BIRDING ECOTOURS IN PUERTO MADRYN

We specialize in planning and operating customized birding ecotours around Puerto Madryn and the Península Valdés region. Whether you come on a cruise ship or on your own, we will gladly organize a trip according to your travel expectations, the species you wish to see, and your desired pace of travel. So, private custom birding tours offer the freedom to design an itinerary around your specific needs.

We will explore steppes, canyons, towering cliffs, shingle beaches, sandy shores, mudflats, lakes and other habitats, searching for a wealth of the specialties of Eastern Patagonia.

There are 15 species endemic to Argentina (species exclusively found only in Argentina). During our tours, you’ll have the unique opportunity to spot 5 of these 15 endemic species, including the Patagonian Canastero, White-throated Cacholote, Carbonated Sierra Finch, Steinbach’s Canastero (also known as Chestnut Canastero), and the Sandy Gallito. Additionally, we’ll encounter near-endemics and endemic breeding species, such as the Band-tailed Earthcreeper, Rusty-backed Monjita, Lesser Shrike-Tyrant, Black-crowned Monjita, Burrowing Parakeet, Elegant Crested-tinamou, Straneck’s Tyrannulet, and more.

Patagonian Canastero meticulously crafting its nest using thorny branches from the piquillin and barba de chivo plants. With unparalleled skill, it transforms nature’s prickly defenses into a safe haven for its future offspring.

At the heart of our passion for birding lies a strong commitment to conservation. We actively support NGOs through donations and memberships, contributing to the preservation of bird species and their habitats.

To minimize the impact on the birds and the environment, our tours are limited to a small number of participants. Additionally, we adhere to the ethical guidelines of birding conduct and strictly follow the American Birding Association’s Principles of Birding Ethics.

SPECIALTIES

Patagonian Canastero, endemic species. Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
ENDEMIC
Patagonian Canastero
Pseudasthenes patagonica
Carbonated Sierra Finch, endemic species. Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
Carbonated Sierra Finch
Rhopospina carbonaria
ENDEMIC
White-throated Cacholote, endemic species. Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
White-throated Cacholote
Pseudoseisura gutturalis
ENDEMIC
Sandy Gallito, endemic species. Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
Sandy Gallito
Teledromas fuscus
ENDEMIC
Steinbach's Canastero, endemic to Argentina. Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
Steinbach’s Canastero
Pseudasthenes steinbachi
ENDEMIC
Elegant Crested-tinamou. Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
Elegant Crested-tinamou
Eudromia elegans
Rusty-backed Monjita. Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
Rusty-backed Monjita
Neoxolmis rubetra
Burrowing Parakeet. Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
Burrowing Parakeet
Cyanoliseus patagonus
White-banded Mockingbird. Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
White-banded Mockingbird
Mimus triurus
Patagonian Yellow-finch. Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
Patagonian Yellow-finch
Sicalis lebruni
Black-crowned Monjita. Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
Black-crowned Monjita
Neoxolmis coronatus
Greater Wagtail-tyrant. Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
Greater Wagtail-tyrant
Stigmatura budytoides

THE GUIDE

BIRDING GUIDE & PROFESSIONAL WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER
Birdwatching guide Agustín Esmoris in the Puerto Madryn, Peninsula Valdes area.
Join Argentinean birding guide and professional wildlife photographer, Agustín Esmoris, on a custom tour in Eastern Patagonia.
Birdwatching guide Agustín Esmoris in the Puerto Madryn, Peninsula Valdes area.
Agustín has led hundreds of professional birding and nature tours throughout Patagonia and Central Argentina.
Birdwatching guide Agustín Esmoris in the Puerto Madryn, Peninsula Valdes area.
Agustin will customize your private tour to meet your needs, whether you spend one day in the field or several for a more comprehensive tour.
Birdwatching guide Agustín Esmoris in the Puerto Madryn, Peninsula Valdes area.
Agustin’s passion and love for wildlife comes through in his photography which has been featured in renowned publications such as National Geographic, American Museum of Natural History, Natural History Magazine and Lynx Edicions.

