Chile adventure : guanacos in Patagonia

The guanaco, a member of the camelid family, is native to South America. It can be found in Argentina, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia and Columbia. The name guanaco originated from the Quechua, a language of the indigenous peoples of South America that is spoken primarily in the Andes.

Guanacos stand approximately 4’ high at the shoulder, having a light brown coat with white markings underneath. Grey in the face, their small ears complement their gorgeous brown eyes.

These social animals live in herds consisting of females and their young (chulengos), along with a dominant male. Single or bachelor males will form separate herds, with as many as 50 animals in the herd. They are chased away from the family herds at approximately one year of age. Female groups generally run much smaller, with approximately ten animals per herd.

In Chilean Patagonia, numbers of guanacos tend to be more numerous than in other parts of South America, thanks to national park protection and limited grazing competition from domestic livestock.  The mountain lion, or puma, is the lone natural predator of guanacos. In addition to being exceptional swimmers, guanacos can run at speeds up to 35 mph, even in the rugged Patagonia terrain.  

Hiking Patagonia is one of the planet’s great spiritual offerings. Pristine landscapes, jaw-dropping compositions, and unusual wildlife make this a paradise for nature photographers. Guanacos should be included on the short list for anyone longing for those breathless Patagonia vacations.

With a bit of luck, some patience, and a non-aggressive shooting style, you can easily work your way within 40 or 50 yards of these graceful creatures, providing the possibility for great photographs. A versatile telephoto lens is required to work with these animals. The images accompanying this hub were shot with a 100-400 mm zoom. If you’re fortunate enough to be away from any roads, chances are that you can photograph without other human intrusion, helping ease the timid nature of the guanacos.

Most tourists could care less about photography skills, so if you’re working the camera, subject matter is cooperating, and you hear a car door slam behind you, pack it up, as the guanacos have little patience for such nonsense and will be over the next hill in the blink of an eye.