Cruise: Santiago to Los Angeles

The fancy Hornby’s (aka Ringed) Storm Petrel is one of a dozen storm-petrel species and some 40 tubenoses possible on this exciting trans-equatorial cruise (almost all of the sea life pictures presented in the slideshow have been taken from the ship). Credit: Luke Seitz
The fancy Hornby’s (aka Ringed) Storm Petrel is one of a dozen storm-petrel species and some 40 tubenoses possible on this exciting trans-equatorial cruise (almost all of the sea life pictures presented in the slideshow have been taken from the ship). Credit: Luke Seitz
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
The cruise transects a fabulous range of habitats, where our comfortable home for two weeks may stand out a little from the local vessels! Credit: Steve Howell
The cruise transects a fabulous range of habitats, where our comfortable home for two weeks may stand out a little from the local vessels! Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
The well-appointed cabins are quite comfortable. Credit: Fabrice Schmitt.
The well-appointed cabins are quite comfortable. Credit: Fabrice Schmitt.
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
There are several restaurants on board that will please all palates. Credit: Fabrice Schmitt
There are several restaurants on board that will please all palates. Credit: Fabrice Schmitt
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
At some landings we’ll be alongside a dock and just walk off the ship; at others, tenders such as this will ferry us ashore. Credit: Steve Howell
At some landings we’ll be alongside a dock and just walk off the ship; at others, tenders such as this will ferry us ashore. Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
Watching from the ship is comfortable and nicely shaded in these mostly tropical latitudes. Credit: Steve Howell
Watching from the ship is comfortable and nicely shaded in these mostly tropical latitudes. Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
We’ll travel from the dashing Juan Fernandez Petrel in the Humboldt Current... Credit: Steve Howell
We’ll travel from the dashing Juan Fernandez Petrel in the Humboldt Current... Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
... To the stately Laysan Albatross in the California Current. Credit: Steve Howell
... To the stately Laysan Albatross in the California Current. Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
And from the perky White-throated Tapaculo in the Atacama Desert... Credit: Steve Howell
And from the perky White-throated Tapaculo in the Atacama Desert... Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
To the handsome Xantus’s Hummingbird in Mexico’s Baja California Desert. Credit: Steve Howell
To the handsome Xantus’s Hummingbird in Mexico’s Baja California Desert. Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
Non-avian sea life may include numerous whales, such as this Bryde’s (pronounced Bruder’s) Whale…. Credit: Steve Howell
Non-avian sea life may include numerous whales, such as this Bryde’s (pronounced Bruder’s) Whale…. Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
And playful groups of dolphins, here Short-beaked Commons. Credit: Steve Howell
And playful groups of dolphins, here Short-beaked Commons. Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
Plus colorful Sally Lightfoot Crabs, Credit: Steve Howell
Plus colorful Sally Lightfoot Crabs, Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
And fabulous flyingfish, here a Pied-tailed Necromancer. Credit: Steve Howell
And fabulous flyingfish, here a Pied-tailed Necromancer. Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
We start in the rich Humboldt Current, home to many storm-petrels, including White-bellied from the subtropical Pacific… Credit: Steve Howell
We start in the rich Humboldt Current, home to many storm-petrels, including White-bellied from the subtropical Pacific… Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
… White-faced from New Zealand… Credit: Steve Howell
… White-faced from New Zealand… Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
… the locally breeding Markham’s… Credit: Steve Howell
… the locally breeding Markham’s… Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
… and the handsome Hornby’s (or Ringed), whose breeding grounds are only now being discovered! Credit: Steve Howell
… and the handsome Hornby’s (or Ringed), whose breeding grounds are only now being discovered! Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
Gadfly (Pterodroma) petrels can can be common during the first few days, here two De Filippi’s (or Masatierra) Petrels are close behind a Cook’s Petrel with food—note the different wing-molt schedules! Credit: Steve Howell
Gadfly (Pterodroma) petrels can can be common during the first few days, here two De Filippi’s (or Masatierra) Petrels are close behind a Cook’s Petrel with food—note the different wing-molt schedules! Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
At our landing in southern Peru we plan an excursion in a smaller craft… Credit: Steve Howell.
At our landing in southern Peru we plan an excursion in a smaller craft… Credit: Steve Howell.
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
 …to enjoy close-up Inca Terns… Credit: Steve Howell
…to enjoy close-up Inca Terns… Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
… and with luck some Humboldt Penguins.... Credit: Steve Howell
… and with luck some Humboldt Penguins.... Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
Plus the colorful Red-legged Shag (or Cormorant). Credit: Steve Howell
Plus the colorful Red-legged Shag (or Cormorant). Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
Peruvian Thick-knee. Photo credit: Fabrice Schmitt.
Peruvian Thick-knee. Photo credit: Fabrice Schmitt.
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
....and Many-colored Rush-Tyrant. Credit: Fabrice Schmitt.
....and Many-colored Rush-Tyrant. Credit: Fabrice Schmitt.
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
Farther north we should see Galapagos (or Waved) Albatross, Credit: Steve Howell
Farther north we should see Galapagos (or Waved) Albatross, Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
Along with curious Nazca Boobies, which can pass by almost close enough to touch! Credit: Steve Howell
Along with curious Nazca Boobies, which can pass by almost close enough to touch! Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
Boobies chasing flyingfish are always fun to watch, here a Nazca Booby emerging after an unsuccessful dive for the ornately patterned Leopardwing still flying free!
Boobies chasing flyingfish are always fun to watch, here a Nazca Booby emerging after an unsuccessful dive for the ornately patterned Leopardwing still flying free!
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
While this Brewster’s Brown (or Cocos) Booby prefers to rest on a sea turtle! Credit: Steve Howell
While this Brewster’s Brown (or Cocos) Booby prefers to rest on a sea turtle! Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
Off the coast of Central America, leaping devil rays may distract us at times… Credit: Steve Howell
Off the coast of Central America, leaping devil rays may distract us at times… Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
And we should find flocks of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and perhaps some Galapagos Shearwaters. Credit: Steve Howell
And we should find flocks of Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and perhaps some Galapagos Shearwaters. Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
Our final landings can add splashes of color in the form of species such as the snappy Orange-collared Manakin in Costa Rica... Credit: Steve Howell
Our final landings can add splashes of color in the form of species such as the snappy Orange-collared Manakin in Costa Rica... Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
... And the dazzling Orange-breasted Bunting in Mexico. Credit: Steve Howell
... And the dazzling Orange-breasted Bunting in Mexico. Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
But all too soon the sun will set on our epic journey across 60 degrees of latitude, a third of the planet’s surface. Credit: Steve Howell
But all too soon the sun will set on our epic journey across 60 degrees of latitude, a third of the planet’s surface. Credit: Steve Howell
Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
2025 Cruise Time and Land Excursions Price
$3,750
Pre-Cruise Santiago Extension $1,250
Santiago Extension Single Supplement $150
2026
Tour Price to be Determined
2027
Tour Price to be Determined
Maximum group size 14 plus 2 leaders.
Tour balances paid by check/bank transfer may carry a 4% discount

