Subject · Wildlife · Mammal

Guanaco

Lama glama · best all year

In season now

Where and when

Months by place

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Laguna Amarga, Lago Sarmiento and Laguna Azul steppe sectors of Torres del Paine; Estancia Laguna Amarga (private land adjoining the park) for off road work, Chile

Área Natural Protegida La Payunia, Malargüe, Mendoza: Pampas Negras lapilli plain and the Payún Matrú and Payún Liso volcano sector. Summer range is the higher volcanic north (where most births happen); winter range the lower southern plains., Argentina

Pan De Azúcar

Guanaco shooting windows: places down, months across
Subject	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Laguna Amarga, Lago Sarmiento and Laguna Azul steppe sectors of Torres del Paine; Estancia Laguna Amarga (private land adjoining the park) for off road work, Chile	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Outside the window	Outside the window	Peak	Peak
Área Natural Protegida La Payunia, Malargüe, Mendoza: Pampas Negras lapilli plain and the Payún Matrú and Payún Liso volcano sector. Summer range is the higher volcanic north (where most births happen); winter range the lower southern plains., Argentina	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	In season	In season	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window
Pan De Azúcar	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Outside the window	Peak	Peak	Peak	Peak	Outside the window	Outside the window

Best for November

Odds: Near certain, 5 of 5. Verdict: Good.
Guanaco at Laguna Amarga, Lago Sarmiento and Laguna Azul steppe sectors of Torres del Paine; Estancia Laguna Amarga (private) for eye level work off the road, Chile: you will almost certainly see it (Nov–Jan)
Odds: Near certain, 5 of 5. Verdict: Good.
Guanaco at Laguna Azul, Lago Sarmiento and Laguna Amarga sectors of Torres del Paine; Estancia Laguna Amarga, Chile: you will almost certainly see it (Apr–May)
Odds: Likely, 4 of 5. Verdict: Prime.
Guanaco at Laguna Amarga, Lago Sarmiento and Laguna Azul steppe sectors of Torres del Paine; Estancia Laguna Amarga (private land adjoining the park) for off road work, Chile: you will probably see it (Jun–Aug)

Its year

Across its windows

Guanaco — Torres del Paine & Estancia Laguna Amarga — Winter

Shoot window

Laguna Amarga, Lago Sarmiento and Laguna Azul steppe sectors of Torres del Paine; Estancia Laguna Amarga (private land adjoining the park) for off road work, Chile

Guanaco: you will probably see it (Jun–Aug)

Guanaco by month
Month	Presence
Jan	Outside the window
Feb	Outside the window
Mar	Outside the window
Apr	Outside the window
May	Outside the window
Jun	Peak
Jul	Peak
Aug	Peak
Sep	Outside the window
Oct	Outside the window
Nov	Outside the window
Dec	Outside the window

Peak: Late June to mid August for the lowest sun and best snow odds. Snow lying on the low steppe is not guaranteed, and one operator says snowy winters are becoming less frequent.
Days needed: 6 days
Behaviour: Mass aggregation
Coat: Full winter coat
Habitat: Fresh snow, Tundra
Crowds: Quiet
Also here: Puma (winter tracking programs exist), Andean condor, culpeo fox, lesser rhea, the Paine massif under snow.

Light: About 51°S. Maximum solar altitude about 15.6° at the June solstice, about 25° by mid August (computed from latitude). The sun never climbs high, so the whole short day is soft light: roughly 7.5 to 9 hours of daylight, with sunrise near 10:00 and sunset near 17:40 local time at the solstice (computed; check exact dates). CONAF park hours May to September are 08:30 to 18:00, which cover all daylight, so access does not cut the light. Soft is not bright: overcast snow days at 400mm plus will push ISO hard. Overcast frequency as a percentage not found.
Weather risk: Snow / blizzard (asset)
Atmosphere: Breath vapour on cold mornings (lows around minus 7°C), falling snow, raking low backlight and rim light available all day, frost. Winter is reported less windy than summer, so lake reflections are more likely.
Permits: Inside the national park, wildlife observation and photo safaris are allowed only in daylight and from official trails; all off trail activity is prohibited (CONAF). Drones may not be operated (CONAF, Feb 2026). A certified guide is reported mandatory for trail hiking in winter (EcoCamp); whether that applies to roadside photography is not verified. Off road work only on Estancia Laguna Amarga with an operator that holds access.
Getting there: Fly to Punta Arenas, road to Puerto Natales (about 3 hours) and on to the park. 4x4 with winter tyres. Many lodges and campsites close in winter, so book early and stay as close to Laguna Amarga as possible.

