Calling all cougars

Warmer weather means that it’s once again puma watching time in Patagonia. Hotel Las Torres is the best place in all of South America to track, spot and photograph these beautiful big cats in the wild and puma expert Roberto Donoso is scheduled to lead four “Puma Encounter” adventures for the wilderness lodge during the upcoming summer season.

Donoso has been leading natural excursions in Chile for nearly two decades and dedicated the past 14 years to the search and study of the Patagonian puma (Felis concolor patagonica) in Torres del Paine National Park and surrounding areas.

On each day of the program, during the early morning hours, Donoso leads a group of no more than six people in search of these majestic apex predators in order to capture them on camera. This obviously always poses a very great challenge because pumas are inherently wary of humans.

Even though the big cats move around freely within the park, Donoso’s record of getting up close and personal with the “Lion of the Andes” hovers at around 80% (last season we had a 100% success rate). During these outings, the animal’s personal space is respected at all times and we never interfere with its natural behavior.

“Puma Encounters” 2016-2017:
Nov 27-Dec 2, 2016
Dec 15-22, 2016
April 6-9, 2017