Into The Wild: Patagonia

Patagonia is wild, barren, and incredibly beautiful. The sheer expanse of this rugged landscape will take your breath away. Over a million square kilometres stretch across Argentina and Chile, encompassing diverse terrains: glaciers, grasslands, mountains, forests, lakes and lagoons. Its nine national parks harbour unique native flora and fauna. The grasslands are stomping grounds for the elusive Andean puma, while guanacos (related to llamas) live in various arid habitats. You’ll find sea lions and penguins on seashores and, further in the ocean, southern right whales, elephant seals and dolphins.

Join this virtual journey exploring some of Patagonia’s splendid wildlife and you’ll see why you should book a trip there.

Predator and prey

Prowling the rocky crags and forests of Torres del Paine, Andean pumas (also called mountain lions) have tawny coats that help them blend in with the environment as they hunt their main prey, the guanaco. Take a hike through Torres del Paine National Park with an expert guide for a chance to spot these elusive animals in the wild.

Guanacos, like camels, can go for long periods without water. They are great runners and can reach top speeds of 55 km/h as they attempt to escape their predators. They roam in herds, preferring open areas with low rain and can be seen right up to altitudes of 4,500 m

Birds of many hues

Andean condors, believed to be the world’s largest flying birds, have wingspans of almost three metres. Due to their heavy bodies, they leverage updraught and can soar up to 5.5 km without flapping their wings. Scavenging on the animal carcasses they spot from the sky, these birds can devour up to 6.8 kg of meat in a single meal. Catch a glimpse of these incredible birds in the skies above Torres del Paine and Punta Arenas in Chile.

The Chilean flamingo injects a colourful splash of pink to lakes and lagoons across Patagonia. The breeding season (December to February) offers the best viewing opportunities, as large flocks of nesting flamingos gather in Chacabuco Valley in Chile and La Pampa in Argentina. These large birds may be up to 130 cm tall and have half-black bent beaks that help them filter-feed.

The largest woodpeckers in South America, Magellanic woodpeckers, thrive in Patagonia’s old beech forests. This is a male, with its unmissable red head and crest; in contrast, females sport black heads. High on energy, these wood-boring beauties are quick to pick a fight if they find other birds invading their territory.

Where the wild things are

This cute critter is the Humboldt’s hog-nosed skunk or Patagonian hog-nosed skunk. They are rather small at only 1.5-3 kg in weight and 50-60 cm in length. They scrounge on insects among the grasses in summer and move to forests and mountains in winter in search of smaller mammals. This skunk is active at night and tends to stay in burrows or dens during the day.

Although they have a fox’s pointy ears and fluffy tails, the Patagonian fox or South American grey fox is more closely related to dogs and wolves. They can adapt to any environment and may be spotted in arid scrubland, the cold, harsh steppes or in forests where they hunt small mammals and rodents.

Treasures of the sea

With black horseshoe-shaped bands on their chest, these Magellanic penguins (image on the left) frequent much of coastal Patagonia on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. During the breeding season (September to March), males and females take turns incubating their eggs for 40 days. 

At Penguin Island (Isla Pinguïno), near the port city of Puerto Deseado in the Santa Cruz province of Argentine Patagonia, you will find a large colony of southern rockhopper penguins (image on the right). These penguins can be easily identified by their distinctive red eyes, orange beaks and yellow crests.

Head to Valdes Peninsula in southern Argentina, and you’ll be able to spot cheeky South American sea lions frolicking in the water and on beaches all year round. The coastal town of Puerto Madryn is one of the best places to get up close to this marine creature. Choose to swim with sea lion pups, walk among colonies of Magellanic penguins on a beach or spot migrating southern right whales on a whale-watching tour.

Nature lovers, be prepared to be bowled over by Patagonia’s extensive wildlife. Besides the birds featured here, you’ll see much more—the lesser rhea, an ostrich-like bird, plus hawks, eagles and falcons. And beyond the pumas and guanacos, expect to meet hares and armadillos and several species of deer. Patagonia delivers a truly outstanding wildlife viewing experience to all who venture there.  

Keen to uncover the region’s wildlife wonders? Browse our Chile and Argentina itineraries for plenty of opportunities for wildlife viewing and endless adventure.

Our experts can answer all your questions and tell you everything you need to know about the best time to go, where to stay, and how you can make the most out of your Patagonia holiday.