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
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
The well-appointed cabins are quite comfortable. Credit: Fabrice Schmitt.
The well-appointed cabins are quite comfortable. Credit: 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
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
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
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
... To the stately Laysan Albatross in the California Current. Credit: Steve Howell
... To the stately Laysan Albatross in the California Current. Credit: Steve Howell
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
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
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
And playful groups of dolphins, here Short-beaked Commons. Credit: Steve Howell
And playful groups of dolphins, here Short-beaked Commons. Credit: Steve Howell
Plus colorful Sally Lightfoot Crabs, Credit: Steve Howell
Plus colorful Sally Lightfoot Crabs, Credit: Steve Howell
And fabulous flyingfish, here a Pied-tailed Necromancer. Credit: Steve Howell
And fabulous flyingfish, here a Pied-tailed Necromancer. 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
We start in the rich Humboldt Current, home to many storm-petrels, including White-bellied from the subtropical Pacific… Credit: Steve Howell
… White-faced from New Zealand… Credit: Steve Howell
… White-faced from New Zealand… Credit: Steve Howell
… the locally breeding Markham’s… Credit: Steve Howell
… the locally breeding Markham’s… Credit: Steve Howell
… 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
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
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.
 …to enjoy close-up Inca Terns… Credit: Steve Howell
…to enjoy close-up Inca Terns… Credit: Steve Howell
… and with luck some Humboldt Penguins.... Credit: Steve Howell
… and with luck some Humboldt Penguins.... Credit: Steve Howell
Plus the colorful Red-legged Shag (or Cormorant). Credit: Steve Howell
Plus the colorful Red-legged Shag (or Cormorant). Credit: Steve Howell
Peruvian Thick-knee. Photo credit: Fabrice Schmitt.
Peruvian Thick-knee. Photo credit: Fabrice Schmitt.
....and Many-colored Rush-Tyrant. Credit: Fabrice Schmitt.
....and Many-colored Rush-Tyrant. Credit: 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
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
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!
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
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
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
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
... And the dazzling Orange-breasted Bunting in Mexico. Credit: Steve Howell
... And the dazzling Orange-breasted Bunting in Mexico. 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
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
Photo credit: Steve Howell & Fabrice Schmitt
2025 Cruise Time and Land Excursions Price
$3,750
2025
Pre-Cruise Santiago Extension $1,250
Santiago Extension Single Supplement $150
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)
Tour Information (Click to see more)
Map
Narrative (Click to see more)
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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