Why Should I Visit Patagonia?

Patagonia is located at the southern end of Argentina and Chile and is one of the most southern places in the world – so much of it remains untouched! The landscape here is one of a kind and is considered one of the best hiking destinations in the world. Patagonia is home to the southern portion of the Andes Mountains, Glaciers, Wildlide and so much more. Outside of natural beauty, the food is incredible and the culture is vibrant. 

When Should I Visit Patagonia?

Summer (December to February): This is an excellent time to visit Patagonia. This is the warmest time of the year in Patagonia and you will have the most amount of daylight for outdoor activities. The downside of traveling this time is the crowds will be much larger. Some of the hiking trails can be narrow so it may get frustrating being stuck behind large groups during hikes. Accommodation and camping in Patagonia is limited so getting a space can be more difficult in high season.

Shoulder season (November, March-April): If you want to avoid the crowds, this is a great time to visit. The weather will be cooler compared to summer which can make it more ideal for hiking. The downside of visiting during this time is the weather is cooler and more unpredictable. We visited at the end of November and the weather is fantastic and perfect for hiking. However, we had friends that were there the week before us and it was foggy, rainy, and windy the entire time so be cautious and make sure you pack clothes for all types of weather.

  • Weather in Patagonia: Since Patagonia is so far south and in the Andes Mountains, the weather can be very unpredictable. The mountains also make certain areas very windy. Come prepared for all types of weather while you are there. One day while we were there, it was sunny, raining, snowing, hailing, and very windy all in the same day so you never know what you will encounter. Pack accordingly and you should be able to withstand any weather you are faced with. As always, come with a good attitude because you cannot control the weather.

What Should I Pack?

Here are the unique items you should pack for a trip to Patagonia:

  • Bring Layers! The weather can change rapidly in Patagonia so you will need to bring clothes to prepare for all conditions.
  • Clothing:
    • Windbreaker
    • Waterproof jacket
    • Waterproof/Rain pants (These were the best investment we made prior to the trip!)
    • Hiking shoes
    • Hiking socks (several pairs)
    • Shorts
    • Hiking pants
    • Dry fit clothing
    • Compression pants and shirts
    • Buff
    • Gloves
    • Microfiber towel for showering 
  • Camping gear (if you plan to camp):
    • Tent
    • Sleeping bags
    • Head lamp
    • Camp stove
    • Propane canister for camp stove
    • Camping silverware
    • Camping pots and pans
  • Hiking poles
  • Backpack
  • Waterproof cover for backpack
  • Water bottle – Water from the glacial streams in some locations of Patagonia are drinkable so you do not need to pack fresh water with you for multi-day hikes.
  • Day pack
  • Camping foods, such as:
    • Ramen
    • High energy snacks (protein bars, granola bars, etc.)
    • Noodles or pasta
    • Bagged meats or fish (i.e. tuna or canned chicken, etc.)
    • Bread

Best way to travel to Patagonia

The two easiest cities to fly into for getting to Patagonia are Santiago, Chile and Buenos Aires, Argentina. From here, you can book a cheap domestic flight to El Calafate (Argentine Patagonia) or Puerto Natales/Punta Arenas (Chilean Patagonia). Of course, you can fly directly into El Calafate or Puerto Natales/Punta Arenas, but those flights will be absurdly expensive. From there, you can either take buses to get from place to place or rent a car.

Driving in Chile was not difficult – the roads are well maintained and there is minimal traffic when traveling from Punta Arenas Airport to Puerto Natales.  

Top places to visit in Patagonia

  • Punta Arenas – One of the most southern cities in the world. This is often considered the gateway to Patagonia and Antarctica. From here, you can visit Torres del Paine National Park, Tierra del Fuego, and Ushuaia. You can also see do a boat tour from here to see the penguin colonies nearby.
  • Torres del Paine National Park (link to Torres del Paine page) – The most famous park in Chilean Patagonia and a must visit if traveling to Patagonia.
  • Puerto Natales – This town is located 1.5 hours outside of Torres del Paine National Park and is where most people start and end their journey to and from the park.
  • El Chalten – Known as Argentina’s trekking capital. This town located in Argentine Patagonia is famous for Mount Fitzroy, which is what the “Patagonia” brand logo is based off of.
  • El Calafate – Located in Argentian Patagonia, this town is known as “the capital of glaciers”. Los Glaciers National Park is nearby as well as El Chalten.
  • Los Glaciares National Park (Perito Moreno Glacier) – This is one of the few glaciers in the world which is still growing. You can book guided treks onto the glaciers or kayak in the waters next to the glacier.
  • Ushuaia – The world’s most southern city and known as “the end of the world”. It is the gateway to Tierra del Fuego. From here, you can also book a boat to Antarctica.

