South America’s Pacific and Atlantic coasts hold some of the richest seabird waters on the planet. The Humboldt Current drives cold, nutrient-dense water northward along the entire western seaboard, fueling dense concentrations of tubenoses, penguins, and boobies from central Chile to equatorial Ecuador. On the Atlantic side, Patagonia’s continental shelf and the Falkland Islands support breeding colonies of albatrosses, giant petrels, and five penguin species. No other continent offers pelagic birding that spans tropical albatrosses and sub-Antarctic specialties within such a compact geographic range.
The directory currently lists pelagic trips in four South American countries: Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Argentina. Here’s what each one offers.
Ecuador: Galapagos and the “Poor Man’s Galapagos”
The Galapagos Islands are the only place on Earth where the Waved Albatross breeds (apart from a tiny colony on Isla de la Plata). This critically endangered species nests on Española Island from April through December, and several dedicated birding cruises time their departures to coincide with courtship displays. The Field Guides Galapagos Birding Cruise visits Española’s Punta Suarez colony during June and July, while the WINGS Galapagos Islands Birding Cruise runs in late May to early June. Tropical Birding and Birding Ecotours also operate annual Galapagos cruises aimed at all 29 endemic bird species.
Between-island crossings on these cruises produce excellent pelagic birding. Galapagos Petrel, Galapagos Shearwater, Elliot’s Storm-Petrel, and Swallow-tailed Gull are regular on open-water passages, and three booby species (Blue-footed, Nazca, and Red-footed) nest in enormous colonies across the archipelago. Several other operators also run annual Galapagos birding cruises, typically departing in October or November.
On mainland Ecuador, Isla de la Plata in Machalilla National Park hosts the country’s most accessible seabird colonies. Boat trips from Puerto Lopez take about 45 minutes and pass through Humboldt Current waters where Waved Albatross, Galapagos Petrel, and Magnificent Frigatebird can be seen at sea. Sandra Plua’s Ecuador Bird Watching tour is led by a certified naturalist who ran the island’s seabird monitoring project for three years. Palo Santo Travel offers a budget-friendly alternative at USD 45 per person, with daily departures year-round. From June through October, Humpback Whales add to the crossing.
Peru: Humboldt Current Heartland
Peru sits at the core of the Humboldt Current upwelling system, and its offshore waters are wildly productive. Guanay Cormorants, Peruvian Boobies, and Peruvian Pelicans gather in colonies numbering in the hundreds of thousands. For pelagic birders, the real prizes are the Humboldt Current endemics and specialties: Humboldt Penguin, Inca Tern, Peruvian Diving-Petrel, and the elusive Markham’s and Hornby’s Storm-Petrels.
Kolibri Expeditions has run pelagic trips from Paracas since 2000, making it the longest continuous pelagic operation in the country. Their boats reach 30 nautical miles offshore, where June through August brings up to five albatross species including Waved and Buller’s. They also operate a deep pelagic from Puerto Lomas near Nazca, where the continental shelf is exceptionally narrow and deep-water species come close to shore.
From Lima, Wild Andes Tours runs full-day trips out of Pucusana with reliable encounters of four to six albatross species, while Kuntur Birding offers a more budget-conscious option from the same port. The Ecologistica Peru mini-pelagic from Callao is a half-day trip that visits the guano islands of San Lorenzo and Palomino before heading offshore, combining colonial seabirds with open-ocean species.
For a shorter outing, the Ballestas Islands tour from Paracas provides a two-hour circuit past cliffs packed with Guanay Cormorants, Peruvian Boobies, and Humboldt Penguins. It’s not a true pelagic, but it’s an excellent introduction to Peru’s Humboldt Current birdlife at just USD 19 per person.
Chile: From the Tropics to the Strait of Magellan
Chile’s coastline stretches over 4,000 km, and the Humboldt Current runs its entire length. Three operators run regular pelagic trips from the Valparaiso region into what many birders consider the finest Humboldt Current waters anywhere. Far South Expeditions offers monthly departures from Quintero, Birdwatching Chile runs bi-monthly trips led by an English-speaking ornithologist, and Albatross Birding Chile sails from Pratt Port on the second Saturday of each month. All three consistently produce multiple albatross species (Salvin’s, Black-browed, Northern Royal, Buller’s), Juan Fernandez Petrel, White-chinned Petrel, Pink-footed Shearwater, and Peruvian Diving-Petrel. Prices range from USD 120 to USD 160 per person.