Who runs trips here: Far South Expeditions hold Estancia Laguna Amarga access (from the Puma research; confirm they will run guanaco focused or winter days). EcoCamp and TorresDelPaine.com run winter programs. Roadside work is self drive viable.

Confidence: medium · Last verified 22 Sept 2026

Guanaco — Torres del Paine — Autumn

Shoot window

Laguna Azul, Lago Sarmiento and Laguna Amarga sectors of Torres del Paine; Estancia Laguna Amarga, Chile

Guanaco: you will almost certainly see it (Apr–May)

Guanaco by month
Month	Presence
Jan	Outside the window
Feb	Outside the window
Mar	Outside the window
Apr	Peak
May	Peak
Jun	Outside the window
Jul	Outside the window
Aug	Outside the window
Sep	Outside the window
Oct	Outside the window
Nov	Outside the window
Dec	Outside the window

Peak: Mid April to mid May. Autumn colour timing on the steppe margins not verified.
Days needed: 5 days
Habitat: Autumn colour, Tundra
Crowds: Quiet
Also here: Puma (cub sightings reported to peak March to May), Andean condor, culpeo fox, lesser rhea, autumn landscapes.

Light: About 51°S. Maximum solar altitude about 29° mid April and 20° mid May (computed): on overcast days the whole day is soft, and on clear days only a short midday stretch is hard. Daylight about 10 hours mid April; sunrise near 08:40 and sunset near 19:00 (computed), and CONAF hours are 08:00 to 19:00 in April and 08:30 to 18:00 from May, so access roughly matches daylight. Shutter speed pressure rises through May.
Weather risk: High wind
Atmosphere: Low side light for most of the day, first snow on the peaks, lenga colour on forest edges where it meets open ground.
Permits: Daylight only and official trails only inside the park; no drones (CONAF). Most park facilities close from late April or May.
Getting there: As for the other Torres del Paine windows. Off season discounts reported; fewer lodgings open.

Who runs trips here: Far South Expeditions (estancia access). Self drive viable.

Confidence: medium · Last verified 22 Sept 2026

Guanaco — Torres del Paine & Estancia Laguna Amarga — Chulengo season

Shoot window

Laguna Amarga, Lago Sarmiento and Laguna Azul steppe sectors of Torres del Paine; Estancia Laguna Amarga (private) for eye level work off the road, Chile

Guanaco: you will almost certainly see it (Nov–Jan)

Guanaco by month
Month	Presence
Jan	Peak
Feb	Peak
Mar	Outside the window
Apr	Outside the window
May	Outside the window
Jun	Outside the window
Jul	Outside the window
Aug	Outside the window
Sep	Outside the window
Oct	Outside the window
Nov	Peak
Dec	Peak

Peak: Late November to early January. Births reported mostly November to December (Animal Diversity Web) with some sources extending to February. Mating starts about a week after a female gives birth, so male chases and fights overlap the births; breeding is reported early December to early January.
Days needed: 5 days
Behaviour: Calving / pupping, Territorial fighting, Courtship / display
Coat: Juveniles present
Habitat: Green season / lush, Tundra
Crowds: Moderate
Also here: Puma (chulengos draw hunting pumas; overlaps the Puma spring window in November), Andean condor, culpeo fox, black necked swan, Chilean flamingo, lesser rhea.

