Patagonia Puma Tracking
Wildlife Discovery Adventure

Track the king of Torres del Paine -- the elusive puma.

Embark on a purr-fectly epic adventure with our wildlife tracking professionals to track and observe Torres del Paine’s top predator, the Patagonian puma, in its natural habitat. Paired with cozy nights at the EcoCamp and getting up close and personal with spectacular flora and fauna, this trip is a must for wildlife and nature enthusiasts alike!

Departures

Departures on request.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival - The Patagonian adventure starts.

Your day will begin at Punta Arenas Airport.* From the airport, you will be taken to EcoCamp Patagonia, where a hearty lunch will be provided in our Community Domes. The first activity of your Patagonian adventure will then begin at midday with a leisurely tour of the National Park, giving you plenty of opportunities to admire the Patagonian steppe with its guanacos and snow-peaked mountain horizon.

Days 2, 3, 4 & 5: Wildlife exploration and observation.

We start off each day early, observing the sunrise from distinct locations while enjoying hot coffee and breakfast on the go. Our puma/cougar tracking team, already hard at work, will be in radio contact to let us know how they’re doing. Throughout the trip, they will be letting us know the location of the park's most elusive animals including the Andean puma (mountain lion) so that we can head to the sites where they are as soon as they're spotted. For photography buffs, the wildlife and landscapes we'll see over the next few days offer prime targets for taking pictures.

We will usually begin our wildlife exploration close to EcoCamp, in the park’s eastern sector, making the most of the beautiful morning light and animal activity. We enjoy around six hours of wildlife observation, studying and taking pictures of the park’s native flora & fauna, before heading back to EcoCamp for lunch and relaxation time.

In the afternoons, after the peak sun hours with little animal movement, we head out again, this time to the park’s western sector where we enjoy all the beautiful landscapes and flora & fauna. We visit landmark places such as Grey Glacier and other striking natural monuments. Our guide takes us through the different habitats and ecosystems in the area, introducing us to the unique and colorfulwildlife of Torres del Paine and teaching us the methodology for responsible wildlife observation. After enjoying the iconic Patagonian sunset over the Paine massif we return to EcoCamp for dinner and well-earned rest.

N.B. In the event of bad weather alternative activities will be planned.

Day 6: Departure.

Your last day will begin just as all your other activity-packed days will begin: with an early, hearty breakfast served amongst your fellow wildlife lovers in our Community Domes. From there, you will embark on a short day of activities before regrouping at EcoCamp for a well-deserved lunch. You will then be taken to Punta Arenas airport, where you will arrive late in the evening.

(Depending on travel conditions, we advise you to make sleeping arrangements for your final day in Punta Arenas)

Accommodation

EcoCamp Patagonia

Ecocamp Patagonia is located in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park in Chile with views of the majestic granite Paine Towers. It was the first geodesic dome hotel in the world, offering an upscale camp at the domes inspired by the region’s ancient nomadic inhabitants. 

EcoCamp Patagonia Suite Dome
(Heating & Private bathroom, 28m²/300ft²)

Suite domes were designed to further our goal of providing comfort in a natural setting with minimal environmental impact, and also maintain the hotel’s familiar and cozy vibe. The domes have comfortable double or twin beds, a wood stove and a private bathroom with a state-of-the-art composting toilet.

EcoCamp Patagonia Suite Dome Loft
(2 floors, Heating & Private bathroom, 37m²/398ft²)

Suite dome lofts are two-storey domes which fit up to four people and have comfortable double or twin beds both up and downstairs. These domes, ideal for families or groups of friends, come with a wood stove, a private terrace and a private bathroom with a state-of-the-art composting toilet.

EcoCamp Patagonia Superior Dome
(Heating & Private bathroom, 23m²/250ft²)

Spacious, comfortable and equipped with private bathrooms, Superior Domes are the optimum choice for trekkers wanting that bit more space and comfort at the end of a long day’s walk. Each Superior Dome has comfortable queen-size or twin beds, a propane heater, skylight windows and a private bathroom with a sophisticated composting toilet.

