- Base yourself in El Calafate for the Perito Moreno Glacier and El Chaltén for hiking
- Fly in, as the road from Buenos Aires is over 2,500km
- Wind is constant and weather changes fast, so pack layers in any month
- Combine with Chile's Torres del Paine, about five or six hours by road from El Calafate
- Airports
- El Calafate (FTE), Ushuaia (USH), Bariloche (BRC)
- Best time to go
- November-March; October and April for fewer crowds
- Type
- Region
Patagonia is the vast, wind-scoured southern tip of South America, shared between Argentina and Chile. On the Argentine side, the grassy steppe runs west to the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, where glaciers such as the Perito Moreno Glacier spill into milky turquoise lakes and granite spires like Monte Fitz Roy pierce the clouds. It is the most dramatic scenery in Argentina, and the reason many people make the long trip.
Distances are huge and services thin out in winter, so a Patagonia trip needs planning. Most visitors focus on the glaciers and hiking around El Calafate and El Chaltén, often crossing into Chile, and sometimes add Ushuaia.
Where to stay
- El Calafate – a small town on the shores of Lago Argentino and the base for Los Glaciares National Park's southern section. It has the widest choice of hotels, restaurants and tour operators.
- El Chaltén – Argentina's trekking capital, about three hours' drive north, with trailheads leading straight from town. Simple guesthouses and hostels plus a few lodges.
- Estancias – working sheep ranches on the steppe, offering horse riding, lamb roasts and a taste of gaucho life. Some are open for overnight stays.
- Ushuaia – on the Beagle Channel in Tierra del Fuego, far to the south, with hotels on the hillsides above the harbour.
Things to do
- Perito Moreno Glacier – walk the boardwalks facing the ice wall, take a boat to its face or try a guided ice trek on the glacier itself.
- Hike around El Chaltén – Laguna de los Tres, a hard but unforgettable day hike to a glacial lake beneath Fitz Roy, and Laguna Torre, a gentler walk to a lake beneath Cerro Torre.
- Lago Argentino boat trips – cruises from Puerto Bandera reach the Upsala and Spegazzini glaciers.
- Torres del Paine – Chile's famous national park is a long day trip from El Calafate, but staying two or more nights in Puerto Natales or the park is much better.
- Ushuaia – sail the Beagle Channel past sea lion colonies, walk in Tierra del Fuego National Park, and, from roughly November to March, board an expedition cruise to Antarctica.
- The Lake District – further north, Bariloche has lakes, chocolate shops, hiking in summer and skiing in winter.
Getting there and around
Fly from Buenos Aires: Aerolíneas Argentinas and low-cost carriers link Aeroparque with El Calafate in about 3h15 and Ushuaia in about 3h30, and there are flights between El Calafate and Ushuaia. El Calafate's airport is about 20 minutes from town.
Buses link El Calafate with El Chaltén several times a day in season and run across the border to Puerto Natales in Chile, about five to six hours including the border crossing. A hire car gives more freedom, but roads include gravel stretches and rental companies charge extra to take cars into Chile, which needs advance paperwork.
When to go
The season runs from about October to April. December to February brings long days, up to around 17 hours of light, and the busiest trails. November, March and early April are quieter, with autumn colours from March. The wind is strongest in spring and summer. From May to September, many hotels, tours and buses around El Chaltén close, though the Perito Moreno Glacier stays open all year.
Top attractions in Patagonia
Patagonia on the map
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Patagonia?
Allow at least two days in El Calafate and three in El Chaltén. With a week or more you can add Torres del Paine in Chile, and Ushuaia needs another two or three days.
Should I visit Argentine or Chilean Patagonia?
Ideally both. Argentina has the Perito Moreno Glacier and the Fitz Roy hikes; Chile has Torres del Paine. They are close enough to combine in one trip of ten days to two weeks.
Is Patagonia expensive?
It is one of the pricier parts of South America. Accommodation, glacier tours and food cost noticeably more than in Buenos Aires because of the remote location, and hotels book up early for December to February.
Written by
Thomas Ski, mountains & expeditions editor
Thomas is happiest above the tree line or below the Antarctic Circle. He writes our ski, mountain and polar expedition guides.
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