9 independent adventures in Patagonia

From glaciers and peaks to whales and Welsh heritage: discover Patagonia's most exciting adventures

7 mins

1. Argentina's Wild Coast

Best for: Marine wildlife, fly-drives, coastal hikes, cultural history (10 days)

Puerto Pirámides • Puerto Madryn • Punta Tombo • Puerto Deseado • Puerto San Julián • Río Gallegos

Ruta 3 is Argentina’s super-highway, running from Buenos Aires all the way down to Ushuaia. In particular, the stretch from Peninsula Valdés to Río Gallegos via a string of small port cities has a number of unexplored and underrated sites, both natural and man-made.

Patagonia sea lion running on the beach (Shutterstock)
Patagonia sea lion running on the beach (Shutterstock)

It’s a good chance to see the area’s wildlife firsthand, including superlative fur seal, elephant seal and sea lion colonies on the peninsula. In winter, you can spot southern right whales off Puerto Pirámides, while South America’s biggest penguin colony (210,000 breeding pairs of Magellanic penguins) lies at Punta Tombo.

Colonies of neotropic, red-legged and rock cormorants as well as Commerson’s dolphins can also be found up the Ría Deseado.

Killer whales hunting on Patagonia beach (Shutterstock)
Killer whales hunting on Patagonia beach (Shutterstock)

Orca can be sighted anywhere along the coast, usually hunting in pods close to the shore. You’ll also pass through Madryn, which has strong Welsh connections, and Puerto San Julián – where explorer Ferdinand Magellan made landfall in 1520. Finish in Río Gallegos, which was the main transport hub before El Calafate’s tourism boom; its Museum of the Pioneers is a good place to brush up on local history.

When to go? September-March, for penguins; see southern right whales from July-December

2. Welsh Patagonia, Argentina

Welsh culture, hikes, active holidays, fly-drives (7-10 days)

Golfo Nuevo • Puerto Madryn • Rawson • Trelew • Gaiman • Dolavon • Los Altares • Esquel • Trevelin

Back in 1865, 165 migrants arrived in Argentina from Wales aboard the Mimosa. They landed at Golfo Nuevo and settled along the valley of the River Chubut, transforming the land, which is still dotted with chapels, farms and Welshthemed teashops. The area is also a hotspot for fossils, and Trelew’s excellent Museum of Palaeontology is well worth a stop.

Autumn in Bariloche, Argentina (Shutterstock)
Autumn in Bariloche, Argentina (Shutterstock)

The drive across Chubut starts humbly before traversing steppe-like plains and tablelands, with some impressive geological formations at Los Altares. Eventually, Ruta 25 arrives at Tecka and the junction for Esquel, a small town that used to be the terminus for the Old Patagonian Express railway, which once ran 402km through the foothills of the Andes (a shorter tourist service still operates).

Close by is Trevelin, the archetypal ‘green valley’ the Welsh were seeking, and a great spot for quadbiking, hiking, horseriding and mountain biking.

When to go? Year round; but it can be chilly – and even icy – from June-September

3. The Argentine Lake District

Luxury, family holidays, gastronomy, adventure, fishing (8 days)

Esquel • Lago Puelo • Bariloche • San Martín de los Andes • Junín de los Andes

The area around Bariloche – one of northern Patagonia’s bigger towns – is the entry point for Patagonia-lite. The climate is gentler, the summer longer and the roads are well-paved. The whole area is more developed; it’s no coincidence that Buenos Aires’ middle classes tend to choose San Martín for their second homes.

View from Victoria Island on Lake Nahuel Huapi (Shutterstock)
View from Victoria Island on Lake Nahuel Huapi (Shutterstock)

The massive Nahuel Huapi Lake, backed by snow-capped mountains and fringed by dense beech and larch forests, dominates the area. Lago Puelo is equally beautiful, and a popular road-trip known as Ruta de los Siete Lagos (Seven Lakes Road) is a great option for family camping holidays, with some decent trekking, plenty of lake activities and birdwatching en route.

