When the first European navigators arrived in this new world, they insisted that they witnessed giants living here. Although no one believes the ancient legends, the “giants” of Patagonia do exist-first, the towering peaks of the hundreds of inner peaks, and second, the “ghost” cougars wandering like ghosts in the wasteland.
If you are a photographer, we invite you Go deep into Bainei National Park in Chile, and use the lens to capture the rich colorful pictures intertwined by mountain lakes, wasteland meadows and glaciers, as well as freely galloping alpacas and mysterious cougars. Half of the regular tourists pass by in a hurry, the other half come for the classic W hiking line, and you will belong to that more unique niche group.
Under the guidance of a professional guide, drive the JEEP Wrangler off-road vehicle, gallop through the primitive and pure wilderness, and pursue the trail of the toned, smart and gorgeous cougar. From May to September every year, it is winter in the southern hemisphere. Although the temperature is lower (about minus 7 to 5 degrees Celsius), the wind is weakened, the sky is clear, and there are few tourists, so that you can participate in this tracking journey in a more calm and private state.
The tracking will be conducted in a nature-respectful, non-invasive hike, with your choice of 3 to 4 full days of deep tracking. Local guides serve scientific research institutions and professional photography teams all the year round, and have rich knowledge of animal behavior and field tracking experience. For guests carrying more photographic equipment, we offer a carrying service for an additional fee.
At present, the population of puma is not completely known by human beings, but it is recognized by academic circles that Patagonia is one of the areas with the densest distribution of puma. It is estimated that there are about 50 to 200 cougars active in Bainei National Park. As a subspecies, Patagonian puma is larger than its counterparts in North America: males weigh 50 to 82 kilograms and are 1.8 to 2.4 meters long; Females weigh 36 to 59 kg and measure 1.5 to 2.1 m in length. Cougars are especially famous for their slender tails, which are often equal to the sum of their heads and bodies.
Besides guides, alpacas (the main prey of cougars) are also “helpers” in tracking cougars. As a social animal, when alpacas eat collectively, there will always be a lonely “sentinel” stationed at the height, vigilantly observing the trail of cougars, and giving a warning in advance-this will become an important clue for us to narrow the scope of search.
Trek in the wild during the day, and return to the room at dusk. At the end of the day’s hiking tracking, you will return to the EXPLORA Wild Luxury Hotel adjacent to the lake, immerse yourself in the outdoor hot tub or sauna, overlooking the hundreds of peaks. When the cold night falls in the mountains, under the warm halo of the table lamp, I look back on the day’s photos with great expectation, waiting for a closer encounter with the puma tomorrow.
