Puma Photography Safari with Diego Araya

Dec 4: Arrive Punta Arenas

Today the adventure begins! You will be met upon arrival at Punta Arenas Airport and transferred to your hotel. After your long journey, the rest of the day is yours to relax. Plan for an early night as you depart early tomorrow to start your puma photography journey!

Dec 5: Punta Arenas – Torres del Paine

This morning after breakfast, be at the ready as your group will be transferred to Torres del Paine National Park, a journey of about five hours. You will be passing by some stunning landscapes, and photo stops will be made. After checking in at Eco Camp Patagonia, meet Diego at lunch for a briefing, after which he will lead you into the national park to get your bearings. Admire the jaw-dropping beauty of the snow-capped peaks and glacial blue lakes, while also getting a glimpse of the first signs of wildlife: guanaco, the favourite food of the elusive puma. Our puma tracker will actually have been out since the morning, so there are chances of sightings on this very first day!

Overnight: Eco Camp Patagonia (B, L, D)

Dec 6-9: Puma Tracking

The next four days are all about spotting puma, Patagonia’s apex predator. Most days begin close to camp, in the park’s eastern sector, taking advantage of the stunning morning light and any animal activity. You will spend approximately six hours viewing and photographing the native wildlife of the park. You are likely to observe culpeo (Andean fox), the mighty Andean condor, guanaco, rhea, and hopefully the prized puma. In the afternoons, when the peak hours for sunlight and wildlife activity lay behind you, you may head to the western parts of the park. Here you will have the opportunity to shoot some of the more iconic landmarks, such as Grey’s Glacier and The Horns, while waiting for news from the trackers. Diego will guide you photographically throughout these outings and his team of professional puma trackers will be working hard to place you in the best conditions possible to see the big cat. Each evening, return to your comfortable camp, compare photos, hear about Diego's fascinating career or simply relax with a glass of Chilean wine.

Overnight: Eco Camp Patagonia (B, L, D)

Dec 10: Torres del Paine Wildlife Exploration

Depending on the weather conditions and how lucky you were with sightings, we might mix things up today and head to different areas of the park to gain an even better understanding of the immense expanse that is Patagonia. More pumas are possible of course, but other sightings may include grey fox, red fox, hairy armadillo, hog-nosed skunk, Chilean flamingo, Magellanic woodpecker, austral parakeet, austral pygmy owl, ringed kingfisher, black-chested buzzard-eagle, crested caracara and more. This is the last chance to put into practice all that you have learned from Diego throughout your trip, before relaxing for your final evening in Patagonia.

Overnight: Eco Camp Patagonia (B, L, D)

Dec 11: Torres del Paine – Punta Arenas – Santiago

Enjoy a final breakfast this morning and say your goodbyes to Diego, before being transferred back to Punta Arenas – 5 hours south - for your connecting flight back to Santiago. On arrival to Santiago you will be met and transferred to your hotel, 20 minutes away, for a final evening with your group. Please note that if you need to return to Punta Arenas before the group, this can be arranged at extra cost. Please inquire.

Overnight: Le Reve Boutique Hotel (B, L)

Dec 12: Depart Santiago

This morning you will take a private group transfer to the airport in time for your onward flight home. If you are choosing to extend your travels with our Solar Eclipse Photography Safari, you will instead fly from Santiago to Temuco. Once at Temuco, you will meet any fellow travellers who have chosen to book the solar eclipse trip separately. You will then travel together and embark upon the next portion of your Chilean adventure.