Light: About 51°S. Maximum solar altitude about 57° in late November and 62° at the December solstice (computed): midday is unusable in clear sky. Daylight 16 to 17 hours; sunrise near 05:30 to 05:40 and sunset near 21:40 to 22:05 local time from late November to the solstice (computed). Golden light is long at both ends, but CONAF lists park hours October to February as 07:00 to 21:00, which would cut roughly the first 1.5 hours of dawn light and the last 40 to 60 minutes of evening for anyone entering from outside. Not clear whether these are gate hours or office hours: verify with CONAF. Workarounds: stay inside the park (Laguna Azul sits in the guanaco zone) or work the estancia at dawn. Realistic soft light about 2 to 3 hours per end on clear days, more when cloud builds.
Weather risk: High wind
Atmosphere: Storm light and lenticular cloud over the massif, backlit dust from running chulengos, wind lifting fur.
Permits: Daylight only and official trails only inside the park; no drones (CONAF). Off road only on Estancia Laguna Amarga with an authorised operator. Newborns: never push a herd or separate a chulengo from its mother.
Getting there: Fly to Punta Arenas, 3 hours to Puerto Natales, then the park. Peak season pricing; book lodging inside the park or near Laguna Amarga early.

Who runs trips here: Far South Expeditions (estancia access); Quasar Expeditions (private 4x4). Confirm estancia access in writing. Self drive viable for roadside work.

Confidence: medium · Last verified 22 Sept 2026

Guanaco — La Payunia Pampas Negras — Autumn migration

Shoot window

Guanaco: about an even chance of seeing it (Apr–May)

Guanaco by month
Month	Presence
Jan	Outside the window
Feb	Outside the window
Mar	Outside the window
Apr	In season
May	In season
Jun	Outside the window
Jul	Outside the window
Aug	Outside the window
Sep	Outside the window
Oct	Outside the window
Nov	Outside the window
Dec	Outside the window

Peak: Not established. Sources say the migration happens between autumn and spring; exact movement dates were not found. Ask WCS Argentina (Payunia program) or a Malargüe licensed guide before booking.
Days needed: 5 days
Behaviour: Migration / passage
Habitat: Sand / desert
Crowds: Quiet
Also here: Lesser rhea (choique), Andean condor, culpeo fox, mara, plains viscacha, volcanic landscapes. Laguna Llancanelo nearby for waterbirds (not researched).

Light: About 36.5°S. Maximum solar altitude about 44° mid April and 35° mid May (computed). Semi arid and mostly clear: midday is a write off, and expect about 1 hour of usable soft light at each end. Sunrise near 08:00 and sunset near 19:10 local time mid April (computed). Access is the killer: standard day tours leave Malargüe in the morning and the reserve is 120 to 180 km away, so dawn is lost. The window only works with an overnight in the reserve (an overnight camping program in the black desert has been advertised; current availability not verified) or a private guide leaving well before dawn.
Weather risk: High wind
Atmosphere: Backlit dust from moving herds, storm light over the volcanoes, dark ground that makes every animal a clean silhouette.
Permits: Entry only with a guide licensed by Malargüe tourism; the reserve is unsigned. Argentine government lists October to May as best, and winter snow can block access. The annual wild guanaco roundup and shearing happens in October: corralled animals, not a wildlife image and not WPY eligible as wild.
Getting there: Base in Malargüe; the reserve is about 500 km from Mendoza city. Arrange a private guide and an overnight. Zonda wind can cancel excursions.

Who runs trips here: Choique Turismo Alternativo (Johnny Albino, Land Rover Defender 4x4 day tour from Malargüe). No photography specific operator found; any licensed guide via the Malargüe tourism office.

Confidence: low · Last verified 22 Sept 2026

Guanaco — Pan de Azúcar coastal fog, Las Lomitas — Camanchaca season

Shoot window

Pan De Azúcar

Guanaco: you might see it, but it is far from sure (Jul–Oct)

Peak: Unresolved. Sources disagree on the camanchaca peak: fog oasis humid season mostly July to November (RBGE); Fray Jorge (30°S) fog days peak September to November; Alto Hospicio (20°S) fog collection peaks in June. Pan de Azúcar (26°S) sits between. September to October is the overlap, and coincides with desierto florido in rainy years.
Days needed: 6 days
Habitat: Sand / desert
Crowds: Quiet
Also here: Humboldt penguin (fishermen's boats to Isla Pan de Azúcar), marine otter, South American sea lion, chilla and culpeo fox, Copiapoa cacti, desierto florido in rainy years.

