Wild Patagonia

Day 01

4.08

Arrival day · Buenos Aires

Members fly in from home via the US, Europe, the Middle East or Africa to Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital. We recommend arriving a day early to beat the jet lag — we can help with bookings, at your own expense. Five-star hotel in Buenos Aires; welcome dinner.

Day 02

4.09

First sight of Fitz Roy

In the morning we transfer to the domestic airport and fly south to El Calafate. Pick-up and lunch, then on to the town of El Chaltén and our hotel — sunset shoot, dinner and rest.

Day 03–08

D8 (Apr 10–15) · Six days around Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre

Six days photographing the Fitz Roy massif and Cerro Torre from every angle: sunrise and sunset, rolling clouds, moonrise and star trails. Most viewpoints around Fitz Roy require hiking to reach; three nights are spent camping (plus one day of aerial work around the national park). On the trek you carry nothing — luggage is hauled for you, camps are pitched, a dedicated cook prepares meals and a professional trekking guide leads the way. (A personal porter to carry your camera pack throughout can be arranged in advance for an extra fee. Group luggage transport is covered, up to 15 kg per person.) Four-star hotel in El Chaltén.

Day 09–14

D14 (Apr 16–21) · Torres del Paine

After sunrise and breakfast we drive to Chile's Torres del Paine for our first sunset in the park. The following five days are spent at shooting points across the park and tracking pumas. Torres del Paine is one of National Geographic's 50 places of a lifetime: its outlandish peaks, blue lakes and photogenic guanacos are superb subjects — we wait out sunrises and sunsets over the massif from multiple positions and work long exposures on the streams. The park is a new scene at every step: snow-capped ranges, glaciers hanging off the southern Patagonian ice field, and lakes of dazzling colour. The three Towers rise like pagodas into the sky; the Horns like ox horns piercing the blue — with beautiful glacial lakes lying beneath the mighty peaks, each tinted by its own minerals: Pehoé emerald, Nordenskjöld blue-green, Azul deep blue, Grey blue-grey. Two of these days are spent tracking and photographing pumas with specialist local guides — Torres del Paine is the world's premier puma location, with the highest success rate anywhere, bar none. Our first hotel sits on an island in a lake inside the park — the best-positioned hotel in Torres del Paine, three nights here, the park's most classic views right at the door and numerous shooting spots nearby. We then move to a hotel at the park entrance for three more nights, giving our work even greater flexibility — you will appreciate the care behind this arrangement once you join us.

Day 15

4.22

Torres del Paine → Puerto Natales → Santiago

Our last sunrise inside the park, then the drive to the gateway town of Puerto Natales and the flight to Chile's capital, Santiago. Check in, rest, and the farewell dinner this evening.

Day 16

4.23

Departure · Santiago → home

Transfer to the airport in Santiago in good time for the flight home. End of the journey.