Patagonian Wildlife: Puma, Humpback Whales & King Penguins

Welcome to Chile! Your English speaking guide meets you up at the airport and drives you to your hotel in Santiago. After dropping off your luggage, discover the Chilean capital. Santiago is a modern and very active city nestled at the foot of the Andes. However, some neighborhoods have preserved their romantic charm and atmosphere. From the central Plaza de Armas to the colorful street of the bohemian and vibrant Bellavista quartier, passing through the Santa Lucía Hill, you will learn about the tumultuous Chilean history. Lunch at the famous Mercado Central. Night in the hotel Magnolia ****, Superior room. Included: english speaking guide, arrival transfer, entrance fees mentioned in the program, private transport, lunch (no drinks), room & breakfast

Your driver takes you from your hotel to Santiago airport. Domestic flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas (around 3h30, flight indicated in option). A driver will pick you up in Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales and drive you to EcoCamp Patagonia. This unique hotel is located in the heart of the Torres del Paine National Park, offering an extraordinary landscape dominated by the mountains of the Paine massif. Settle into your comfortable and cosy dome suite on the mountainside. This dome has been built with ecological ambitions, using materials of natural origin, it has small solar panels on the roof and a private compostable toilet.   Upon arrival, a warm breakfast is served in the communal domes. Tickets for the Torres del Paine National Park will be given to you on this occasion.   The first activity of your Patagonian adventure then begins in the middle of the day with a tour of the Torres del Paine National Park by car. This experience allows you to discover the emblematic places of Chilean Patagonia, and gives you the opportunity to admire guanacos riding the Patagonian steppe and contemplating the snow-covered peaks of the Paine massif. This first excursion is a real introduction to the Patagonian fauna and flora that will allow you to better understand the future observations of the coming days.   After a pleasant dinner, you will fall asleep contemplating the starry sky of the southern hemisphere through the bay windows of your dome suite. Throughout your stay, all your meals are included, i.e. breakfast, lunch (or lunch box) and dinner in the common dome suites.   Overnight at EcoCamp Patagonia****, in dome suite.   Included: departure transfer, airport tax, domestic flight, dinner, drinks, local guide, lunch, park conservation fee, room & breakfast, shared transport

Every day you will go out to discover the pumas and the Patagonian fauna in small groups of 5 people maximum and accompanied by a specialized English-Spanish speaking guide. Your day starts at dawn to maximise your chances of observing the Patagonian fauna. Breakfast is served on the way or on site while watching the sunrise. As the location of the day's observation depends on the position of the pumas, the programming of the observation points shown here is therefore indicative and is subject to change. EcoCamp Patagonia has a puma tracking team, in constant contact with your guide, who will give you the exact location of the pumas every day.   After a morning of observation, you will return to the Eco Camp for lunch.   Every afternoon, after the maximum hours of sunshine, when the animal movements decrease, you go out again, but this time from the east of the park you will discover the most beautiful landscapes and sunsets of Chilean Patagonia.   Night at the EcoCamp Patagonia****, domed suite.   Included: box lunch, dinner, drinks, excursion (shared), local guide, room & breakfast, shared transport

You leave for another day of exploration of the flora and fauna of Patagonia, accompanied by your expert guide. Depending on the location of the pumas at the time or the weather conditions, you may set off in the direction of the "Los Cuernos" sector. You take the famous W trek path, walk along the Nordenskjöld lake and observe the grandeur of Mount Almirante Nieto and then the three cuernos. On the way, your guide will point out the extraordinary flora and fauna that surround you. Depending on the season, you may encounter the yellow flowers and fruits of the Calafate shrubs or the pretty red flowers of the Notro tree.   After a good day of hiking and observation, we suggest you go to relax at the "Man Keokén" dome where you can get a massage while contemplating the immensity of the Andes mountain range.   Night at the EcoCamp Patagonia****, domed suite.   Included: box lunch, dinner, drinks, excursion (shared), local guide, lunch, room & breakfast, shared transport

A new day of exploration and immersion in an extraordinary natural environment begins in the company of your expert guide. Depending on the location of the pumas at the time and the weather conditions, you may set off in the direction of the Lagoon Azul. After a short drive, you start a small hike to the east of the Torres del Paine Park. On the way you will come across guanacos, also known as "lama guanico", of the camelid family or Chilla foxes, with grey fur and yellow legs. Once you reach the Azul Lagoon, you watch for the arrival of a puma and admire the snowy peaks of the Sierra Masle.   Take advantage of your free time on site to visit the EcoCamp's ecological infrastructures, on request at the reception, to understand their history, functioning and ambition. Or come and attend a morning and evening yoga and stretching class in one of the shared domes.   Night at the EcoCamp Patagonia****, domed suite.   Included: box lunch, dinner, drinks, excursion (shared), local guide, room & breakfast, shared transport

