Patagonia Pumas 2026
Join Wildbunch Expeditions Ltd in June 2026 for an unforgettable journey to the breathtaking Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, where elusive pumas roam against a stunning snow-covered backdrop. Guided by an exceptional team of local experts, we’ve carefully timed this adventure to coincide with the season when snow blankets the park—making these magnificent cats not only easier to spot but even more photogenic in their natural habitat. With all guide services and comfortable accommodations included, this is your chance to capture extraordinary moments and create memories on a truly epic expedition.
Don't miss out—book your spot now for this once-in-a-lifetime wildlife experience!
Safari Overview
- June 17th to 24th 2026
- 6 clients in 3 vehicles with Andy & Suzie Rouse and their team of local professional guides
- £9995 per person sharing a twin / double, £260 single supplement
- Includes safari drives, all transfers Punta Arenas to Punta Arenas, full board and accommodation throughout
- Financially protected via our membership of the Travel Trust Association
- Availability - 3 / 6 places available
Overview
For many years the elusive Puma has been not so elusive in the Torres Del Paine national park. This amazingly beautiful cat, whilst still wild, has become approachable by expert guides and trackers, allowing us to share a little in their daily lives. All of our encounters will be from the ground, i.e. you will be sitting and photographing these cats in their natural environment, not from the confines of a vehicle. Our vehicles are great as they allow us to reach higher and more remote parts of the private ranch we will be on, but once found we will be out on foot which will be exhilarating.
With the right team and luck on our side you will get to see and photograph these incredible cats in a beautiful habitat. And the habitat is simply wow!!!!!!!! We are timing this trip for mid June as we hope for a covering of snow, which will add a wonderful element to your photography.
Every day we will head out early in our comfortable 4x4 vehicles into a private area of the national park, where trackers will already be looking for the pumas for us. Of course we may see them ourselves, but having local trackers on the ground greatly increases our chances of incredible shots. When they are found sometimes it will be a short walk to setup and and wait, other times you will be hiking across undulating terrain to their location. The success rate is high, rarely there is a day that we won’t photograph at least one Puma, in fact the normal is to have a few encounters a day. But of course nature may have other ideas!! Other wildlife found on this tour includes the abundant Guanaco, and also possibilities for Gray and Culpeo Foxes, Humboldt’s Hog-nosed Skunk and some birds like White-tufted and Great Grebes, varied duck species, Black-necked Swan, Andean Condor, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Magellanic Woodpecker, Austral Pygmy Owl, etc.
After a day in the mountains we will return to our comfortable hotel for dinner.
As you can see this will be an awesome safari, both for the photography and the experience of being in a beautiful place.
Our safaris are relaxed, personalised and fun, we get great pictures and have a great spirit too.
Note the photographs in this brochure show a mixture of snow and non snow conditions as we cannot guarantee anything with the climate these days. Apart from our own we thank Mark Fazza for his superb images as well.
Read on to find out more....
The Guide Team
Lots of people run safaris, what separates our expeditions is the experienced guide team that we have plus the Travel Trust Association bonding that protects your holiday money from supplier failure. A little background first on this tour....
A few years ago Suzie and I went on a recce to Torres Del Paine to look for the pumas. We saw 3 in a week but we were there in the wrong season with the wrong team and the wrong place!!!! Yes well sometimes it happens! But the encounters we had, and the spectacular landscape we had them in has remained in our memories as we absolutely loved these cats, they were amazing. Since then we have never been available at the time to return, plus we have not found the right guide team. Well now, thanks to the recommendations of trusted clients (one of whom Mark has provided some of the excellent photos you see here), we have found someone who shares our philosophies for tours. They have also been recommended to us by our Pantanal friends so we are confident they will be ace, they have been working in the national park with pumas for 14 years and have been approved by our Travel Trust Association for insurance purposes. Clearly they are the right team for us, and talking of which here is a little about us...
About Andy Rouse
Perhaps a little about Andy for those that have never worked with him before. He has won 28 major international awards, been a pro for nearly 25 years and has led tours all over the world. He has 200,000 followers across social media, a growing YouTube site, a very successful picture agency and an online photo club called WildBunch.
He is very experienced at leading tours all over the world but his particular love is big cats.
Andy shoots with the Sony A1 Mark II.
Away from work he is a proud husband, dad and west ham fan!
About Suzie Rouse
Suzie Rouse is an experienced wildlife photographer and birdwatcher, having travelled all over the world adding to her birding life list and capturing images of some iconic species. Whilst guiding Suzie brings her keen birdwatchers eyes and is a fantastic animal spotter. Away from the travel Suzie is a University lecturer; specialising in teaching students all about forensic imaging and photography. As part of her work Suzie has taught countless complete beginners how to image a variety of situations.
Suzie is also a capable videographer; supporting Andy by filming and co-producing video content for Andy's Patreon site. Suzie also post-processes using Lightroom and complements Andy's Photoshop processing tutorials by producing her own tutorials on Lightroom.
