Throughout the huge expanse of wilderness in Argentinian and Chilean Patagonia, go to the compelling medley of animals and birds that thrive on this unspoiled Eden
4 min
Writer: Harini Sriram
Patagonia is a dramatic, windswept wilderness of glacier-cleaved landscapes. This huge area, spanning over 400,000 sq. miles of Argentina and Chile, has 9 nationwide parks, together with Torres del Paine, Los Glaciares Nationwide Park, and the Valdes Peninsula. It’s, no doubt, one of many foremost causes to journey to South America.
Be a part of certainly one of our Patagonia journeys to expertise this unimaginable outback. You might spot a modern Andean puma resting within the grasslands or guanacos scampering up rugged mountains. Catch sea lions and penguins that throng rocky ocean shores, or discover the promise of a wealth of marine life, from southern proper whales to elephant seals and dolphins.
Our Patagonia mountaineering excursions take you to majestic glaciers, throughout sprawling grasslands and plush forests, beside glowing lakes and lagoons—with many alternatives to watch the area’s gorgeous terrain, its numerous animals and birds. Expertise the surprise of Argentina’s wildlife on an immersive journey to Patagonia with stops at Puerto Madryn and the wetlands of Ibera.
On this digital escape, we showcase a small fraction of Patagonia’s gorgeous wildlife.
Torres del Paine is among the many finest locations in Patagonia to identify the elusive puma or mountain lion. Due to a sizeable inhabitants of guanacos, their important prey, these predators have discovered a sanctuary on this UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve in Chilean Patagonia. Pumas are solitary animals with glorious camouflage towards the semi-arid panorama, making them exhausting to trace. However hike into Torres del Paine with an knowledgeable information, and also you’ve bought one of the best probability of coming nose to nose with this feline.Guanacos are carefully associated to alpacas and llamas and may be discovered all throughout the steppes, scrublands, and mountains of Patagonia. These herbivores are constructed to outlive in arid areas and, like their different cousin, the camel, can go with out water for lengthy durations, surviving on the moisture they get from vegetation they eat. They run just like the wind at about 35 miles per hour, making them the second-fastest mammals in Patagonia after the puma, their chief predator.
Search for into the skies above Torres del Paine, and also you’re more likely to see the magnificent Andean condor, thought of the world’s largest flying chicken, with a 10-foot wingspan. These vultures survey the mountainside from the air with their sharp eyesight, searching for carcasses, their most popular meal. They’re extremely intelligent and powerful birds, identified to have the ability to fly 200 miles in a single day and rise to altitudes as excessive as 18,000 ft. You too can see them in Chile round Punta Arenas.
One other beautiful chicken that may be a widespread sight in Patagonia, particularly round lakes and lagoons, is the Chilean flamingo. These colourful birds stay in massive flocks, simply recognized by their grey legs, pink knees and black invoice. The perfect time to identify flocks of nesting flamingos is throughout the breeding season, which falls between the summer time months of December and February. Chacabuco Valley in Chile and La Pampa in Argentina are good locations to sight massive colonies of those elegant migratory birds.
Native to this area, the Patagonian fox or South American grey fox is a small animal weighing between 5 and 12 lb. It’s a extremely adaptable scavenger that’s comfy in a wide range of habitats, from dry Argentinian scrubland to frigid steppes. Though they’re referred to as foxes, these mammals are thought of “false foxes” because the species is extra carefully associated to canines and wolves than foxes.Discovered predominantly within the grasslands of Patagonia, the Humboldt’s hog-nosed skunk is a small, stocky mammal that feeds primarily on bugs and smaller mammals. Often known as the Patagonian hog-nosed skunk, it has one or two white stripes working down the perimeters of its physique. Skunks can challenge their offensive spray as much as 15 or 20 ft, so it’s finest to admire them from a secure distance!Magellanic woodpeckers are the biggest woodpeckers in South America and among the many largest woodpeckers on the planet. They’re endemic to South America and thrive in Patagonia’s old-growth southern beech forests. Males have a fiery crimson head and crest, whereas females are all black with a touch of purple on the base of the invoice. They eat wood-boring grubs, beetles, and spiders and construct cavity nests in massive timber.
One can find the northernmost colony of southern rockhopper penguins on Penguin Island (Isla Pinguïno), close to the port metropolis of Puerto Deseado within the Santa Cruz province of Argentine Patagonia. These penguins have putting purple eyes, orange beaks, and a crest of yellow. They courageous robust ocean currents and hostile weather conditions to succeed in their nesting websites on rocky shores. Their numbers are dwindling, they usually face a grim future, their survival threatened by local weather change, air pollution, and overfishing.
Valdes Peninsula in Argentina’s Chubut province is a treasure trove of marine life. One of many space’s largest year-round residents is the South American sea lion. You may observe these spectacular creatures whenever you sail to Puerto Piramides. Simply exterior the Peninsula is the coastal city of Puerto Madryn, the place you’ll be able to go swimming with sea lion pups or spot southern proper whales.
The richness of Patagonia’s wildlife is unmatched. Come for the migrating Magellanic penguins and orcas, and keep for the southern big petrels and elephant seals. In each nook of this expansive land, an excellent collection of wildlife encounters awaits you.
Do you wish to uncover the wealth of wildlife in Patagonia? Browse our itineraries which might be filled with countless adventures and wildlife viewing. Attain out to our specialists, and we’ll curate your personalised journey of a lifetime.
step into Patagonia’s wild facet
Stargazing in Chile and Patagonia
12 Days:
$ 8,490 / particular person
Journey from the bustling streets of Santiago de Chile to the gorgeous Chilean Patagonia and Atacama, the place we promise you may be seeing stars! Admire star constellations together with your bare eye with educated astrologers, and witness the high-flying gear that gives insights into our universe.
Argentina and Chile: Climbing in Patagonia
11 Days:
$ 7,590 / particular person
Step up for this distinctive Argentina and Chile tour as Patagonia is a hiker’s dream! Expertise the spectacular jagged peaks, cleaving glaciers and turquoise lakes that give this area its fame.
Wildlife Wonders of Argentina
11 Days:
$ 4,290 / particular person
With this personal Argentina tour, unearth the spectacular bio-diversity that the nation has to supply. The huge and wild wetlands of Esteros del Iberá give you a peaceable sojourn amid a pristine ecosystem, whereas within the lovely bay space of Puerto Madryn, spend time watching sea lions, Patagonian penguins and majestic whales.
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