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The plan seemed unique enabling us to watch Big Cats and other wonderful South American animals in their natural habitats and behaving completely naturally. Our guides and the local guides were always aware of the best times and situations resulting in amazing experiences and they accommodated our every wish!
B.B. Nottinghamshire, Oct 18
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South America's Big Cats
Tour Code: BRA06A 16-day holiday in search of South America's iconic big cats, the Jaguar and the Puma, as well as other wildlife, amongst the stunning scenery of the Pantanal in Brazil and the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile.
We hope to run this tour in the future, but have not yet finalised dates and prices. To be added to a waiting list and be informed when details are confirmed, please click on the register interest button, or phone 01962 733051.
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
This tour has been designed specially to optimise the chances of seeing South America’s two top predators - the Puma and the Jaguar. First we will be based for four days in Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, where we will search for Pumas in the company of local guides. Our goal is to find this beautiful cat, and photograph it, against the stunning mountainous backdrop of Torres del Paine. We will also enjoy the area’s other wildlife as we search for Pumas, which includes Patagonian Hog-nosed Skunk and Guanaco. Next we swap the dramatic temperate landscapes of Chile for the tropical heat of Brazil’s famous wetland, the Pantanal, which offers the most spectacular wildlife-watching in South America. We will stay for four nights at the Jaguar ‘Flotel’ in the heart of the Jaguar Zone, making morning and afternoon boat safaris in search of the continent’s apex land predator. This tour is timed to coincide with the best viewing seasons, and offers the best chance anywhere of seeing the continent’s two iconic big cats.
- Tour to Chile & Brazil in search of South America’s two top cat predators
- Look for Pumas in Torres del Paine National Park with expert local guides
- Andean Condors, Darwin’s Rheas & Magellanic Woodpecker, Torres del Paine
- Large herds of Guanacos, South Andean Deer & two species of fox, Chile
- 4-night stay at the Jaguar Flotel in the heart of the Pantanal’s ‘Jaguar Zone’
- Morning & afternoon boat safaris along the Cuiaba River, Pantanal, to look for Jaguars
- Greater Rhea, Toco Toucan, Jabiru Stork & Plumbeous Ibis, Pantanal
- Capybara, Black Howler Monkey, marmosets & capuchins in Pantanal
- Led by expert local guides throughout
While it has long been possible to see big cats in Africa and India, it is only very recently that their South American relatives, the Jaguar and Puma, have been on any naturalist’s horizon. The Jaguar is the strongman of South America’s cats: powerful, muscular, and almost equivalent in stature to the Lion. The Puma, by contrast, is more Leopard-like: sleek, agile and elegant. The two species occur side by side in many habitats across a huge area of South and Central America but both are famously elusive. In recent years, however, Jaguars have become relatively easy to see in Brazil’s phenomenal Pantanal region (by far the best place on Earth to look for them), while Pumas have regularly been seen in the fabulously beautiful Torres del Paine National Park in southern Chile — increasingly well known as the best place to see this even more elusive cat.
This exciting Naturetrek tour combines visits to both of these wonderful regions, in each of which we work with local experts who have been watching the cats for years and who understand better than anyone their movements and use of local habitat. Thus, for the first time, we offer you the chance to see both species — Jaguar and Puma — on a single tour.
We begin in Santiago, capital of Chile, and from there we fly south to Punta Arenas, our gateway to the fabulous Torres del Paine National Park. While Pumas will be the main focus of the four days and nights we spend here, there are many other charismatic creatures to see including plentiful Andean Condors, large herds of Guanacos, two species of fox, South Andean Deer and Patagonian Hog-nosed Skunk. Among the special birds to be found in this remote and beautiful park are Cinereous Harriers, Darwin’s Rheas and the magnificent Magellanic Woodpecker. While searching for Pumas we will work with guides who have more than 25 years’ experience with these enigmatic and beautiful cats. We will search by day and night, guided by their local knowledge and the latest information, giving us the best chance anywhere on Earth of seeing a Puma in the wild.
From the dramatic temperate beauty of southern Chile we move to the tropical heat of Brazil’s justly famous wetland, the Pantanal. In addition to its healthy population of the largest Jaguars in existence, this region offers the most spectacular wildlife-watching on the continent, especially in October as the dry season draws to its close and animals concentrate around remaining water. Greater Rheas, Toco Toucans, Jabiru Storks, Cocoi Herons and Plumbeous Ibis are all common here, and both Capybaras and Yacare Caimans crowd around every waterhole. On forest islands it is common to see Black-tailed (Silvery) Marmosets, Black Howler Monkeys and Brown (Tufted) Capuchins, and even the spectacular Hyacinth Macaw is easily seen. Other animals which are often seen here include Giant Anteater, Southern Tamandua, Marsh Deer, Crab-eating Fox, Crab-eating Racoon, Brazilian Tapir and the hugely charismatic Giant Otter.
Our main aim though is to see the powerful, enigmatic Jaguar. To give ourselves the best chance, we stay four nights at the Jaguar Flotel, a floating hotel in the heart of what is widely regarded as the best place in the world for seeing this magnificent feline. During our stay, we will take morning and afternoon boat safaris to explore the Cuiabá, Three Brothers and Piquiri rivers, carefully scanning the dense forest and floating vegetation along them for signs of South America’s apex land predator. Our movements will be guided by the latest news from expert local guides and, in addition to having excellent chances of encountering Jaguars, we will be surrounded by the breathtaking variety of all the other wildlife of the region.