This repositioning cruise offers an amazing opportunity to bird the eastern Pacific, beginning at latitude 33° south in San Antonio and ending the trip at the same latitude but north, in Los Angeles! It includes nine full days of seabirding and eight days on land. During the landings we’ll bird such diverse habitats as Chilean matorral scrub, the Sechura Desert in Peru, tropical forest in Costa Rica, and dry coastal shrubland in Ecuador. At least 10 species of storm-petrel are possible along our route, including some that are very difficult to see on coastal pelagic trips, such as Hornby’s, Markham’s, and White-bellied. Possible gadfly petrels include Juan Fernandez, De Filippi’s, Kermadec, and Tahiti Petrels, along with Waved (Galapagos) Albatross, Parkinson’s Petrel, Peruvian Diving-Petrel, Swallow-tailed Gull, and who knows what else. With luck we may even encounter the critically endangered Townsend’s Shearwater! 

Our days on land will focus on the best local specialties and birding areas. Among the many landbirds we expect are such diverse species as Moustached Turca, White-throated Tapaculo, Peruvian Thick-knee, Amazilia Hummingbird, Black-headed Trogon, Orange-collared Manakin, and San Blas Jay. 

Note: This cruise can be taken in conjunction with our Cape Horn (Buenos Aires to San Antonio, Chile) Cruise in 2025 & 2027. Those doing both cruises will be unable to join the Santiago extension (see below). In 2026 it is offered as a standalone tour. 

Details on booking space with both WINGS and Princess Cruises can be found in the tour information section. 

Tour Team
Itinerary (Click to see more)

Pre-cruise optional extension around Santiago, Chile.

The area around Santiago offers wonderful birding opportunities in amazingly varied habitats, from the wonderful scenery of the High Andes to the coastal wetlands and the dry scrublands in between. We will make a special effort for the Chilean endemics found around Santiago, and have a good chance of seeing seven of the 12 species: Chilean Tinamou, Dusky and White-throated Tapaculos, Moustached Turca, Crag Chilia, Dusky-tailed Canastero and Chilean Mockingbird.

Day 1: The pre-cruise extension begins this evening in Santiago. Night in Santiago.

Day 2: We’ll leave early for the ski resort of Farellones, stopping at different elevations, from the Mediterranean matorral shrublands to the alpine zone at 8250 feet. Our route is excellent for several Chilean endemics, including the cryptic and difficult-to-see Chilean Tinamou and the charismatic Moustached Turca. At high elevation we’ll almost certainly find Rufous-banded Miner, Black-winged Ground-Dove, Band-tailed Sierra-finch, and Greater Yellow-finch, but the Andean Condor will probably attract most of our attention—we have good chance of seeing a few of these giants during our picnic lunch near Farellones. Night in Santiago

Day 3: We’ll spend all day at high elevations (8000–9000 feet) in the Maipo and Yeso valleys, where the delicate Diademed Sandpiper Plover, one of the most beautiful shorebirds in the world, will be our main target. Other interesting species include Crag Chilia, a stunning ovenbird endemic to Chile. In the high-elevation bogs we should see Gray-breasted Seedsnipe, Greater Yellow-finch, Rufous-banded Miner, White-browed Ground-Tyrant, and perhaps the rare Creamy-rumped Miner. The scenery here is absolutely stunning and is as much of a reason to make the journey as the birds. Night in Santiago.

Day 4: We’ll leave early for the coast near Santiago, where we’ll visit several interesting wetlands and scrublands. A short trip to the Maipo River estuary will demonstrate just how important these coastal wetlands are for many migrant species—gulls, shorebirds, terns, and skimmers are usually found in great numbers. There are also several interesting resident species including Dusky Tapaculo, Austral Negrito, and Rufous-tailed Plantcutter.  At some nearby scrublands, we’ll have a chance to find Chilean Mockingbird, White-throated Tapaculo, or Dusky-tailed Canastero. We are planning to have lunch at a coastal restaurant, where from the terrace we may find a few Blackish Oystercatchers along with another of the possible endemics to be seen here, the Seaside Cinclodes. After lunch we’ll wend our way to the port of San Antonio and board our ship this afternoon. Night onboard the Sapphire Princess cruise ship.

Those not taking the pre-cruise extension will meet the group on the cruise ship at a time and place to be designated later.

Cruise Itinerary:

Day 1: We’ll meet onboard our ship this afternoon in San Antonio, Chile. As our ship departs in the evening, our birding experience will begin: we’ll have our first opportunity to see Inca Tern, Humboldt Penguin, Guanay Cormorant, Peruvian Booby, and Peruvian Diving-Petrel. Very soon we may find our first albatrosses; Salvin’s is usually the commonest species here, along with various shearwaters and petrels.

Day 2: We’ll leave the ship as soon as it arrives in the harbor of Coquimbo (Chile) to visit some semiarid scrubland, where many of the Chilean endemics are quite common, including Moustached Turca, White-throated Tapaculo, Chilean Mockingbird, and Dusky-tailed Canastero. Beside these endemics we’ll have great chances to find the superb Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, colorful Burrowing Parakeets, the elegant Plain-mantled Tit-Spinetail, and perhaps Seaside Cinclodes.

On the way back to our ship, we may also stop at the fishing harbor, where we could find Inca Terns, Peruvian Pelicans, Peruvian Boobies and plenty of South American Sea Lions. 
Our ship departs in the afternoon for Pisco (Peru).

Days 3–4: We’ll have two full days at sea, from Coquimbo to Pisco, Peru.  During these two days of seabirding we may see Chatham and Buller’s Albatrosses, together with the more common Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters. March is also a very good time to find Buller’s Shearwater in this part of the Pacific.

On this stretch of the trip we should find our first Pterodroma petrels, and we can expect good numbers of Masatierra (De Filippi’s) Petrel, along with smaller numbers of Juan Fernandez and Kermadec Petrels. These two days should also provide our best chance to see the poorly known Ringed (Hornby’s) and Markham Storm-Petrels. Both species are difficult to see during pelagic trips that stay close to the coast, and our cruise is probably one of the best ways to see them both. Beside the tubenoses we may find our first Swallow-tailed Gulls, wintering jaegers (all three species), and our first flying fish.

