Victor Vega2025
Born in Temuco, Chile, in 1984, Victor has guided for more than two decades, beginning his career as a mountain and backcountry skiing guide in the Andes. In 2015, he shifted his focus to the Magallanes region of southern Chile, where he began leading treks in Torres del Paine and on Navarino Island, and serving as a naturalist on small-ship expeditions through the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.
Victor’s passion for nature and ecology shapes his approach to sustainable tourism. He enjoys helping travelers experience wild places up close, sharing insights into wildlife behavior, landscapes and the ecological relationships that define Patagonia. A skilled wildlife tracker, he is particularly adept at spotting elusive species such as pumas and a wide range of birdlife. Victor is also a photo expert who excels at helping nature photographers hone their skills.
Victor has traveled extensively across South America, including Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia and Peru, documenting species and expanding his field knowledge. His experience also includes work on research and monitoring projects, including black bear studies in Connecticut, jaguar and bird surveys in Brazil’s Pantanal and long-term puma observations in Patagonia.
As a naturalist guide, Victor combines deep regional knowledge with strong field skills and a thoughtful approach to wildlife interpretation. Whether tracking pumas or scanning for birds, he aims to help travelers experience the landscape with sharper awareness and a deeper sense of connection.
What Our Guests Say
In September, I spent 20 days with Victor between Torres del Paine National Park and Patagonia National Park, tracking and learning about pumas. From the moment I met Victor the year before, I knew he was the only guide and mentor for me. His passion for pumas and Patagonia was immediately apparent. Victor has an admirable philosophy of what constitutes responsible ecotourism. His approach to observing pumas in their wild lives allowed us to be relatively close to many of them but as part of the landscape and not an influencing disturbance to their natural behaviors. This conscious and respectful approach was the key to the secretive and fascinating lives of pumas in Patagonia, where we witnessed dozens of different behaviors. Victor is also a teacher at heart and has a wealth of knowledge to share not only about pumas but all other native wildlife, especially birds, local history, Chilean culture, photography, and how to navigate the Carretera Austral in all kinds of weather. He is very professional, punctual, well-prepared, and personable. I already cannot wait for our next adventure!