When to go?
October-April, warm and good for trekking; June-September is skiing season

4. Route 40, Argentina

Epic fly-drives, estancias, glaciers, lakes (14 days)

Bariloche • Cueva de las Manos • El Calafate • Río Gallegos • Monte Dinero

The Ruta Nacional 40 (or Route 40) is a 5,000km highway that runs from the Bolivian border to the Magellan Strait. The Patagonian section is not half that, but it’s a well-paved, often deadstraight road that takes in mountain views, huge lakes, remote ranches and a mix of popular resort towns and out-of-the-way places like José de San Martín, Alto Río Senguer, Bajo Caracoles and Río Mayo (‘The National Capital of Shearing’).

Ruta Nacional 40 (Dreamstime)
Ruta Nacional 40 (Dreamstime)

An obligatory stop is the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Cueva de las Manos (Cave of Painted Hands), where prehistoric artwork was daubed at least 9,500 years ago by one of Patagonia’s indigenous tribes.

It’s easy to add detours to the Perito Moreno glacier and Puelo Lake en route, but the beauty of ‘La Cuarenta’ (as Route 40 is known locally) is that you’ll meet ‘real people’ en route: farmers, truckers, roadbuilders, petrol station attendants, gauchos, and even border guards. End at the Estancia Monte Dinero, close to the end of the highway (or ‘Zero km’ from it), a beautiful, remote historic ranch equipped with all mod cons.

When to go? October-April, temperatures are warm and good for hiking and horseriding

5. The Southern Ice Fields, Argentina

Camping, ice-trekking, hikes, water activities, luxury estancias (5 days)

El Calafate • Lago Argentino • El Chaltén

Rivalled only by the Iguazú Falls as Argentina’s top travel destination, the Los Glaciares National Park is a vast protected swathe of land. Explore montane forest, sweeping steppe and one of the biggest ice caps outside Greenland and Antarctica. There are also dozens of lakeside and mountain glaciers, with two long, bitterly cold lakes – Viedma and Argentino.

Cerro Torre, Los Glaciares National Park (Dreamstime)
Cerro Torre, Los Glaciares National Park (Dreamstime)

The star attractions are the Perito Moreno glacier in the south (great for photos, hikes, ice-treks and boat rides) and the Fitz Roy massif to the north, which offers more of the same, with good walking trails and some world-class mountaineering.

Away from these two popular hubs, there’s plenty to do, from Land Rover excursions to the lunar-like summit of Cerro Huyliche to a ranch stay at Estancia Cristina by the lakeside. El Chaltén is a convivial place to kick back with a local craft beer or wine, while El Calafate has some great grill restaurants – try the lamb.

Welcome to El Chalten village sign with Fitz Roy mountain range in background (Dreamstime)
El Chalten village sign with Fitz Roy mountain range (Dreamstime)

If you fancy seeing another world-class national park there’s a tough overland route through to nearby Torres del Paine, Chile, for the intrepid, but most just hop on the bus over the border.

When to go? November-March, humid near the mountains, colder in the higher lands

6. The Land of Fire, Argentina/Chile

Estancias, gastronomy, history, cruises (5-7 days)

Ushuaia • Estancia Harberton • Rio Grande • Porvenir • Punta Arenas


Long regarded as part of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire) earned its unusual name from the many signal fires lit by the indigenous Selk’nam, which the explorer Magellan observed when sailing the coast of Isla Grande. Less touristy than the mainland, this large island is shared by Argentina and Chile, though its main road is inside the former.

Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (Dreamstime)
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (Dreamstime)

Much of the terrain is either scrubby grassland or jagged peaks, but Ushuaia is a lively modern town and useful as a base for short trips. Head out into the Beagle Channel to spot sea lions, seabirds, and the Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. It is also the point of departure for the one of the excellent cruises to Cape Horn and Punta Arenas.

Landscape of Tierra del Fuego National Park (Shutterstock)
Landscape of Tierra del Fuego National Park (Shutterstock)

West of Ushuaia is beautiful Tierra Del Fuego national park – noisy with giant Magellanic woodpeckers – while the drive east and north takes in several pioneers’ estancias (Harberton is open to visitors) and Lago Fagnano. End in old, moody Punta Arenas, Chile’s most southerly city.

