Argentina, High Desert by Drone
October 26 – November 6, 2027
Patagonia’s Pumas and Landscapes
3 Spots Left
At a Glance
Location
Chile
Tuition
$24,000
Dates
November 4 – 13, 2028
Fitness Level
Availability
Limited to 7 Guests
Collections
- Signature Collection
Patagonia’s Pumas and Landscapes Photography Workshop
Photograph Wild Pumas and Dramatic Mountain Landscapes
November 4 – 13, 2028
- Exclusive access to photograph pumas on a private ranch
- Capture landscapes of Patagonia in the spring season
- All wildlife is unbaited and in its natural environment
Few places in the world offer the combination of wildlife and dramatic scenery found in Chilean Patagonia. In Torres del Paine National Park, sharp granite peaks tower over sweeping grasslands, glacial lakes, and the perfect terrain for photographing South America’s apex predator: the wild puma.
This workshop is designed to give you both rare wildlife encounters and time to slow down and compose Patagonia’s vast, textured landscapes. You’ll spend multiple days tracking and photographing pumas with expert local trackers who know the terrain and the animals intimately. Mornings and evenings are reserved for the best light—golden-hour portraits of pumas on the move, guanacos silhouetted against the mountains, and sweeping views of the Paine Massif catching the day’s first or last light. All puma photography is on foot and can be demanding at times when a Puma is on the move.
Our second base offers a different perspective, with broader views across lakes, glaciers, and valleys. You’ll refine your landscape techniques here—working with filters, long exposures, and focus stacking to maximize detail and atmosphere in your images. Throughout the trip, you’ll also practice rapid adjustments in the field, adapting to Patagonia’s famously fast-changing weather and light.
Hands-on instruction is core to this workshop. We’ll help you anticipate behavior, adjust to light conditions, and create strong compositions, whether you’re photographing tight wildlife portraits or layered mountain scenes. Daily image reviews give you the chance to refine your work and walk away with a well-rounded portfolio that showcases the full story of your time in Patagonia.
Your Pros
Itinerary
About the wildlife: This workshop offers significant opportunities for photographing wildlife, and while we do our best to maximize our wildlife encounters—based on past experiences, local knowledge, and the current conditions—we need to impress upon you that the wildlife really is wild and that we don’t control it.
This itinerary is subject to change due to weather, local conditions, and other factors.
November 4, 2028: Arrival in El Calafate, Welcome Dinner, Adventure Prep
Arrive in El Calafate (FTE), Argentina, and have a group meet and greet at our hotel. Dinner and last-minute preparations for our adventure ahead.
November 5, 2028: Scenic Drive to Chile, Torres del Paine Lodging, Meet Guides
Today, we’ll make the scenic drive from El Calafate, Argentina, to Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. We’ll check into our lodging, where we’ll be for the following five nights. Everyone will meet our local Chilean guides and prepare for the next day, when we will head to a private ranch to locate and photograph the pumas. After a great dinner, everyone will have the opportunity to catch up on a good night’s sleep.
November 6–8, 2028: Daily Puma Tracking, Photography Workshops
Each of these three days, we’ll venture out in our private jeeps for the day to photograph the pumas. Once you enter the private ranch lands, you will begin your walking safari. You will be required to walk distances up to 3 miles with your camera gear. The terrain is not flat, and there are bushes, grasses, and small rocks to navigate across. Depending on the conditions, we’ll spend anywhere from one to five hours in the field at a time, fully immersed in the experience.
To enhance your skills, we’ll hold image reviews at our hotel, allowing everyone to gain insights into the techniques needed to improve their skills in wildlife photography. These discussions will help you refine your approach and elevate your photography throughout this incredible Patagonia adventure.
November 9–12, 2028: Shift to Landscape Focus, Torres del Paine Exploration, Glacier Tours
On this morning, we’ll take a short drive to our new hotel within the Torres del Paine National Park, allowing us to focus more on landscape photography and explore a fresh variety of views and compositions featuring the steep glaciated mountains above lakes and rivers in sunrise and sunset light.
During our stay, we’ll tour a large lake adjacent to a stunning glacier, providing perfect opportunities to capture the serene beauty of the surroundings. We’ll spend the day on the shores of this lake capturing the windy environment in its invigorating atmosphere. During the afternoon, we’ll venture out to visit a few more vistas, and often guanacos are roaming the hillsides set below the towering granite peaks.
The road through the park will take us to many incredible scenes, with rolling hills in the near ground and towering glacial capped mountains in the back ground.
