PATAGONIA DESTINATION & ROAD TRIP GUIDE
People are almost always aware of the clothing brand named after this beautiful place (it also happens to be my favorite) but often can’t really place where it sits on a map. Patagonia is vast and makes up almost half of both Chile and Argentina boasting some of the most picturesque natural beauty you will ever see.
Patagonia has a handful of very unique National Parks for you to enjoy – most you will find featured in this Patagonia Destination Guide series, including Glacier, Torres del Paine, Nahuel Huapi and Tierra del Fuego National Parks. These treasures offer its visitors jagged mountain peaks, dramatic ice fields, brutal glaciers, unpredictable weather and some of the best trekking in the world.
Patagonia was on my travel bucket list for years and to say that I was excited about venturing through was an understatement. When we travelled through Patagonia – we knew we wanted to get off the beaten path and put some miles into our hiking boots. Due to its remoteness you’ll find pockets of established tourism throughout region. Anything outside of that – you are on your own.
You are looking at combinations of trains, planes, local busses, boats, border crossings, hiking routes, trail guides, accommodation etc. It can be done on it’s own, but to ensure that we maximized our time (and limited the number of travel mishaps along the way) we relinquished control and got local expertise involved. With an idea of what we wanted to experience in this vast land, we found and booked the perfect three-week trip for us as part of a small group tour. There are a lot of local and international tour companies that specialize in this region. Read through the various destinations, get an idea of where you would like to go and what you are keen to see and you’ll easily be able to find the the one that ticks your boxes. Then what? Get prepared to have the trip of a lifetime.
In this Patagonia Destination Guide, I share the seven Patagonian destinations we visited and the adventure filled activities that await you in each of these adventure hot spots. We made our way from the northern Lake District of Argentina and worked our way down to the southern most cities in the world – crossing the Chilean border a few times along the way. This fantastic journey combined all of our Patagonia highlights (and then some), 100% of the logistics, a fun group of likeminded adventurers, and loads of free time to pick and choose the adventures along the way.
This is Patagonia.
TOP PLACES TO VISIT IN PATAGONIA
BARILOCHE, ARGENTINA
During our stay in Bariloche we were at the Soft Hotel. Simple, ski lodge-type of accommodation but was within walking distance of tons of shops and restaurants.
PUERTO VARAS, CHILE
We opted to stay a couple nights at the Hotel Park Inn which overlooked the views of Lake Llanquihue and the Osorno Volcano. You’ll have plenty of acrivities to choose from, but our mission was to get up close and personal with geology. Doing the same will see you trekking up and around the ice-clad Orsono volcano. After your big trek, head over to the six kilometer Sondero El Solitario trek into the Petrohue River Valley. We arranged to meet with a local fisherman who took us out on the water and prepared a lovely trout lunch for the group. Really cool experience to look into.
PUNTA ARENAS, CHILE
During our time in Punta Arenas we stayed at the no-frills Hotel Patagonia Bed & Breakfast.
PUERTO NATALES, CHILE
If you partake in the trek (and you should), you’ll trade your mattresses in for sleeping bags and hit the trails for an unforgettable adventure. Jagged mountain peaks, glacial lakes, suspension bridges, and refugios stocked with craft beer. Is there anything better? Check out W Trek – Torres Del Paine National Park – Part 1 and Part 2 for deep dives into the actual trek.
After your trek hop on the ferry and cross Lake Pehoé for one of the most picturesque boat rides you’ll ever take. With a sense of accomplishment, head back to Puerto Natales to get some much-needed rest.
EL CALAFATE, ARGENTINA
It’s in the park that you can visit the gorgeous Perito Moreno Glacier. Take advantage of the boat tour in the park to marvel at the size of the glacier and watch for the calvins breaking off into the water. There are also a series of walkways that allow you to get different vantage points of the glacier as you make your way through the park.
EL CHALTEN, ARGENTINA
Pack a lunch and picnic under the Cerro FitzRoy/Chaltén. If you are a fan of the Patgonia clothing brand, then you will very quickly recognize the mountain range as the one used in the logo. The impressive granite pinnacles spiral upward from the third largest ice filed on the planet.
If you are keen to push your adventure limits, opt to go ice climbing on the nearby Viedma Glacier. With ice picks, crampons, a harness, and meters upon meters of rope I tested some of my fears. This experience will have you leaning backwards over and abseilng into some of the gnarliest ice crevasses you will likely see. Amazing.
