Puma, Penguins and Photography
Join us on our bucket list Argentina Expedition with a special focus on Pumas and Penguins. The destination offers the world’s best nature photography opportunities and on this 14-day expedition we will get the chance to photograph up to four different species of Penguins and the impressive Puma. There will also be great chance to see some of the most representative Patagonian bird species, such as Lesser Rhea, Tinamous, Albatrosses, Giant petrels, Andean Condor, Seedsnipes and Magellanic Woodpecker. Other attractive wildlife are Guanaco, Patagonian Mara, Foxes, Armadillos, Whales and Dolphins.
It’s a place of magnificent landscapes with endless steppes, impressive mountains including Torres del Paine, the stunning Perito Moreno glacier as well as the beautiful Beagle Channel and Southern Beach forests. This expedition offers a fantastic combination of photography, wildlife, birding and wonderful landscapes!
Starts in Buenos Aires | Ends in Ushuaia | Duration: 14 Days | Next planned Departure: TBC |
Highlights:
• Puerto Deseado
• Torres del Paine National Park
• El Calafate
• Perito Moreno glacier
Summary:
Day 1 | Buenos Aires / Comodoro Rivadavia |
Land transfer to Puerto Deseado | |
Day 2-3 | Puerto Deseado |
Day 4 | Puerto San Julián |
Day 5-6 | El Calafate |
Day 7-10 | Torres del Paine National Park |
Day 11 | El Calafate |
Day 12 | Ushuaia |
Day 13 | Tierra del Fuego National Park |
Day 14 | Ushuaia / Departure |
Day to Day Itinerary
DAY 1:
Buenos Aires to Comodoro Rivadavia – AM flight from Buenos Aires to Comodoro Rivadavia. Land transfer to Puerto Deseado. Night in Puerto Deseado.
Along the way we might have our first views of Lesser Rhea, Elegant Crested Tinamou, Guanaco, South American Gray Fox and even Large Hairy Armadillo. Puerto Deseado will be our base for a couple of days, from where we will take boat trips to our first penguin colonies of Magellanic and Southern Rockhopper species, and breeding colonies of Magellanic and Red-legged Cormorants. Along with these targets we will have many other attractive wildlife such as South American Sea Lion, South American Fur Seal, Southern Elephant Seal, Commerson’s and Peale’s Dolphins.
DAY 2:
Puerto Deseado – Morning photographing in Puerto Deseado surroundings. Afternoon boat trip in Ría Deseado. Night in Puerto Deseado.
DAY 3:
Isla Pingüino and Puerto Deseado – Morning boat trip to Isla Pingüino. Afternoon photographing in Puerto Deseado surroundings. Night in Puerto Deseado.
DAY 4:
Puerto San Julián – Land transfer to Puerto San Julián with photographic stops along the way in the Patagonian steppe. Night in Puerto San Julián.
DAY 6:
Los Glaciares National Park – Full day tour to Los Glaciares National Park with photography stop at La Holla del Chingue. Night in El Calafate.
DAY 7:
Torres del Paine National Park – From El Calafate we will travel across the border to Torres del Paine National Park, in Chile, where our main target is to see and photograph wild Pumas.
The Puma is the second largest feline in the Americas after the jaguar (although south Patagonian pumas are larger than Central American jaguars) and Torres del Paine National Park is the best place in the world to see these magnificent animals hunting, resting, playing and interacting with other Pumas. Other very attractive wildlife we expect are lots of Guanaco (looking for them is our best way to find pumas), waterfowl, Andean Condors and Patagonian steppe specialties.
DAY 8:
Torres del Paine National Park – Full day puma watching and photography tour with local specialized guide. Night in Torres del Paine National Park.
DAY 9:
Torres del Paine National Park – Full day puma watching and photography tour with local specialized guide. Night in Torres del Paine National Park.
DAY 10:
Torres del Paine National Park – Full day puma watching and photography tour with local specialized guide. Night in Torres del Paine National Park.
DAY 11:
El Calafate – We will transfer to El Calafate and try for many possible targets along the way, such as Patagonian Mara, Patagonian Tinamou and Humboldt’s Hog-nosed Skunk, and more encounters with Guanaco, Lesser Rhea, foxes and armadillos. Full day transfer to El Calafate (with border crossing back to Argentina). Afternoon photographing in El Calafate surroundings. Night in El Calafate.
DAY 12:
Estancia Harberton / Isla Martillo– Morning flight connection to Ushuaia. Land transfer to Estancia Harberton and disembarking tour to Isla Martillo. Transfer back to Ushuaia with photographic stops in the Patagonian Forest. Night in Ushuaia.
DAY 13:
Tierra del Fuego National Park / Beagle Channel– Morning visit to Tierra del Fuego National Park. PM navigation in the Beagle Channel to Isla Martillo. Night in Ushuaia.
DAY 13:
Ushuaia / Departure– Morning short visit to city dump. Transfer to Ushuaia airport. End of the tour.
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