Travel Trust Association
The TTA is an independent trade organisation of tour operators that we are proud members of. The TTA provides guarantees for your booking with us in two forms.
The first is that all monies are deposited to a trustee managed trust bank account and any payments to / from them have to be authorised at several levels.
Secondly your booking is protected by the TTA Safe Seat Plan and Supplier Failure Cover, both of which are insurance policies to protect your money from fraud and supplier failure.
We include the costs of these policies automatically in your booking fee, so that you can book with us as a trusted and reputable tour operator.
Further details of our TTA membership can be found by clicking here (use your browser back button to return).
Daily Safari Routine
Our days start before sunrise. If our tracker, who works from a different car and communicates with us through radio, finds a puma, we go straight to it. This time of the year, because daylight hours are shorter, we stay the whole time out in the field, and carry a boxed lunch. Breakfast is taken very early!
While our main goal on this trip is always going to be Pumas, there will be a lot of other incredible photo opportunities, like the amazing landscape, the groups of Guanacos, varied birds like grebes and swans, Andean Condors, foxes, etc.
Our Hotels
We will be staying in a comfortable lodge located at the village of Cerro Castillo, about 40 minutes from the entrance of to the Torres del Paine National Park. The lodge itself is very comfortable, heated and with excellent food.
Weather
We are deliberately going in the winter where there is a good chance of snow so you must be able to cope with anything the climate throws at us! the winter is much calmer for tourism, there are fewer tours around so we have much more freedom and more chances of finding pumas. Also in the winter they tend to be active during the day much more than other times of the year.
Temperatures average from -5º C (23º F) to 6º C (43º F), with colder days possible, but there is usually much less wind and even windless days, so, as long as you are properly dressed, it doesn’t feel very cold really. Light is incredible throughout the day if the sun is out. So as you can see this is nothing that you cannot prepare for and handle and the reward will be worth it!
Fitness
Their is no doubt that you will have to be reasonably fit to undertake this adventure. While most Pumas that we find are near where we can get with the 4×4’s, on other occasions some hiking on sloping hills is necessary. However, the hiking is greatly reduced compared to non-4×4 tours. You will be carrying your own kit of course.
It’s nearly sea level, so there are no altitude issues.
Miscellaneous
Some extra bits and pieces that I know you just gotta know!!!
1) Travel - So the tour will begin / end in Punta Arenas, we will give you some flight recommendations after booking. Note however that you cannot book flights until 11 months before departure, that is standard airline practise.
2) Kit - full info will be given in plenty of time for the trip. A minimum of reach of 400mm is preferred, 500mm is better but you will need a wider angle too. If you want to use a tripod that is fine, you will need to carry it, I will always hand-hold as modern IS allows us to do this and be more flexible with our positioning.
Dates and Itinerary
Ok here are the dates and itinerary for this safari:
17th June 2026 - Arrival in Punta Arenas, briefing and overnight Punta Arenas (team hotel)
18th June 2026 - After breakfast car trip to our lodge near Torres del Paine N.P. (-4 hrs). We will stop at the nice little town of Puerto Natales for lunch and photos of some water birds. This is basically a travel day but we can stop anytime for photos of birds and landscape. The cars have radios so we can decide things on the way.
19th - 23rd June 2026 - Five days photographing pumas at the world's top spot for puma photography. After a calm breakfast, we depart in the dark to arrive before sunrise. Days are spent tracking and photographing pumas, with a boxed lunch chosen the night before. Our expert tracker relays updates via radio, ensuring prime sightings. We return to the hotel after sunset, which at this time of the year is quite early, so the days are not very tiring and we can have quality time at the hotel too for sampling the local wine!
24th June 2026 - Return to Punta Arenas after breakfast, so it's possible to catch a flight on that same evening. End of Tour.
Price and booking
The costs for this wonderful safari is £9995 per person sharing.
The single supplement is £260 if you don't want to share.
The price includes all accommodation from arrival in Punta Arenas on the 17th to departure on the 23rd, all meals including packed lunches and all guide services,
The price excludes your international flights (see below), tips (driver and hotel), soft and alcoholic drinks, laundry and items of a personal nature.
Payment - A deposit is required to secure your place of £1500 per person. You will be provided with a booking confirmation on receipt of this deposit. The balance will be due in two installments, 180 days and 90 days before departure.
Cancellation Policies - Our cancellation policies are strict and come from experience. If you cancel and we manage to find someone to take your place then we will refund your money once we have received their final balance, no argument there. If we do not find someone to take your place then your money will not be refundable as we must protect the tour. By booking this safari and paying your balance you agree to these conditions and no discussion will be entered into. If we postpone then your payment will be held over for a replacement safari at a later date or you will of course be entitled to a full refund. If you have to cancel then we will provide you will all the necessary documents for an insurance claim.
Travel Insurance - You must take out adequate travel insurance to cover all eventualities.