March is also a good time to find several species of whales migrating north from the feeding grounds to the breeding grounds. The most common species here are Fin, Humpback, and Blue Whales.

Day 5: Today we’ll be birding around Pisco, Peru, a place mostly known for the eponymous Peruvian national drink, pisco, a grape brandy produced in the area. The morning will be spent at the Ballestas Islands, which were formerly colonized by hundreds of thousands of Peruvian Boobies, Peruvian Pelicans, and Guanay Cormorants, and covered by several meters of guano. In the 1840s the guano came to be prized as a source of saltpeter for gunpowder, as well as for agricultural fertilizer, and Spain even fought a war with Peru and Chile for that precious resource.
Nowadays, even though the populations of these birds have declined, it is still possible to see thousands of boobies, pelicans, and cormorants during a visit to these islands. We also have a good chance of finding a few Humboldt Penguins, as well as the beautiful Inca Tern and Red-legged Cormorant. South American Sea Lions form big colonies on the beaches of the islands, and with some luck we may even find a group of Bottlenose Dolphins.

After scanning the mudflats for wintering shorebirds, Belcher’s Gull, Chilean Flamingos, and Royal and Elegant Terns, plus sometimes huge flocks of Black Skimmers, we’ll have lunch in Pisco—with a chance to try the eponymous pisco sours.. After lunch we’ll bird in a nearby wetland or in the agricultural fields, where we may find Chestnut-throated Seedeater, Long-tailed Mockingbird, Peruvian Meadowlark, and waterbirds such as White-cheeked Pintail and perhaps even Plumbeous Rail. Back on board we’ll continue our cruise north toward Callao, the Lima harbor.

Day 6: Arriving in Callao (Peru), we’ll drive south to visit some coastal wetlands and agricultural fields full of new species. The diversity and abundance of waterbirds here is amazing, and species include Great Grebe, Little Blue Heron, Puna Ibis, Slate-colored (Andean) Coot,  the stunning Many-colored Rush-Tyrant, and the cryptic Wrenlike Rushbird. With luck we may even find the secretive Least Bittern.

The agricultural fields are no less interesting, and we have a great chance of finding exciting species like Amazilia Hummingbird, Rufescent Flycatcher, Peruvian Pygmy-Owl, Long-tailed Mockingbird, Southern Beardless-Tyrannulet, and the local dark morph of Vermilion Flycatcher.

Day 7: After a night back on board in the Callao harbor we’ll leave early for the Lomas de Lachay National Reserve. Located in the extremely arid Atacama/Sechura Desert, one of the driest places in the world, the reserve features a unique mist-fed ecosystem. During the humid season (June to November) the dense clouds make moist contact with the peculiar geography of this area, and the resultant humidity gives life to more than 150 species of plants and 80 species of birds.

We’ll be there during the middle of the dry season, and even if less interesting from a botanical perspective, we’ll have good opportunities to find some of the exceptional birds of this remarkable area, including Burrowing Owl, Coastal Miner, Peruvian Thick-knee, and Least Seedsnipe. Nearby agricultural areas hold hummingbirds such as Peruvian Sheartail, plus Pacific Parrotlet, Cinereous Conebill, and perhaps the perky little Short-tailed Field-Tyrant. We’ll be back aboard in mid-afternoon in Callao, ready to continue our Pacific trip.

Days 8: We’ll have a full day at sea on the way to Manta (Ecuador). No fewer than nine species of storm-petrel are possible: Ringed (Hornby’s), Markham’s, White-bellied, White-faced, Elliot’s, Wedge-rumped, Least, Black, and Leach’s. Since we’ll be sailing east of the Galapagos Islands, we can expect to see a few seabird species that breed there, such as Swallow-tailed Gull, Waved Albatross, Galapagos Petrel, and perhaps even Galapagos Shearwater. The White-chinned and Westland Petrels that we likely will have seen in cooler waters farther south should be replaced here by the warmer-water Parkinson’s Petrel. We’ll also have a good chance of finding Red-billed Tropicbirds, plus Red-footed, Masked, and Nazca Boobies. Few birders have visited this part of the Pacific Ocean, and we could make some interesting discoveries. The numerous marine mammal species in this area include the handsome Striped Dolphin and legendary Sperm Whale. There should also be some spectacular flying fish in these tropical blue waters.

Day 9: After our morning sailing towards Manta, we will have a few hours birding the dry coastal shrubland and patches of tropical forest of Ecuador. It will be the hottest hours of the day, so we are not expecting to do too much, but we will be looking for local goodies such as Collared Antshrike, Elegant Crescentchest, Rufous-headed Chachalaca, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Crimson-breasted Finch, the lovely Necklaced Spinetail, and Baird’s Flycatcher. We even have a chance to spot the rare Esmeraldas Woodstar!

Day 10: Between Ecuador and Costa Rica we can expect similar species to those on Day 8, with better chances for Tahiti Petrel, Galapagos Shearwater and Band-rumped Storm-Petrel (two different populations, likely full species). Good numbers of Nazca Boobies can ofte be seen this day, and some of them will probably fly with us at the bow of the ship, waiting for flying fishes!

Day 11: Upon disembarking in Puntarenas, Costa Rica, we’ll drive toward Carara National Park to enjoy some tropical forest birding; quite a contrast after three days at sea. Birds we’ll be seeking here include Great Tinamou, Scarlet Macaw, Orange-collared Manakin, Baird’s and Gartered Trogons, White-whiskered Puffbird, Rufous-breasted Wrens, Black-hooded Antshrike, Turquoise-browed Motmot, Hoffmann’s Woodpecker, and Northern Bentbill to name just a few! Back on board in the evening, we’ll head northward again.

Days 12–14: We’ll have three full days at sea, between Costa Rica and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. As with other waters we’ve traveled through, very few birders have explored this part of the Pacific, so the potential for surprises is pretty high! Among the expected species on this stretch are Black and Least Storm-Petrels, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, and perhaps Cook’s Petrels that are migrating north from their breeding grounds in New Zealand. There should still be Red-footed and Nazca Boobies accompanying the ship, Red-billed Tropicbirds coming in to check us out, and perhaps Tahiti Petrels or even Christmas Shearwaters, both of which migrate through these waters at this season. Of course, Townsend’s Shearwater will be in our dreams, and with luck we may come across this rare and critically endangered species!

