Puma
PUMAS AND PENGUINS PHOTO TOUR
Southern Patagonia - Argentina & Chili
14 Days
Best season between October to early March
DATES
18 – 31 JANUARY 2025
22 MARCH – 4 APRIL 2025
OVERVIEW
South Patagonia is one of the world’s best places wildlife and landscape photography. We have designed an ideal two-week itinerary to have the best possible photo opportunities for two iconic animals: the famous Pumas of Torres del Paine, Chile and different species of penguins in the beautiful and dramatic landscapes of Argentinian Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.
Photographing different species of penguins (Magellanic Penguin, Southern Rockhopper Penguin, Gentoo Penguin and with a bit of luck the King Penguin), without visiting Antarctica, plus one of the largest felines in the world, the Puma, is the main goal of this tour. Additionally, there will also be great chances of photographing some of the most representative Patagonian bird species such as the Lesser Rhea, Magellanic Woodpecker, Giant Petrel, Andean Condor, different species of tinamous, albatrosses, seedsnipes, and ducks. As well as other attractive wildlife such as the Guanaco, Patagonian Mara, different species of foxes, armadillos, whales, and dolphins.
The landscapes are magnificent too: endless steppes, impressive mountains, such as Torres del Paine, the stunning Perito Moreno glacier, the Beagle Channel, and Southern Beech Forests. It will be difficult to choose where to point your camera first. This tour will provide you with enough time to take advantage of your visit to Patagonia and enjoy all what there is to see.
This tour will be guided by wildlife photographer Steve Sánchez and tour leader/designer Marcelo Gavensky.
For more information about this tour, you can read our Photo Trip Report Pumas and Penguins.
ITINERARY
Day 1: A morning flight from Buenos Aires to Comodoro Rivadavia. Land transfer to Puerto Deseado. / Night at a hotel in Puerto Deseado.
Day 2: Early morning photographing around Puerto Deseado. Boat trip on the Ría Deseado in the afternoon. / Night at a hotel in Puerto Deseado.
Day 3: Boat trip to Isla Pingüino in the morning. In the afternoon photographing around Puerto Deseado. / Night at a hotel in Puerto Deseado.
Day 4: Land transfer to Puerto San Julián with photographic stops along the Patagonian steppes. / Night at a hotel in San Julián.
Day 5: Very early transfer to El Calafate. Photographing around El Calafate in the afternoon by car. / Night at a hotel in El Calafate.
Day 6: Full day tour to the Los Glaciares National Park with a photography stop at La Holla del Chingue. / Night at a hotel in El Calafate.
Day 7: Full day transfer to the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. / Night in the Torres del Paine National Park.
Day 8, 9, 10: Full day Puma watching and photography tour with a local specialized guide. / Night at the Torres del Paine National Park.
Day 11: Full day transfer to El Calafate (with border crossing back to Argentina). Photographing around El Calafate. / Night at a hotel in El Calafate.
Day 12: Morning flight to Ushuaia and transfer by car to Estancia Harberton. Boat tour to Isla Martillo. Transfer back to Ushuaia with photographic stops in the Patagonian Forest. / Night at a hotel in Ushuaia.
Day 13: Visit to the Tierra del Fuego National Park and boat tour on the Beagle Channel. / Night at a hotel in Ushuaia.
Day 14: Short visit to the city dump of Ushuaia to photograph different raptors like the White-throated Caracara. Transfer to the Ushuaia airport. End of the tour.
KEY BIRD SPECIES
Lesser Rhea, Elegant Crested Tinamou, Patagonian Tinamou, Magellanic Woodpecker, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, White-throated Caracara, Andean Condor, White-throated Treerunner, Patagonian Mockingbird, Long-tailed Mockingbird, Rufous-chested Dotterel, Tawny-throated Dotterel.
Magellanic Penguin, Southern Rockhopper, Gentoo Penguin.
Magellanic Cormorant, Red-legged Cormorant, Imperial Cormorant, Black-browed Albatros, Southern Giant Petrel, Chilean skua, Southern Fulmar, Snowy Sheathbill, Dolphin Gull, Magellanic Oystercatcher, Blackish Oystercatcher, Black-necked Swan, Coscorova Swan, Upland Goose, Kelp Goose, Crested Duck, Flying Steamer-Duck, Chiloe Wigeon, Chilean Flamingo.
Mammals: Puma, Guanaco, South American Gray Fox, Patagonian Mara, Humboldt’s Hog-nosed Skunk, Large Hairy Armadillo, South American Sea Lion, South American Fur Seal, Southern Elephant Seal, Commerson’s Dolphin, Peale’s Dolphin, Dusky Dolphins, Humpback Whales.
TOUR DETAILS
Group Size: Max 6 + photography guide.
Accommodation: Comfortable
Transportation: Private car/van, boat, plane.
Climate: During this tour we will be visiting cold areas that even in the summer can have temperatures around zero degrees Celsius. The wind is almost constant in Patagonia, and can be strong at the steppes.
Altitude: 0 – 1000 meters above sea level.
Possible extensions:
– Buenos Aires: Ceibas Natural Reserve
– Iguazu Falls Photo Tour
Suggested Equipment:
– Digital SLR or Mirrorless camera
– At least 300 mm lens
– Wide angle lens
– Macro lens if you are interested in macro photography
– Tripod or monopod
– Flash
For the detailed itinerary, prices, or if you have questions, please get in touch with us.
PHOTO IMPRESSIONS
Kuntur Nature and Adventure EIRL
Company Address: Av. Industrial Conj. Hab. FOVIPOL. Nr 104 – Santiago – Cusco – Peru
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