Operated by Leona Amarga Expeditions in collaboration with Panthera Foundation through the project: "Sustainable, safe puma tourism for pumas and people."
Welcome to Estancia Laguna Amarga. Estancia Laguna Amarga offers unparalleled opportunity to see and approach wild pumas. It is an opportunity unlike any other in the world. Please help us keep puma viewing safe and professional by becoming familiar with our guidelines and rules. Rules are meant to ensure your safety, the safety of the pumas, and to see that puma tourism continues to grow to support the conservation of these amazing animals across Patagonia.
Estancia Laguna Amarga is a private ranch and a protected area; please read and follow our rules. Please respect our wildlife at all times. Please respect other visitors to the Estancia, and its residents as well. You are guests, and we reserve the right to refuse service or entry to those who do not comply with rules and regulations, and if warranted, to use legal means to prosecute offenders. We are committed to keeping our wildlife safe and secure.
Guest details:
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Guidelines to ensure the safety of visitors, residents and the wildlife in the Estancia
General rules while on the Estancia
- Visitors must be fully insured. All visitors enter Estancia Laguna Amarga at their own risk. Will are not responsible for liability
- Estancia Laguna Amarga does not discriminate based on religion, sex, citizenship or any other status.
- We require booking three days minimum prior to arrival for a puma tour
- Take only photographs, leave only footprints.
- Please do not exceed 50km/h on the principal road
- Please do not exceed 15km/h when driving off-road or path
- Try not to use your vehicle’s horn, except in emergencies.
- We allow the use of drones that have an official drone permit from the Chilean authority DGAC. Every drone pilot must be certified, licensed and experienced.
Prohibited activities on Estancia Laguna Amarga
- Hiking or exploring without a Guide.
- Walking, exploring, spotlighting or filming at night.
- Feeding wildlife.
- Disturbing or removing animals, birds, plants, rocks, fossils, archeological items, or other historic objects.
- Disturbing wildlife, including making noise to try to get animals to look at you.
- Littering
- Smoking cigarettes or vaping
- Drinking alcohol away from the restaurant and hotel
- Drug use of any kind
- Overnight parking or camping away from the hotel and restaurant
- Pets, except with permission and an understanding that they remain at the hotel/restaurant area.
- Excessive noise or loud music
- Fireworks
- Hunting or possession of firearms
- Fishing
- There is not available bathrooms in the field; bury all waste in case of emergencies.
General rules and introduction to puma viewing
- Typically, puma tours operate for 3 hours in the morning and again for 3 hours in the evening each day.
- We allow a maximum group size of 6 guests plus one guide and one tracker
- Pumas are wild animals and therefore unpredictable. They are predators that hunt for a living, and erratic, rapid movements are signs of prey.
- Minors under the age of 18 are not allowed on walking tours with pumas
- Do not approach pumas without a guide.
- Our guides are experienced and well-trained. We only allow the top guides to work on our Ranch, to maintain safe practices.
- Our goal is to allow pumas to exhibit natural behaviors, and so we prefer to maintain respectable distances from them. Do not badger your guide to move closer—they will provide opportunities that are safe and respectable for all involved.
Rules while in the field viewing pumas and other wildlife
- Your clothing should be a natural color of Patagonia steppe or camouflaged
- We recommend photographers bring a minimum lens size of 400 mm, if they would like to capture portraits and images that crop out most of the background. Even then 400 mm may not be enough when a puma is at 50 meters distance.
- Follow the directions of your guides at all times.
- Groups must not occupy more than 25% of a circle around a puma. Never block or attempt to corral a puma. Never corner a puma.
- Remain with your group at all times.
- Keep noise to a minimum. Whisper in the presence of pumas.
- Do not turn your back on a puma.
- Do not make erratic or rapid movements in the presence of pumas.
Unexpected puma encounters
On occasions, pumas approach groups, or even exhibit curious or aggressive behaviors. Do not encourage curious behaviors, however cute. Intelligent predators are curious because it helps them discover new food sources. In the rare case that a puma is aggressive, follow these guidelines:
- Listen to your guide and follow directions. Stand tight together with other group members to appear larger and intimidating.
- Do not run, as running and rapid movements may trigger pursuit.
- Face the puma, never turn your back
- Talk to it firmly, or yell at it. Take several steps toward it, while waving arms or clapping hands loudly.
- Throw items at hand at the puma, whether rocks or water bottles or whatever you might have. Strike it with tripods or whatever you have that might be employed as a weapon.
- Always leave the animal an escape route
Thank you for visiting our home. Please help keep our estancia safe and clean.
For further details, please contact:
Leona Amarga Expeditions
+56 9 84034799
WWW.LEONAMARGA.COM
I acknowledge I have read and understood the above rules and regulations for guests.