Today you follow the tracks of the pumas in the surrounding of Lake Grey, and head towards the western part of the Torres del Paine Park. Once you arrive at Lake Pehoe, you board a catamaran to join a section of the W trek along Lake Grey. Along the Mazico Paine, you can admire the grandeur of Bariloche Peak and the Grey Glacier in the distance.   On the way you will be on the lookout for the slightest sign of a puma, and you will come across condors - a majestic scavenger bird of prey that can measure up to 7 meters - and small packs of nandus - Patagonian birds similar to African ostriches.   Night at the EcoCamp Patagonia****, domed suite.   Included: box lunch, dinner, drinks, excursion (shared), local guide, room & breakfast, shared transport

After a hearty breakfast served in the communal dome or taken on the road, you can spend a short day observing the Patagonian fauna in the vicinity of the hotel. An EcoCamp driver will then pick you up at your dome and drive you to Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas Airport.   Night in The Yegua Loca Boutique Hotel***, in a upgrade room with panoramic-view. Included: breakfast, shared transport, room & breakfast

In the early morning, the team will pick you up at your hotel to begin this extraordinary three-day sailing expedition in Tierra del Fuego amidst glaciers and humpback whales with two nights on a desert island. You head south towards Puerta del Hambre.   In the morning, board the 17 m long Tanu, which can accommodate up to 16 people. Direction: Carlos III Island!   During the navigation - which will last approximately 8 to 10 hours ( according to weather conditions) - you will be admiring Fort Bulnes, Mount Tarn, San Isidro Lighthouse and Cape Froward.   After Cape Froward, you leave the Strait of Magellan to enter the fjords. The sea becomes calmer. Southern dolphins may come to accompany your navigation from time to time.   Lunch is served on board (basic meal cooked on board).   At the end of the day you enter the Francisco Coloane Park, Chile's only protected marine park and feeding ground for humpback whales. Albatrosses, Magellanic penguins and your first whales welcome you before landing on Carlos III Island.   You arrive at the camp in the early evening, accessible by wooden footbridges, where you meet Juan Capella, a biologist who has lived between Colombia and Chile because of his interest in humpback whales. Dedicated to the study and conservation of cetaceans, his field of interest is the aspects of ecology, behavior and social structure of marine mammals.   Dinner is served at the camp by the fire, prepared by your Chilean chef.   Night under an ecological dome (twin room) in the midst of nature. Sleeping equipment provided. Included: all inclusive, cruise, local english-speaking guide, room & breakfast, sea transport (shared), shared transport

This morning, after a delicious breakfast on the island, a new day at sea awaits you. Direction the Barbara Canal. On the way, you will observe the different species living in the Francisco Coloane Park, among sea birds such as cormorants, penguins and albatrosses, and land birds such as condors. You will also have the chance to see some colonies of sea lions.   With the help of Juan and your captain, you search for and head towards the humpback whales. Juan tells you their story as you sail along and explains how to recognize them. Our beloved scientist gives each one a name! Lunch on board (simple but friendly meal).   In the afternoon, you set sail for the Canal one of the glaciers of Santa Inés Island, the Helado Glacier. Return to the camp at the end of the afternoon.   Your chef prepares for a you a traditional Chilean cocktail, pisco sour, with ice-cubes retrieved from the glacier. Dinner and night on the island, lulled by the sound of the whales.   Included: all inclusive, cruise, local english-speaking guide, room & breakfast, sea transport (shared)

After enjoying breakfast on the island, you embark on your last day at sea back to Punta Arenas. After saying goodbye to the whales (you now know how to recognize them, or almost!), you leave the marine park and head for the Strait of Magellan in the opposite direction. Lunch on board (simple but friendly meal).   Return to the mainland: you disembark on the mainland and reach Punta Arenas by road. The team will drop you off at your hotel at the end of the day.   Note: the programme is subject to change according to the weather conditions and navigation techniques. Meals are taken in the communal area. Shared bathroom and shower facilities. Hot water guaranteed.   Night in The Yegua Loca Boutique Hotel***, in a upgrade room with panoramic-view. Included: all inclusive, cruise, local english-speaking guide, sea transport (shared), shared transport, room & breakfast

Your driver will pick you up early in the morning for an adventurous day trip to Tierra del Fuego! A ferry later, you are moored in Bahía Chilota. You visit the typical village of the region, Porvenir, and discover its history through its monuments and historical places. Then you arrive in the early afternoon at the Pinguino Rey reserve to discover the king penguins. Tierra del Fuego is the only place where you have the privilege to observe them so closely. You then return to Primera Angustura by ferry from the sea to discover new landscapes of Tierra del Fuego.   Return to Punta Arenas in the evening.   This excursion, both outward and return, is subject to ferry schedules and weather conditions. This excursion is available every day except Monday.   Night in The Yegua Loca Boutique Hotel***, in a upgrade room with panoramic-view. Included: excursion (private), sea transport (shared), room & breakfast

Your driver picks you up at your hotel in Punta Arenas to drive you to Punta Arenas airport. Domestic flight from Punta Arenas to Santiago (around 3h30, flight indicated in option). Night at Holiday Inn Santiago Airport hotel **** Standard room Included: departure transfer, airport tax, domestic flight, room & breakfast

Head back to the airport for your international flight. It's time to say goodbye to Chile and bring back home wonderful and unforgettable memories. End of our services.