NORTHWEST ARGENTINA BIRDING TOUR
Travel Information
ARGENTINA
BIRDING TOUR
ANY TIME*
| Duration: | 18 days, 17 nights |
| Group Size: | 2-4 |
| Anytime Price: | $7250 |
| Group Price: | $6750 |
| Single Suppl: | TBA |
| Est #Species: | 325-375 |
| Pace: | Moderate |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
| * This tour is available for any dates of your choosing provided guide services and accommodations are available. | |
The below information is provided to inform people of what to expect if they participate in this tour and to advise participants on how to prepare for the tour. We try to provide accurate information but conditions and travel requirements can change over time.
Entering Argentina
Persons entering Argentina require a valid passport with an expiration date more than 6 months after their planned departure from the country. US citizens can stay in Argentina for 90 days without a visa. Immigration officials may deny a person entry if their passport is not in good condition. In response to the Covid pandemic, Argentina requires proof of being fully vaccinated against Covid at least 14 days prior to arrival or a negative PCR test taken no more than 72 hours prior to embarkation.
Leaving Argentina
A departure tax of $29 is assessed when leaving Argentina. The tax is usually included with the international airline tickets.
Time Zone
Argentina is two hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
Immunizations & Health
Please contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding health issues and immunization requirements when traveling in Argentina. See your travel doctor for specific recommendations at least 4-6 weeks prior to departure. The CDC recommends vaccinations/boosters for hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, influenza, typhoid, tetanus-diptheria, and measles. Some birding sites in the Andes are at high altitude so altitude sickness pills are advisable there.
Medical Facilities
Argentina has excellent medical facilities in larger cities. The quality of care is often much lower outside larger cities.
Insurance
We recommend purchasing trip cancellation insurance, which will reimburse you for any non-refundable payments you would otherwise lose if you must cancel your participation in the tour for some unforeseen reason. Trip cancellation insurance must normally be purchased within a short time after you register for the tour. Travel medical insurance is advisable, especially for those with chronic or known medical conditions.
Altitude
Altitude varies from sea level to over 20,000ft in the highest peaks of the Andes. Our northwest Argentina tour visits numerous areas of high altitude including Yavi with an altitude over 11,000ft and the Abra Lizoites road which reaches an altitude of 14,400ft.
Climate
The best time for birding Argentina is October-March, especially November-December. Rainy season is October-March but is mainly a concern in the far northeast as most of Argentina is quite dry to arid. The eastern slope of the Andes Mountains and the neighboring lowlands are in a rain shadow with most rain falling on the Chilean side of the mountains. Temperatures are typically moderate during spring (Spring-November) and summer (December-February, averaging in the high 60's during spring and high 70's during summer. Temperatures vary with latitude, averaging around 10 degrees cooler in Patagonia and in the mid-40's to mid-50's in Tierra del Fuego during these months.
Pace
The pace of birding tours in Argentina varies from easy to moderate. Tours are rated as moderate in difficulty due to the effects of altitude. Our tours try to avoid long drives, though drives up to 6-7 hours are occasionally required. Walking is generally for short distances though may be somewhat longer at some sites. Our southern Argentina tour requires 4 flights to cover the long distances. These are generally on good-sized aircraft such as Boeing 737.
Birding is best in early morning and late afternoon, so some days begin shortly after first light around 6:00-6:30 am. Breakfasts may be earlier, around 5:00-6:00 am. We may stay out after dark looking for nightjars and owls on some nights before dinner. Because we awake early, participants typically retire to their rooms immediately after we complete dinner and checklists for the day.
Accommodations
We generally stay in moderately priced hotels with comfortable accommodations. Some lodges are more rustic when located in remote areas.
WiFi
Access to WiFi and the internet is typically good except in remote areas. Even in Tierra del Fuego access is good in the towns.
Food
Meals vary from basic to quite good. All lodges and restaurants can accommodate dietary restrictions with advance notice. Bottled water is available throughout all tours, but due to the varied preferences of participants, bottled water is not always provided except during meals unless provided by the lodges for no charge.
Transportation
Land transport is by comfortable mini-van or suitable vehicle depending on group size. 4x4 vehicles are needed in northwest Argentina and these carry at most 4 passengers in one vehicle. Tours do not include internal flights. These are charged separately a few months before departure dates.
Registration & Payment
Please refer to the REGISTRATION menu for registration procedure. Trip cancellation insurance is highly recommended as payments may be partially or wholly non-refundable. See the POLICIES menu for our refund policy.
Additional Information
General information about the tour, including where to meet the group and contact information, will be sent by email or US mail prior to departure. Checklists will be provided at the beginning of the tour. Additional information about our policies can be found on the REGISTRATION menu above. Please feel free to call us at 206-650-3425 or email us with any questions you may have.
Information last updated April, 2023.
TOUR NOTES
Group price applies for 3-4 persons. Internal flights not included in price, approximately $130-150. Those will be priced and booked by land agent a few months before tour departure date.