BOOK & PUBLICATIONS

Agustín is the author of the beautiful book Birds of Península Valdés:


Birds of Península Valdés

“For visitors to the Peninsula Valdes, site of a famous Magellanic Penguin colony, swirling clouds of Red Knots, and the enigmatic Magellanic ‘‘Plover,’’ this book is a long-awaited and stunning photographic introduction to the peninsula and coastal Chubut Province. The gorgeous photos delight the eye for their artistic beauty and composition, offer accuracy for help in identifying species encountered, and capture spectacular behavioral displays. The book’s emphasis is on the birds of the area, but the keen naturalist author could not resist tossing in photos of several mammals and herps as well. Painstaking search of the literature and records of museum specimens, published sightings, eBird, and personal correspondence makes this volume a valuable, updated documentation of the Valdes/Chubut avifauna.”

— DOUGLAS E. GILL
The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, USA

“This highly informative and beautifully photographed book greatly expanded my knowledge of a biological wonderland and sets a new standard for regional guides. It makes me eager for a return visit.”

— JOSEPH R. JEHL, Jr.
National Museum of Natural History, USA


MORE INFORMATION

REVIEWS

Birding with Kurt and Doug around Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Patagonia Argentina

“Thank you for a great day of birding around Puerto Madryn; it was the highlight of our trip to Argentina. We appreciated the dozens of new species that we saw, and the chance to watch them in their natural habitat. The most engaging part of the experience was listening to your insights from your research on the White-throated Cacholote and the two species of Canasteros. Your understanding of the natural history of these birds, their life cycle, feeding habits, and nest building would have been worth listening to in a lecture hall, but hearing about them in the Patagonia scrubland, seeing them emerge from the brush, and seeing the nests was just wonderful. It was totally worth all the effort to get to Argentina from Hawaii. Aloha.”

KURT STEINWASCHER & DOUG KLINE

Hawaii, USA 🇺🇸

Birding with Ed and Isabel around Puerto Madryn

“We had a great birding trip with Agus in the Puerto Madryn area. He is an excellent guide. It is easy to tell that he has researched and birded in the area many times. He knows where to find all of the sought after species and we were able to see most of them. He was also very friendly, had an easy-going personality and helpful in getting us on the birds. We highly recommend him!”

ED & ISABEL FAIR

Texas, USA 🇺🇸

Niels and Agustin after finding the Sandy Gallito Teledromas fuscus (tapaculo) in the Puerto Madryn - Peninsula Valdes area.

“Taking a one day birding trip with Agustin around Puerto Madryn was probably the best decision I could have made. Before the trip he takes special care to get to know your interests and target species, so he can then make a trip that is optimally fitted to your expectations. Once you are out birding it immediately becomes clear that he is a very knowledgeable and experienced bird guide who will do his best to see the target species. On my trip we managed to see 4 of the local endemics and a whole lot of other bird species (about 50 in total). Especially for the endemics he really went above and beyond! These species would be extremely hard to find on your own. Besides his obvious expertise as a bird guide, Agustin is also a very nice person with whom you can have nice conversations during the drives. If you are looking for a bird guide around Puerto Madryn, I can only recommend Agustin, you will have a fantastic day!”

NIELS GEELEN

Belgium 🇧🇪

Birding with Andrew from Wales

“A great day of birding in Patagonia with local guide Agustin Esmoris, who I highly recommend. Despite awful weather (very windy) we saw loads of Argentine endemics, including Patagonian Castanero, White-throated Cacholote, Rusty-backed Monjita, Black-crowned Monjita, Lesser Shrike-Tyrant, Band-tailed Earthcreeper and Straneck’s Tyrannulet. Agustin also gave me a copy of his book, which will be a treasured possession.”

