Description
Join photographer Diego Araya on a quest for the apex predator of Patagonia, the elusive puma, among the mountains and foothills of Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park. Here you’ll be able to hone your photography skills, under Diego's expert eye, in one of the most visually stunning wildernesses anywhere in the Americas. You can also extend your trip for four days to coincide with the 2020 solar eclipse.
Overview
Join photographer Diego Araya on a quest for the apex predator of Patagonia, the elusive puma, among the mountains and foothills of Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park. Here you’ll be able to hone your photography skills, under Diego's expert eye, in one of the most visually stunning wildernesses anywhere in the Americas. You can also extend your trip for four days to coincide with the 2020 solar eclipse.
Led by expert wildlife photographer Diego Araya, this safari offers a unique setting in which to hone your camera skills while exploring Torres del Paine National Park and its soaring mountain peaks. Diego will be present throughout this photographic adventure to lend his expertise as a wildlife photographer, as you venture through the wilderness with the hopes of capturing stunning images of Patagonian pumas. His team of expert puma trackers will be on hand to impart their knowledge of this majestic big cat and to determine the best course of action each day. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!
For those seeking more excitement, you can choose to extend your travels by a further four nights with our Solar Eclipse Photography Safari. This 4-day trip can also be booked separately from the 9-day puma safari.
WHAT MAKES THIS TRIP EXTRAORDINARY
- Receive expert photographic tuition from professional wildlife photographer Diego Araya.
- Explore Patagonia’s wilderness and venture through the iconic landscapes of the Torres del Paine.
- Learn from a team of professional puma and fauna trackers who will ensure you make the most of possible wildlife sightings, including guanaco, rhea, Andean fox and Andean condor.
- Stay for six nights at the world's first geodesic dome hotel, the multi-award-winning Eco Camp Patagonia, voted by Travel + Leisure as South America's 2nd best hotel resort in 2017.
Itinerary
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!
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)
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)
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)
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)
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.
Cancellation Policy
Life is unpredictable and we understand that sometimes you have to cancel or change your trip dates and it is our endeavor to make it as easy as possible for you. However, please understand that we plan everything including guide fees, permits, accommodation and ration in advance. Therefore, any cancellation means inconvenience and certain losses to the people involved in various stages of the program. Keeping that in mind, our cancellation charges are as below,
- Cancellations prior to 30 days from the start of the event: Full refund as cash.
- Cancellations between 30 days and 15 days to the start of the event: 50 % refund as cash.
- Cancellations less than 15 days to the start of the event: No refund.
- Cancellations will be accepted only by email.
Note: We reserve the right to cancel a program before departure in the event of logistical problems arising due to natural calamities, strikes, wars or any other circumstances that make the event inadvisable. In this case, we will refund 50% of the event fees.
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