Puma Tracking Tours. A trip committed to watch and photograph Puma (Mountain Lion or Cougar) in the remote and stunning Patagonian wilderness of Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park and the adjacent Ranch Laguna Amarga. Join our expert local naturalist guides and puma trackers, in the best place in the world for watching this magnificent and inspiring predator of the Andes.
Frequently praised by visitors as one of the most beautiful and majestic wild places in the planet, declared as the World’s 8th natural wonder, Torres del Paine National Park is a remote refuge of life where wildlife is normally quite tame and it’s not rare to see relaxed and inquisitive guanacos, foxes and other animals at close quarters; seeing the lone hunter that dwells in the vast and barren hills, the mighty Puma, is something else.
This expedition has been geared to seek out, contemplate and photograph this big and elegant cat in one the wildest places throughout its entire range in the American Continent. We have pioneered puma tours here in Patagonia, and have always worked by our strict environmental ethos and in permanent contact with the park authorities and ranchers, as the wildlife welfare is our first and foremost concern.
At the ranch Estancia Laguna Amarga, we are one of the few selected operators to work inside this property and search for puma along the grounds of this magnificent private area, adjacent to the park and now, entirely committed to Puma conservation. Estancia Laguna Amarga is where we devote most of our efforts to look and photograph Patagonian Pumas.
Patagonian pumas, especially around Torres del Paine, are the largest race of the species in the Americas. With an uncommon higher density rate, this national Park and surroundings have become the most sought-after places to watch and photograph wild pumas on Earth. This is mainly due to the stable growing of Guanaco populations in the Patagonian steppes, and the protection that Puma has been granted in the past years.
Join us on this quest, to discover the wildlife of Torres del Paine and one of its most secretive and yet most awe-inspiring inhabitants.
Trip Details
Tour Highlights
A trip conceived to maximize the chances of seeing and photograph puma (mountain lion) in the wild.
Puma tracking activities carried out from dawn to dusk; there will be a break in the middle of the day when the cats are resting.
We have the assistance of a 4×4 vehicle which is a great asset to optimize our field time in the ranch, while looking and photographing puma.
This trip will be led by an experienced naturalist guide plus one of our puma trackers.
In-depth wildlife and natural history exploration of Torres del Paine National Park, UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve
An interesting array of mammals and birds restricted to the Southern Andes and Patagonia.
What to expect
Lodging: Comfortable
Transportation:
High
Next Departures
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Itinerary
DAY 1
Meeting at Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales, Chile – Transfer to Torres del Paine
After meeting your guide at your hotel or at the airport, you will be transferred in a private vehicle to the village of Cerro Castillo. During our journey to the park, we will look for guanaco, southern grey fox, and Pa...
After meeting your guide at your hotel or at the airport, you will be transferred in a private vehicle to the village of Cerro Castillo. During our journey to the park, we will look for guanaco, southern grey fox, and Patagonian skunk while enjoying our first views of Southern beech (Nothofagus) forest. While visiting the valleys we will be given a geological interpretation of the origins of the dramatic backdrop of Torres del Paine, one of the finest natural spectacles in Patagonia. Drive from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales (3h) and then drive to Cerro Castillo (45 minutes).
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L, D
Hotel Ovejero Patagonico (or similar)
DAY 2
Exploring Torres del Paine - Puma tracking at Laguna Amarga Ranch
We have organized a busy schedule of outings for pumas in the area from days 2 to 5 (four full days). We will inspect the puma hunting grounds located in the eastern flank of the park and throughout the property of Estan...
We have organized a busy schedule of outings for pumas in the area from days 2 to 5 (four full days). We will inspect the puma hunting grounds located in the eastern flank of the park and throughout the property of Estancia Laguna Amarga, where we have special granted access and an excellent relationship with the owners. The area comprised by the northern coast of Sarmiento Lake, Laguna Amarga and Laguna Azul is well known for holding one of the largest concentrations of pumas in the wild.
There are two daily puma sessions, one in the morning and one in the evening. In-between, there is time to explore some parts of Torres del Paine NP, searching for other interesting mammals such as the Andean Deer (or Huemul), Patagonian Hog-nosed Skunk and Patagonian Hairy Armadillo.
Overnight at Cerro Castillo, Torres del Paine.
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B, L, D
Hotel Ovejero Patagonico (or similar)
DAY 3
Exploring Torres del Paine - Puma tracking at Laguna Amarga Ranch
A typical day in the field starts quite early and this depends on the season of the year. We have to remember that Patagonia is a high latitude location (51°S). We will have longer daylight hours during the spring and su...
A typical day in the field starts quite early and this depends on the season of the year. We have to remember that Patagonia is a high latitude location (51°S). We will have longer daylight hours during the spring and summer and much shorter field days during the autumn and winter.
