Many avid hikers dream of traveling to Patagonia, which spans two countries and is huge, very diverse, and simply breathtaking. But traveling around Patagonia is easier said than done: the weather is unpredictable, the infrastructure is often lacking, and the prices are higher than you’d hope for.
I have been to Patagonia a few times – in fact, it’s probably my favorite place in the world. So, I thought I’d put together a list of things you should know about how to travel Patagonia. This Patagonia travel guide will be helpful when planning your trip.
Make sure to also read my post, The Best Argentina Travel Tips, for more general tips for your Patagonia travel guide.
What To Know Before Traveling To Patagonia
Patagonia is huge (and actually two countries)
Saying that you are traveling to Patagonia hardly gives a clear indication of where you are actually going. Patagonia is huge and there are many incredible places to visit in Patagonia. First of all, it spans across two countries – Argentina and Chile. Only in Argentina, it comprises 5 provinces: Chubut, Neuquén, Río Negro, Tierra del Fuego and Santa Cruz.
If you have time and your budget allows, you should visit both the Argentine and Chilean Patagonia. You could fly into Buenos Aires and out of Santiago de Chile and then move around by bus to cover the shorter distances and by plane for the longest ones.
It calls for slow travel (but doable with less time, too)
The best way to fully enjoy Patagonia Argentina is to take your time exploring it and taking in all the amazing views and landscapes it has to offer. Try to be as spontaneous as possible, letting your Patagonia travel plans unfold little by little so that you can make the most of the good weather—should you be lucky enough to have a few days of sun in a row.
Give yourself plenty of time to move from one place to the other: with such huge distances, bus rides take a lot of time and easily warn you out. Just to give you an example, the ride from El Chalten to Bariloche takes a whopping 24 hours!
However, if you are short on time, careful planning is vital. This means taking a few planes to connect you from one place to the other (which will inevitably increase the price of your trip) or joining a guided tour where you let the experts do the planning job, and you just have to plan what goes in your backpack.
If you like the idea of sitting down while someone else organizes your Patagonia trip, simply join a guided group tour. There are many reputable companies that run excellent tours.
Border crossing is easier said than done
Border crossing in South America is not that straightforward – even when you want to move between Argentine and Chilean Patagonia. You may not need a visa, yet the process can be very slow. You’ll have to get to one border, line up to get your passport stamped out, move to the other border (which can be as far as 5 km / 3 miles), and get your passport stamped.
Border control is actually quite strict, especially in Chile. Your bags will be carefully screened to ensure you are not carrying anything that may hinder the local flora, fauna, and agricultural crops.
Do not carry fruit, meat, or dairy products if you plan to cross the border. I was stuck for a good hour when I crossed to go to Torres del Paine because a German guy traveling on the same bus forgot he had an apple and a banana in his bag, for which he had to pay a hefty fine.
Patagonia is pristine, so be environmentally conscious
Not only is the air clear and crisp, but you won’t see any garbage along trails and in Patagonia national parks, despite the fact that there are very few garbage bins. Be respectful of the environment and always take a small bag to dispose of your garbage: do your best to keep Patagonia clean.
Speaking of efforts to keep Patagonia clean, consider the impact of your actions and try to be an environmentally conscious traveler as much as possible.
Always walk on the trails – you’ll often see signs that warn you that certain areas are recuperating. Never light fires in the forest.
Fires started by careless hikers have caused incredible damage to Patagonia in the last decade (in 2012, a massive portion of Torres del Paine burned down following a fire lit by a camper). The strong winds of Patagonia Argentina carry the fire far and fast!
The views are incredible throughout
Whether driving along the vast planes of Chubut, the windy roads of Tierra del Fuego, or along the peaks of the province of Santa Cruz, you can rest assured of something: you will have no shortage of breathtaking views.
You’ll definitely want to bring a good camera or at least have a good camera on your phone. There are endless viewpoints and great photo opportunities in every corner of the country.
The wildlife is unique
One of the biggest perks of traveling to Patagonia is the possibility of admiring the local wildlife. Guanacos—a wild species similar to llamas and alpacas—are found throughout Patagonia, from the vast plains of Chubut to the icy Tierra del Fuego. Depending on the season, you’ll be able to see southern right whales, orcas, and sea lions in Chubut and Tierra del Fuego.
Various species of penguins live on the shores of Chubut (the best place to see them is Punta Tombo) and in Tierra del Fuego. Other animals that populate this part of the world are pumas (though they are way more difficult to spot), flamingos, foxes, and an incredible variety of birds.
The weather is crazy
The best time to visit Patagonia is the summer, between the end of November and the very beginning of April.
Even if you may want to visit in the low season, you won’t have much of a choice: most businesses, hotels, restaurants, tour companies, and even bus routes only operate in the summer months. Trails are closed in the winter months and often covered in snow anyways.
