Following on from the success of our Jaguar tours we have been investigating the possibility of running tours to look for Pumas. Torres del Paine in Chile, where the BBC shot their outstanding Natural World programme on Pumas, appears to offer the best chance to see the species and Richard Webb has carried out two recces to the park.

To see Pumas we are likely to need to spend long periods scanning suitable habitat so we would expect to split into two groups to cover as much ground as possible. The groups will stay in contact by radio and we would also expect to have local rangers working with us to maximise our chances. Other wildlife likely to be seen in Torres del Paine includes Guanaco, Argentinian Grey and Colpeo Foxes, Patagonian Skunk, South Huemel (Southern Andean Deer), Andean Condor, Magellanic Woodpecker and a wide range of other species. We will also visit sites where we can expect to see Blue Whales, Chilean (Black), Commerson’s, and Peale’s Dolphin, Marine Otter and Southern Sealion with a chance of Southern Pudu, Darwin’s Fox and Mara and the endangered Southern River Otter. Bird-wise we would expect to see a variety of species including Magellanic and Humboldt Penguin, Black-browed Albatross, Spectacled Duck, Torrent Duck, Rufous-chested and Tawny-throated Dotterel plus Least Seedsnipe.

Chile, Exploratory Tour itinerary

Day 1 • Sat 3 March, 2007: Depart London for Santiago

Day 2 • Sun 4 March: Arrive Santiago – Connect with internal flight to Punta Arenas – Transfer from airport to Punta Arenas – Pre-dinner south to Punta Arenas for Peale’s Dolphin and birding – Overnight (O/N) Hotel Los Navegantes (4I) (D) (G)

Day 3 • Mon 5 March: Long drive to Torres del Paine looking for birds and mammals on route – Arrive Torres del Paine late afternoon – First search for Puma before dinner – O/N Hostería Las Torres (4I) (B, L, D) (G)

Day 4-7 • Tue-Fri 6-9 March: Four days searching for Puma and other mammals and birds in Torres del Paine (e.g. Guanaco, Southern Andean Deer, Culpeo and Argentinian Grey Fox, Patagonian Skunk, etc) – O/N Hostería Las Torres

Day 8 • Sat 10 March: Return to Punta Arenas via Seno Skyring where we spend the afternoon looking for Chilean (Black) Dolphin – O/N Hotel Los Navegantes

Day 9 • Sun 11 March: Drive out to Punta Dungeness to look for Commerson’s and Peale’s Dolphin and possible Southern Right Whales. Good opportunity to see foxes and possibly Patagonian Cavy, i.e. Mara – O/N Hotel Los Navegantes

Day 10 • Mon 12 March: Morning Seno Otway for penguins – Afternoon flight to Puerto Montt and transfer to Isla Grande de Chiloe – O/N Hostería Ancud

Day 11 • Tue 13 March: Day spent looking for Blue Whale, Marine Otter, Humboldt and Magellanic Penguin and Chilean Dolphin around NW Chiloe – O/N Hostería Ancud

Day 12 • Wed 14 March: Morning boat trip to look for Blue Whales off Chiloe – Afternoon/evening spent looking for Southern Pudu and Darwin’s Fox – O/N Hostería Ancud

Day 13 • Thu 15 March: Morning boat trip to look for Southern River Otter – Afternoon/evening spent looking for Southern Pudu and Darwin’s Fox – O/N Hostería Ancud

Day 14 • Fri 16 March: Dependent on the previous three days, transfer back to Puerto Varas for the evening – O/N Hotel Cabañas del Lago

Day 15 • Sat 17 March: Transfer to airport to return to Santiago to connect with return flight home

Day 16 • Sun 18 March, 2007: Arrive London – End of the trip

We are running a small group recce at cost in March 2007 (£3695pp twin share, waitlist only). Please contact our tours department if you would be interested in the trip report when available and details of our first full tour in 2008.