ANDREW LUCAS

Swansea, Wales

Birding with Alex in Puerto Madryn

“I embarked on a private tour with Agustin in September 2023 and I can confidently say that he is the best guide you could possibly find. Firstly, Agustin is extremely knowledgeable and has immense respect for the birds, a crucial factor for me as I’ve seen many guides engage in questionable activities without considering the impact on the birds. Moreover, Agustin is a delightful conversationalist who can enlighten you about local spots, bird research projects, and much more. His book is truly impressive. We managed to spot 4 endemics: White-throated Cacholote, Sandy Gallito, Steinbach’s and Patagonian Canasteros, and many other birds, including Burrowing Parakeets and the Rusty-backed Monjita. Trust me, there is no way you’d find these birds on your own, even if you spent a month there. Agustin has done a tremendous job of identifying these spots in the middle of nowhere. When we were driving to the spot with the Burrowing owl, Agustin told me that in 10 meters we would reach the spot, and indeed, after 10 meters, these birds were sitting right there. It was as if he had trained them 😀 All the local guides on the subsequent excursions we took in Puerto Madryn, including trips to see the penguins, were using his book. I cannot recommend Agustin enough – he should unquestionably be your first choice for a guide!”

ALEKSANDR ANDREICHUK

Moshi, United Republic of Tanzania 🇹🇿

Foto del cliente 1

“The four of us were birdwatching on an NCL cruise to the Antarctic (which worked very well). We also wanted to make the most of each day spent in the ports visited. Our guide for Puerto Madryn was Agustin or ‘Agus’ who was wonderful, his intimate knowledge not only of the birds, their habits and where to find them but also of the other wildlife of the area was first rate. This together with his unhurried pace and knowledge, which he willingly shared made for a wonderful day. It was very interesting to hear about his research, photography, and about his next book. We would have loved to have had longer and would really recommend booking with Agus. Once again Agus thank you for our memorable day.”

MIKE & PETER CARTWRIGHT, NICK BURFIELD & JOHN GRANT

Suffolk & London, UK 🇬🇧

Foto del cliente 1

“A friend and I were lucky enough to have Agustín as a guide in November 2022. We could not have had a more knowledgeable and personable guide than Agustín. His in-depth knowledge of the birds of the Valdés Peninsula was astonishing and he shared it with us willingly. I would recommend him as a guide for anyone who loves birds and nature and wants to explore this unique area in Argentina with an expert. For three days he not only located and identified the endemic and special birds of the area but also shared their behaviors and natural histories. I cannot recommend him highly enough.”

ANN KOVICH & PATRICIA PERRY

Texas, USA 🇺🇸

Foto del cliente 2

“Diane my wife and myself are avid Birders from South Africa. While enjoying a 15 day South America Cruise; (departing from Santiago (Chile) and ending in Buenos Aires (Argentina)). We found Agustin to be the most likeable, professional and knowledgeable bird guide. He knows the local environment and birds very well and within seven hours we had found 56 local birds including some of the very tough endemics like the Patagonian Canastero, White-throated Cacholote, Carbonated Sierra-finch and the rare Band-tailed Earthcreeper. What we enjoyed the most was the fact that he was so professional and so well prepared. He knew exactly where to take us, to enable us to successfully find the tough birds mentioned above. We enjoyed the pace of the trip and we never felt rushed and we would definitely recommend Agustin to anyone wishing to bird in the area of Puerto Madryn and Patagonia.”

ALBERT AND DIANE MCLEAN

Knysna, Western Cape, South Africa 🇿🇦

Foto del cliente 3

“Agustin knows the local endemics —and where to find them— like the back of his hand. As an ear birder on my home turf, I especially appreciated how he could zero in on the slightest sound. And on top of it all, he’s a super-friendly guy. It’s an unbeatable combination.”

CHRISTIAN COOPER

New York City, New York, USA 🇺🇸

Foto del cliente 4

“Thank you for a wonderful day birding in the Puerto Madryn and Trelew area. Your knowledge of the local habitats and birds to be found in each area was extensive and enabled us to see some really great birds, with very good views of many. I enjoyed seeing some nesting birds and the Burrowing Parrot wall. You worked very hard to find the endemic birds in the area and other specialties. I really appreciate your efforts. I got 23 new birds for my trip list.”