EcoCamp Patagonia Standard Dome
(Shared bathroom, 10m²/108ft²)

EcoCamp Standard domes were the world's first lodge accommodation in geodesic shape. They are resistant to the strong Patagonian winds, and come equipped with two single beds (doubles on request), cozy fleece blankets and feather quilts. There are windows in the ceiling for stargazing. Standard domes include shared bathrooms which are large, comfortable and gender divided.

Note: Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, we will not be involved in the Standard Dome sharing option this season. All standard domes will be reserved for individual travelers or travelers from the same reservation group.

Included

Included

• English speaking specialist guide with a maximum group size of only 5 travelers
• Accommodation at EcoCamp’s Suite Domes
• All ground transport as indicated in the itinerary
• Park entrance fees for Torres del Paine National Park
• Meals: 6 Lunches, 5 Breakfasts and 5 Dinners
  
  

Not included

• Flight tickets
• Insurance (appropriate insurance is mandatory for this trip)
• Voluntary tipping to guides and staff
• Soft drinks or snacks not served with the meals included at the EcoCamp. Bringing cash to buy extra drinks, snacks or souvenirs in Torres del Paine National Park is recommended.
• Personal items
• Photography equipment and binoculars - please bring your own!

Facts

Departures

Regular departures on fixed dates as specified below.

Fixed Dates 2021-2022

• April 13th - 18th, 2022 (Patagonia Autumn)

Fixed Dates 2022-2023

• October 11th - 16th, 2022 (Patagonia Spring)
• November 24th - 29th, 2022 (Patagonia Summer)
• January 16th - 21st, 2023 (Patagonia Summer)
• February 11th - 16th, 2023 (Patagonia Summer)
• February 27th - March 4th, 2023 (Patagonia Summer)

Starting / finishing point 

The trip starts and ends in Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales. All flights should arrive before 9:30 AM on the first day. All onward flights should leave after 8 PM on the last day.

Physical demands

The easy trip options do not demand extensive physical activity, other than walking a maximum of two consecutive hours over fairly flat terrain. We stop as many times as necessary depending on the rhythm of the group. Travelers doing the active excursions will find them more energetic and to enjoy these more active treks it is essential to be in shape before arriving. All trails visited in the programs are under 1,000m / 3,000ft high so passengers don’t need to worry about altitude.

Itinerary modifications

The weather in Patagonia can be difficult at times. We reserve the right to change the order of the days in any itinerary at the discretion of the trip guide based on operational considerations. The trip guide can modify, change or eliminate any part of the itinerary according to these considerations.

Transport

In Torres del Paine and throughout Patagonia, transportation is in minivans that seat from 8 to 14 people. Pick-up/drop-off times shown in the Weekly Transfer Board are approximate and will be confirmed by our local operations team. An exclusive toll-free emergency number will be available for anyone needing additional support while they are in Chile.

Weather

The Patagonian Andes are exposed to winds that circle the Antarctic landmass. In addition, the strong marine influence and the Southern Patagonia Icefield make the weather hard to predict.

The temperature in winter ranges between -2ºC (28ºF) and 6ºC (43ºF). June, July, and August are the wettest months in Torres del Paine and sub-zero temperatures are common. Nevertheless, the wind is relatively mild in winter. Just as quickly as the weather turns nasty, it can become lovely and sunny so come prepared for all types of weather!

What you need to bring

Passengers to need to be prepared for summer and winter all at once. We recommend the following:

• A day backpack. (30 liters - to carry a camera, glasses, raincoat, etc)
• Water-resistant trekking or hiking boots.
• Extra shoes for evenings or in case others get wet
• Waterproof jacket
• 2 pairs of wool socks
• Fleece jacket or sweater
• Shorts or comfortable loose pants.
• Sun protection. (glasses, hat, lip balm and screen)
• Cash for buying extra drinks, snacks or souvenirs in Torres del Paine National Park
• Optional: Capilene underwear for the upper and lower body