You may be able to travel Patagonia in the shoulder season, ie, in October, April, and May, and enjoy it when it is less crowded. But before heading there, make sure to double-check if trails are accessible and if any hotel or hostel is still open.
Even in the summer, you’ll get a good dose of the crazy Patagonian weather. On any given day, you may get sun, wind, rain, and, at times, even snow. You will have to be fully equipped for sudden weather changes.
You’ll be hiking most of the time (and should be prepared for it)
Most people travel to this part of the world to hike Patagonia Argentina, and most of the incredible sites in Patagonia require a bit of effort. While bus travel allows you to visit some of the most famous places in Argentina, such as Perito Moreno Glacier or Tierra del Fuego National Park, for the vast majority, you need to hike.
You must be prepared for all the Patagonia hiking you’ll be doing. This means being actually fit—don’t attempt to hike to Laguna de Los Tres if the most exercise you’ve done in the last few months was lifting your pint glass. It also means being properly geared for the hikes.
You do need hiking boots and socks
Hiking boots are a must when traveling to Patagonia. You simply can’t head out on the trails with a pair of running shoes: you need something that gives you excellent ankle support and is waterproof. If you are getting new boots, make sure to use them a few times before your trip and wear them so that they will be more comfortable.
Don’t underestimate the importance of good hiking socks. They will prevent your feet from rubbing against the shoes and blistering.
In fact, you do need proper hiking gear
Packing smartly is essential when traveling to Patagonia. Leave your fancy clothes at home, and only bring good gear for hiking Patagonia Argentina that keeps you warm and at the same time comfortable.
For a full list of what you should carry on your Patagonia trip, head to my post, Hiking Gear And More: The Perfect Patagonia Packing List.
You should build some rest days in your itinerary
Hiking (and traveling in general) can be exhausting. Allow yourself a rest day in your Argentina itinerary between the longest hikes to give your legs and feet a break.
You can use those rest days to do other useful things, such as planning the next steps of your trip, looking for bus companies for your onward Patagonia travel, doing laundry (such a hard thing to do if you keep moving from one place to the other!), and—quite simply—relaxing before you head on to the next hike.
Patagonia is actually quite expensive
Although access to the trails is free for the most part (you’ll be paying a fee to access Los Glaciares National Park, where Perito Moreno Glacier is located, and to visit Tierra del Fuego National Park), everything else will add up to the costs.
Accommodation, food, transportation, and – should you do any – tours in Patagonia are expensive. However, this should not prevent you from traveling to Patagonia. By all means, go. Just plan your trip smartly so that you can save a bit here and there.
You should pick your accommodation wisely
The best way to keep your costs down is by picking your accommodation wisely. The good news is that Patagonia offers a wide range of options for just about any taste and budget, with refugios (mountain huts), hotels, boutique hotels, chalets, hostels, and even camping sites.
Hostels, chalets, and camping sites are obviously the best options if you have a small budget, especially because you have the possibility of cooking as well. However, places fill up quickly. Book in advance for a chance to get a spot in the cheapest places.
It can be crowded – but never overwhelming
On a regular (and especially sunny) day, you’ll find a lot of people on most trails. Yet, Patagonia is such a vast place that you’ll hardly feel overwhelmed. Besides, most travelers visit Patagonia with only one thing in mind: hiking. This means you’ll likely encounter like minded people with whom to share your experiences and who you can join on the trails.
Internet is hardly a thing, but don’t forget your power bank
Let your family and friends know you will be going to Patagonia, and set an automatic out-of-office reply for your email if you think you may be receiving business messages. Internet is hardly a thing in many places in Patagonia. While in El Calafate you’ll easily get wifi in town, forget about in El Chalten.
You may do your best by getting a local sim card; you may try hard to get online at your hostel or when at a restaurant; and you may even be able to send the odd WhatsApp message to your friends and upload a picture or two on social media if you are lucky.
But don’t schedule work calls or business e-meetings: the internet is frustratingly slow, and you’ll likely waste your time trying to communicate when you should be out on the trails.
The lack of internet will keep your phone battery going longer than it normally would. The constant use you’ll make of it to take incredible photos will consume it. Bring a good power bank with you so you can recharge your phone on the go any time your battery is running low.
You should visit an estancia
Estancias are farms used for cattle raising, and they can be found all over Argentina. Patagonia has some beautiful ones. Though some have now become actual tourist attractions where animal farming is only a minor part of the income, most of them are still fully working to raise the famous Argentinian beef and Patagonian lamb.
A few working farms are open to visitors. Try to find one and make sure to visit. It’s a great way to learn more about the local culture and way of life and about the hardships of living in Patagonia in the winter.
