Andean Condors in Patagonia
Argentina
Region
Patagonia
Season
March to May and October to December
Duration
5 days
Briefing
To be defined.
Tour description
Close to the city of Bariloche, in the Northern Patagonian Lake District, we find one of the most picturesque landscapes in South America, where the snow-capped Andes, verdant forests, glaciers and pristine lakes create a paradise protected by Nahuel Huapi National Park. Not far from the lake a group of limestone towering cliffs that look like an old medieval castle, host one of the biggest concentrations of Andean condors in Patagonia. Due to its shape the place is locally known as “The Condor’s Castle”, located around Mt. La Buitrera, protecting the birds from the strong west winds and allowing them to ride on the thermals generated in the area.
These cliffs eroded by the elements look like an enormous gruyere cheese due to the numerous natural cavities on its eastern face, that in some occasions host several dozens of condors, plus other species of raptors such as black-chested buzzard-eagles, crested caracaras, peregrine falcons and red-backed hawks. The Andean condors, the largest of the New World “vultures” – with impressive wingspan of up to ten feet- ride the thermals and soar through the sky, sometimes just a few feet from our convenient shooting location almost at the edge of the cliff.
Dense“ lenga” beech forests are also the habitat of other interesting iconic Patagonian species such as the Magellanic woodpecker (the largest in South America), the Austral parakeet, the thorn-tailed rayadito and the Austral pygmy owl, for mentioning a few.
A mountain shelter and trails -that will help us to reach almost up to the edge of the cliff- will allow you to capture excellent images of these spectacular massive birds at short range.