Everyone dreams of seeing South America’s big cat species!! But both the jaguar and puma are elusive and endangered creatures, making them very difficult to see. So where should you go for the best chances to see these beautiful animals in the wild? Well, there are a few places with higher-than-usual population densities….so keep reading to find out where you should go to see Jaguars and Pumas!
The magnificent Panthera Onca
For the best chance of seeing a jaguar, you should probably head to Brazil’s Pantanal. The northern region around Porto Jofre boasts some of the best chances of seeing jaguars in the wild. Alternatively, visit Refugio Caiman Ecolodge and participate in their Oncafari Jaguar Project! This unique program aims to habituate the areas’ jaguars to human presence, which allows them to be observed while respecting the animal’s safety. So far, they have had an incredible 100% success rate for guests seeing jaguars while participating in this fantastic initiative.
Of course, every so often, our clients are lucky enough to see jaguars in less likely locations! Take Mike for example! On his trip to Peru, he was fortunate enough to see a jaguar on the banks of the river near Tambopata Research Centre! Just 25% of visitors to the lodge sight jaguar, so Mike was very lucky indeed! Check out his incredible photo and testimonial from an amazing trip here.
Pumas in Patagonia
Puma are found in 28 South American countries but the sub-species in Patagonia is one of the largest. And they are most easily spotted in Torres del Paine National Park, where there is a particularly high density. Of course, in the peak season summer months, thousands of tourists flock to the park and your chances of seeing these shy creatures diminish greatly. But in the winter months (May to September), visitors to the park slow to a trickle, and the success rate for spotting puma shoots through the roof! If you opt for a Puma Tracking Safari, you will practically be guaranteed not just one, but multiple sightings over the course of your stay!
