Patagonia tours and Chile trips.
Far South Expeditions | Inspiring Wildlife Adventures Since 1997
Far South Expeditions
Wines of Central Chile
Discovering the Natural Riches of the Chile's Mediterranean Coast
Wildlife Trip
from Punta Arenas, Chile
Puma Quest
within Torres del Paine area, Chile
Seabird Adventure
December 16 to 20, 2026
Photo & Nature Journeys | Birding & Wildlife Trips | Adventure Cruises
Welcome to Far South Expeditions |
Far South Expeditions is one of the foremost nature tour operators in Chile and Patagonia. Our company is based in Punta Arenas, the capital city of Chilean Patagonia, and was founded by Claudio F. Vidal and Enrique Couve in 1997. Since then, we have specialized in offering high-quality birding, wildlife and nature expeditions for small groups and individuals.
As the pioneering nature-oriented tour company in Chile, with more than 28 years of experience surveying and traveling up and down the country, few can boast the amassed collective experience we have gathered in decades of field work, for long before the company was created, we were already avid birders, naturalists and wildlife photographers who devoted most of our time to exploring every corner of southern South America, looking for magical places and their creatures, and in the process establishing the blueprint for the bulk of our current travel programs.
The Far South Expeditions Difference |
28 years and counting into our operation as an established business, we have organized and led hundreds (if not thousands) of trips to places as diverse as Patagonia, the Atacama desert, Tierra del Fuego and Easter Island. We are also pioneers in puma tracking trips at and around Torres del Paine, a specialized program that we started 20 years ago and takes you to the best place in the world to watch this cat in the wilderness.
This invaluable experience means that developing and organizing wildlife and nature photography trips to places such as Chile, Patagonia or southern South America is second nature to us and you can expect both extensive field experience and skills from our guides and flawless logistics that translate into cozy, first-class lodging, safe and comfortable transportation and fine food. We own several high-end vehicle units, which allows us to operate our tours with a maximum flexibility. All elements that add to the experience and keep our guests inspired and satisfied since we started operations back in 1997.
Patagonia tours and Chile trips.
An important part of the experience is the fact that we privilege small groups, so everyone gets the best views and available time with the subject, plenty of space on board vans or cars and more personal attention from our resident, local guides.
Patagonia tours and Chile trips.
News & Blog |
Tour Leaders & Guides |
Being the people who work directly in the field with our customers, and therefore the ones who show them around and interpret for them, the leaders should not just be knowledgeable, enthusiastic, great naturalists and easy-going people, but also careful planners. You will make the most of the experience by sharing through the eyes of your local, experienced tour leader.
Office Team |
Working at FSE during these 15 years has been an interesting experience which has motivated me to face the personal challenge of putting in my best efforts to help all our customers. One of the most important tasks that I’m in charge of is to communicate directly with our customers, and I like to be as clear as possible in providing them with the accurate and up-to-date information they need. From the beginning I have had wonderful experiences with travelers from all around the world. I’m a fan of details and I’m convinced that everything counts when it comes to achieve a complete client satisfaction.
Cecilia Faundez, FSE Office Manager
Our Guests |
We have used Far South to explore Chile four times and each trip has been unique, well guided and flawlessly executed. Our main interest is nature, with an emphasis on birds. We have fallen in love with the beauty and remoteness of Chile and it probably has much to do with the superb guides of Far South. (We have traveled to over 40 countries so we have had many guides and companies to compare.)
E.P. (WA, USA)
Browse our 2026/2027 Online Trip Catalogue |
Stay Connected and Share the Journey!
Patagonia is a masterpiece of raw power and profound fragility. 🏔️❄️
From the silent gaze of the Puma to the ancient breath of a whale in the fjords, life here thrives in a delicate balance. It is a landscape of giants. Glaciers carve the earth and condors rule the wind, yet every ripple reminds us how much there is to protect.
This is more than a destination; it is a living ecosystem that demands our respect. Join us in witnessing the untamed beauty of the Far South. 🌬️🐧
The Giant Hummingbird (Patagona gigas gigas), the Central Chile subspecies and the largest hummingbird in the world, photographed while resting in its natural habitat. Despite its impressive size, this species is remarkably agile and plays an important role as a pollinator in Andean and central Chilean ecosystems. A true giant among hummingbirds. 🐦✨🌿
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🏔️🌿🐦🌊 Back from an unforgettable expedition to the Juan Fernández Archipelago — Robinson Crusoe and Alejandro Selkirk Islands — together with Rockjumper Birding Tours.