November 13, 2028: Departure Day, Transfer back to El Calafate, Argentina
After one last sunrise and breakfast, we’ll transfer to El Calafate (FTE), Argentina for flights home in the evening.
This Wildlife Photography Experience
Puma density: Conservation efforts, a protected status in the national park, and a plentiful population of guanacos (the pumas' primary prey) have created the highest concentration of wild pumas on Earth in and around Torres del Paine. This makes puma sightings highly probable. For the best images, everyone will be walking over large, uneven fields of tundra, up to several miles if required.
Private ranches (estancias): While pumas are found within Torres del Paine National Park, you will be photographing them on adjacent private lands. This can provide better access and a more intimate experience. You will be with local trackers to locate pumas in the early morning and late afternoon when they are most active.
Trackers and guides: Experienced puma trackers and guides are essential for a successful photography trip. They use their knowledge of the area and the cats' behavior to anticipate movements and position you in the best locations, often on foot.
Habituated animals: The pumas on these private lands are often habituated to the presence of human observers, allowing photographers to get relatively close (sometimes within 30 meters) without disturbing the animals' natural behaviors.
Variety of photographic subjects: Besides pumas, you will also capture images of other Patagonian wildlife, including guanacos, foxes, condors, and rheas, all set against the stunning landscapes.
Fitness
Moderate: Maybe brisk walks up to 3 miles “are possible”. Not every encounter is the same and some require very little walking. All the puma tracking is on foot, while carrying your gear.
Flights
Arrive at El Calafate – Commander Armando Tola International Airport (FTE), El Calafate before 3:00 PM on November 4, 2028. Flights out can be made after 5:00 PM on November 13, 2028. Air travel delays are common. Please arrive early, possibly even the day prior, so you don’t miss any of the workshop.
What to Bring
Please see our page How To Prepare For Your Workshop. We will send you a detailed information document 90 days before your workshop. This document will include specifics of where and when to meet, gear and clothing recommendations, and more.
What’s Included
- Scheduled airport transfers.
- Double occupancy lodging. Single available for a $2,000 supplement.
- All meals, soft drinks, and snacks during the workshop.
- All permits and park fees.
- All transportation during the workshop.
- Tips for crew, drivers, and local guides.
- English-speaking local guide throughout the workshop.
- Photographic guiding and instruction from 2 pros.
- Image reviews and post-processing instruction.
- Adventure, fun, inspiration, and a great time!
Not Included
- Travel to and from El Calafate, Santa Cruz.
- Unscheduled airport transfers.
- Passport and visa fees (if applicable).
- Any meals or accommodations before or after the workshop dates.
- Items of a personal nature.
- Alcoholic beverages.
- Medical Evacuation Insurance including coverage from point of injury (required).
- Travel Medical and Trip Cancellation Insurance (optional, but recommended).
- Anything else specifically not listed as included.
- Single rooming is available for a $2,000 supplement.
Payment Terms
- Your non-refundable deposit of $9,000 will hold your space in this workshop.
- Further non-refundable payment of $8,000 is due by August 1, 2027.
- The non-refundable balance is due not later than June 1, 2028.
- In addition to our standard Terms and Conditions, for this workshop all payments are non-refundable, and this is why we recommend comprehensive travel insurance including trip cancelation. All other Muench Workshops Terms and Conditions apply.
- Need special payment arrangements? No problem, just ask us.
Frequently Asked Questions
You'll learn to anticipate wildlife behavior, adjust to changing light conditions, and create strong compositions. The workshop also covers landscape techniques like using filters, long exposures, and focus stacking to capture the dramatic Patagonian scenery.
Besides pumas, you'll have the opportunity to photograph guanacos, foxes, condors, and rheas. These animals are set against the stunning landscapes of Torres del Paine, providing diverse photographic subjects.
The workshop requires a moderate fitness level. You'll be walking up to 3 miles with your camera gear on uneven terrain while tracking pumas. Some encounters may require less walking, but be prepared for brisk walks.
The Patagonia Pumas workshop has a maximum group size of 7 participants, ensuring personalized attention and a more intimate experience with the wildlife and landscapes.
Medical evacuation insurance is required for this workshop. While travel medical and trip cancellation insurance are optional, they are highly recommended to protect your investment and ensure peace of mind.
Bring a range of lenses, including telephoto lenses for wildlife and wide-angle lenses for landscapes. A sturdy tripod is essential for long exposures and focus stacking, and be prepared for rapidly changing weather with protective gear for your equipment.
You might also like…