International Flights
For the international flights we have given up with including them as so many of you have your own frequent flyer deals and preferences. So instead, as we do for all our safaris, we will tell you when you need to be in Punta Arenas and give you some flight recommendations. Now we cannot book our flights until 11 months before the trip so we may get a flight agent to handle the booking for us to make it easier. The standard route though is to fly to Santiago Chile (lots of airlines including BA, Latam, Air France) and then get a local flight down to Punta Arenas. We may therefore overnight in Santiago enroute, which will be at your expense. Anyway we will deal with this closer to the time with some flight recommendations and details of when we need you in Punta Arenas.
Managing Expectations
Unfortunately in light of recent experiences we have been forced to add this section. Photographers see Andy's image collection and always expect to get the same on a trip. You have to realise that Andy has been doing this for a long time!
All his clients know that Andy and his guide team try their absolute best to get everyone the best photographic opportunities possible, but of course this can be out of our control as the wildlife has other ideas!!! So whilst we expect to see and photograph pumas we absolutely cannot guarantee in anyway shape or form that you will see pumas. It can rain. It can be cloudy. There can be no snow. You must come with this realistic expectations, we do not make false promises. What we can promise is that the team will work 150% to give you the best chances and best experiences possible. That is GUARANTEED!!
Terms and Conditions
TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS
WILDBUNCH EXPEDITIONS LTD
1. The meaning of some words used in these Terms and Conditions.
We, us or our is a reference to ARWP LtdYou or your is a reference to the person to whom we are providing our services and who is required to pay for the services we provide. Services means the trips ( including abroad ), tours, tuition or workshops we will organise. The precise services we will be providing to you will be stated in the literature including website(s) and newsletters advertising the services on offer and as we may agree from time to time.
2. Legally binding contract
2.1. A legally binding contract between you and us will come into being when you accept the offer of services from us by booking your place.
2.2. We suggest that before you accept the offer and book your place you read through these Terms and Conditions. If you have any questions concerning them please contact us.
2.3. You should keep a copy of these Terms and Conditions for your records.
3. Providing the Services
3.1. Our aim is to always provide you with the Services using reasonable care and skill.
3.2. There are certain situations or events which occur such as but not limited to adverse weather, non or poor appearance of wildlife, Acts of God, war, acts of terrorism, riot or civil commotion, fire, strike and government or other official intervention which are not within our reasonable control and will affect our ability to provide the services. Where this occurs we will where possible attempt to recommence performing the services as soon as we are able to. In such circumstances there may be a delay before we can start or continue performing the services. Sometimes we might have to bring the start time for the services forward. If we are able to start or continue performing the services or bring the start time forward but you choose not to participate for any reason you will not receive any refund.
4. Expulsion from Services
You agree to act in a suitable and proper manner whilst participating in the services with particular reference to the safety and welfare of wildlife and the enjoyment of the service by other participants and their safety. Should you be in breach of this we reserve the right to expel you from the services and in those circumstances you would not receive any refund.
5. Cancellation by us
5.1. If we cancel the services before they start you will receive a full refund of the money you have paid to us for the services. This does not include any other payments you have made such as for flights or accommodation. It is your responsibility to make sure you have in place appropriate insurance to cover these payments in the event that you do not take up or use whatever you have paid for.
5.2. We shall not refund to you any money which you have paid to us for the services which we have paid to third parties such as for accommodation abroad, internal flights or other travel arrangements abroad which we cannot recover from a third party. We will always try to obtain a refund from the third party and will pay this back to you if received by us.
5.3. If we cancel the services after they have started for any reason you will not receive any refund.
6. Cancellation by you
6.1. Once we and you enter into a binding contract you will not be able to cancel the contract. This is so that the services we are providing can continue for the benefit of other clients. Any money paid by you will not be refunded whereas paid as a deposit or in full payment.
7. Insurance It is your responsibility to ensure that you have adequate travel or other insurance to cover all eventualities where you do not receive a refund from us.
8. Restrictions and Assumptions We will assume that all information and facts that you provide are accurate and true such as your level of fitness or health if this is relevant to the particular services. It is your responsibility to draw to our attention anything which may be relevant or which may affect you from participating in the services we provide before booking and making your payment to us.
9. Exclusion and Limitation of Liability
9.1. We do not exclude or limit liability for our negligence or negligent omission which causes you personal injury or death.
9.2. We will not accept liability for any loss of or damage to photographic or any other equipment no matter how caused during or as a consequence of the services we provide.
9.3. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have adequate insurance to cover loss or damage to photographic or any other equipment before participating in the services.
9.4. In circumstances where we may be liable for any loss or damage suffered by you which is a reasonably foreseeable consequence of a breach by us of this Agreement, our maximum liability will be the amount of payment received from you for this particular service.
10. Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999For the purposes of the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 this Agreement is not intended to, and does not, give any person who is not a party to it any right to enforce any of its provisions.
11. Entire Agreement These Terms and Conditions of Business constitute the entire Agreement between us and you and shall apply to all services provided by us. The invalidity or un-enforceability of any particular term of this Agreement shall not affect the other provisions herein.
12. Law and Jurisdiction.This Agreement shall be governed and construed by the Law of England and you and we agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the Courts of England and Wales.
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