Day 15: Today we’ll have some time ashore around Puerto Vallarta, and an opportunity to dip our toes into the avian riches of West Mexico, at a season when migrants will be pouring through to supplement the local avifauna. We’ll look for the endemic Golden-cheeked Woodpecker, Happy Wren, and San Blas Jay, along with other species such as Thick-billed Kingbird, Painted Bunting, and Yellow-winged (or Mexican) Cacique.

Day 16: We’ll have a morning exploring the desert and marshes near Cabo San Lucas. We should find some of the Baja endemics, including Gray Thrasher, the endangered and highly localized Belding’s Yellowthroat, and with luck the stunning Xantus’s Hummingbird. Others species here include Pyrrhuloxia, Gila Woodpecker, California Towhee, Verdin, Cactus Wren, and Ash-throated Flycatcher.

Days 17-18: This will be our last two full days at sea, sailing north toward Los Angeles, California. New pelagic species we may add during this last stretch of our remarkable pelagic transit include Black-footed and Laysan Albatross, Black-vented Shearwater and with with luck the recently split Scripps’s and Guadalupe Murrelets.

Day 19: We’ll arrive at the port of Los Angeles in the early morning, disembarking in time to catch flights home.

Last updated Jul 05, 2024
Tour Information (Click to see more)

Note: The information presented below has been extracted from our formal General Information for this tour.  It covers topics we feel potential registrants may wish to consider before booking space. The complete General Information for this tour will be sent to all tour registrants and of course supplemental information, if needed, is available from the WINGS office.

Booking your place on our Santiago to Los Angeles cruise should be done in two steps:

1. Participants should book on-board birding time and the seven land excursions directly with WINGS.  Please do this first to insure there’s space. Details follow.

2. Participants should book their ship berth directly with Princess Cruises. Details follow.

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BOOKING WITH WINGS:  WINGS space should be booked through the WINGS on-line booking system or directly through the WINGS office. The all-inclusive per person cost for the seven days of land arrangements plus Fabrice’s on-board services is listed on thetour page. Our standard 4% discount applies to invoice balance if payment is by cash, check or wire. Applicants will be sent registration and release forms, deposit, payment and cancellation schedules and related information. The deposit for this tour’s WINGS services is $350/per person ($200 non-refundable) with the balance of payments due no later than 4 months prior to departure. Please wait for confirmation of space from WINGS before booking your berth with Princess. Note: You will have a seven-day window from the date of your WINGS booking to cancel without a WINGS penalty should Princess not have the berth accommodation you require.

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RESERVING YOUR CABIN WITH PRINCESS CRUISES: Your berth on this cruise should be booked over the phone with Princess Cruises to make sure your booking is added to our group number (see details below). All cabins will work equally well with the planned activities. Price depends largely on cabin class with cabin base prices beginning at about $1800 (including Port Fees). Note that deposits and payment to Princess are completely refundable if cancelled before their first penalty date, which is about 3 months out from the tour.

Note: Because we’re a group, all bookings from North America should go through our group organizer with Princess Cruises, Melissa Mesker at 1-800-901-1172 ext. 21678 or [email protected]. Her hours are 7:00 am-3:45 pm Pacific Time, Monday – Friday. It’s best to book your cabin through the number above and not through a standard travel agency or website such as Kayak, Expedia, or Travelocity (or over the Princess website). If you get her voicemail leave a message with the following information (or dial 0 during the message for one of her support team):

      1. I’m booking into a group.

      2. Our agent is Melissa Mesker.

          a. 21 March-8 April 2025

                   1. Group Name: WINGS SALA 2025

                   2. Our group TN1

                   3. Our cruise number or voyage code is H507

                   4. Ship: Sapphire Princess

Choosing a cabin on the Sapphire Princess (Open Bow): The closest interior (non-view) cabins to the birding spot are on Deck 5, in the front of the ship, between the elevator and the laundry. If you are worried about the movement of the ship then more stable interior cabins are on Deck 5 near the Art Gallery, though these are also near the Casino and may be noisy. There are also interior cabins mid-ship on Deck 10.

If you prefer a more expensive cabin with an ocean view the closest cabins to the birding location are on Deck 8, in the bow of the ship. Cabins on deck 8 mid-ship are also close to the birding location and more stable than in the front.

Additional information to have at hand before calling to make your booking:

• Your name(s) as they appear on your passports (first, middle and last)

• Your date(s) of birth

• Captain’s Circle Member numbers (for past Princess Cruises passengers) for all persons who may have them

• Phone numbers, mailing addresses, and email addresses for all persons who do not have Captain’s Circle member numbers

• Preferred bed configuration (queen vs. twin) for all staterooms – please note for cabins of 3 or more bed configuration may not allow a queen bed. Princess can provide specific bedding configuration details for each cabin as needed.

• Family stateroom configurations planned in advance (i.e., for families exceeding 4 persons; maximum stateroom occupancy is 4) or ask about Family Suite accommodations for up to 8 passengers.

• Dining selections (early, first, or late Traditional Dining, or Anytime dining) WINGS Note: Select “Anytime” dining.

• Any Special Requirements, including but not limited to: special dietary requests like food allergies and dietary restrictions (i.e., vegetarian, kosher, vegan, etc), or medical considerations.

• Any birthdays, anniversaries or other special occasions that you would like celebrated while onboard

SUPPLEMENTAL NOTES

1. Our cruise is limited to 14 birders due to the difficulty in showing seabirds to a larger group and to limits with certain of our land based services. Non-birding companions are permitted, and no WINGS deposit or payment is required, but such companions should not expect to join the daytime birding activities on board ship or on land. Non-birding companions should of course book their cruise berth with Princess. If you’re planning to travel with a non-birding companion, we suggest you contact the WINGS office for a review of the limitations of such a booking.

2. Shortly after you’ve booked your berth, you’ll get an e-mail booking confirmation from Princess.  Please forward a copy of that e-mail to the WINGS office and we’ll make sure all your data is transferred to our group.

3.  Cruise Itinerary:  Princess tells us that there is no direct web link to our cruise.  To view the itinerary one has to enter the main website, http://www.princess.com/ , and go through the “Plan a Cruise” link. Select “South America” as a destination, the “Sapphire Princess” as a vessel, and “March 2023 or 2024” as a date. Click on “View Details” to see cabin prices, itinerary, and other details. Note: even though it’s possible to book the cruise through the website, we recommend doing so over the phone. On the website there’s no place to add your booking to our group block and you’ll have to call them anyway.

4.  Anyone who is unable to make a booking through Princess can request assistance from the WINGS office.

ENTERING CHILE: A valid passport is required. A visa is not required for U.S. citizens. Citizens of other countries may need a visa, and should check with the Chilean embassy or consulate. If required by the embassy or visa-granting entity, WINGS can provide a letter for you to use regarding your participation in the tour.

