Million Air Summer 2021

Flight of fancy Into the wild withKristine Tompkins

American conservationist Kristine Tompkins, former CEO of outdoor clothing brand Patagonia, moved to Chile in 1993. She and her late husband Doug Tompkins (founder of The North Face) began acquiring land to create new national parks and, since then, 11 new parks have been established and more than two million acres have been protected thanks to their valiant efforts, creating huge wilderness conservation areas. She has an unwavering passion for rewilding and returning missing species to their natural habitat. As such, for the first time in 70 years, the elusive jaguar has been brought back to the wild in Argentina. In this eight-day, small-group safari with Satopia Travel, you’ll join Tompkins and her team and learn firsthand about one of Argentina’s greatest conservation stories. Beginning in Buenos Aires, spend the night at the chic, eclectic Faena Hotel before flying on to Corrientes, where you’ll visit the rewilding center and fly over the wetlands. Next, head to Iberá National Park in northeastern Argentina. The nearly 400,000-acre park is an incredibly biologically diverse spot that protects a portion of the Iberá Wetlands and adjacent grassland, savanna and forest. You’ll be privy to insider knowledge on how the park was created and have an immersive experience on the rehabilitation and introduction of the animals back to the wild, from macaws to anteaters, giant otters and the aforementioned jaguars. You’ll visit San Alonso island to meet the big cats — the island is home to the Jaguar Reintroduction Center, a 75-acre enclosure where the jaguars are kept before their release back into the wild. Head on animal tracking adventures and walking safaris, and explore Iberá by plane, boat, kayak and horseback. Enjoy cocktails as the sun dyes the sky pink, reflecting its glow onto the wetlands. From $14,125 per person. Contact concierge@satopiatravel.com, +31 686 169 050, satopiatravel.com

Words Samantha Coles. Illustration Folio Art - Finn Campbell Notman