These remote islands host some of the rarest and most unique birds on Earth.
📸 Photos by our expert guide:
© David Couve Vargas
Featured species:
1. Masafuera Rayadito (Aphrastura masafuerae) — Endemic
2. Juan Fernández Petrel (Pterodroma externa) — Endemic breeder
3. Juan Fernández Firecrown (Sephanoides fernandensis) — Endemic
4. Stejneger’s Petrel (Pterodroma longirostris)
5. Juan Fernández Tit-Tyrant (Anairetes fernandezianus) — Endemic
Witnessing these birds in their natural habitat is a privilege and a powerful reminder of how fragile and special island ecosystems are.
#birdsofinstagram #birds #birdwatching #birding #birdphotography #naturephotography #wildlifephotography #nature #wildlife #avesdechile #aveschilenas #chile #chilepajaristico #faunachilena #pajareandoenchile #pajareros #instabirds #your_best_birds #nuts_about_birds #bestbirdshots #birdlovers #birdlife #islandbirds #pelagicbirding #conservation #naturelovers #avistamientodeaves #fauna #discoverchile #explorechile
Crossing the Magellan Straits with the great British ornithologist and friend Mark Pearman, author of the remarkable “Birds of Argentina”.
@markpearman.birding
@farsouthexpeditions
@enrique.couve.montane
@claudiofvidal
@birdquest_tours
Step into the untamed world of Torres del Paine, where every sunrise holds the promise of a wild encounter. 🐾
Join our Puma Tracking Tours with Far South Expeditions and witness the lives of these elusive cats — from powerful mothers to their playful cubs — roaming freely across Patagonia’s dramatic landscapes. Ethical, respectful, unforgettable.
#FarSouthExpeditions #PumaTracking #TorresDelPaine #Patagonia #WildPatagonia #Puma #WildlifePhotography #Chile #NatureLovers #AdventureTravel #TravelChile #DiscoverChile #WildlifeTour #NaturePhotography #PatagoniaChile #SouthAmerica #TravelPhotography #ExplorePatagonia #MotherAndCub #SustainableTourism #NatGeoTravel #WildlifeExperience #NaturePerfection #PatagoniaWildlife #PumaTour
A rare and powerful moment in Torres del Paine a Puma feeding on another dead individual.
The cause of death remains unknown, and the carcass already showed rigor mortis, suggesting it had been dead for some time before being found and fed upon.
Such cannibalistic behavior in pumas is rarely documented and may result from territorial fights, dominance, or opportunistic scavenging — a raw reminder of nature’s fierce balance.
During a Puma tracking tour of
@farsouthexpeditions
🔭 Tracker: @olivaresdpicasso 🎥 Footage: @diego_tureo
#Puma #NatureIsMetal #TorresDelPaine #Chile #PatagoniaChile #WildPatagonia #FarSouthExpeditions #WildlifePhotography #WildlifePerfection #WildlifePlanet #NaturePhotography #NatGeoWild #BBCWildlife #PredatorBehavior #BigCats #Cougar #MountainLion #NatureDocumentary #CarnivoreEcology #RawNature #WildlifeFootage #SouthAmericaWildlife #AnimalBehavior #WildlifeOfPatagonia #WildlifeOfChile
🇬🇧 English
Great to catch up with @mariadelpilar199 and our friends from @oceanwideexp, @adventuretravelassociation, Mítico Puelo Lodge, @whalesoundpatagonia, Outtrip, and a friendly local dog from Puerto Natales 🐾.
All meetings took place during the ATTA Adventure Travel World Summit, with inspiring networking and exciting ideas for future collaborations — all over a cup of coffee on a chilly morning in Puerto Natales. ☕❄️
🇪🇸 Español
Un gusto reencontrarse con @mariadelpilar199 y nuestros amigos de @oceanwideexp, @adventuretravelassociation, Mítico Puelo Lodge, @whalesoundpatagonia, Outtrip y un simpático perrito natalino 🐾.
Todos los encuentros se realizaron en el marco del ATTA Adventure Travel World Summit, compartiendo ideas inspiradoras y nuevas oportunidades de colaboración — acompañados de una taza de café en una fría mañana en Puerto Natales. ☕❄️
#AdventureTravel #ATTA #AdventureTravelWorldSummit #PuertoNatales #PatagoniaChile #Networking #SustainableTourism #AdventureTourism #WildPatagonia #FarSouthExpeditions #TravelCommunity #OutdoorTravel #TravelProfessionals
