Attractions
Vast and immense, Patagonia, offers a plethora of experiences and sceneries. From Bariloche with its turquoise lakes and green highlands, to Ushuaia at the end of the World, and to Patagonia hiking tours in world-class, prepare to live a true encounter with nature.
Check out our most recommended attractions in Patagonia!
Bariloche
Bariloche is the most important city in Argentine Patagonia. It is the number one destination chosen by Argentine travelers and also from foreigners. Bariloche is a very picturesque city that is close to several beautiful lakes. The most famous is the Nahuel Huapi Lake. In Bariloche, you will be able to carry out many activities such as hiking, horseback riding, visiting chocolate shops, visiting breweries, and being amazed by the most beautiful viewpoints. From Bariloche, you can also visit Villa La Angostura, El Bolsón, and San Martín de los Andes, nearby cities and towns that stand out for their incredible landscapes, and enjoy a self-drive trip to the Seven Lakes Route.
Puerto Madryn
On the shore of the Atlantic sea within Patagonia is Puerto Madryn, a beautiful city full of marine wildlife. Near Puerto Madryn, you can visit the Valdés Peninsula, an ecological reserve that contains native fauna and flora of great biological value. In Puerto Madryn, you will be able to dive, meet whales and visit some villages of Welsh origin.
El Calafate
El Calafate is one of the best-known and most prominent destinations in Argentine Patagonia. It is nothing more and nothing less than the closest town to the Perito Moreno Glacier: the only one in the world that is still expanding. Visiting it is a unique experience since you can not only take incredible photographs but also trek on the glacier and discover its secret caves.
El Chaltén
Also close to the Perito Moreno Glacier is El Chaltén, the capital of Patagonia hiking tours in Argentina. This town offers the possibility of taking different walks with different demands. There are hikes for all levels, from beginners to very advanced. Undoubtedly one of its main attractions is Mount Fitz Roy, which is located a short distance from El Chaltén.
Ushuaia
If we talk about remote places, we have to talk about Ushuaia. It is the southernmost city on the entire planet. It is located in the province of Tierra del Fuego in Argentina and offers the possibility of doing a lot of super entertaining and adventurous activities. Get to know the jail and the lighthouse at the end of the world, ranches and turquoise lagoons, all in the same destination.
Route 40
Inaugurated in 1935, the mythical Route 40 is more than five thousand kilometers long and crosses Argentina from north to south, crossing three tourist regions (Cuyo, Patagonia, and the North) and eleven provinces. It starts in the south of the country, in Cabo Vírgenes, province of Santa Cruz, and ends in the north, in La Quiaca, province of Jujuy. This route follows some sections of the Inca Trail, built in the 15th century by the Inca conquerors to link the southern region of their domains with their capital in Cusco, Peru. Also, in Patagonia, it follows ancestral routes of the Tehuelches, when on foot they wandered in search of their hunting prey (guanacos for example)
Torres del Paine
Torres del Paine is located in Chilean Patagonia, exactly 154 kilometers from Puerto Natales, 400 kilometers from Punta Arenas, and 270 kilometers from El Calafate, Argentina. This national park is full of beautiful turquoise lakes, large and imposing massifs, forests of varied vegetation, undulating rivers, and a great variety of fauna, highlighting the pumas, guanacos, and ñandúes. In 2013 it was declared the Eighth Wonder of the World by Unesco. This is a demanded destination for people enjoying Patagonia hiking tours.
Puerto Varas
Puerto Varas is a city in the Lake District in southern Chile. It is located on the southwestern shore of the extensive Lake Llanquihue, which offers breathtaking views of the snow-capped and still-active Calbuco and Osorno volcanoes. Traditional German-style architecture characterizes the city.
Eating & Drinking
Check out our most recommended Restaurants & Bars in Patagonia!
Mamuschka - Bariloche
Mitre 298, R8400 San Carlos de Bariloche. Tel. (0294) 4423294.
Chocolates / Ice Cream
In this small place, they make the creamiest chocolates in Bariloche (also the most expensive). They are a great option to take as a gift since they offer beautiful cans and boxes decorated with chocolates and other products inside. It has a cafeteria (small, and always full) where you can taste the best patisserie in the area.
Familia Weiss - Bariloche
Vice Almte. O’Connor 401, R8400 San Carlos de Bariloche. Tel. (0294) 4421998/4435789
Meat
Although the place is a bit noisy, the smokehouse is well deserved for its popularity. The dishes are abundant, smoked meats and the service is quite fast.