CHILE RECIPROCITY FEES: Currently citizens of the United States, U.K., and Canada do not have to pay the entry (“reciprocity”) fee. As of 2020, Australians are not required to pay reciprocity fee anymore but are required to obtain an e-visa to enter Chile.

TRANSFER BETWEEN AIRPORT AND HARBOR: If you participate in the pre-tour extension in Chile, you will travel with the group to the ship and board together. If you are starting the cruise directly, your transfer is best arranged through Princess Cruises, who run regular shuttle buses from the Santiago airport to the ship and take care of your luggage (highly recommended for those not doing the extension).

ENTERING PERU, ECUADOR, COSTA RICA, and MEXICO: U.S. citizens need a passport valid for at least six months after the date the tour ends. Citizens of other countries may need a visa to enter one or several of these countries. Please refer to your cruise information from Princess for country entry details.

COUNTRY INFORMATION: You can review the U.S. Department of State Country Specific Travel Information here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html. Review foreign travel advice from the UK government here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and travel advice and advisories from the Government of Canada here:  https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories.

HEALTH: The most current information about travelers’ health recommendations can be found on the Centers for Disease Control’s Travel Health website at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list. Specific vaccinations and proof thereof may be required to enter the country.For entry and exit information please visit the U.S. State Department’s website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/. We strongly recommend contacting your doctor well in advance of your tour’s departure as some medications must be initiated weeks before the period of possible exposure.

There are no major health risks during most of our cruise, and no cholera, typhoid or yellow fever risk during our land excursions.

The CDC mentions a risk for malaria in some provinces of Costa Rica and Nicaragua but the risk of getting malaria at the places we visit during our land excursion is very low. Furthermore, the mosquito which transmits malaria is mostly active at dawn and dusk when we will still be onboard ship, lowering even more the low risk of getting malaria.

A tetanus booster is always a good idea before traveling. You should also be sure that your routine vaccinations are up to date for measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus (DPT) vaccine, etc. As some of these inoculations cannot be given concurrently please contact your doctor well in advance of the tour to start your course of treatment.

Water supplies are good, but bottled water is also widely available. Immodium or Pepto Bismol in tablet form can be recommended as the best treatment for occasional traveler’s diarrhea. For mosquitoes, which we may occasionally encounter, we recommend using insect repellents with a high concentration of DEET. However, care must be taken to avoid getting the DEET repellent on optical equipment, as DEET dissolves rubber and plastic and can damage coated lenses. Camping supply stores and outfitters carry some reasonably effective alternatives that contain natural products and aren’t corrosive.

Since it may be impossible to obtain personal medications while on tour, please bring what you will need.

SMOKING: Smoking is prohibited in the vehicles or when the group is gathered for meals, checklists, etc. The ship is generally non-smoking, with areas provided for smokers. If you smoke in the field, do so well away and downwind from the group. If any location where the group is gathered has a stricter policy than the WINGS policy, that stricter policy will prevail.

ALTITUDE: On the land excursions organized during the cruise we won’t be at elevations higher than about 1,500 feet, so altitude sickness will not be a concern during the main tour.

PACE OF THE TOUR: The tour starts after meeting on the Sapphire Princess cruise ship in the San Antonio harbor. The tour is divided in two different types of birding: the sailing days and the land excursions days. The location of the group for birding while on board the ship will depend on the weather conditions and time of day. This will be explained by your leaders during the introductory meeting. When sailing, the leaders will indicate where and when they will be birding, and you can join them for as long as you want: for just a couple of hours if you also wish to enjoy some activities offered by the cruise line, or for the full day if you don’t want to miss any seabirding action.

Due to the type of birding, being out at the crack of dawn is not as important as on hot tropical land tours (although there is usually more seabird activity early in the morning). During the sailing days, the leaders are usually on deck birding from around dawn to about 6:00 p.m. and you can join them when and for as long as you want. There may of course be special areas during which we’ll want to be on deck regardless of the time. The leaders will brief you on these well in advance.

For the land excursions, the whole group will meet half an hour before the official landing time to be able to leave the ship quickly as a group and have as much time as possible on our land excursions. We usually leave just after breakfast and depart for a day of birding and/or travel with box lunches and a supply of snacks (fruit, cookies, etc.) and drinks to keep us going. Most of the walking is on level to gently sloping terrain, and there are no long hikes; but it can be hot. Being in reasonable shape for hiking a mile or two in the heat and humidity is important, although there are also opportunities to sit out walks in the vehicles.
Note: on occasion weather (or other uncontrollable circumstances) may force the last-minute cancellation of a land excursion. In most of these cases a refund won’t be available. This happens rarely but is worth mentioning.

CURRENCY: During the land excursions, there are usually stands with people selling handicrafts or wine before re-boarding the ship, and payment can be made in US dollars. It’s a good idea to bring smaller US$ bills (10s, 5s, and 1s, rather than 20s and 50s).

CLIMATE: Expect tropical climate during most of the trip, so temperature will be quite warm (expect temperatures at mid-day between 75 and 85 degrees F) during each of our landings. The difference will mostly be the humidity: dry in Chile, Ecuador, Peru, and Mexico, and hot and humid in Costa Rica.

At sea, the temperature will be cooler, especially off Chile and Peru, with air temperature closer to 65 degrees F, and even more so the last couple of days off Baja California, with temperatures in the 50s, which will feel decidedly cold relative to the rest of the trip—long underwear and gloves will not seem out of place if you are out on deck for long periods.

ACCOMMODATIONS: During the cruise, you can choose between several levels of accommodations, see http://www.princess.com/learn/ships/np/staterooms/index.jsp to learn more.

FOOD: An impressive variety of food is served on board ship. Food is available 24 hours a day, and there is no obligation to eat all meals with the group. For lunch, the easiest option is usually to eat at one of the buffets or have a pizza or sandwich. The buffet option is available for dinner as well, though some participants may opt to have a more formal dining experience at one of the ship’s restaurants. Each day the leader will let you know where and when the group will meet for the daily list round-up.

On on-shore days during the cruise, lunches will range from make-your-own sandwich fare to bag lunches provided by the ground agent to at least one sit-down restaurant lunch.

