Bird Watching Mantagua Wetland & Ritoque Beach Tour from Santiago

In the morning, around 9:00 a.m., we pick you up at your hotel in Santiago and drive toward the coast. The wetland is located near the southern end of the Ritoque dunes, about 30 kilometers from Valparaíso.

This area brings together several coastal ecosystems in one place: wetland, dunes, river mouth and Pacific shoreline. During the visit, you can enjoy the landscape at an easy pace and learn about the birds, plants and small animals that depend on this fragile environment.
The walk begins at Posada del Parque, a small private reserve created by local people who work to protect this part of the coast. From here, we explore one of the most interesting natural areas around the Ritoque dunes. The landscape has been shaped over thousands of years by wind, river and ocean: dunes, estuary and coastal vegetation create an environment that feels very different from the city, although it is not far from Valparaíso and Concón.
Along the route, you will have views of the Pacific Ocean, the wetland, the dunes and native coastal vegetation. With a quiet pace and a bit of luck, you may see birds feeding, resting or moving through the waters of the estuary. Depending on the season, species may include sanderlings, sandpipers, gulls, coots, oystercatchers, black-necked swans, herons, wild ducks, kingfishers, cormorants, chimango caracaras and other resident or migratory birds.
The wetland is also important for small mammals, insects, reptiles and other wildlife that find shelter among the vegetation. In recent years, camera traps have recorded the kodkod, Chile's smallest native wild cat, in nearby coastal habitats.
The estuary has aquatic plants and riverside vegetation, including bulrushes, reeds and salt-tolerant species. These plants help protect the habitat, filter water, stabilize the soil and provide shelter for insects, birds and small animals. Between the dunes and the wetland, you may also see plants adapted to coastal wind, salty fog and sandy soils.

Arrive back in Santiago at 5:00 p.m.