KAREN BLAKE, PAUL AND ROSEMARY CLAPHAM

Qld, Australia 🇦🇺 & Vancouver, Canada 🇨🇦

Foto del cliente 5

“I visited Puerto Madryn as my final destination in my travel to Antarctica, Chile and Argentina. Before heading back home and booked a full day with Agustin. In 6 weeks I saw a total of 124 species, while on a single day with Agustin I saw 73 species. Agustin is very knowledgeable about the area and its birds, and knows with almost pinpoint precision where to find them. It was very interesting to see the nesting sites of the Rufous Hornero, Burrowing Parrot, Turkey Vulture, Chimango caracara and Southern Crested Caracara. I would have never found these on my own and there lies Agustin’s added value. He did his best to accommodate my wishes and the day was a very pleasant experience. I would recommend his services to anyone that wants to go birding in the rich and diverse area around Puerto Madryn.”

DENNIS HUIBERTS

The Netherlands 🇳🇱

Foto del cliente 6

“Agustin Esmoris is the perfect host for a birder in the Puerto Madryn area. His background as a photographer makes him very conscious of how to get the best views of the birds, and his infinite patience ensures that no species are missed, if they are around. He is both gentle and interesting, and the six hours in his company just flew by. I would recommend him to any serious birder in the area. You will not be disappointed.”

ROGER MORGAN-GRENVILLE

Upperton, Petworth, UK 🇬🇧

Foto del cliente 7

“I did a ‘long one day’ birding with Agustin Esmoris. We started the day with Golfo Nuevo area – the coast near Puerto Madryn and subsequently visited the valley area. We birded at diverse habitats – canyons, cliffs, lakes, and so on. Even though the day was less than perfect, it rained most of the time, at times a bit heavy, we continued birding and managed to spot the expected species at each location. Agustin has intimate and up-to-date knowledge of the area which is very crucial for visiting birders like me who have limited time (in my case I only had a day at Puerto Madryn). This was my first time birding not just in Argentina but in the neotropical region. It was fun and interesting to compare and contrast habits and behavior of ‘old world’ species and that of the neotropics. Thank you Agustin for a very rewarding birding day!”

SANJEE VAZE

Mumbai, India 🇮🇳

Foto del cliente 8

“We really enjoyed birdwatching with Agustin in the Puerto Madryn / Chubut / Peninsula Valdes area of Argentina. We were visiting Patagonia from North America and he was able to show us a number of new birds. Some of our favorites were Burrowing Parrots, the Magellanic Horned Owl, and King, Imperial and Magellanic Cormorants (nesting). Agustin is a wonderful guide. He is a nature enthusiast, knowledgeable, and an excellent teacher. We appreciated the time he spent with us. We were even able to spend some time checking out a hairy armadillo during our travels that day. We would love to go out with Agustin again someday and would definitely recommend this birdwatching tour to people of all abilities. He is willing to go the extra mile to give you the best experience possible. Thank you Agustin for an amazing day 🦉!”

PAM, PATRICIA AND DOROTHY

Salem, Oregon – Middleton, Idaho – Caldwell, Idaho 🇺🇸

Foto del cliente 9

“Thank you Agustin for a great day!! The tour far exceeded my expectations. I was very pleased with the number and variety of birds we saw. Thank you for ensuring we explored so many different environments in such a short time. I was particularly pleased to see the burrowing parrots, the flying steamer ducks, the tufted tit-tyrant, and the white-banded mockingbird. We fully enjoyed our day. Thank you for sharing your experience with us!”

COLLEEN SMITH & PETER JUK

Vancouver, Canada 🇨🇦

Foto del cliente 10

“Agus – thank you once again for such a fantastic day out birding in Puerto Madryn! Your skill as a birding guide is absolutely spectacular. Ted and I appreciated your excellent communication and detailed itinerary prior to our trip, your ability to identify every bird we saw, and your flexibility throughout our day together to take more time at some locations and less at others. We highly recommend your services!”

JENNIFER BAKER & TED MAWSON

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States 🇺🇸

OUR VIDEOS

BIRDING PUERTO MADRYN – CONTACT

PRIVATE BIRDING TOURS IN PUERTO MADRYN, CHUBUT, PATAGONIA ARGENTINA, SOUTH AMERICA

Send us an email! We look forward to hearing from you!

Pto. Madryn, Chubut, Patagonia Argentina


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