WINGS tours are all-inclusive, and no refunds can be issued for any tour meals participants choose to skip. While our restaurants and ground agents make every effort to ensure the comfort of all participants, we cannot guarantee that all food allergies can be accommodated at every destination. Many restaurants offer set menus and are unable to accommodate all special requests within a group. Thus, participants with significant food allergies or special dietary needs should bring appropriate foods with them for those times when their needs cannot, regretfully, be accommodated. Our tours are carefully scheduled to ensure the best possible birding experience. Mealtimes generally cannot be adjusted; any participant who needs to eat earlier or later than the times scheduled for the group should bring supplemental food with them. Please contact the WINGS office if you have any questions.

DRINKS ON BOARD: Princess offers at no charge water, iced tea, or lemonade. When on board, WINGS doesn’t cover other drinks. Therefore, any other drinks such soft drinks, mineral water, or any kind of alcoholic beverage will be charged to you. Luggage is scanned every time we go on board, and only one bottle of wine, for the entire cruise, is accepted per passenger. If you bring more than one bottle (or another bottle at another landing) Princess will charge you a corkage fee (approximately 15 US$ per bottle).

TRANSPORTATION: Most of our land transportation will be in 20-seater coaches or in two smaller minivans. We will sometimes be on dusty gravel roads.

Last updated Apr 16, 2024
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2024 Narrative

Our 2024 Princess trans-equatorial cruise from Chile to California transited over 5000 miles through the waters of 12 countries, with landings in four of them, and produced a superb selection of oceanic species alternated with a great sampling of landbirds. Some 33 species of tubenoses (ranging from 5 albatrosses to a remarkable 12 storm-petrels) topped the pelagic bill, although up-close Blue Whales several times, plus Sperm Whales and fancy Striped Dolphins weren’t too shabby either! From thousands of birds everywhere in the famously food-rich, upwellling Humboldt Current to Nazca Boobies hunting flyingfish in deep blue equatorial desert waters we really got to appreciate the diversity of marine habitats. From De Filippi’s Petrels and Hornby’s Storm-Petrels right under the bow to remarkable numbers of Peruvian Terns, to Cook’s Petrels as far as the eye could see, each and every sea day had its moments. Our land days were also diverse, from a trio of Chilean Tinamous in beautiful still desert to snappy little Orange-collared Manakins in shady rainforest; from small boat trips to see stunning Inca Terns and dapper Humboldt Penguins to Belding’s Yellowthroats skulking in reedbeds and Xantus’s Hummingbirds darting in desert scrub; from multi-colored Burrowing Parakeets and in-the-open tapaculos to cryptic Least Seedsnipe and colorful red-breasted meadowlarks; from phenomenal numbers of Black Skimmers, a vagrant Bar-tailed Godwit, and potent pisco sours to eye-burningly bright Orange-breasted Buntings and margaritas it was a trip to truly celebrate diversity.

Day 1. Everyone arrived and boarded safely with time to settle in before an intro meeting at the bow, as Kelp Gulls sailed around along with the occasional Inca Tern. Unfortunately, for reasons that were never entirely clear, our departure was delayed an hour so that we missed our best chance for some cooler Humboldt Current species, although in the failing light we did manage our only Westland Petrel and Fuegian Storm Petrel of the trip, along with bonus Humboldt Penguins and, after a so-so green-flash sunset, a truly spectacular raft of thousands upon thousands of Sooty Shearwaters that scattered ahead of the ship. We were on our way!

Day 2. Coquimbo, Chile. The hour delay from yesterday carried over and was compounded this morning, but the birding more than made up for the Princess SNAFUs. We started north of town at a small river mouth where point-blank views of three coot species were notable, as were side-by-side Seaside and Gray-flanked Cinclodes. Heading inland up the Elqui Valley we stopped to watch noisy flocks of rainbow-colored Burrowing Parakeets (née Parrots) before heading to a beautiful quiet spot for lunch. Amazingly, within an hour or so we found six of Chile’s nine mainland endemic birds—starting with Moustached Turca and White-throated Tapaculo and ending with Chilean Tinamou and Crag Chilia—wow! A Tropical Turkey Vulture was also notable, distinct from the Austral Turkey Vultures that live along the coast. After stopping for more photo ops of the parakeets we checked a coastal wetland for waterbirds before returning to the ship for a well-earned rest before the bird list and dinner.

Day 3. Our first day of seabirding, heading north-northwest off the coast of northern Chile, and a really great start to the pelagic component of this trip—it’s not every day you see eight species of storm petrels! We began at the outer edge of the Humboldt Current but soon entered warmer blue waters of the deep pelagic realm. Species compositions changed accordingly, from Buller’s Albatross and Sooty Shearwater to Sooty Tern and White-faced Storm Petrel. Birds were in view for much of the day, dominated by De Filippi’s (aka Masatierra) and Juan Fernandez Petrels and Markham’s Storm Petrels. Also notable were our first Kermadec Petrels, Hornby’s (aka Ringed) Storm Petrels, and Swallow-tailed Gulls, plus rarities such as White-bellied, Black, and Leach’s Storm Petrel, the last species being a new record for Chile! A few groups of beaked whales (involving three presumed species) tantalized with distant views, but a group of Short-finned Pilot Whales showed well in late afternoon.

Day 4. Day 2 of seabirding proved slightly different as we continued north-northwest off the coast of southern Peru, moving from deep blue offshore waters back towards the outer reaches of the Humboldt Current in late afternoon. Although early to mid-afternoon was relatively quiet, most of the day was excitingly active, at times too frenetic to keep up with as we passed through mixed-species feeding swarms and resting flocks of De Filippi’s Petrels (plus a few Cook’s Petrels), and Hornby’s, Markham’s, Wedge-rumped, and White-faced Storm Petrels, plus good numbers of Juan Fernandez Petrels (farther north than usual), two (!) Chatham Albatrosses, both Masked and Nazca Boobies chasing scattering scads of flyingfish, and sundry other species ranging from cooler-water White-chinned Petrels to warmer-water Sooty Terns. Oh, and then there were some stunning Swallow-tailed Gulls, a few Red-billed Tropicbirds, and those huge schools of leaping Common Dolphins. We also appreciated in-hand views of single De Filippi’s Petrel and Markham’s Storm Petrel that had come aboard the previous night, attracted like moths to a candle but fortunately found and released back into their element.