USHUAIA, ARGENTINA
While simple, our accommodation Hotel Ushuaia was quite central and was a great base for exploring the rest of the town.
Your last stop on this Patagonian adventure is to the southern-most city in the world – Ushuaia. This busy port and adventure hub is best known for being the departure point for expeditions to Antarctica. While another bucket list destination of mine, it was not a part of our trip this time. We did however take a Helicopter Flight (check out video on YouTube) over the city and through the valleys where the Andes Mountains meet the ocean. It was my first helicopter ride and it certainly didn’t disappoint. It’s just one of the great ways to experience the end of the world.
Visit the Harberton Ranch Penguin Colony or opt to take a cruise on the Beagle Channel. Whatever you do, take the opportunity to soak in as much of the panoramic views of this beautiful region as possible. While simple, our accommodation Hotel Ushuaia was quite central and was a great base for exploring the rest of the town.
FINAL THOUGHTS ON TOP PLACES TO GO IN PATAGONIA
If you find yourself exploring your own trip to this part of the world be sure to do your research so you get everyhting you want of your experience. This DomOnTheGo Patagonia Destination Guide and corresponding posts in the series is a comprehensive take of my experience, but is admittedly only a fraction of all the amazing things you can see and do while adventuring the region. If you have any questions or suggestions for other great things to see and do – be sure to get in touch or leave a comment for other readers below.
i can say this article and picture in articles is dam good, now this blog is on my reading list . kudos
Your pictures are amazingly beautiful! Patagonia is high on my list, such a beautiful place!
Really Awe Inspiring Stuff… Great captures of Argentina and PUERTO NATALES in Chile… Hope to visit this next year.
Sounds like a wonderful adventure! I’ve never been to South America before, but your wonderful post for sure made me add this to my bucket list!
Amazing photography here! I absolutely want to visit Patagonia. I’ve heard many great things about this place, and reading your guide has convinced me to visit it one day (:
Patagonia looks beautiful, I had not been, but would love to go one day. The glacier look gorgeous, I have only ever seen glaciers in Alaska, now I would like to see these ones too, the scenery is spectacular.
I’d love to go to Patagonia as the pictures look so pretty and nice. Have heard so many good things about Argentina and it definitely is going to be on our list. Love your blog.
Patagonia is one of the most beautiful regions in South America. We saw the place in the documentary 180 degrees South, and it’s beauty is just out of this world. As mountaineers, this is one of our dream destinations in addition to the Himalayas.
We are traveling by bicycle since 2014, at the end of this year we are planning to cycle from Mexico to Patagonia, thanks for your useful guide
I have been looking into visiting both Argentina and Chile and this is great. I think the choices of cities and towns you visited look very interesting. I am definitely going to look more into it.
We wanted to go to Argentina and Chile this coming summer, but finally decided to explore Peru and Bolivia first. Apparently the best time to trek through Patagonia is between October-March, and definitely not in July-August. Hopefully we’ll make it in 2019 or 2020. We’ll check out this post of yours again when we start plannig our trip. And we’ll certainly contact you too for more info. 🙂 Thanks for your tips!
I’m craving a trip to Patagonia and your guide is so helpful (plus your photos are epic!) Pinning for later!
This is an excellent guide Dom! Patagonia is high on my list of places I want to visit, so this was a great read for me. Every place in Argentina and Chile you mentioned looks sensational. Hopefully, this is my year to go!
I liked your post Dom! Patagonia is in my bucket list and your guide is very helpful!
Awesome guide! Patagonia is one of the few places on the planet I haven’t travelled to yet. The reason: I just think it’s too amazing to only spend a few days there. I would love to go on a 2-month tour visiting all the places you mentioned down to Ushuaia and then a cruise to Antarctica.
Love reading your take on this beautiful place. We have to go back to do circuit trek, last time Torres were very shy and stayed behind the veil of clouds. Maybe better luck second time.
Thanks for the kind words. Shame that the weather didn’t play nicely for you the last time you went. We also talked about heading back as well to do the full circuit. Crossing my fingers we both get the nice weather. 🙂
Amazing photo’s! It looks so cold I think I would die, but there is something beautiful about snow on a mountain. I love reading about places I have never heard of, it just shows you what more is out there to explore, these places look amazing, What time of the year did you go and is it best to go in Winter?
Thanks Liza! This “little” corner of the world is an absolute dream. We ventured through Patagonia’s October/November shoulder season. Gave us the opp to explore without the crowds and we got quite lucky with the amazing weather. If you like the outdoors, then you should deffo make it a point to see these places in person.