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B, L, D
Hotel Ovejero Patagonico (or similar)
DAY 4
Exploring Torres del Paine - Puma tracking at Laguna Amarga Ranch
Pumas are normally quite active at night, early in the mornings and late in the evenings. Our activities will gravitate around these preferred times by cats, when they are usually patrolling their territory, hunting guan...
Pumas are normally quite active at night, early in the mornings and late in the evenings. Our activities will gravitate around these preferred times by cats, when they are usually patrolling their territory, hunting guanacos and other prey, interacting with their offspring or commuting from their hunting grounds to their dens. We will have two sessions each day, a morning session and an evening session (app. 4 hours each). During the middle of the day, we will not be watching pumas in order to avoid disturbance at a critical time, when they are resting, sleeping after a long night hunting elusive guanacos. Normally and depending on the light and condition of the day, we can continue photographing other wildlife in the park or provide our guests with some time to rest, charge batteries and get ready for the evening puma session.
Overnight at Cerro Castillo, Torres del Paine.
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B, L, D
Hotel Ovejero Patagonico (or similar)
DAY 5
Exploring Torres del Paine - Puma tracking at Laguna Amarga Ranch
Estancia Laguna Amarga model is very good in preventing overlapping among different groups of puma enthusiasts as they limit the number of visitors on a daily basis. We will investigate our own designated areas of the ra...
Estancia Laguna Amarga model is very good in preventing overlapping among different groups of puma enthusiasts as they limit the number of visitors on a daily basis. We will investigate our own designated areas of the ranch (which will shift every day) and concentrate on individual pumas.
If we have time, we will also take the opportunity to look for other wildlife species including Andean Condor and Chilean flamingo. We will have great opportunities to photograph the ubiquitous Guanaco; the local Andean Deer or Huemul, Patagonian Hog-nosed Skunk and the two canid species are also present in the park, Chilla and Culpeo foxes.
Overnight at Cerro Castillo, Torres del Paine.
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B, L, D
Hotel Ovejero Patagonico (or similar)
DAY 6
Torres del Paine – Drive back to Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas
During the morning we will continue our exploration in different areas of the park. A sensational vista from Laguna Azul on the eastern side of the park will be a superb grand finale to this exciting journey of discovery...
During the morning we will continue our exploration in different areas of the park. A sensational vista from Laguna Azul on the eastern side of the park will be a superb grand finale to this exciting journey of discovery among the natural wonders of the end of the world. Later, we will be transferred to Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales where our trip ends. We can arrange your transfer to El Calafate, southern Argentina, if needed.
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Hotels
El Ovejero Patagonico
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El Ovejero Patagonico
Price Details
Included
Accommodation in first class hotels
Meals indicated in the program
Transportation in comfortable vehicles
Tour leader and English speaking guide
Local guides specialized in the region
Entrance Fees
Not Included
International flights
Domestic flights
Additional drinks and meals
Tips
Medical insurance
Expenses not specified in the program
Minimum Deposit
30% (The last payment must be completed 45 days prior to the start of the trip.)
Price Base
Price from 3 to 4 people:
4.698 USD
Price from 5 to 6 people:
4.698 USD
* Price is indicated per person
Terms & Conditions
The terms of sale may differ based on the nature of your trip and how close your departure date is. Please review our conditions here for more information .
Recommendations
We will have the support of a 4×4 vehicle to move inside the ranch but we can also have easy to moderate walks, so a minimum degree of fitness is required in order to be able to keep up with the group. Topography is usually not too demanding but there might be differences in altitude of around 50-250m / 160-1,000ft sometimes, although your group will walk at a slow and gentle pace. Maximum elevation during this trip will be 300m/1,000ft above sea level. You must be able to carry your own gear. If this is difficult for you, we ask you to coordinate this in advance with your guide in order to arrange some help. Our company does not provide porters but we are always eager to provide help.
We will have packed lunches, snacks and drinks for our field days. Later in the evening, we will have dinner back at our hotel or sometimes inside the park, depending on the daylight hours and the season.
To see a female puma and its cubs against this magnificent mountain backdrop and big sky is one of the most magnificent wildlife spectacle in this part of the world. In company of our guide and puma tracker, we will follow pumas at a prudent distance with the help of binoculars and spotting scopes. The approach distance varies but there is a 50-meter (164ft) rule. Sometimes pumas are inquisitive and indulging, being very habituated to the human presence. Those will be our stars but we must respect their space; we must be prepared in advance and bring your longest lenses (400mm +) in order to take advantage of our photographic opportunities. Bringing a tripod or monopod is always recommended; a light-weight carbon-fiber version is always the best option.
Spotted Species
Here is a non-exhaustive list of Animal Species you can spot during this tour
Puma
The puma, also known as the cougar, mountain lion, or panther, is a large, solitary...
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Andean Condor
The Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) has black plumage with a white collar of feathers around...
Discover