Day 5. Pisco, Peru. An amazing day ashore to appreciate the contrast between a virtually lifeless moonscape desert versus a coastline teeming with dizzying blizzards of waterbirds—predominantly tens of thousands of Franklin’s Gulls and Black Skimmers along the shoreline and hundreds of Elegant Terns and thousands of Inca Terns over the ocean, but with a good diversity when we looked more closely. Chilean Flamingos alongside Peruvian Pelicans was a nice geographic juxtaposition, while some twenty-four species of shorebird was a very respectable total, headlined by a vagrant Bar-tailed Godwit amid a small group of Hudsonian Godwits, which interrupted our study of a confiding Coastal Miner! Hundreds of smaller sandpipers were feeding in preparation for their pending northward migration to the tundra and wetlands of the North, mainly Semipalmated Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones, and Wilson’s Phalaropes, among which we found a few Western Sandpipers, Red Knot, Short-billed Dowitchers, and Stilt Sandpipers. Other shorebird highlights included a few American Golden Plovers and the bizarre local Peruvian Thick-knee.

Penguins and Inca Terns (above)and stunning Red-legged Shags (below), but also for the bonus Surf Cinclodes and Bryde’s Whale. Most sobering was the absence of Guanay Shags (or Cormorants), usually present in the tens or even hundreds of thousands but decimated recently by poultry flu and also hit with El Niño—their populations are adapted to withstand the latter, but throw in a human-induced complication and things can get precarious. Another highlight of the day was a fine Peruvian lunch, complete with the national drink—pisco sours. When in pisco… Following lunch we visited some wetlands and added a few new species such as Puna Ibis and Plumbeous Rail before heading back to the mothership for a welcome respite from the desert sun before bird list, drinks, and dinner. What a day!

Days 6–7. Our two days based out of Lima (technically the port of Callao) allowed us to sample coastal habitats both north and south of the city. The first day we started at the Villa marshes with flitting Many-colored Rush-Tyrants, a close-up Great Grebe, and a cryptic Little Bittern. The coastal lagoon held a good selection of waterbirds, stirred up periodically by a Peregrine Falcon, and with some looking we found a Puna Teal, plus a White-faced Whistling-Duck of uncertain provenance. After a seaside picnic lunch in the picturesque fishing town of Pucusana we took a short boat trip around the island there, enjoying even more Inca Terns and even more garish Sally Lightfoot Crabs (below), plus Surf Cinclodes, numerous Belcher’s Gulls with newly fledging young, a few Humboldt Penguins, and a stunning up-close Guanay Shag in the harbor. En route back to Lima a short stop along a rushing river produced a selection of landbirds including a great little Peruvian Pygmy-Owl and some Chestnut-collared Swallows.

An early start the next day took us north to Lomas de Lachay and some nearby agricultural areas, where we found a veritable cornucopia of landbirds given the dramatically bleak desert surroundings. Flowering hedges held Peruvian Sheartails and Amazilia Hummingbirds, and Croaking (Flatulent?) Ground-Doves were seemingly everywhere. Cute little Pacific Parrotlets, a perky Short-tailed Field-Tyrant, a handsome Peruvian Meadowlark, and various tanagers filled out the list. The true desert produced Coastal Miners, numerous Peruvian Thick-knees, a couple of Burrowing Owls, and—finally—good views of the rather local Least Seedsnipe. A coastal wetland on our way back to the ship was full of birds, including our only Yellow-crowned Night-Herons of the trip.

Day 8. Back at sea heading northwest off northern Peru, and ending off the Piura Peninsula where the Humboldt Current is deflected offshore and mixes with warmer waters. The first hour was very active but then suddenly it slowed down for no obvious reason. Things went from lots of Galapagos (aka Waved) Albatrosses, streams of Pomarine Jaegers and Sabine’s Gulls, shearwaters and storm petrels everywhere… to much quieter for the rest of the morning, emphasizing the variable and varying nature of marine habitats. Things started to pick up again in the afternoon, however, and before long there were too many birds to keep track of, right through to sunset when we retired exhausted from a truly spectacular show. Hundreds and hundreds of the poorly-known Peruvian Tern were noteworthy, plus hundreds of Sabine’s Gulls, tens of jaegers (all three species) and storm-petrels, hundreds of shearwaters (including 3 single Manx Shearwaters—a real rarity here, or at least it’s supposed to be!), scatterings of Galapagos Albatrosses, Blue-footed Boobies, a couple of Red-billed Tropicbirds, mixed flocks of Parkinson’s and White-chinned Petrels to practice our ID skills, a few Swallow-tailed Gulls, and even single Guanay and Neotropic Cormorants oddly far offshore. Oh, and then there were thousands of Common Dolphins, an amazingly close Blue Whale right off the bow (below), some oddly finned Fin Whales, and—finally—a couple of Galapagos Petrels. Whew!

To counterbalance our euphoria, in mid-afternoon the captain announced that our landing in Manta, Ecuador, would be cancelled for “safety reasons,” and so we would now be spending two days transiting more slowly north to Costa Rica. Very disappointing, but out of our hands, and we’ll have to see what the coming sea days bring…

Days 9–10. Out of the Humboldt Current with a bang, we awoke the first morning to calm and strikingly birdless waters, which continued throughout the first day as we headed north-northwest 100 miles or so off the coast of Ecuador. From 4000+ birds of 30 pelagic species yesterday we dropped to 40+ birds of 10 species! A fabulous showing of 4 Sperm Whales (above) and a Bryde’s Whale made the day for the lucky few present during that brief morning window, and other highlights were a close Galapagos Petrel in the morning and our first Galapagos Shearwater in late afternoon. The water never really got blue, however, and flyingfish were also very few and far between. That all changed on the second day, where we awoke to much warmer air (and sea) and found ourselves in cobalt-blue deep offshore waters. Before long we were surrounded by tens of boobies of four species, all vying to snatch flyingfish that our ship flushed up. This was also a good day to appreciate the subtleties of storm-petrel ID, from the more local Band-rumped and Wedge-rumped to the wintering migrant Leach’s and Townsend’s, including perhaps the first documented Townsend’s Storm Petrel for Costa Rica! Scattered pods of dolphins, including some stunning Striped Dolphins rounded out the day.

