would be complete
without visiting the Andean
habitats of the famous Cachi
Road, an area well reputed
among birders the world
over for the quantity and
quality of bird species
present here. We will follow
this road on our way to
los Cardones National Park,
looking for its diverse
birds and unique flora,
as we cross through a variety
of habitats.
We
will also visit the Province
of Tucumán,
to explore two wonderful
habitats: the Monte desert
at the Calchaqui Valleys,
and the mountains of Aconquija.
The latter is home to several
localized birds, including
some Argentine endemics,
like Tucuman Mountain Finch,
Yellow-striped Brush Finch
and Moreno’s
Ground-Dove.
Days 1 & 2
Our meeting point is at the airport of the City of Tucumán. From here, we will drive to the village of Tafí del Valle. On our way there, we will dedicate time to explore the Yungas habitat, and get familiar with this unique cloud forest, its flora and wildlife. Day 2 will be spent exploring the high Andean grasslands and montane habitats in the surroundings of Tafí.
Day
3
On
day 3 we will drive from
Tafí del
Valle all the way to Cachi,
in Salta, exploring the
Calchaquí Valleys,
and visiting the ruins
of a pre-Incan citadel
called Ruinas de Quilmes.
Days
4 & 5
We
will leave Cachi after
breakfast on day 4, to continue
our way north to Moldes.
During this part of the
journey,
we will cross some of the
most spectacular rock formations
of northwestern Argentina,
so we will make frequent
stops along the way to
photograph
landscapes, flora and to
enjoy watching wildlife.
Day
5
will
be
dedicated
to
explore
the
Cachi
Road
and
Los
Cardones
National
Park.
Days
6 &
7
We
will leave Salta
on day 6 and drive all
the way to Libertador General
San Martin, in the Province
of Jujuy, to go visiting
the pristine Yungas of
Calilegua National Park.
We
will
spend
day
7
exploring
Calilegua
National
Park.
Day
8
On
day 8 we will drive
north and into the Andean
habitats of Jujuy. Our
first night in the dry
Andean habitats of Jujuy
will be spent in the picturesque
village of Purmamarca.
Days
9 &
10
We
will continue north
today to go exploring
Lake
Pozuelos Natural Monument,
and continue through the
Puna desert all the way
to La Quiaca, the northernmost
city of Argentina, located
right on the Bolivian border.
We
will
spend
day
10
exploring
the
high
Andean
habitats
east
of
La
Quiaca.
Day
11
On
day
11, we will leave La Quiaca
and drive south along the
Humahuaca gorge, making
several photo stops on
the way. We will visit
the pre-Inca
ruins of Pucará de
Tilcara on the way, where
besides the ruins there’s
a small botanical
garden with several Andean
cacti species. Late evening
arrival to Yala, where
we will spend the night.
Those who are keen on
birds will have the chance
to go searching for
the rare Lyre-tailed
Nightjar in the surroundings
of the Village right
after sunset.
Day
12
Today
we will drive to
the City of Salta, where
our tour ends at the local
airport.
Some
Target Species:
|
Photos:
Plush-crested
Jay, Ruins of Quilmes, Andean
Geese, White-fronted Woodpecker,
Vicuna, Chaco Chachalaca © Luis
Segura
Chilean
Flamingos © Gina
Nichol
Space
is limited!
Call now for
availability
(203) 453-6724
or email gina@sunrisebirding.com
 ARGENTINA!
Northwest
Wildlife Special!Sept. 25 - October 6, 2012 Registration Form> TOUR PRICE: $3350.00 per person based on double occupancy from Tucumán, Argentina. Note: This tour starts in Tucumán and ends in Salta, Argentina Single supplement: $370.00 per person, subject to availability. Deposit: $500.00 per person Group size: Maximum 8. Included in cost: Private transportation for all transfers and excursions. Accommodations on a twin/double basis. Single supplements on request. Full time Trogon Tours’ leader to accompany the group from day 1 in Tucumán to day 12 in Salta. All breakfasts, lunches, box-lunches and dinners as per program with one non alcoholic drink per person. Admission fees to national parks and nature reserves. Not included: International and domestic airfares and airport taxes, passport/Visa fees, tips to guides, drivers, hotel & restaurant personnel, etc. Personal travel and medical insurance. Anything not specified in “Included in cost ?”
Final payment is due by May 25, 2012 and must be paid by check. Cancellations and Refunds: Refunds, less a cancellation fee of $300.00 per person will be made only if Sunrise Birding, LLC is notified in writing of intent to cancel on or before May 25, 2012. No refunds will be made after May 25, 2012. All cancellations must be made in writing. There are no refunds for unused meals, accommodations, or other trip features. Insurance: The purchase of trip cancellation insurance to cover any eventuality is strongly recommended. Sunrise Birding, LLC can not accept liability for airline cancellations or delays or penalties incurred by the purchase of non-refundable airline tickets or other expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for this tour.
Questions? Contact Gina Nichol at gina@sunrisebirding.com Phone: 203.453.6724 |
