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!

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival - The Patagonian adventure starts.

Welcome to the end of the world! We'll start our adventure from the Punta Arenas* airport, taking a transfer to Puerto Natales, where we will meet our host and a hearty lunch awaits us**. The road to Ecocamp through Laguna Amarga will give you plenty of opportunities to admire the Patagonian steppe with its guanacos and snow-peaked horizon. Once you arrive to EcoCamp, a small talk and briefing along with the tracking team and guides will take place.

*Flying into Puerto Natales is also an available option.

** Lunch can be either at Puerto Natales or Ecocamp.

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

We’ll start each day early, depending on the month, between 5:00 (december) and 8:00 AM (april), observing the sunrise from new locations while enjoying hot coffee and breakfast on the go. Our puma tracking team, who will let us know the location of the park's most elusive animals, are already hard at work. Our guide will introduce us to the unique and colorful wildlife of Torres del Paine and teach us the methodology for responsible wildlife observation.

The first part of the tracking experience will take part in the morning until midday, which is when the group will return to Ecocamp for a replenishing lunch.

In the afternoon the tracking will start between 3:00 and 4:00 PM. After enjoying the iconic Patagonian sunset over the Paine massif, we’ll return to EcoCamp for dinner and well-earned rest.

Important: On day 4, one of the tracker guides joining us from the start will finish the tracking labor with the group and leave us in the expert hands of our Ecocamp guide, to complete the next day's activity. Then on day 5 we will move locations inside the Torres del Paine National Park to explore other wildlife and maybe encounter more pumas if we are lucky.

Please note: In the event of bad weather, alternative activities will be planned. Example: scenic waterfall Paine Grande or Laguna Azul.

Day 6: Departure.

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.

Included

Included

• English speaking specialist guide with a maximum group size of only 6 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 2024 - 2025

• October 1st to 6th, 2024.
• November 11th to 16th,2024.
• December 16th to 21st, 2024.
• January 13th to 18th, 2025.
• February 19th to 24th, 2025.
• March 20th to 25th, 2025.

Minumum age

The minimum age to participate in this program is 18 years.

Starting / finishing point 

The trip starts and ends in Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales. Flights should arrive ideally before 12:00 pm on day 1, and leave after 4 PM on Day 6 (these times are suggested since the transfer services are private, please consider your travel companions flight times in case you are sharing a group).

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.
  
  Are you wondering about photography equipment? We got you! take a look at our What to bring to Patagonia for Photographers.