This tour represents your best chance anywhere of seeing South America’s two great cats, accompanied by a host of South America’s other charismatic wildlife and all to a backdrop of two utterly different, but equally beautiful, landscapes.
Outline Itinerary
Day 1
Fly Punta Arenas
Day 2
Punta Arenas
Day 3/6
Torres del Paine National Park
Day 7
Punta Arenas
Day 8
Fly São Paulo
Day 9
Fly Cuiabá and transfer to SouthWild Pantanal Lodge.
Day 10/13
Boat safaris from Jaguar Flotel, the Pantanal.
Day 14
SouthWild Pantanal Lodge
Day 15
Fly London, via São Paulo
Day 16
Arrive London
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
Basic but comfortable lodges with private facilities. New 'suite' accommodation on the Flotel.
- Food:
All included in the price, except for meals taken in transit and dinner on Day 8.
Reviews
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Wonderful sightings of Pumas in Chile plus spectacular scenery and brilliant, knowledgeable and helpful local guide. Great sighting of Jaguars in Brazil plus many other mammals and birds. Excellent Naturetrek guide who had incredible knowledge of wildlife generally. Naturetrek organised all aspects of the holiday very well. A holiday of a lifetime!
C.K. Gwent -
A wonderful wildlife experience with a fantastically knowledgeable guide who inspired us all with his enthusiasm. I am not sure how he managed it, but a constant flow of big cat sightings, wonderful birds and amazing mammals seemed to parade themselves before us. And when the wildlife slowed down we had some of the most stunning scenery imaginable. The jaguar sightings were one of the most thrilling experiences of my life, something I will never forget.
G.S. Gloucestershire -
What a tremendous, amazing trip! I feel so very lucky to have been part of it. This is an unfair comment in many ways because I have to acknowledge that we were exceptionally lucky, but the game viewing was superb- Pumas everyday we looked for them, ditto Jaguars. The location of our accommodation put us in the heart of the action and this was particularly evident in the Pantanal at the Flotel. Hard to see how the holiday could be improved upon.
V.K. Worcestershire -
I really enjoyed the beauty of Patagonia and the sightings of the big cats in both Chile and Brazil were very good.
C.B. Hertfordshire -
The flights down to Punta Arenas worked well and got the travelling there over in one day. Jose (the Puma tracker) was excellent finding so many Pumas for us and I would recommend using him again. He clearly cared for the Pumas and seemed to have an uncanny power at finding them. Jaguar viewing in the Pantanal was also excellent - so we saw far more Pumas and Jaguars than we could have reasonably expected to see - with good sightings of both species of cats. Nick led the tour exceptionally well and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of birds as well as a talent for conveying his knowledge.
C.H. Norfolk -
For us, the success of the tour depended on the strengths of the tour leader as well as on the skills of the local guides. We found that our expectations were met, if not exceeded in this regard. The expertise of the local guide Jose Sandoval in Torres del Paine was instrumental in finding as many Pumas as we did. And we must say that the entire experience would not have had the quality that it did without the presence of Nick Acheson.
Mr & Mrs G. California -
We feel we were very privileged and lucky to be able to take this special holiday. To experience the nature, scenery and climate of two such different areas was magic. We had always wanted to visit Torres Del Paine National Park so it was a dream realised. We had visited the Pantanal before but never stayed in a flotel or had such wonderful riverboat excursion - all those Jaguars!!
Mr & Mrs T. Warwickshire
Extensions
Rio de Janeiro Extension
Rio acted as the capital of Brazil until 1960 and is home to some of Brazil's most famous tourist attractions such as Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) and the Christ the Redeemer statue (Corcovado). A stay in Rio will allow you to capture the essence of Brazil as found nowhere else in the country.
Price on Request
Iguazu Falls Extension
Located on the Brazilian border with Argentina and Paraguay, Iguazú is often regarded as one of the greatest waterfalls in the world. Standing over 30 metres taller than the Niagara Falls, their location within the Iguazú National Park surrounds them with a wealth of wildlife and bird species, many of which can be observed via exploring the park's extensive network of walking trails.
Price on Request
Harpy Eagle and Southern Amazon Extension
A huge chunk (around half the size of the UK) of the southern Amazon holds previously-unknown concentrations of large, charismatic animals including Harpy Eagles, Brazilian Tapirs, Scarlet, Blue-and-gold, and Red-and-green Macaws as well as Woolly Monkeys, Black-faced Spider Monkeys, Red Howler Monkeys.
Price on Request
Giant Anteater Extension Piuval
The iconic Giant Anteater the largest of the living anteater species measuring lengths of up to four feet and weighing up to 50kg with an amazing 60cm tongue. Scientists estimate that there are only around 5,000 individuals left in the wild and this short extension aims to give you an extra chance during your Pantanal visit to see this wonderful animal.
Price on Request
Atlantic Rainforest Extension
Bird feeding stations and trails will occupy our time here as we go about seeing as many special birds as we can. Such highlights will include a mouth-watering variety of tanagers, hummingbirds, euphonias, toucans, woodpeckers and much more. 320 species have been recorded here in total and we can expect to see around 180 bird species on this extension.
Price on Request
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
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