Must try Foods

  • Chimichurri – The famous sauce of Patagonia. You will see this at almost every restaurant you go to. People will eat it with just about everything – meat, bread, you name it.
  • Patagonian Spit Roast Lamb (Cordero al Palo) – Traditional slow roasted lamb over an open fire. One of the most popular dishes in the region and one you cannot miss out on.
  • Argentine Beef – Considered one of the best beefs in the world. The beef here is delicious and often more affordable than beef you can get back home.
  • Asado – Barbeque or grilled meat – Most restaurants will offer beef, lamb, pork, and mutton.
  • Empanadas – Sold at almost every bakery across Patagonia. They are so delicious and very affordable. A great portable snack you can take with you hiking or while walking around town.
  • Patagonian Beer – Nothing is better after a long day of hiking than a nice cold beer.
  • Pisco Sour – While it originated in Peru, pisco sours are very popular in Patagonia.
  • Yerba Mate – Herbal tea unique to South America that is drunk using a bombilla which is a special straw that prevents the yerba mate leaves from going into your mouth.
  • Patagonian Wine – Argentina is one of the world’s largest producers of wine so make sure you try some while you are down there.

14 Day Itinerary

Day 1, Arrive in Santiago: Santiago is one of the major cities that you can fly into when heading to Patagonia. Spend the day you arrive exploring Santiago. Check out Cerro San Cristobal – This is hte highest location in Santiago and a great place to get a panoramic view of the city. There are several ways to get to the top – hiking, cable car, funicular, car/taxi. After a long day of travel, we wanted to get some exercise, so we ended up hiking to the top and then taking the funicular to the bottom. 

Day 2, Travel to Puerto Natales & Prepare for Trekking – Depart out of Santiago and either fly to Punta Arenas or directly to Puerto Natales. Punta Arenas is a larger airport so there will be more flight availability and it is typically cheaper to fly here. The downside of this option is that you will need to rent a car or take the bus from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales which takes about 2.5 hours. For our travels, we ended up flying from Santiago to Punta Arenas. To get from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales, we rented a car – this option worked well for us. It gave us flexibility & it’s was an easy drive. The roads were well maintained and there was very minimal traffic. 

Since Punta Arenas is a larger town than Puerto Natales, we found that it was cheaper to buy food/trekking gear in Punta Arenas. However, Puerto Natales will have everything you need to rent or buy for camping and hiking. Use this travel day to prepare and buy any necessary items for trekking. 

 

Day 3-6, Hiking W Trek in Torres del Paine Nat’l Park

We recommend allotting at least 4 days for the W Trek. It’s a 46 mile hike, which means you’ll be hiking at least 10 miles per day, sometimes more depending on which campgrounds you are able to book. Below shows how we would recommend breaking down the hike by Day. 

  • Day 3:
    • Drive or take the bus from Puerto Natales to Laguna Amarga
    • Bus from Laguna Amarga to Estancia Pudeto
    • Ferry from Estancia Pudeto to Paine Grande Campground
    • Hike to Glacier Grey and back to Paine Grande Campground
    • Camp overnight at Paine Grande Campground
  • Day 4:
    • Pack up your belongings and hike from Paine Grande Campground to Italiano Campground
    • Leave your big bags at Italiano Campground and take only your daypacks
    • Hike up and back to Valle Frances
    • Pick up your bags at Italiano campground and hike to Frances Campground or Cuernos Campground (Frances is closer)
    • Camp overnight at one of these campgrounds
  • Day 5:
    • Pack up your belongings and hike to Las Torres Campground
    • Camp overnight at Las Torres Campground
  • Day 6:
    • Leave your big bags at Las Torres Campground and take only your daypacks
    • Hike up and back to Las Torres
    • Pack up your belongings and take the bus back to Laguna Amarga (if you drove) or all the way back to Puerto Natales if you took the bus there originally
    • Relax and explore Puerto Natales
    • Stay overnight in Puerto Natales