Day 11. Costa Rica. Early morning approach into the Gulf of Nicoya under brooding and rainy skies was a good opportunity to see Least and Black Storm Petrels, along with hundreds of wintering Black Terns and numerous rays, some jumping. Our brief sortie ashore was a little marred by Easter, whereby each year the world is held hostage by Christian mythology; by the relatively high standard of living in this small Central American country, which means more cars than elsewhere; and by the sheer unthinking stupidity of the human species—simply because of rubber-necking tourons slowing slightly as they drove across the Tarcoles River bridge, traffic backed up for 12 km and it took two hours versus usually less than one hour to reach Carara National Park. On the plus side, the stop/start traffic meant we could identify hummingbirds and warblers in the roadside trees (!), but this was mostly frustrating and little compensation for the crawling jam of vehicles. (On our return, the traffic was backed up for 15+ km—but thankfully we were going in the opposite direction.) Birding from 11 am to 3 pm is not peak time in a tropical lowland forest, but at least this year the heat and humidity were greater than usual… Despite this we did find some birds, including a perched Double-toothed Kite, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, confiding Black-hooded Antshrikes, Gartered (née Violaceous) Trogon, stunning Yellow-throated (née Chestnut-mandibled) Toucans, an amazingly cryptic red-morph Pauraque roosting in leaf litter beside the trail (below), and of course those snappy little Orange-collared Manakins (right). Superb views of jumping Spotted Eagle Rays and foraging Sandwich Terns from the pier were also notable. Easter highway traffic led to an hour or so delay for the ship’s departure, but after dark we finally bid adios to Costa Rica.

Days 12–14. Heading west-northwest off Central America and Mexico. Our appreciation of marine habitats continued as we transited deep blue and profoundly deep (often greater than 3500m) warm waters that are rarely birded. The first day we passed through Nicaraguan, Salvadoran, and finally Guatemalan waters—new countries for many of us, and it was interesting to ponder that most of El Salvador’s territorial surface area is ocean—not land! Storm-petrel diversity included numerous wintering dark-morph Leach’s Storm Petrels (aka Chapman’s), as well as white-rumped birds and several Townsend’s Storm Petrels (left), including the first documented record for Nicaragua of this recently split and poorly known taxon (plus the first documented Markham’s Storm Petrel for that country!). Wedge-tailed Shearwaters and Tahiti Petrels put in regular appearances throughout the day, and boobies (three species)came and went in search of flyingfish. Another first country record came in the (ghostly) form of an adult Swallow-tailed Gull feeding at night in the ship’s wake off Guatemala—when an Upland Sandpiper also called while migrating overhead!

The second day was notably slower, off southern Mexico, but still in deep blue waters with more stunning booby shows—small squadrons of Nazca Boobies at times passed by within arm’s length before breaking off like fighter pilots to pursue flyingfish, mainly Pied-tailed Necromancers (right). A spectacularly close Blue Whale, copulating sea turtles, and a couple of Guadalupe Furseals well south of where they “should” be were also notable, while groups of Common and Spinner Dolphins added variety. Our third day dawned notably cooler—easily down into the 70os (!) with the wind chill from a freshening northwest wind—and the water was obviously greener. More Guadalupe Furseals, sea turtles, dolphins, and puzzling storm-petrels kept us entertained, along with thousands of migrating phalaropes, passing Sabine’s Gulls, occasional Red-billed Tropicbirds, and our first Bridled Terns of the trip. 

Day 15. Our dawn arrival in Puerto Vallarta meant we were off the ship relatively early and away to a quiet dirt road where the variety of colorful and noisy birds was almost overwhelming after three days at sea. Mexican (aka Yellow-winged) Caciques, San Blas Jays, Golden-cheeked Woodpeckers, Streak-backed Orioles, Elegant Quail in the road, confiding Rufous-bellied Chachalacas, and frame-filling scope views of Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl introduced us to the sheer birdiness of Mexico. Our second stop produced good views of male Orange-breasted (above) and Painted Buntings feeding alongside each other, a dapper male Masked Tityra, retiring Happy and Sinaloa Wrens, Citreoline Trogon, Orange-fronted Parakeets, and sundry other species before a picnic lunch with margaritas and return to the ship. Heading out into the sunset we were treated to breaching Humpback Whales along with Brown and Blue-footed Boobies and our only Brown Noddies of the trip. All in all a very bird-filled day!

Day 16. Another day ashore in Mexico, this time at the tip of the Baja California Peninsula. Early morning on the bow produced Black and Least Storm Petrels, Pink-footed Shearwaters, and a surprise American Oystercatcher well offshore. After the ship dropped anchor slightly ahead of schedule, we smoothly negotiated our only landing with tenders and were soon heading inland to the foothills and the village of Miraflores. We found the handsome endemic Xantus’s Hummingbird (right) even before tripod legs could be extended (!), and soon after the endemic Gray Thrasher. A short walk produced Hooded Orioles, a satiny male Phainopepla, cute little Verdins, and distinctive Cape endemic subspecies of California Scrub Jay, California Towhee, Cactus Wren, and Northern Cardinal. After a pleasant shady picnic lunch we headed to a coastal wetland where, after a little work, we enjoyed good views of our third Baja endemic, Belding’s Yellowthroat, along with a variety of waterbirds new for the trip—including American Coot, meaning we had seen half of the world’s ten species of coot on the cruise! The day ended as we sailed out into the wind and sun, with blowing and breaching Humpback Whales before a fine green flash sunset.

Days 17–18. Our two final days at sea exposed us to yet another habitat—the relatively cool waters at the southern end of the California Current. The first day dawned to an unexpected abundance of Cook’s Petrels—hundreds and hundreds for 360 degrees of view, gleaming like white boomerangs and covering the ocean like so many snowflakes. But then, within an hour or so numbers dropped to a handful per hour, another graphic illustration of marine habitats and the unpredictably patchy nature of food distribution. We also encountered our first northern albatrosses, with several Black-footed and a single Laysan, plus a good showing of Blue and Humpback Whales. Things slowed down appreciably in the afternoon, although the die-hards were rewarded with a few Guadalupe Murrelets before a penultimate bird list and very enjoyable group dinner. The last full day at sea dawned gray, blustery, and relatively cool—an appropriate North Pacific scenario with which to end our extended pelagic sojourn. As expected, the day was rather quiet for marine life—although a few Laysan and Black-footed Albatrosses rewarded those who put the time in—and it was a good way to wind down and do some packing before a final bird list and a sharing of memories from our remarkable voyage.

Day 19. Our pre-dawn arrival in Los Angeles was followed by disembarkation and transfers on to homeward flights. Thanks to all for making this such a memorable and bird-filled adventure across a third of the planet’s latitude, with over 5000 miles traveled by sea through the waters of 12 countries.

— Steve Howell

 

 

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Tour Notes

* The price noted above covers only the seven land excursions during the cruise plus the leader’s time on board the ship. It does not include your berth on the Princess cruise ship which must be booked directly with Princess Cruises. Details on booking space with both WINGS and Princess Cruises can be found in the Tour Information section. 

* The optional pre-tour extension around Santiago will be run by a trusted local leader.

** This tour is offered back-to-back with our Cape Horn cruise in 2025 and 2027. It is offered as a stand-along tour in 2026.

Maximum group size 14 plus 2 leaders.

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