Patagonia's Mountain Landscapes
Torres del Paine, Fitzroy Massif & Cerro Torre in Autumn
At the southern tip of South America lies an area surrounded by the South Atlantic on its east, the storm-ridden South Pacific on its west, and to its south the tempestuous, Antarctic-influenced “Southern Ocean.” The land is Patagonia, a vast windswept semi-arid plateau that encompasses over one-third of Argentina and Chile. Changed little since its discovery by Ferdinand Magellan in 1520, Patagonia is an immense natural reserve offering an array of alluring wildlife and scenic habitats to tempt the naturalist and outdoor photographer.
Comparable in size to Washington, Oregon and California, the flat temperate desert plain of Patagonia rises to meet the jagged granite spires of the Southern Andes. Verdant forests, fed by the meltwaters of an 8,000-square-mile ice cap to the west, surround pristine lakes that are considered to be among the world's most beautiful. Here the images of craggy snowcapped peaks lie reflected in the cold, blue water. Massive glaciers grind on their slow course, calving blue icebergs into these jewel-like lakes.
This Patagonia tour concentrates on panoramic landscape and wildlife imagery in two incredible national parks. We shoot in the spectacular mountainous region of the Andes at Los Glaciares National Park where we should have outstanding photo opportunities at the Fitzroy Massif (11,073 feet) and Cerro Torre (10,280 feet). In the Patagonian autumn, beech forests provide a fiery colorful contrast to the landscape.
Our other photographic highlight will be our days spent at the foot of the dramatic peaks of the “Towers” and “Horns” of Torres del Paine National Park. The tumultuous weather of the southern hemisphere’s autumn season produces a wide variety of dramatic lighting conditions. We should have plenty of time to photograph these magnificent mountains in the wondrous light of sunrise and sunset. At “Paine” we have reserved convenient accommodations at Pehoe Lodge for five nights, offering comfortable rooms, good meals and affording views of ineffable beauty. Unwary Patagonian foxes and guanacos provide exciting wildlife photography experiences—and it is not uncommon to see condors, eagles and other birds of prey during our travels.
Join Wayne Lynch for our journey to a place called a “Living Eden” in a stunning film aired on public television. The mountains of Patagonia provide some of the world’s most inspiring scenic photography and are a destination all serious nature photographers should shoot at least once in a lifetime!
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart on overnight flights to Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Day 2 (Apr 9)
Arrive in Buenos Aires and transfer to our hotel. Afternoon visit to Costanera Sur Wildlife
Preserve and Palermo Lake. (D)
Day 3
We fly to El Calafate and drive to El Chaltén, located at the foot of the Fitzroy Massif, where we are based for four nights. Along the way we photograph spectacular steppe landscapes. After arriving at our lodge we drive along the west side of Las Vueltas River and visit a picturesque waterfall surrounded by incredible autumn-colored beech trees. (Morning snack at the airport on your own, LD)
Days 4–6
The jagged spine of the Andes is the backdrop for this—one of the world’s most magnificent wilderness areas. We are provided with awesome views of Fitzroy and Cerro Torre. Amidst these granite spires we should see Andean condors gliding effortlessly. Each morning we look for sunrise light on these spectacular massifs from different locations along Las Vueltas Canyon, shooting mountains, clouds and the rich colors of the austral autumn. (BLD)
Day 7
Following sunrise photography, we drive to El Calafate. Afternoon photography at Laguna Numez Wildlife Preserve, time permitting. (BLD)
Day 8
Explore one of South America’s most spectacular and active glaciers, the Perito Moreno, by boat and on an optional glacier walk, as it flows into the southern arm of Lago Argentino. Here we can closely observe great chunks of chill-blue ice calving from the glacier into the lake. (BLD)
Day 9
We depart early for Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. We drive a new scenic road traversing ranches, grasslands, forests and mountainous terrain. We arrive at Torres del Paine in the afternoon and start our exploration of this amazing national park. (BLD)
Days 10–13
We have four full days in Torres del Paine where the famous and utterly captivating granite massif consumes our attention with the constant play of light across its sheer vertical walls. The compelling grandeur of these jagged peaks is complemented by the fiery colors of autumn foliage and by the abundant and relatively unwary wildlife within the park. (BLD)
Day 14
After a morning shoot in Torres del Paine, we drive to Puerto Natales. We visit the photo-rich waterfront to shoot the diverse colors of the old boats and activities of the local fishermen. Around the photogenic dilapidated pier on the central waterfront, many species of unwary birds, habituated by the constant human traffic, are easily accessible. These include coscoroba and black-necked swans, Chilean flamingos, imperial cormorants, and dolphin and kelp gulls, among others. (BLD)
Day 15
We return to El Calafate, crossing the border at Cerro Castillo, and take a late evening flight to Buenos Aires. (BL, Dinner airport snack on your own)
Day 16 (April 23)
After a morning rest and lunch, we take a tour of the city before departing to the international airport for late evening flights home. (BL)
Day 17
Arrive home.
Trip Highlights
- Shoot the landscapes and wildlife of two of the most spectacular mountain photography destinations—Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Parks
- Capture soaring granite mountain peaks, massive glaciers and pristine lakes
- Prime time for austral fall colors of southern beech trees
- Photograph unwary guanacos, foxes and birds
Tour Details
Dates
Apr 8–24, 2012
Fee*
$6,995 from Buenos Aires, Argentina
Deposit
$400
Limit
16
Terms & Conditions