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!
Today is International Forest Day.
Chile is one of the longest countries
on Earth, stretching over 4,000 kilometers
from the Atacama Desert to Cape Horn.
And along that thin strip of land,
nature built something extraordinary.
Temperate rainforests in Chiloé.
Ancient Araucaria woodlands in the Andes.
Valdivian forests older than most civilizations.
Subantarctic forests at the end of the world.
And remote island ecosystems in the Pacific,
found nowhere else on the planet.
Each forest a different climate.
Each one a different cast of species.
Each one irreplaceable.
Chile doesn`t have one forest.
It has an entire collection of them.
And we`ve been exploring every single one
since 1997.
Happy International Forest Day. 🌿
Happy World Frog Day. 🐸
Meet Rhinoderma darwinii. Darwin`s Frog.
Charles Darwin discovered it in 1834 during
his voyage through southern Chile and was so
captivated he wrote about it in
The Voyage of the Beagle.
And honestly? We get it.
What makes this tiny frog unlike anything
else on Earth:
The father carries the tadpoles inside his
vocal sac for up to 70 days. When they`re
ready, fully formed froglets jump straight
out of his mouth. No other frog does this.
Its skin is so permeable it functions as a
living sensor of its environment. Scientists
classify it as a sentinel species — its
presence alone tells us a forest is healthy.
Two species. One already likely gone.
The other hanging on in the temperate
rainforests of southern Chile and Argentina.
Every sighting matters.
Every healthy forest matters.
Did you know Geoffroy`s Cat can swim? 🐆
Most people have never heard of this animal.
But wildlife photographers who find one in
Patagonia never forget it.
Meet Leopardus geoffroyi, one of South America`s
most elusive small cats. Roughly the size of a
domestic cat, but built for survival in the
Patagonian steppe.
What makes them extraordinary:
→ They actively hunt in rivers and streams,
one of the few wild cats that chooses water
over avoiding it.
→ They`re solitary, mostly nocturnal, and
extraordinarily difficult to track, making
a wild encounter genuinely rare.
→ Patagonia holds one of the last healthy
populations on the continent.
Finding one takes more than patience.
👇 Is the Geoffroy`s Cat on your list?
Agradecimientos a @cristian.f.conchap
#WildlifePhotography
#PatagoniaWildlife #WildCats #MammalWatching
#BBCWildlife
Patagonia. The Ultimate Wildlife Encounter. 🏔️🐾
Led by highly experienced photographers and naturalists @claudiofvidal and Jürgen Schulmeister (@birdsofpatagonia), our team crafts every expedition as a bespoke journey tailored to your passions. We don`t just show you the wild; we connect you with the deep expertise of those who have spent decades documenting this breathtaking landscape.
From the silent, powerful stride of the Puma to the soaring kingdom of the Condor, and the melodic breath of the Humpback whale, we are dedicated to creating unparalleled moments of discovery. Experience the Patagonian wild through the eyes of the professionals who call it home.
Your adventure, redefined. Our 2026 dates are filling fast. Secure your spot and witness the untamed beauty of the Far South. 🌬️✨
Click the link in our bio to explore our 2026 calendar and book your tailored expedition.
#WildlifePhotography #Birding #PumaTracking #NatGeoWild #BBCWildlife #Conservation #EcoTourism #SustainableTravel #PatagoniaTravel #FarSouthExpeditions #BirdingTravel #WildlifeEncounters #Chile #BigCats
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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#giant hummingbird #patagonagigas #hummingbirdsofinstagram #birdsofinstagram #birdphotography #birdwatching #birding #avesdechile #aveschilenas #chilebirding #chilewildlife #faunachilena #pajareandoenchile #instabirds #bestbirdshots #your_best_birds #birdlovers #wildlifephotography #naturephotography #naturelovers #wildchile #discoverchile #explorechile #avianphotography #ornithology #pollinators #andesbirds #centralchile #conservation #ourplanetdaily
🏔️🌿🐦🌊 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