When to go? November-March, warm and good for both hiking and penguin-spotting; July-September is skiing season

7. The Rocky South, Chile

Long hiking trails, camping, glaciers, history, cruises (7-10 days)

Torres del Paine NP • Puerto Natales • Punta Arenas • Puerto del Hambre


Torres del Paine National Park is Chilean Patagonia’s geological showcase. Two distinctive granite rock monuments erupt out of the Paine massif – the jagged ‘Cuernos’ (Horns) and spikier ‘Torres’ (Towers), which give the park its name. They’d be impressive anywhere, but because this 2,000m-plus mountain system stands alone in Patagonian steppe – the spectacle is simply breathtaking.

Horses grazing in meadow in Torres del Paine National Park (Shutterstock)
Horses grazing in meadow in Torres del Paine National Park (Shutterstock)

The ultimate adventure here is to walk the entire 130km circuit, but those strapped for time can opt for shorter sections. There are fine campsites, luxury hotels, log cabins, some challenging hikes, a good chance of seeing guanaco and condor, and a less likely one of spotting a puma.

Nearby Puerto Natales is a former backpacker town that’s now somewhat gentrified. The Singular hotel is an architectural landmark – and also the embarkation point for cruises into the fjords or longer boat trips up through the narrow channels all the way to Chiloé and Puerto Montt.

Scenic view of Punta Arenas with Magellan Strait in Patagonia (Shutterstock)
Scenic view of Punta Arenas with Magellan Strait in Patagonia (Shutterstock)

Heading south overland takes you to Punta Arenas, an important port before the opening of the Panama Canal but now a sleepy backwater, enlivened by a few good museums and a grand cemetery full of forgotten sailors. A short drive south lies isolated Puerto del Hambre (Port Famine), where hundreds of settlers once perished in the 1580s, owing to its unforgiving setting.

When to go? October-April, warm but windy; October and April tend to be less busy

8. The Carretera Austral, Chile

Fly-drives, camping, fly-fishing, landscapes, camping, birdlife (10 days)

Coyhaique • Puerto Bertrand • Parque Patagonia • Cochrane


Cut off from the rest of Chile by rugged topography, an ice cap and deep fjords, the Aysén region is a true wilderness. The partial paving of the Carretera Austral (Southern Highway) has opened things up, however, and a good pick-up will get you to some of the most striking landscapes in South America.

Carretera Austral, Patagonia (Dreamstime)
Carretera Austral, Patagonia (Dreamstime)

Coyhaique is the only town of any size on this route and the place to stock up on supplies, especially if you are aiming to camp. The Lago General Carrera is South America’s second-largest lake, and while it is surreally beautiful to look at, it is freezing and any kayaking or other trips should only be considered if the wind is down.

General Carrera Lake (Shutterstock)
General Carrera Lake (Shutterstock)

The highway follows the Río Baker, but you should veer left up the Chacabuco Valley to see the recently opened Parque Patagonia. This protected area of recovering steppe and low mountains has good campsites and its grasslands are grazed by guanaco and rhea, and used as nesting grounds for the tinamou and burrowing owl. In the mountains, the skies are patrolled by eagles and condor.

Cochrane is grey and functional, but you’ll probably need it to refill. If you want to go all the way to the end of the road at Villa O’Higgins, you’ll need more like 20 days to explore and get back to Balmaceda Airport.

When to go? November-March, temperatures are mild and driving conditions best

9. The Chilean Lake District

Camping, hiking, history, rafting (7-8 days)

Pucón • Osorno• Puerto Varas • Puerto Montt • Ancud • Castro • Cucao

A mirror image of Argentina’s lake region, though wetter and dotted with quaint towns and villages built by German settlers. There’s excellent camping, hiking, kayaking and several rafting and canyoning opportunities across the region, with a string of densely forested national parks built around the active volcanoes of Villarrica, Osorno and Puyehue.

Puerto Montt City (Dreamstime)
Puerto Montt City (Dreamstime)

Puerto Montt, the main city, is an important port, but most travellers prefer charming lake-side Puerto Varas as a base for arranging logistics.

The Chiloé Archipelago feels like a world-apart, with its own mythologies, distinctive history and culture. It can be a rain-soaked affair (it depressed the hell out of Darwin when he visited on the Beagle voyage) but there are few tourists, lots of marine life, and cosy lodgings – including waterfront hostels on stilts and smart design hotels around Castro.

When to go?
October-April


Main Image: National Park Torres del Paine (Shutterstock)

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