PUMAS OF PATAGONIA – SPECIAL 4X4 TRIP
Oct. 04 to 10, 2020
Wild Pumas with 4×4 vehicles assist
Pumas in South Patagonia is, without a doubt, one of the most spectacular wildlife experiences you can have anywhere. However, it does require some level of fitness to hike up hills to get the shots. So on this very special trip for just four lucky photographers we will have the assistance of two comfortable 4×4 vehicles, so that we can more easily access higher areas and beautiful valleys on difficult to reach parts of the estancia, areas that are extremelly productive for Pumas. This has three important advantages:
1 – We reach these higher areas without the need to hike so much all the way from the main roads. We might still need to hike a little, but mostly to get a better position to photograph. The “big hike” is done with the car.
2 – We reach these areas much quicker, thus earlier in the morning, when Pumas are more active and light is at its very best (although light is good in Patagonia all day long).
3 – Because we are only 4 photographers this usually means that we are able to get a little closer to the cats than on a bigger group, thus making more intimate photographs.
Please note that even on this tour occasionally we may still need to hike to areas that the car can’t reach, however, by experience, I can tell you that most Pumas are seen in and around this big area we can reach with the 4×4’s.
During our last tours we saw an average of 12 or more different cats per trip! Part of our success is due to the fact that we have a very experienced puma tracker working on a separate vehicle and communicates with us whenever he founds a cat – a great advantage from our tour. Another important difference from our tour is that it is focused for the wildlife photographer, it’s not simply a natural history tour, so that means we try to get close to these cats – of course, always as close as possible for the situation without stressing the animals or creating a somewhat risky situation. Everything is done alongside a very experienced Puma tracker.
Unlike other tours, which prefer cheap lodges outside of the park, we stay at the great Hotel Las Torres, inside the park, and the Puma searches are done in the park as well as on neighbour private properties designated as Puma conservation areas where we have granted special access and where we have been having a lot of success as well.
Other wildlife found on this tour includes the abundant Guanaco, Gray and Culpeo Foxes, South Andean Deer, Humboldt’s Hog-nosed Skunk and many birds like White-tufted and Great Grebes, varied duck species, Black-necked Swan, Andean Condor, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Magellanic Woodpecker, Tufted Tit-Tyrant, etc.
- Date: Oct. 04 to 10, 2020
- USD 8.890 per person
- Single room supplement: USD 732
- Payment through wire-transfer or credit card
- Max of 5 guests, Min of 4
Oct. 04: A tour representative or your guide will meet you at the airport or hotel in the morning in Punta Arenas, South Chile. We recommend you arrive the day before and stay at a hotel in the city, we will be happy to arrange this for you upon request. Drive to Hotel Las Torres in Torres del Paine N.P. (05:00 hrs). We stop at the scenic town of Puerto Natales for a coffee and some photos, among other places. Arrival at the hotel and rest of the afternoon there. The landscape alone will keep you very entertained, but there are some wildlife around the hotel too, like Culpeo Foxes and birds. Dinner at the hotel (fine chilean cuisine) and bed for an early start the next day.
Oct. 05 to 9: Five full days of Puma search. A typical day at this time of the year starts before sunrise, around 06:00. If our tracker finds a puma we go straight to it with the 4x4s. We will have two 4x4s so that we put two photographers per car.
We usually return to the hotel for lunch and a rest time, but just in case we always carry a packed lunch for each guest. Lunch at the restaurant in the hotel is not included on the tour price, just the packed lunch. In the evening, because the sun sets so late at this time of the year in Patagonia, we may return to the hotel only around 20:00 or more, in time for dinner at the restaurant before going to bed.
While our main goal on this trip is always going to be Pumas, there will be a lot of other incredible photo opportunities, like the amazing landscape, the groups of Guanacos, varied birds like grebes and swans, Andean Condors, foxes, etc. Some people may be afraid of approaching these wild cats by foot, but rest assured that we know when it can be dangerous and when it is ok to approach. We would never approach a cat that is showing signs of stress. Our puma tracker is extremelly experienced with these cats.
Oct. 10: Drive back to Punta Arenas after breakfast. We stop at a private estancia on the way where we go to a cliff to photograph flying Andean Condors, as they fly at eye level or even below us. We should arrive at Punta Arenas in early evening.
- Double occupancy accomodation at Hotel Las Torres (single rooms may be available)
- All meals during the itinerary (breakfast, packed lunch and dinner)
- Drinks on the field
- Ground transportation within the itinerary on comfortable 4×4’s
- Puma tracker
- Photography tutoring
- Park entrance fees
NOT included
- International and domestic air tickets
- Tips
- Laundry
- Hotel in Punta Arenas (if needed/desired)
- Ground transfers in Punta Arenas (if needed/desired)
- Travel and cancellation insurance *
* Please note that for this trip specifically we do offer a deposit refund in case the trip does not reach the minimum number of participants. The refund is only offered in that situation and covers only the deposit paid to us, NOT other related costs like air tickets.
On this trip we stay at Hotel Las Torres, inside Torres del Paine National Park and close to the main areas we search for pumas.
Accomodations included on the tour price are for double occupancy rooms. Single rooms are usually available, but to guarantee them we advise to book early. Rooms throughout the trip are equipped with gas heaters, private bathrooms and wi-fi.
Please fill the form below to book your spot. This trip requires a USD 500 confirmation deposit.
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