If you want to walk with Pumas, you go to Torres del Paine. Now boasting the highest density of pumas on earth, this area has emerged as the best place on the planet to experience and photograph these impressive animals. Pumas thrive in Torres del Paine and they do so against a stunning backdrop of snow-covered mountain peaks that jet out of soft rolling hills. This unforgettable experience will leave you in awe as you capture stunning images.
Five Full Days photographing Pumas and other wildlife! Wildlife, especially within this gorgeous landscape, is our priority. In support of this, you will have 5 full days tracking and photographing Pumas! One of the amazing things about this experience is how close we are able to get to the cats. Beautiful images of pumas in the environment can be made with a 70-200mm while frame filling portraits and even head shots can be made using a 150-600mm. With the sun rising at 9am and setting at 5pm, puma activity will be compressed, which is awesome for us as it gives us full action-packed days with Pumas as well as other magnificent wildlife like Guanacos, Patagonian fox, Rhea and more that call Torres del Paine home.
Plus 1 ½ days for Landscape Photography! Unlike other trips, we include a day and a half specifically for landscape photography. The scenery here is simply spectacular and you will want some time to work it. Just imagine snow-covered jagged mountain peaks that tower over rolling hills covered in lichens, moses and grasses, and turquoise lakes and rivers running through it. The scenery is simply stunning and once you see pumas, guanacos, foxes, and other wildlife in that setting, it will take your breath away!
Of course, you can’t visit the breath-taking Torres Del Paine without taking in this stunning scenery. So, we built in a day and a half for landscape photography as well. You will go home with a full view of all that Torres del Paine is known for.
Our Timing: In early June we are in the shoulder between fall and winter in Chile, and it is the best time possible to photograph pumas in the snow against a snow-covered mountain backdrop along with the possibility of lingering fall color. This time of year, cubs are active with their mothers as they hunt for food, groom and play. It’s a stunning time of year when crowds have thinned, the land is quiet and calm, and the wind is low. With sunrise at 9am and sunset at 5pm, pumas nap less during the day, giving us greater activity as we enjoy full days in the field!
Permits secured at the most photographically productive private estancia: Not all locations at Torres del Paine are equal in terms of photographic opportunities. While you can go into the park and perhaps get lucky seeing a puma as it crosses the road, this is rare and not photogenic. We have obtained special permits to track and photograph pumas on a private 16,000-acre estancia adjacent to the Torres National Park. This estancia has one of the highest populations of pumas and guanacos in the area and is the best place for our tracking and photography. The estancia limits the number of people that they allow to visit the property each day. This provides exceptional conditions for both, us as photographers and for pumas and other wildlife, avoiding overcrowding and stressful situations. In most cases, it will just be us and the pumas.
Team of Experienced Trackers: We are thrilled to have two of the top puma trackers in the region as part of our dedicated team. They have worked with pumas for years and are in the estancia tracking pumas every day. They have extensive knowledge of the pumas’ habits, behaviors and territories, enabling us to quickly find, photograph and enjoy these magnificent animals. Having this incredible team combined with going to the richest estancia in the area maximizes your time in the field capturing beautiful images and enjoying the experience.
Lodge designed for photographers: The lodge we stay at makes a big difference to our photography. While all the lodges in the area provide the essentials for a comfortable stay, two key factors become the differentiators. This first is the proximity to the entrance of the estancia and the second the willingness of the lodge to work with our photography schedules, especially for mealtimes! Our lodge rises to the occasion on all fronts, providing all the comforts you could need, being flexible with the mealtimes and other lodge logistics so we don’t miss the action or the light. In addition, being close to the estancia so we don’t waste time driving.
A Conservation Success Story: In the past, ranchers in Torres del Paine commonly killed pumas because they preyed on cattle. However, a series of severe weather events decimated cattle herds. At the same time, documentaries showcasing pumas sparked increased interest in tourism centered around these majestic animals. Recognizing this shift, ranchers in the area began to pivot their focus from cattle to pumas, dedicating more land to support not only the flourishing population of pumas but also all of the other wildlife that thrives in this habitat. Today, generations of Pumas have grown up around photographers and have become accustomed to human presence, allowing us to spend time with them. Our trip to this area and the estancias helps keep this success story going.
Very Small group! Group size is really important on this trip. We capped this trip at just 5 clients to increase our chances of working closely with the pumas and giving you a better overall experience.
Rich Wildlife and Bird Life – Pumas and More! This area has so much to offer! In addition to Pumas, many other species roam this area. An iconic companion to the puma is of course Guanacos as they graze the meadows and stand alert watching for prowling eyes. Over the course of our trip, other wildlife we may encounter include Andean condor, Patagonian red fox, Patagonian grey fox, armadillo, Geoffrey’s cat, rhea, Patagonian hognosed skunks, Patagonian weasel, and more. The bird life is rich here too with Austral pygmy owls, Magellanic Horned owl, Ringer kingfisher, Chilean flamingos, black swans, woodpeckers, black-faced ibis, Magellanic snipe, Torrent duck and so much more! We will always be on the lookout for these varied species.
Perfect Vehicles for the Terrain and Conditions: The terrain of Torres del Paine and the surrounding estancias is rugged but we are prepared! We will be using two full-size 4×4 SUVs each time we head out into the field, giving us plenty of room for both us and our gear. Our guides will get us as close as possible to the pumas and then we will walk to be with them.
Nature Lover’s Trip: While we cannot offer a discount on this trip due to our need to keep the group size small, this is a terrific trip for the non-photographer who loves spending time with wildlife. We actually have a number of non-photographers who love nature join our trips because we are not only fun to travel with but also spend time with wildlife, watching and enjoying the behaviors and activity.
Fitness Level: Moderate/Advanced. Torres del Paine features hilly terrain with low vegetation. When our trackers spot a puma, they assess its comfort with our presence. If acceptable, we approach slowly in single file, allowing the puma to acclimate until we’re within good range for photography. Sometimes, we may walk alongside a puma. When we do this, we need to stay with the puma which can mean walking with your gear at a good steady pace.
