Walking with Pumas in Torres del Paine NP

Walking with Pumas in Torres del Paine National Park

Where is Torres del Paine?

Torres del Paine is a National Park in Patagonia in southern Chile.

What’s so Good About It?

Torres del Paine is a rugged yet beautiful landscape of mountains, glaciers and lakes. But few trees. If you are familiar with Banff National Park or Glacier National Park in North America, it’s similar, but without the trees. It is 181,414 hectares (700 sq mi).in size.

How’s the Weather There?

Like all of Patagonia, the weather is not great. The seasons are reversed, so the winter in North America or Europe is the summer in Chile. However, summer in Patagonia does not mean going to the beach or wearing shorts and a T-shirt. It is windy most days. Some days the wind can reach more than 50 kph. It could be a nice day, an extremely windy day, or a day with sun, snow, and rain all in the same day. In other words, the weather is very changeable, unpredictable and sometimes extreme. The temperature in summer is about ten degrees Celsius, but because of the wind, it feels a lot colder. Some days I wore only a sweater. Some days, a raincoat, which is good for a windbreaker even if it is not raining, and some days I wore a big winter coat. So, be prepared for warm days, very windy days and even snowy days or perhaps rain.

The Wildlife in Torres del Paine

Wildlife is abundant in the park. You have an excellent chance to see Andean Condors, Guanaco, Rheas, Grey Fox, Cara Caras and much more. There is also a possibility of seeing a Puma.

Walking with Pumas in Torres del Paine

Pumas have several names. In North America, they are called Cougars or Mountain Lions. People in Florida call them the Florida Panther. In South America, they are called Pumas.

Cougars are common in North America. However, due to the heavy foliage and trees, they are extremely difficult to observe. I have spent years hiking in the mountain parks and have never seen one. You might pass by within a few meters of one and not see it. But rest assured that they see you.

In Torres del Paine, without the trees and bushes, they are easy to see if you happen to be in the right place at the right time when one is present. They are common and easy to observe, but that does not guarantee that you will see one. It is a matter of luck.

Much of the terrain in Torres del Paine is covered in tall grass instead of trees. In some places, the grass is tall enough that a puma could be in there without being seen.

My Encounter wth a Puma

Although I am primarily a birder, on my first day in Torres del Paine, I went looking for Pumas. I didn’t need so much luck, as I hired a guide who was reasonably sure he could find one. And after a few hours os searching, he did.

At first, the puma was across a valley from us, walking along the base of a mountain. After a while, it came closer and entered a field of tall grass. Sometimes it was visible and sometimes not as it travelled through the grass, getting closer and closer all the time.

Eventually, the puma emerged from the grass and was only about 20 meters away. It walked even closer to us and entered some more tall grass that was growing along the side of the road.

To my shock, it came out of the grass and started walking down the road toward me. The guide and driver had stayed back at the vehicle. What to do? It was no use running, as I knew I could not outrun it. Also, it’s not wise to turn your back on it. In Canada, people often ask me, “What do you do when you encounter a bear?” and my answer is always the same: “Take pictures.” So that is what I did.

I started snapping photos, and the puma kept walking toward me on the road. I did not show any sign of aggression and walked past me within four meters. As it got closer, I thought about kneeling to get some eye-level shots, but I decided that making myself look smaller might not be a good idea.

Guide

Go Walking with Pumas in Torres del Paine National Park? You might see a puma, but to ensure success, I recommend hiring a guide who knows where to find them in this vast park.

Contact Birdwatching Chile

This company is primarily for people looking for birds, but they have a guide who lives near the park and knows where to find pumas. He found one for me.

Walking with Pumas in Torres del Paine Disclaimer

The Puma that I encountered was not dangerous and walked past me without paying much attention to me. That does not mean that all pumas in Torres del Paine will react the same way. Pumas can be aggressive and may attack you. If you’re looking for pumas, we suggest going with a guide and following their instructions. The puma that I saw was an unusual experience, and Mythatchedhut does not recommend getting close to them or trusting them. Searching for pumas in Torres del Paine or anywhere else is done at your own risk.