The pumas of Patagonia
Beautiful, powerful, elusive and solitary. Experience the thrill of tracking Patagonia's apex predator in their natural habitat in Chile.
Puma cubs playing, Torres del Paine, Patagonia, Chile
© JMcDonald,Shutterstock
In search of pumas in Chile's Torres del Paine National Park
The puma is Patagonia’s largest cat, powerful, sleek, elusive and solitary - an apex predator, at the top of the food chain they have no competition. Where better to see them than in their natural habitat, Torres del Paine National Park in Chile?
Puma tracking is not as easy as it sounds, but it’s also not as difficult as you might think if you put yourself in the hands of the experts. For the best chance of catching a glimpse of these beautiful and powerful creatures, a small group trip dedicated to tracking the puma in its natural habitat, side by side with those in the know, is the way forward.
Their favourite prey is the guanaco, a camelid, closely related to the llama. The puma takes the lion’s share of the kill, seeing as they did the hard work, this is only fair. Then the foxes and birds move in to finish the job and tidy up – everyone’s happy (except the guanaco).
- Take in the magnificent scenery
- Learn from the expert guides
- Spend time in Torres del Paine, a privilege in itself
- Seek out other wildlife in the park
- Sunrise and sunset are equally spectacular
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Torres del Paine National Park
Track pumas in their natural habitat while staying in superb luxury accommodation.
© Shutterstock
What can you expect? Early starts to each day are the norm, making the most of daylight as you set off on foot, so you do need to be reasonably fit. Each day will vary, there are no set rules though they will follow a basic pattern. You’re dealing with nature and weather so your local guides will temper each day to the conditions and to the reports they are receiving from the trackers out in the field. The trackers and guides are vital to the success of the trip, incredibly knowledgeable about pumas and their habits, thus increasing the likelihood of finding them.
© AGMarks
© AGMarks
Landscapes, lakes and waterfalls
Whilst puma sightings are the ultimate goal of a trip such as this, there’s plenty of other things to keep you occupied. Visiting some of the well-known landmarks, lakes and waterfalls of this amazing park. There are photo opportunities abound with beautiful snow-capped granite peaks providing an impressive backdrop. It's not just the scenery and flora either, there’s wildlife thriving in Torres del Paine too. You can expect to see ganacos of course, foxes and possibly the majestic Andean condor as it soars the thermals above you.
The afternoons will most likely end at a suitable spot to watch the sun set on another day. Sit a while and enjoy the show as the sky changes colour and the sun disappears over the mountains and you return back to your lodge for a hearty meal followed by a good night’s sleep.
An epic adventure
Join the experts who have followed and studied pumas for years, painstakingly learning about their habits, their prey, their competition and the habitat. This will be an adventure second to none, and one you’re sure to never forget.
Big Cat Safari Guide
Take a look at our Big Cat Safaris guide which include information on trekking to see pumas plus many other big cats.