Lovely mountain range that stretches into 2 equally beautiful countries. I would definitely like to visit this region – the ice and snow really accentuates the magical beauty of Patagonia 🙂
Agree 100%. We have been talking about going back and exploring additional corners of this adventurer’s Eden. You should check it out for sure.
Majestic scenery and the vast scale of the place. Beautiful photos that allow me to dream!
Thanks for the kind words Unta. Don’t just dream, do. If you like the outdoors, this region of South America is not to be missed!
You are so right! I was aware of the clothing brand but didn’t know where this place was. The place looks absolutely stunning. I’m yet to head to any American country yet and I don’t know if I will. So thanks for this virtual tour.
South America as a whole is an awesome but vast place. It will take a really log trip and lots of smaller ones to really see it top to toe. Crossing fingers for you that you get to experience it in person some day.
the pictures are simply incredible, these mountains are such an inspiration. Would love to be there with my album and paint…
Cheers! I could definitely imagine an artist would have a field day here. The toughest choice would be where to start. If you make it out to South America I want to be the first to see the paintings. 🙂
Wow this is a goldmine of information on Patagonia! It clearly took a lot of time and research on your part, thank you so much for doing all this leg work. It’s the ultimate resource for planning a trip in this region!
Thanks for the kudus Aisha – much appreciated. If you know anyone who is looking to plan a trip to the region send them my way. 🙂
The photos are so beautiful. The one that really caught my eye is the Perito Moreno Glacier. I may get scared taking the boat ride but I am sure it will be all worth it.
Sigh…That was an awesome day out. You feel so tiny when you are out on the water looking up at the glacier wall. No need to be scared – you should definitely try to make it out there to see the beauty in person. The pics don’t do it nearly as much justice as it deserves.
Patagonia offers tons for everyone. We saw families throughout our trip – just assess physical abilities and try to find activities that will align with the kids. A lot of the treks for example have various routes and ways to break them up. Carrying a pack is heavy enough without adding a little one in your arms when they get tired. ? Enjoy!
Wow that Glacier National Park is awesome. You’ve done so many cool adventures in Patagonia, and I think it’s pretty off the beaten path!
Oh man. Patagonia was really a dream come true. If you like the outdoors, this is deffo a region that beckons to be explored.
I visited Patagonia a few years ago and even though I’ve visited over 100 countries, Patagonia remains the most beautiful part of the world I’ve visited. Perito Moreno Glacier is the most incredible glacier I’ve ever seen. Your itinerary and photos are brilliant, I wish I could go back to Patagonia!
Thanks for the kind words. I can’t wait to go back and explore more of the region. One of the only places I have been where the landscapes have rivalled Patagonia are in the Everest region of the Himalayas. Has Nepal been one of your 100 countries?
One of the reasons and pleasures of travel for us too is the opportunity to see the different and wonderful facets of nature. Patagonia seems to be a veritable paradise and the opportunities to commune with nature seem manifold. Would love to put on hiking boots and walk into the sunset here. Look forward to your exploits in Patagonia.
I’d highly recommend getting there and exploring it. Through the series of posts you’ll have a nice snap shot of the great things that you can do along the way. Enjoy!
I think you were right to go with a tour as it sounds complicated arranging travel in the area. I never knew you could go skiing in Argentina! Can I ask what a calvin is – are they ice bergs?
Thanks Susan. Plenty of skiing and some dramatic landscapes to go along with it. Calvins are the huge chunks of ice that break off of the glaciers and smash into the water. Go there. 🙂
We are hoping to go to Patagonia next year for a month. How is it for kids? Ours are pretty well travelled but would appreciate your input.
A month is a perfect amount of time to explore this region. There is definitely something for everyone on this trip – you’ll just need to gauge abilities around trekking activities (not just for the kids lol). Travelling time between some of these amazing places can also be quite long so get out the coloring books and load the tablet with a few movies. Enjoy.
Patagonia has long been on my bucket list. This article has just further fueled my desire to visit. I love living in the mountains and as a landscape/travel photographer, I love the idea of photographing Patagonia.
Honestly, it was a dream. Every corner seemed like a photo opp. We saw a lot in 3.5 weeks but there is so much more there. WE can’t wait to go back.
This places looks amazing. I love how colourful the buildings are. I really want to go to Chili and Argentina and this has just made me push it the list of places to go and now I am off to check out some flights.
Go. There is so much to see there – my trip only scratched the surface. 🙂