Spotting wildlife

Spotting a whale, the giant of the sea, is a special experience. Goosebumps when his giant's fin hits the water, just a few metres from you away. In Latin America there are several places where you can see this spectacle. Some examples are Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, Colombia and Brazil. 

If there is a place in the world where you have to go to spot wildlife, it is the Galapagos Archipelago. The animals that live here occur nowhere else in the world and they are not afraid of humans. It is a very special place and it is a true privilege to visit these islands. More about the Galapagos

The jaguar is family of felines and is only occurs in Central and South America. The jaguar is mainly active in the early morning and late evening and does not show itself very quickly. In some places it is more likely to spot this animal. An example of this is at the Caiman Lodge in the Pantanal, Brazil. This lodge cooperates with the Onçafari Jaguar project in order to protect the jaguar. As a guest you will have the opportunity to join the Jaguar Habituation team for a day and take part in their daily activities. The chance to spot a jaguar has strongly increased in recent years. 

Another feline found only in Latin America is the Puma. This animal is not easy to spot either, but in the south of Chile you can participate in a special program of Ecocamp. Together with Diego Araya, one of the most famous Chilean nature photographers and a Puma expert, you can spot these special animals. This program of Ecocamp and Diego Araya is widely recognized as the best opportunity to spot these rare predators in the wild. 

Argentina is often seen as a destination for the beautiful vast landscapes of Patagonia, for wine and the real gauchos. But in Argentina you can also spot special animals. A good place for wildlife spotting is Peninsula Valdés on the Atlantic Ocean. This region is home to a particularly varied animal life including penguins, seals, sea lions, whales and elephant seals.

Every year millions of Moth butterflies fly from Canada to the mountains in the Mexican state of Michoacán de Ocampo to hibernate. The butterflies nest with large numbers in the trees and fly around during the day. Anke visited this phenomenon and she is happy to tell you more about it. 

Big, small, giant. Sea turtles and land turtles. In Latin America, you'll find them all in different places. In Costa Rica there is even a village and national park named after them. Here turtles come to the coast to hatch their eggs. Another place where turtles come to hatch is in Suriname. 

Bright pink and standing on one leg, the Flamingo. People often think that this bird only occurs in warm areas, such as the Caribbean. Nothing could be further from the truth. Also in the Andes and other parts of Latin America you can encounter this bird. It is special when you see them in a mountain lake with thousands at a time looking for food.