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Focus on Brazil


Brazil is a vast country with several distinctly different biomes. Discover them all with Focus Tours: Brazil

Focus on Argentina

The 8th largest country in the world, Argentina offers a wealth of experiences. From the subtropical rain forests of Iguazú Falls to the high Andes. Discover more with Focus Tours: Argentina 

Focus on Bolivia

Bolivia, nestled between Brazil, Peru, Chile and Paraguay, is the poorest and least developed country in South America, but also biologically and culturally the richest, safest and friendliest. Discover more with Focus Tours: Bolivia

Focus on Chile

Chile is the only truly temperate country in the Neotropics, and occupies more degrees of latitude than any other nation worldwide. Perhaps it is not surprising that Chile offers several extremes of the natural world. Discover more with Focus Tours: Chile

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Jaguar Tours

The northern Pantanal is the richest area in the world for spotting Jaguars in the wild and, our naturalist guides are some of the best. Together with our boatmen we can take you into the best areas for jaguars and many other creatures. Read more about Jaguar Tours.

Bird Watching Tours

Douglas Trent is a scientist, bird watcher and wildlife photographer and his be operating Bird Watcing Tours for around two decades now. The tour possibilities in South America are many. Read more about Bird Watching Tours.

Wildlife Photography Tours

Douglas Trent is a wildlife photographer and guides groups of professional, or enthusiastc amateur, photographers and film crews on focused wildlife tours. Read more about Wildlife Photography Tours 

Funding Conservation

 

A percentage of our profits has been funding in-country conservation projects since 1981. They directly benefit the local communities we visit and, when possible, are self-sustable, generating benefits long after our initial donation. Your visit will benefit you, the environment and your hosts.

YUNGAS AND HIGH ANDES: Cloud Forests, Ancient Cultures & Rare Birds

 

The amazing beauty, richness of the flora and fauna surprise nearly all who visit this region, and incredible differences between the various habitats visited. These factors make this one of our most popular tours in the country. The dry painted deserts of Salta, Jujuy and the road north to the town of Humahuaca give way to fields of golden puna grasslands, which in turn gives way to the altiplano with its saline lakes hosting three species of flamingo. South and west of Jujuy, above 4,000 feet, the Yungas subtropical cloud and rainforests dominate with their exuberant vegetation and rich avifauna. In the mountain passes above the forest line, the transition zone, puna and paramo habitats reign.

In the small towns of Tilcara and Humahuaca, one can purchase intricate woodcarvings and striking ceramic masks from the indigenous people of the desert. Quechua Indians dominate the towns in the Yungas, adding to the cultural experience of a visit to the region.

The great variety of birds is what draws most tourists to the region, although the scenery and cultures alone would draw equally as many if not more if they were better known. Rare, local and recently described birds include the Slaty Elaenia, Ringed Teal, Montane Forest Screech-Owl, Black-capped Antwren, the very rare Red-faced Guan, Green-cheeked Parakeet, Rufous-throated Dipper, Alder and Burrowing Parrots, Puna and Ornate Tinamous, Puna Rhea, Giant Coot, the elusive Sandy Gallito, Tucuman Mountain-Finch, Scribble-tailed Canestero, and others. Some of the more common birds, including the incomparable Red-tailed Comet and Yellow-collared Macaw, are equally if not more impressive as they fly across the Andean scenery.

We'll also keep an eye out for Vicuna, a South American member of the Camel family. While an endangered species, it is common in some of the areas we visit in the region, and you should see a couple of small groups near the road.

Rich subtropical rain forests, rugged canyons, fields of golden grasses, painted desert mountains and saline lakes in the altiplano make this a fascinating trip for anyone. We recommend 9 days in the region.