Recommend us :
Recommend us :
This wildlife tour in Patagonia takes place in Peninsula Valdés, Puerto Madryn, El Calafate and Torres del Paine between the end of September and November. At the coast, you will have the chance to see penguins, whales, elephant seals and maybe some orcas! In the Andes, pumas and condors will likely be seen, and all over the journey we’ll be surrounded by other animals such as Choiques (Rheas) and Guanacos.
Puerto Madryn is the foothold to visit Peninsula Valdés, a natural reserve considered a World Heritage by UNESCO. It is located at 77 km (48 miles) from Puerto Madryn city, and it is one of the most popular places for whale watching in the world. Furthermore, a unique place for the auto-stranding hunting technique of the Orcas (Killer Whales).
El Calafate, situated south west of Santa Cruz province in Argentina, is the start point to visit Los Glaciares National Park, which includes the Perito Moreno Glacier and other amazing places.
Torres del Paine National Park is in the Chilean Patagonia and is the home of condors and pumas – among other animals. Located at 75 km (46 miles) of Puerto Natales, it is one of the largest and most visited natural reserves in Chile.
The idea for this Patagonia Wildlife Safari is not only to see animals in their natural habitat, but also to feel the spirit of Patagonia in other ways too. Enjoying the contrasts of the natural attractions of the steppe, the sea, and the Andes, together with the gastronomic experiences and the places to stay, are a fantastic example of it. If you’re lucky, you could even see Killer Whales (Orcas) hunting on the shores. Peninsula Valdes is one of the best places in the world to see this phenomena. However, the backbone of the trip -including all the animals mentioned before- will fill your soul with joy!
This is a flexible itinerary, which means that you can arrive either in Santiago de Chile or Buenos Aires. This itinerary in particular, is designed in a way that you start from Santiago and end in Buenos Aires. At your arrival in Santiago de Chile, a driver will be waiting for you to take you to your hotel. As an option, you can take a city tour.
Transfer to the airport and flight to Puerto Natales. Upon arrival, a driver will take your preferred hotel, carefully chosen to match your interests and preferences. We can find different alternatives for accommodation, inside or outside the Park. A good choice for premium accommodation, with the purpose of Puma tracking, is the Tierra Patagonia hotel.
The idea for these days is to visit Torres del Paine National Park, with a high chance of seeing Pumas! Also condors, guanacos, choiques (rheas) and lots of birds, all accompanied by the amazing view of the park.
If during your stay you have seen enough “cats”, and want to do other activities (or see other things), that is also possible.
Many times visitors find moms with her puppies, which makes an adorable natural postcard to bring back home. If you’d like to learn more about Pumas, we invite you to check our article about Pumas in Patagonia.
Transfer from Torres del Paine to El Calafate (Patagonia Argentina). Depending on your preferences, you can stay in the city, in a Patagonian Ranch, or in the heart of the steppe at a Relais & Chateau such as Eolo Hotel.
The next day will be dedicated to visit the humongous Glacier Perito Moreno and its balconies. Optionally, you can opt for walk on top of the ice, or kayak among the ice chunks near one of the Glacier Walls.
Flight from El Calafate to Trelew city, and transfer to Puerto Pirámides, where you’ll spend the first two nights. Depending on your lodging preferences, you can stay at the village or in the heart of the Peninsula, at Patagonian Ranches such as Rincón Chico. Rincón Chico is a fabulous ranch with a private beach, plenty of Sea Elephants during these months of the year (September/October).
The plan is, during the second half of September and October, to walk among penguin rookeries, watch Southern Right Whales, contemplate the Elephant Seals on the shore, and -if you’re lucky- to see Orcas hunting on the shore (this is rare to see, but possible – check more info in our Orcas in Patagonia article).
Other animals are usually around, such as armadillos, foxes, guanacos, rheas, and different kinds of birds.
After your stay in Puerto Pirámides, the idea is to spend another two nights in Puerto Madryn, in order to do some other activities in the area. Snorkelling with sea lions in Punta Loma Reserve, whale watching at Doradillo beach (depending on the date), and navigating to see Patagonian dolphins, are among the best things to do.
Regarding snorkelling with sea lions, this is a very special activity. The sea lions have a different behavior when they’re on the sea, than when they’re on the shore. On the shore they can be aggressive and elusive, because there are many potential threats to them. The opposite happens on the sea, where they are very curious and playful, and -even though nature can be unpredictable- it ends up in incredible encounters with humans!
After visiting the Ocean side of your Patagonia Wildlife Safari, we suggest you to stay a few days in Buenos Aires, to enjoy the highlights of the Paris of Latin America.
The hotel will depend on the neighborhood where you’d like to stay; for instance, MIO Buenos Aires hotel boutique could be a great choice for Recoleta.
You can extend your wildlife tour to other destinations such as the Ibera Wetlands or the Iguazu Falls.
As we design custom tours, we’ll be very happy to assist you till finding the right trip for you!
If you liked this wildlife tour, we invite you to explore our other Argentina Wildlife Tours.
If you are interested in Patagonia, we invite you to check out our other Patagonia Tours.
Other wildlife trips you could find appealing:
Custom must always be personal. Tell us your style and requirements and we will manage the rest. We pride ourselves on our attention to detail, Beyond BA can make it happen in style.
We count with privileged access to live authentic and unique experiences. Would you like to fish and cook your own Crab at a remote village? Would you like to see the falls from the sky? Let’s work together!
Our service is based on relationships, we live in Argentina, we know locals, we are locals. We like to treat our clients as if they were our close friends guests in our countries. Get ready to enjoy!
Head Quarter: Uriarte 2363, Of. 9G, Buenos Aires, Argentina
From M to F - 9 AM to 6 PM (Argentina & Chile time zone)
+54 9 11 4777-2900
USA:+1 765 205 9943
latamtravel@beyondba.com
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