We offer our photo safari departures during two stunning seasons in the Torres del Paine National Park. During either departure you’ll have the opportunity for shooting magnificent vistas and an up close visit to the Glacier Grey part of the southern Patagonian ice field. Chances are we’ll view a brilliant display of ice calving from the glacier. Other highlights include the majestic Andean Condor with its wing span of up to ten feet or a Chilean flamingo, a contrast in this harsh landscape. We keep the group small, maximum 6 people to insure a quality of guide to client service. We lodge at the Hosteria Pehoe, the most centrally located hotel in the park and with spectacular views of the Paine massif just a walk outside your bedroom door. A few unique things about each departure:
December “Wildlife” departure: Spring in Patagonia offers long days of sunlight, vast landscapes of steepe (pampa) and a world of native flowers and plants springing alive. This is the time when the young are born of the wildlife unique to the area, guanacos (Llama family), foxes, hares, ñandu (ostrich family) and pumas (mountain lions) in addition to many more varieties of birds.
April “Landscapes” departure: Patagonia in the fall is a unique opportunity to capture the explosion of colors as the leaves on the native Nothofagus trees change to bright red against the back drop of the snow capped peaks of the Paine Massif. It’s a time to take advantage of the sunlight that has softened and changed angles since the summer, creating magnificent shadows over the pampas and the rolling hills.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: We recommend you take the early flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas (4 hours); ask for a window seat on the left aisle and make sure to bring your camera with plenty of film or memory storage space. If the skies are clear, you will enjoy amazing views of the Andes Mountain range, the Patagonian fjords and forests, the Southern Ice Fields and the Pacific Ocean. Upon your arrival at Punta Arenas, the most southerly city of the continent, a private transfer will take you to your hotel in the center of town. After we settle in, we’ll have a welcome dinner with our guide regarding the program. (20 minutes by private transfer). (Night at Hotel Isla Rey Jorge).
(D)
Day 2: As we leave Punta Arenas we will be able to see the Strait of Magellan and the island Tierra del Fuego. Shortly after leaving the airport, we will stop at the Magellan penguin colony on Otway Sound. Our 3-hour drive will take us through open pampas and huge ranches (estancias) and chances are we will be able to observe one of the most typical animals in this area, the ñandu, (similar to ostrich). We arrive to Puerto Natales, located on the Sound of Last Hope, a typical fishing town surrounded by mountains. From here we will follow an unpaved road to Torres Del Paine National Park. (6 hours by transfer). (Night at Hosteria Pehoe).
(B, L, D)
Day 3: Sunrise shoot of the Torres Del Paine from the hotel location. After breakfast in the hotel we will head to Grey Lake so we can sail up to the Grey Glacier. In order to reach the boat we must walk through a mature beech forest where we might see woodpeckers. We will sail for about an hour amongst the icebergs and up to Grey Glacier, where we will stay for a while in front of the glacier in the hope of seeing icebergs calve (break off). Our return journey offers great views of Paine Grande with its impressive ice mushroom (icy peaks/plateaus). We will have a picnic lunch before continuing with a walk along the beach to observe the stranded icebergs. (Night at Hosteria Pehoe).
(B, L, D)
Day 4: Sunrise shoot from our hotel of the western face of the Torres Del Paine. After breakfast in the hotel we will head towards Sarmiento Lake, with its incredible dark blue waters and strange, calcareous (lime) formations. This sector provides excellent opportunities to see guanacos, grey foxes and the Andean Condor. On the way back to the hotel we will stop at the Salto Grande waterfall, one of the best areas for photographing flowers, where depending on the season, we may see orchids, calceolarias, and neneos. After a picnic lunch we will return to the Hostería for a siesta. In the late afternoon (5-6PM) we will head east to film guanacos. (Night at Hosteria Pehoe).
(B, L, D)
Day 5: Early in the morning we will drive to the eastern side of the park so we can take pictures of the sunrise with the famous Torres (Towers) in the backround. Since we need to leave before sunrise there is the possibility of glimpsing a puma (Mountain lion). After we photograph the sunrise we will drive to Laguna Azul, a lovely lake bordering the park. This area is ideal for observing different kinds of ducks, swans, coots and even woodpeckers, as well as having an incredible view of the Torres. We will picnic in front of the lake and then spend the rest of the afternoon taking photographs of flowers, the wildlife and the wonderful views. (Night spent at Hosteria Pehoe).
(B, L, D)
Day 6: Early morning, before sunrise, we will drive to the administration area in order to photograph the legendary cowboys of Patagonia; the Gauchos. We can set up our cameras in an open area in front of the Cuernos (Horns), and we will be able to photograph the gauchos leading a herd of horses across the pampas, with the Torres Del Paine mountain range as our backdrop. We will have an opportunity to take the portraits of these legendary cowboys whilst they are working close to their corrals. With luck we will be invited to try the herbal tea called mate!
Right after the gaucho shoot we will look around the administration area for birdlife such as the Upland Goose, Pygmy Owl and Southern Lapwing and Magellanic Oystercatcher. In the afternoon we will return to the hotel for a siesta, before heading out to photograph guanacos against a backdrop of the Torres del Paine Mountains. We will have a late evening shoot of the mountains from one of the many lookouts before returning to the hotel for dinner. (Night at Hosteria Pehoe).
(B, L, D)
Day 7: Today will provide the second chance for a sunrise shoot with the Towers in the background. Once again this time of day offers the best chance of seeing a puma. As this is our last day we will try to take pictures of all the animals found in this area; guanacos, rheas, foxes and condors. This area, in particular, is a good place to photograph the guanacos, silhouetted against the mountains. We will have an early brunch before returning to the hotel where you will have some afternoon free time. This evening will provide the last opportunity to take the ultimate sunset shoot before we enjoy our farewell dinner together in front of the Paine massif. (Night at Hosteria Pehoe).
(B, L, D)
Day 8: Private transfer to Punta Arenas, stopping for breakfast on route to Puerto Natales. (5 hours by private transfer).
(B)
Departure Dates:
Wildlife - December 15 - 22, 2007
Lanscapes - April 19 – 26, 2008.
Note: The schedules indicated above are subject to change due to weather conditions or unexpected circumstances beyond our control, but we will try our best to keep them unaltered.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price:
2 pax USD $3.995 per person
3 - 4 USD $ 3.495 per person
5 - 6 USD $ 2.995 per person
Single supplement USD $645
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Chile
Photography and Videography
Wildlife Viewing
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