Light: About 26°S. Maximum solar altitude about 42° mid July rising to about 72° mid October (computed). In clear sky the sun climbs fast and the golden period is short. The fog is the soft light source: when the stratocumulus deck engulfs the cliff, light is soft all day. On the northern coast cloud presence at 500 to 700 m is about 40% in winter and spring (Alto Hospicio study, not measured at Pan de Azúcar). Fog and cloud are reported thickest at night and early morning on this coast (Iquique observations), which favours dawn. Park gate hours not found; camping inside the park puts you in position.
Weather risk: Fog / mist (asset)
Atmosphere: Guanaco emerging from or dissolving into fog, Copiapoa and Eulychnia cactus silhouettes, the Pacific hidden under the cloud deck.
Permits: Park rangers closed vehicle access to the Las Lomitas viewpoint after repeated vandalism (Ladera Sur; closure date not stated), so it is on foot or bike, 11 km. Quebrada del Castillo and the Las Lomitas route have required permission from park administration (gochile). Drone rules for this park not verified.
Getting there: Fly Santiago to Copiapó (CPO), then 110 km to Chañaral and about 30 km to the park. Cabins and campsites inside the park.

Who runs trips here: No photography specific operator found. Far South Expeditions' Coastal Atacama tour visits the park (botanical focus; guanacos usually seen on the cliffs). Private 8 hour Las Lomitas hikes from Caldera are sold on cometo.cl.

Confidence: low · Last verified 22 Sept 2026

Guanaco — Torres del Paine — Late summer

Shoot window

Torres del Paine steppe sectors, Chile

Guanaco: you will almost certainly see it (Feb–Mar)

Guanaco by month
Month	Presence
Jan	Outside the window
Feb	Peak
Mar	Peak
Apr	Outside the window
May	Outside the window
Jun	Outside the window
Jul	Outside the window
Aug	Outside the window
Sep	Outside the window
Oct	Outside the window
Nov	Outside the window
Dec	Outside the window

Peak: February to mid March
Days needed: 5 days
Coat: Juveniles present
Habitat: Dry season / dust, Tundra
Crowds: Crowded — vehicles in frame
Also here: Puma, Andean condor, landscapes.

Light: About 51°S. Maximum solar altitude about 52° to 56° in February (computed): midday unusable in clear sky. Sunrise near 07:00 and sunset near 21:10 local time in mid February (computed), so CONAF hours of 07:00 to 21:00 barely clip the light; in March (07:00 to 20:00) the last minutes of evening are cut. Access is not the problem here; the lack of a distinct image, peak wind and peak crowds are.
Weather risk: High wind
Permits: Daylight only and official trails only inside the park; no drones (CONAF).
Getting there: Peak season prices and availability.

Confidence: medium · Last verified 22 Sept 2026

Guanaco — Pan de Azúcar — Summer

Shoot window

Parque Nacional Pan de Azúcar coastal cliff and Las Lomitas, Chile

Guanaco: you might see it, but it is far from sure (Dec–Mar)

Guanaco by month
Month	Presence
Jan	Peak
Feb	Peak
Mar	Peak
Apr	Outside the window
May	Outside the window
Jun	Outside the window
Jul	Outside the window
Aug	Outside the window
Sep	Outside the window
Oct	Outside the window
Nov	Outside the window
Dec	Peak

Peak: December to March
Days needed: 6 days
Habitat: Sand / desert
Crowds: Moderate
Also here: Humboldt penguin, marine otter, sea lions, cacti.

Light: About 26°S. Maximum solar altitude about 85° to 87° in December and January, still about 66° mid March (computed): the sun is near overhead and climbs fast, leaving under an hour of usable light at each end. On the northern Chilean coast the cloud layer rises to 1,000 to 1,200 m in summer and its presence drops below 5% (Alto Hospicio study), which would put it above the 700 to 800 m Las Lomitas cliff; that transfer to 26°S is an inference, and El Tofo (29°S) measured fog peaking in spring and summer, so the fog part is uncertain.
Weather risk: Extreme heat and Heat haze (kills long lens)
Permits: As for the fog window.
Getting there: As for the fog window; Chilean summer holidays bring more beach visitors (not verified in numbers).

Confidence: medium · Last verified 22 Sept 2026

Hides, lodges and tours for the Guanaco

No hides, lodges or tours match these filters yet.

Where it lives

Show the Guanaco range on the globe

Species

IUCN status: Unknown
Regions: Central & South America
Range on the globe: No range polygons yet

GBIF taxon 5220190