You should bring a water bottle
Water in Patagonia comes from glaciers, and it’s safe to drink. Local authorities put a lot of effort into educating people to avoid practices that may cause contamination of rivers, streams, and water sources. For the most part, you can easily refill your bottle at the river and avoid the use of plastic.
On occasion, campers and travelers washing their clothes or even swimming or rinsing their bowls in the river have caused contamination, which has serious consequences for people drinking the water.
To be on the safe side, take a steripen with you, or chlorine dioxide tablets.
Avoid any behavior that may cause contamination of the water: do not swim, wash dishes, or change clothes in the river!
The sun is intense, so prepare accordingly
Sunglasses are a basic commodity in Patagonia. They will protect you from the sun, but most importantly, repair your eyes from the ever-blowing winds and from all the dust that these carry.
Make sure to pack a hat and/or a beanie for your Patagonia trip. You should go for something that protects you from the sun, so ideally, it covers your forehead and keeps your ears and head warm when it gets windy. You may not look stylish, but Patagonia isn’t a catwalk either.
And you can’t forget sunblock, either. Make sure to smother it on your face, neck, ears, chest, and any other exposed area. You won’t feel the sun so much because it never gets too hot, but your skin definitely will, and it will thank you if you protect it!
Calafate berries are yummy
El Calafate, the main starting point to visit Perito Moreno Glacier, takes its name from a berry that grows in a small bush, and that can be found all over Patagonia. You will see these bushes along the trails and can safely eat the berries.
Mind you, they are so tiny that there hardly is a chance you’ll fill up on them! But an old saying goes: “Once you taste the calafate berry, you are destined to go back to Patagonia.” I guess I called it upon myself…
Actually, all the food are drinks are good
Speaking of food, you’ll be glad to know that the food in Patagonia is really good. Whether you opt for the typical asado (mixed grill) or go for the local trucha (trout), the ever-present milanesa (breaded and fried meat), or the homemade pasta or lamb ravioli, you can rest assured that you’ll be having delicious food throughout.
Argentina and Chile are both famous for their wine, but while this will be ever present on any good restaurant menu, Patagonia is not a wine producing region. What abounds locally, however, is beer. In recent years, microbreweries have been springing pretty much anywhere, and you’ll be able to reward yourself with a good pint of craft beer after any hike.
El Chalten has a lot of small breweries (which is surprising for such a small village). In Ushuaia, head to The Birra and opt for a good pint of Beagle.
Make sure to check out my post 25 Delicious Argentina Food To Try to make sure you don’t miss a single thing.
Patagonia is safe
Considering some countries have a bad reputation in South America, you may be wondering, is Patagonia Argentina safe? Fortunately, yes, it’s very safe.
Argentina and Chile are the safest countries in South America, and Patagonia is by far the safest region. It’s a great place for a solo trip. Chances are you’ll be meeting lots of other like-minded travelers and enjoying a chat or two with the very friendly locals.
Yes, you need a good travel insurance
One of the most important Patagonia travel tips is to have good travel sinruance. Regardless of how safe Patagonia is or how fit you are for hiking, make sure to get yourself good insurance before traveling to Patagonia.
Some parts of it are truly remote, and in the unlucky event that something happens to you, you may have to be evacuated, and this is very expensive.
I recommend HeyMondo for travel insurance. You can easily get a quote to check if it’s within budget, but it can make a world of difference.
Make sure to read my post, Why You Need A Good Backpacker Travel Insurance, for more information on this topic. Even if you think you don’t need it, you should definitely have it.
Further Readings
Traveling to Chile and Argentina? Make sure to read these posts:
- Ten Incredible Places To Visit In Chile
- A Guide To Renting A Car In Argentina
- 32 Unmissable Things To Do In Buenos Aires
- 11 Fantastic Day Trips From Buenos Aires
- A Complete Guide To Where To Stay In Buenos Aires
- Top 13 Things To Do In Rosario Argentina: An Insider’s Guide!
- A Complete Guide To Puerto Madryn, Argentina.
- A Complete Guide To Hiking To Laguna Torre
- A Complete Guide To Hiking Laguna Esmeralda
- A Guide To Hiking Around Fitz Roy, In El Chalten
- An Excellent Guide To El Chalten
- The Best Argentine Movies
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Is there a chance for people who are physically challenged , to visit patagonia??
Depends on the level of the challenge…. You won’t be able to hike in Patagonia if you are in a wheelchair (don’t know if this is your case) but you can definitely visit Perito Moreno Glacier and, if you go to Ushuaia, you can do the Beagle Channel and the Tierra del Fuego National Park.
That’s very useful, thanks you. I would like to know more attractions in Patagonia that don’t require a lot of walking (ie. no more than 200-300 meters.
Please tell me more!
Perito Moreno is probably the place that requires less walking – but keep in mind Patagonia is almost synonymous of walking!!