Patagonia

The best time to plan a tour to Patagonia is between November and March, during the summertime in the southern hemisphere. Avoid visiting between June and August (winter time) due to the closure of most of the attractions and low temperatures. 

There are many options for Patagonia. You do not need to attempt hikes. We can provide tours for all fitness levels. Contact us HERE for more information.

If you want to walk, it depends on the treks you wish to complete. You can always choose treks with low level of difficulty or challenge yourself with more difficult ones. However, it is always recommended to train yourself before going hiking, so you have the confidence to know your capabilities before you set off. 

It is recommended to wear layers that can easily be taken off when it gets warmer as well as always carry a windproof/waterproof jacket. Also, good hiking boots and a hat are essential items to take with you. Before the trip we will provide you with the list of necessary packing depending on the tour. 

Regarding security the region is safe, however, a greater risk is due to the isolation. When travelling always make sure to contact a ranger or any other person in the region to let them know about your journey and its estimated duration. 

Patagonia is the southernmost region of South America, encompassing over one million square kilometres of outstanding wilderness, shared by Argentina and Chile, the former making up about two-thirds of the entire region. On the larger, eastern Argentinian side, the region’s northern border somewhat follows the Colorado River, starting just north of the Viedma Glacier and Peninsula Valdes, and stretching south all the way to Tierra del Fuego, on the Beagle Channel. The southern stretch of the Andes Mountains provides a natural border with Chile, whose northern border extends from Conception and Puerto Montt all the way south to a narrow eastern slither of Tierra del Fuego. Patagonia is bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the west, the Atlantic on the east and the Southern Ocean on the south.

Patagonia’s exceptional biodiversity means the landscape and natural highlights are very distinct, depending on where you go. The Argentinian side is revered for its semi-arid steppe and deserts and the Chilean side for its magnificent glaciers, fjords and sky-reaching, snow-capped mountains. Both sides boast spectacular glacial lakes (Lakes Regions) and both offer an abundance of outdoor activities and sightseeing options.

Given the diversity of the landscape throughout Patagonia, where in Patagonia you should head will highly depend on how much time you have, what you’d love to do, as well also your travel budget. Do note that it’s not unusual to cross borders back and forth by road to reach close-by destinations. Argentinian and Chilean Patagonia do offer unique highlights, however, and given the sheer expansiveness of the place, internal flights are usually the way to go. In this case, hopping between the two countries is even easier.

Chilean Patagonia may be the much smaller side yet it is arguably the most remote and hard to reach. Home to a few of the top regional highlights, including (from north to south) the southern end of the famous Carretera Austral (for EPIC road journeys), Torres del Paine National Park (for outstanding hiking) and the jaw-dropping Patagonian fjords, which can be explored by expedition cruise ship. In Argentina, however, you have the sensational Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park (which can be easily reached by road from Torres del Paine), the whale-watching mecca of Peninsula Valdes, the breathtaking area around Mt FitzRoy (which gives Torres a real run for its hiking money) and, of course, the southern city of Ushuaia, the base point for Antarctica cruises. Which of these takes your fancy most is the side you should be honing on, keeping in mind that marvellous mountainous landscapes will be your constant companions no matter where you go. Have more time? Do both!

Renowned for its unpredictable weather and exceptionally strong winds, Patagonia’s climate can be erratic during the Austral summer months, between October and March. This is the most popular tourist season, a time of year when hiking trails and all lodges are open and the region about as welcoming (weather-wise) as can be. Although summertime daily highs can reach 22C, the strong, dry and cold winds mean it’ll hardly ever feel so balmy. When packing for a tour of Patagonia, in Summer, you should always expect freezing temps, nonetheless and always be prepared for sudden climatic changes.

In Winter, Patagonia is blanket by an ethereal blanket of powdery snow and, given the winds actually subside between May and August, the cold becomes a lot more bearable, in fact. A snow-lover’s hub, Patagonia offers world-class skiing, snowboarding and a host of sightseeing options, even in Winter (Perito Moreno is a prime example) although your chances of extensive hiking will be greatly diminished. Dedicated puma spotting tours are best taken in Winter, where you can expect night-time lows of about 0C, perhaps not as cold as you may imagine.

Renowned as a hiker’s and walker’s mecca, Patagonia offers nearly endless chances to stretch one’s legs on these Patagonia hikes, all the while feasting on insanely beautiful sceneries. The most famous walking hub would have to be Chiles’ Torres del Paine, where day-long, half-day and multi-day walks offer something for everyone, of any age and fitness levels. That said, there are likewise plenty of walking options in Argentina, namely from the two main cities of El Chalten (for walks to magnificent viewpoints of Mt FitzRoy) and a surprising number of trails in Tierra del Fuego, all of which are easily reached from Ushuaia.

In Patagonia, you can walk atop glaciers and across expansive regions of steppe, you can hike to the base of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field and explore temperate rainforests on foot. In Chile, you can mountain climb and cross the Andes on week-long adventures, with a multitude of hiker’s huts offering shelter and meals. It’s quite impossible to find a Patagonia tour that doesn’t offer an abundance of walks in its itinerary although dedicated hikers can plan a bespoke journey that solely hones in on this most magical of Patagonian activities.