Torres del Paine National Park
Embark on an epic adventure into deepest Patagonia to track and photograph Chile’s apex predator – the puma. Accompanied by wildlife tracking professionals, you will scour the remote, wild corners of the breathtaking Torres del Paine National Park in search of this magnificent yet elusive cat. Each night will be spent at the unique yurt-inspired Cascada EcoCamp under the shadow of the towering massif. Majestic landscapes and incredible wildlife opportunities, this trip is a must for wildlife and nature enthusiasts alike!
Itinerary Highlights
What’s included
flexibility
This is an example itinerary. It is fully flexible; you can add or detract days and include hotels at your chosen budget. It departs daily.
15
Nights
Price Guide
from $9095 pp
Our quotes are bespoke for your customised trip. The prices displayed are indicative only, read more
Arrive Chile / Argentina
Patagonia & the Torres del Paine
Welcome to the end of the world! On arrival into southern Chile, you will be met and driven out to the iconic Torres del Paine National Park where the rolling pampa steppe meets the soaring granite peaks and vast glaciers of the Patagonian ice-cap. The road winds through herds of resident guanacos framed against the snow-capped mountains – perfect for photography! Do keep your eyes peeled for other native species such as Patagonian foxes, flamingos and Rhea (South America Ostrich). On arrival, settle in at the lodge and enjoy a riefing with the tracking team and guides.
Wildlife Wonders – Puma, Condors & Rhea
Each day, you will set off nice and early into the national park to explore the puma’s natural habitat and enjoy the sunrise accompanied by piping hot coffee and breakfast on the go. The puma tracking team will already have been hard at work tracing the latest movement of these elusive creatures to maximise on viewing opportunities. Pumas aside, you will discover the Torres del Paine’s unique flora and fauna and the secrets of successful wildlife observation in the national park. A replenishing lunch will be enjoyed back at the Ecocamp before you head out again into the rugged steppe on the trail of the puma. As the day draws to a close, enjoy a beautiful Patagonian sunset over the beautiful massif before celebrating the days adventure perhaps with an “asado al palo” barbeque and a bottle of Chilean Carmenere!
Note: As ever, all wildlife observation is subject to the conditions and other activities such as scenic drives and short walks will be arranged if the weather doesn’t play ball.
Adios Patagonia!
Enjoy a final Patagonian sunrise and some incredible photo opportunities at Laguna Azul and the Cascada Paine sector of the Torres del Paine. You will then return to the camp for a hearty breakfast served amongst your fellow wildlife lovers in the Community Dome before you bid farewell to your guides and head out of the national park to Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas or even Calafate if you are continuing across the border into Calafate.
onward connections
A note on price
The prices outlined above are a rough guide to give you an idea of costs and enable you to budget for your trip.
Guide prices are generally for private arrangements based on twin share, in well located, good quality accommodation (excluding international flights).
Please note costs are indicative and may vary due to a number of factors such as; travel date, hotel choice, room category, number of people travelling and prevailing exchange rates.
Price Guide from $9095 per person
When to travel
Argentina’s weather is as diverse as the country’s landscapes. In the far south, temperatures reach the high teens during the spring and summer months of November to March (best time to visit) though can drop close to zero at night. Due to its latitude, days are long – 16 hours of light in December which contrasts with around 8 hours in mid-winter when temperatures run close to zero during the day and sub-zero at night. Heading north, the Lake District follows a similar pattern though is warmer over 20° in the summer and wettest in March/April though with beautiful autumnal colours. Buenos Aires and central Argentina enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate with annual highs of 30° while the subtropical north is very hot and sticky with tempestuous downpours during the summer months – Iguazu Falls are particularly impressive in January in February though often the sheer volume of water and surrounding mist shroud the view.
Add on’s
Just across the border in Argentina, Calafate and Chalten offer incredible mountains, glaciers and traditional gaucho experiences, ideal for walkers and photographers. Continuing the wildlife theme, why not visit the penguin reserves of Isla Magdalena just off Punta Arenas and Puñihuil in Chiloé or better still the incredible Valdes Peninsula, one of the world’s great marine sanctuaries and home to elephant seals, orcas, huge penguin colonies and southern right whales. From here, you van fly via Buenos Aires to the natural wonderland of the Ibera Wetlands, 1300 km² of savannah, lagoons and gallery forest that boasts an incredible diversity of wildlife including capybara, pampa deer, caiman, maned wolf and 300 plus species of birds.
\Further afield, other wildlife hotspots include the Amazon Rainforest, Ecuador’s Mindo Cloudforest and Brazil’s Pantanal, arguably the wildlife capital of South America and THE place to spot jaguar in their natural habitat. And then of course we have the wildlife cruises – from Patagonian fjords and the Galapagos (of course!) to the highlight, the Great White Continent itself Antarctica!
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