On Safari Atacama

Juan Pablo Rivas has been leading birding and wildlife tours out of San Pedro de Atacama for 17 years, with additional field experience in Argentina, Colombia, parts of Europe, and the Caribbean. Operating under the name On Safari Atacama, he focuses on the oasis orchards, the Los Flamencos National Reserve, the western slope of the Andes, and the dry Puna altiplano around this northern Chilean tourism hub. The San Pedro municipality lists 165 recorded species, with three flamingo species (Andean, James's, and Chilean) headlining the wetland sites and specialties like Red-backed Sierra Finch, Grayish Miner, Horned Coot, and the elusive Diademed Sandpiper-Plover available on day trips. A typical full day delivers around 40 species, two days about 55, and a five-day expedition through the wider Antofagasta region (302 species recorded) can yield approximately 110 including penguins and pelagic birds. In addition to wildlife safaris, On Safari Atacama runs astronomy excursions taking advantage of one of the planet's darkest skies, with wildlife tours starting from US$145.