Patagonia.

LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN/ARGENTINA · CHILE/45.0000° S, 70.0000° W

Wind rattles the corrugated iron roofs along the Strait of Magellan before sunrise, setting the tempo for a territory shared across the Andes by Argentina and Chile. On the eastern side, dry steppe runs uninterrupted for hundreds of miles toward the Atlantic; across the spine, Chilean rainforests drop straight into iceberg-choked fjords. Days here resolve around woodsmoke, slow-cooked cordero al asador, and granite spires that make even the most ambitious walker feel properly humbled.

Last updated 4 Sept 2026

Field notes

Photographs · Wikimedia Commons
Latin America & Caribbean / Argentina45.00°S 70.00°W
Patagonia — Perito Moreno Glacier Patagonia Argentina Luca Galuzzi
Perito Moreno Glacier Patagonia Argentina Luca Galuzzi · Wikimedia Commons
Patagonia — The wilds of Patagonia; a narrative of the Swedish expedition
The wilds of Patagonia; a narrative of the Swedish expedition · Wikimedia Commons
Patagonia — Chile (8), Patagonia, Cerro Castillo, village scene
Chile (8), Patagonia, Cerro Castillo, village scene · Wikimedia Commons

What Patagonia is about

Twelve ways to read the region. Pick a town below and you can turn any of these into a timed 1, 2 or 3 day plan.

HIKING

Tackle the classic W Trek in Torres del Paine or day hikes under Monte Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre out of El Chaltén with sturdy wind gear.

GLACIERS & ICEFIELDS

Board ice catamarans before the Perito Moreno snout or navigate the serrated ice shelves of Grey Glacier in Chile.

REGIONAL MEAT & FIRE

Order cordero al palo or patagónico lamb splayed on iron crosses over lenga wood fires, served with chimichurri and Malbec.

COASTAL SEAFOOD

Eat centolla king crab fresh from the Beagle Channel in Ushuaia, paired with pan-seared southern hake and steaming bowls of pailas marinas.

SCENIC DRIVES

Navigate the gravel stretches of Argentina's Ruta 40 or trace the temperate rainforests and suspension bridges of Chile's Carretera Austral.

FLY FISHING

Cast dry flies for brown and rainbow trout along the crystal gravel beds of the Limay, Chimehuin, and Futaleufú river systems.

INDIGENOUS HERITAGE

Study the 9,000-year-old negative hand stencils at Cueva de las Manos and the seafaring lore of the Yaghan and Mapuche people.

LAKES & WATERWAYS

Sail the glacial fingers of Nahuel Huapi, General Carrera's marble caverns, and the turquoise waters of Lago Todos los Santos.

PIONEERING HISTORY

Visit Welsh tea houses in Gaiman, historic sheep estancias across Santa Cruz, and early 20th-century wooden chapels in Chiloé.

WILDLIFE WATCHING

Watch southern right whales from Puerto Pirámides, Magellanic penguins on Isla Magdalena, and guanacos grazing the dry steppe.

FJORD NAVIGATION

Take multi-day ferry runs through the Messier Channel, threading narrow fjords between Puerto Montt and Puerto Natales.

REGIONAL SWEETS & BEER

Sample craft stouts and bitter chocolates along Avenida Mitre in Bariloche, crafted by descendants of Central European immigrants.

Where to go in Patagonia

The bases worth booking. Each one has its own field guide with 1, 2 and 3 day itineraries.

  1. 01
    San Carlos de Bariloche

    RÍO NEGRO / ARGENTINA

    Lake Nahuel Huapi sets the backdrop for alpine architecture, craft breweries, and day hikes to Refugio Frey.

  2. 02
    El Chaltén

    SANTA CRUZ / ARGENTINA

    Step straight from town onto trails leading directly to the granite spires of Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre.

  3. 03
    Puerto Natales

    MAGALLANES / CHILE

    A breezy port on Seno Última Esperanza acting as the practical springboard for Torres del Paine expeditions.

  4. 04
    El Calafate

    SANTA CRUZ / ARGENTINA

    Base yourself here for morning bus runs to the thundering, creaking ice wall of Perito Moreno Glacier.

  5. 05
    Ushuaia

    TIERRA DEL FUEGO / ARGENTINA

    Eat fresh king crab on the waterfront of the Beagle Channel before exploring the mossy trails of Lapataia.

  6. 06
    Puerto Varas

    LOS LAGOS / CHILE

    Stare across Lago Llanquihue at conical Osorno volcano while sampling German Kuchen in lakeside cafes.

  7. 07
    San Martín de los Andes

    NEUQUÉN / ARGENTINA

    A low-key lakeside town that anchors the northern end of the Seven Lakes road with excellent trout streams.

  8. 08
    Punta Arenas

    MAGALLANES / CHILE

    Look out across the Strait of Magellan, browse sheep-baron mansions, and catch boats to Isla Magdalena.

  9. 09
    Coyhaique

    AYSÉN / CHILE

    The frontier hub of the Carretera Austral, surrounded by steep basalt cliffs and exceptional fly fishing rivers.

  10. 10
    Castro

    LOS LAGOS / CHILE

    Walk past colourful wooden palafito houses on stilts and UNESCO-listed wooden churches on Chiloé Island.

  11. 11
    Puerto Madryn

    CHUBUT / ARGENTINA

    Watch right whales breach near shore from late winter, then head inland for afternoon Welsh tea in Gaiman.

  12. 12
    Villa La Angostura

    NEUQUÉN / ARGENTINA

    Wander through ancient arrayán myrtle forests and quiet bays along the northern arm of Nahuel Huapi.

What to do in Patagonia

Shared by Argentina and Chile across the tapering southern tip of South America, Patagonia is a vast terrain of steppe, glaciated valleys, and fjords. Days revolve around the weather window: checking wind forecasts over strong morning coffee, spending long hours out on mountain trails or gravel highways, and ending beside an open-hearth grill. It rewards self-reliant travellers who appreciate dramatic scale, good boots, and simple, hearty food.

When to go to Patagonia

November to March brings long southern summer daylight and open high-altitude trails, though peak crowds and fierce winds arrive in January. Autumn in April brings quiet roads and blazing gold lenga forests. By late May, winter sets in, closing passes and shifting focus to Andean ski slopes.

Getting around Patagonia

Distances are immense. Domestic flights connect capitals to gateway hubs like Bariloche, Calafate, and Punta Arenas. For the interior, rent a sturdy vehicle or rely on punctual long-haul buses; driving the Carretera Austral or Ruta 40 demands gravel tolerance and three to four hours between fuel stops.