In the far north, Far South’s Arica pelagic departs from Chile’s northernmost port, where warmer Humboldt Current waters mix warm-water specialties like Gray Gull and Peruvian Pelican with offshore tubenoses.
Two Chilean trips stand apart for targeting rare species in unusual habitats. The Quest for Pincoya Storm-Petrel explores the fjords and channels around Puerto Montt in search of one of the world’s most range-restricted seabirds: the Pincoya Storm-Petrel, described to science only in 2013 and known primarily from the waters of Reloncavi Sound and around Chiloe Island. Further south, the Glaciers, Whales & Seabirds of the Magellan Straits voyage sails from Punta Arenas through sub-Antarctic channels, encountering Black-browed Albatross, Magellanic Penguin, and Humpback Whales against a backdrop of glaciers.
Argentina: Patagonian Shelf and the Falklands
Argentina’s Atlantic seaboard offers a different character of pelagic birding. The Patagonian continental shelf is one of the most seabird-rich marine zones in the South Atlantic, drawing large numbers of albatrosses and petrels to its productive waters.
From Mar del Plata, Seriema Nature Tours runs offshore trips targeting Black-browed, Yellow-nosed, Southern Royal, and Shy Albatrosses alongside White-chinned Petrel, Southern Giant Petrel, and Cape Petrel. Their Southern Cone Pelagic Cruise is a 13-day expedition from Buenos Aires through Patagonian waters, around Cape Horn, and on to the Falkland Islands, covering over 35 tubenose species including Wandering Albatross, Blue Petrel, multiple prion species, and six penguin species.
At the southern tip of the continent, the Beagle Channel & Harberton Seabird Tour from Ushuaia combines Magellanic and Gentoo penguin colonies with Black-browed Albatross, Southern Giant Petrel, and Magellanic Diving-Petrel on a full-day trip. Further north along the coast, Birding Puerto Madryn offers private tours to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Peninsula Valdes, where Magellanic Penguins breed on sea cliffs and Southern Right Whales gather from June through December.
The Falkland Islands, listed under Argentina in the directory, hold globally important seabird colonies. The Kidney Island Seabird Evening Trip is a permit-only visit to a National Nature Reserve where up to 100,000 pairs of Sooty Shearwaters nest alongside Rockhopper Penguins and the endemic Cobb’s Wren. For the ultimate Southern Ocean experience, Birdquest’s Falklands, South Georgia & Antarctica cruise departs from Ushuaia and crosses the Drake Passage, targeting five albatross species, both giant petrels, and the world’s largest Black-browed Albatross colonies.
Best Seasons by Country
Ecuador: April through December for Waved Albatross on Española. Mainland Isla de la Plata trips run year-round, with June through October adding Humpback Whales.
Peru: Year-round pelagic birding, but June through August is peak season for albatross diversity. Humpback Whales visit from July through October.
Chile: Valparaiso pelagics run all twelve months. Southern trips (Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas) operate September through March during the austral summer.
Argentina: Beagle Channel and Falklands trips run October through April. Mar del Plata pelagics and Peninsula Valdes tours are available year-round, with whale season running June through December.
Practical Tips
Language: Spanish is the primary language across all four countries. Many birding operators employ English-speaking guides, but confirming this at booking time is wise. In the Falkland Islands, English is the first language.
Logistics: Lima and Santiago are the main international gateways and both have direct flights to most pelagic departure ports. For Galapagos, you’ll fly from Quito or Guayaquil to Baltra. Ushuaia is reachable by air from Buenos Aires. Internal flights in South America can be expensive; book early.
Combining trips: South America rewards combining pelagic birding with terrestrial birding. Peru’s pelagic trips pair naturally with Andean birding in the Cusco region or Manu Road. Chile’s Valparaiso pelagics are an easy side trip from Santiago, and the Magellan Straits voyage connects to Torres del Paine. In Ecuador, Galapagos cruises are commonly paired with cloud forest birding on the mainland.
Seasickness: Open Pacific swells off Chile and Peru can be substantial, particularly in winter months. Come prepared with scopolamine patches or meclizine, and read our guide on what to expect on your first pelagic trip for more detailed advice.
Costs: Trips range from USD 19 for the Ballestas Islands tour to over USD 9,000 for Galapagos cruises. Half-day Humboldt Current pelagics in Chile and Peru typically cost USD 120 to 400, which represents excellent value given the species diversity.
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