Day 7-8, El Calafate

  • Day 7:
    • Take a Bus from Puerto Natales to El Calafate – On this bus ride, you will cross the border from Chile to Argentina.
    • Upon arrival, Relax and explore El Calafate 
  • Day 8:
    • From El Calafate, book a tour to check out the glacier, Perito Moreno. You can either book a glacier kayaking tour or Perito Moreno glacier hike. 
    • After the tour, take the bus from El Calafate to El Chalten

Day 9-12, El Chalten

El Chalten is known for the amazing scenery and hiking! Below are a list of our favorite hikes that we did from this town. 

    • Laguna Torre
    • Loma del Pliegue Tumbado
    • Leguna de los Tres (Mount Fitzroy)
    • El Mirador de Los Condores for sunrise

On the fourth day, take the bus from El Chalten to El Calafate. From here, take a flight to Buenos Aires. 

Day 13-14, Buenos Aires 

Spend this time exploring the city, soaking in the culture, and eating amazing food! We did the City Tour of La Boca – this beautifully colored neighborhood with street food vendors was unforgettable! Don’t forget to book Salsa lessons in Buenos Aires! We did lessons and there was a show that followed – it was unbelievable how talented the dancers were!

Transportation in Patagonia

  • Flying – To get to Patagonia, the best way is to fly. The flights are very affordable. When you fly to Patagonia, make sure you stay within the same country to save money. This means if you are in Chile, fly to Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales and if you are in Argentina, fly to El Calafate. If you fly across the border, it is considered an international flight and will cost you a lot more money. We could recommend taking a bus to cross the border instead of flying as it is much less expensive.
  • Buses – There are several buses per day that will take you to and from Patagonia’s top attractions, including El Calafate, El Chalten, Torres del Paine, etc. The buses are affordable an you won’t have to deal with the hassle of renting a car. For crossing the border between Chile and Argentina, we recommend you take the bus as it is much more affordable than flying. This bus will take you between Puerto Natales and El Calafate via the Paso Dorotea border crossing and will take approximately 5 hours. No need to book this bus in advance as there are several bus options. The hotel you are staying at in Puerto Natales or El Calafate can help with booking the cross-border bus.
  • Rental Car – For convenience, car rentals can be a good option to get around in Patagonia. A car rental will average in the ballpark of ~$80 per day which is more expensive than the buses. Keep in mind that car rental companies do not allow one way car rental drop offs between Chile and Argentina so if you plan to do both countries, you will need to cross the border twice and return the car from the country you booked it in. Due to this, we would recommend only renting a car if you are only planning to stay in one country during your Patagonia visit.

Language

In the tourist areas, most people can speak English so communication is not an issue. However, knowing some Spanish is always useful because not everyone you run into will understand English.

Visa Information

U.S. citizens may enter Chile and Argentina without a visa for stays of up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. You may be asked to show proof of a return flight. No special vaccinations are required to enter Chile and Argentina. Travelers entering these countries are no longer required to provide proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19, or evidence of a negative test result. However, at the time of writing, you will be required to submit electronic sworn statement/traveler’s affidavit stating within 48 hours of traveling and provide evidence of insurance which covers COVID-19 treatment and quarantine.

Payment Methods & Currency

Chile uses the Chilean Peso while Argentina uses the Argentine Peso. Most restaurants and shops in the throughout Chile and Argentina will accept credit or debit cards. However, once you get into the more remote places such as Patagonia, this will be hit or miss. We would recommend having cash on you while you are traveling in Patagonia and exchanging the money back prior to leaving the country. There are no ATMs in Torres del Paine National Park and only one ATM in El Chalten (which is often out of money) so it is safer to have the money withdrawn prior to heading to these areas.

Souvenirs

  • Yerba Mate – Pick up some of this tea while you are here as well as the cool unique straw and cups to drink it from.
  • Wool Clothing and Hats – Sheep are very common in Patagonia and this clothing is stylish and will keep you warm on your trek and will always remind you of Patagonia.
  • Malbec Wine – This region is famous for Malbec wine and Argentina and Chile are synonymous with Malbec.
  • Chimichurri Sauce – A staple of Argentine cuisine. Almost every meal you eat in Argentina will be paired with a chimichurri sauce.