Estancia Cerro Guido

Choosing the low season (April through September) offers a unique opportunity to experience the quiet, snow-covered beauty of Torres del Paine in a way few guests ever see. While the winter program excludes pick-ups from Punta Arenas, the journey remains accessible via daily flights into Puerto Natales, and the estancia provides transfers. During these months, the typical hiking trails may be restricted by the weather, but this opens the door for exclusive winter excursions like snowshoeing.

Winter is widely considered one of the best times for wildlife enthusiasts because it's prime season for spotting the elusive Patagonian puma. As snow blankets the higher peaks, their primary prey, the guanaco, migrate down to the lower valleys and the land in and around the estancia. To maximise sighting opportunities, Cerro Guido utilises a sophisticated tracking network where professional trackers and local baqueanos monitor the 100,000-hectare property.

Guests can participate in these "Conservation Safaris" by heading out in 4x4 jeeps, usually at dawn or sunset, guided by experts who use walkie-talkies to communicate real-time sightings. This coordinated effort ensures that as soon as a puma is located, the vehicles can be diverted to the spot, often allowing for intimate observations of the cats from a respectful distance. Beyond just viewing the animals, these outings offer a behind-the-scenes look at the estancia’s pioneering conservation foundation, which uses camera traps to study puma behaviour and foster a peaceful coexistence between wildlife and traditional sheep ranching.