CHILE: Puma of Torres del Paine

Length of Tour

6-Days/5-Nights

Brief Itinerary

Day 1. Arrival to El Calafate, Argentina. Drive to the Chilean border. Night at Cerro Castillo.
Day 2. Full day exploring Puma territory with an expert tracker. Night in Cerro Castillo.
Day 3. Full day exploring Puma territory with an expert tracker. Night in Cerro Castillo.
Day 4. Full day exploring Puma territory with an expert tracker. Night in Cerro Castillo.
Day 5. Early drive back to Argentina. Night in El Calafate, Argentina.
Day 6. Departures from El Calafate, Argentina.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival to El Calafate, Argentina. Drive to the Chilean border. Night at Cerro Castillo.

Today we will drive from El Calafate to Cerro Castillo, Chile. Birding opportunities along the road, vast views of Patagonian steppe. Once in Chile we will stay at a nice hotel at Cerro Castillo. This location offers will position us at a short distance of the puma territory we are going to explore during the following days. Night in Cerro Castillo.

Day 2 – Full day exploring Puma territory with an expert tracker. Night in Cerro Castillo.

Three full days will be spent primarily searching for Pumas with an expert tracker (and his team). Usually we have an early start each day, spending the morning hours looking for Pumas before returning to the hotel for a midday siesta, and then setting out for another Puma cruise in the evening, followed by dinner at the hotel. Each night we will reposition to a new hotel in order to explore a new region the following day!

In addition to the Pumas, we will also have good opportunities to enjoy the stunning scenary of Torres del Paine National Park, where waterbirds are present in great numbers and Torrent Duck can be found on fast-flowing rivers! Andean Condors also possible!

Day 3 – Full day exploring Puma territory with an expert tracker. Night in Cerro Castillo.

See day 2 itinerary.

Day 4 – Full day exploring Puma territory with an expert tracker. Night in Cerro Castillo.

See day 2 itinerary.

Day 5. Early drive back to Argentina. Night in El Calafate, Argentina.

We return to El Calafate, Argentina, with birding stops along the way. Night in El Calafate.

Day 6. Departures from the International Airport.

Departures from El Calafate, Argentina.

Cost

Cost is $2,600 per person, based upon double occupancy, from El Calafate, Argentina (Airport code FTE.
This trip ends in El Calafate, Argentina (Airport code El Calafate, Argentina).

Primary Tour – Birding Patagonia & Tierra del Fuego

Additional $7400 per person (minimum 4), double occupancy.

• This tour does NOT include the cost of dinner, snacks, or alcoholic drinks. Breakfasts and lunch/box lunch IS included from the morning of Day 2 to lunch on Day 5.
• This tour does NOT include the cost of international flights to/from El Calafate.
• This tour does NOT include any visa or tourist fees in Chile or Argentina.
• The tour does NOT include gratuities for guides, Puma trackers, laundry, alcohol, or other items of a personal nature.
• Trip insurance is HIGHLY recommended for this trip.

Single Supplement

If a single hotel room is preferred, or we are unable to find a suitable roommate for you, a single supplement fee of $600 will be assessed.

NOTE: For boat-based tours, see pricing options for single cabins. Single cabin cost includes the single hotel cost above.

Minimum Number

If fewer than the minimum number of required participants are registered, we may still be able to run the trip by adding a small-group supplement fee, per person, determined by the number of participants registered.

Deposit Requirements

A $1,000 deposit per person is required to hold each space on this tour. Deposit may be made online by clicking the "Book Your Trip Now" button and using any credit card. If you prefer, you may call us at 888-875-9453 to pay by phone. You may also mail us a check, however, remember that all space is held on a first come-first served basis as deposits are received.

How to Book

In order to hold your space, click the "Book Your Trip Now" button above and complete the deposit process, including payment of the deposit through our Paypal portal using ANY CREDIT CARD. Upon completion of deposit, please visit our secure, online CLIENT INFORMATION FORM to complete your registration.

Final Payment

For all land-based tours: full payment by check is due 120 days prior to the departure date.

For all boat-based adventure cruises of 7-days or longer: full payment by check is required 180 days prior to departure.

NOTE: If you prefer to use credit card for final payment, a 3% fee may be added to cover the credit card merchant fees we incur.

This trip includes standard hotels.

Activity Level Rating: 3 (Note: 1 is easy and 5 is difficult)

Most walks will be on easy terrain, but with some rocky trails and some altitude change throughout the tour. The wind can be quite strong at times and participants should plan on cool to cold days.

Binoculars are required. A camera and spotting scope are both suggested.

This is a remote stretch of the World, and while phone service may be available based on your plan, we will be out of contact much of the time. Most hotels do have WiFi.

Trip insurance is highly recommended.

Purchasing Flights

Do not purchase your flights until the trip has been confirmed to go.

Detailed Trip Information

Upon notification that final payment is due (120 days prior to departure for land based tours / 180 days for boat based tours), you will receive a trip package of detailed information for your tour.

Any additional information about the trip, including lodgings, contacts, participants, meeting locations, etc., will sent about 2 weeks prior to the trip departure, or after final payment is received for late registrants.

Travel Insurance

As with all tours, we recommend purchasing Travel Insurance to help cover your investment, for covered reasons. Please see our section on Travel Insurance.

Passport & Visa

US Citizens may require a visa to enter certain foreign countries. See above for any required visa information.

Participants arriving to the USA from a foreign country may need to get a travel visa to enter the United States. Be sure to check the requirements for your country of origin.

Itinerary Changes

The trip itinerary is developed many months ahead of time. Occasionally, despite our best planning, changes may occur during the trip, or we may be forced to alter our plans. Changes may occur because of weather, road conditions, safety concerns or other circumstances. In these situations, it is the leader(s) responsibility to carefully consider and implement appropriate alternatives. Any additional costs incurred because of changes will be the responsibility of each individual participant. Refunds will not be issued as a result of itinerary changes.

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