Cervecería Patagonia - Bariloche
Km 24,7, Cto Chico, R8400 San Carlos de Bariloche. Tel. 0294 436-8337
Panoramic Brewery
One of the most visited places by travelers in Bariloche isCervecería Patagonia. And it is not precisely because of its beer, which is also very nice. Visitors choose this brewery because it has an enviable view of Lake Moreno and the sunsets are magical. We recommend going before sunset, so you can see the full spectacle.
La Tablita - El Calafate
Cnel. Rosales 28, Z9405 El Calafate. Tel. (02902) 49-1065.
Meat / Regionals / Grill
La Tablita is known as the best grill in El Calafate. Roast meats are their specialty and, when compared to other restaurants, it is not expensive. It is very popular, so we always recommend making a reservation before going. It can be crowded with groups, so it is quite noisy at times and can be slow to deliver. However, everything is forgotten when the food is served.
Cantina El Náutico - Puerto Madryn
Av. Julio Argentino Roca 790, U9120 Puerto Madryn. Tel. (0280) 447 1404
Seafood / Mediterranean / Spanish
Dishes for everyone’s taste and budget. It is the most traditional with more than thirty-year in town.
La Cervecería - El Chaltén
San Martín 320, Z9301 El Chalten. Tel: (02962) 193109.
Brewery
It is the most popular restaurant in the city. It is always packed, not only because of its craft beer, but also because of its wonderful pizza and generous homemade casseroles, just perfect after a long day of walking!
La Tapera - El Chaltén
José Antonio Rojo 74, Z9301 El Chalten. Tel: (02962) 493195
Meat / Pasta
Very good dishes, generous portions and good quality. The service is excellent. The atmosphere of the place is very warm and makes you feel at home. The dishes are usually well presented and the desserts are delicious. Advance booking is recommended, if you don’t want to wait for a table the place fills up fast.
Coiron Restaurant - Torres del Paine
Hotel Las Torres, Torres del Paine National Park. Tel: + 56-61-617450
Regional / Vegetarian Friendly
The best time to visit is during the day since the view from its living room, surrounded by mountains and parks, is incredible. There are many options for different tastes and they are all very nice and do not disappoint. There are several vegetarian-friendly dishes.
Quincho Pampa Lodge - Torres del Paine
Lot 1, Rio Serrano Sector, Torres del Paine National Park. Tel: + 56-53-162911.
International /Southamerican / Chilean
A very quiet restaurant with beautiful views. Its bread basket stands out for its variety of breads, always warm. It offers a good variety of grill and meat. There are those who think that its cuisine is the best in the area!.
Hotel Lago Grey Bar & Restaurant - Torres del Paine
Sector Lago Grey S/N, Torres del Paine. Tel: + 56-61-2410172
Regional food / Meat / Pasta
This restaurant combines delicious gastronomy with the unique surroundings of Hotel Lago Grey, ensuring a unique experience in each dish. Two menus are offered daily for lunch and dinner. Selected and absolutely natural products are used in its preparation. In addition, its varied wine cellar offers the best of Chilean vines.
The Cravia - Ushuaia
Héroes de Malvinas 2617, V9410 Ushuaia. Tel: (02901) 442900
Gourmet
There are restaurants that stand out for their dishes, others for their vibe and others for their location. Without a doubt, if we had to choose one feature that stands out from La Cravia it would be its enviable location within the Hotel Arakur. It is 800 meters high and offers incredible views of the city. In addition, its delicious menu maridates with the experience.
El Mallin - Bariloche
Av. Exequiel Bustillo KM 11600, R8400 San Carlos de Bariloche
Traditional Patagonia Cuisine
The menu is defined by Patagonian flavors. We trust local producers to offer authentic cuisine committed to the region, with innovative dishes such as Tartar de Trucha, Mollejas de Cordero y Bondiola a la cerveza negra Porter.
Tips & Advice
The first thing to know when you visit Patagonia is the specific destination you want to go to. It is not the same to plan a trip to Ushuaia as to Puerto Madryn. For example, if you want to see whales in Puerto Madryn you should go between June and December, but if you want to see penguins, it’s better to travel from September until March. However, if you want to visit Ushuaia, Bariloche, or El Calafate, it’s easy to travel all year round. But keep in mind that the best time to visit southern Patagonia is summer when most of the Patagonia hiking tours and trails are available.
Patagonia is a region that presents different types of climate. The air masses of the Pacific shoot almost all their humidity to the Chilean side of the Andes, returning to the arid and semi-desert Argentine territory.
The island of Tierra del Fuego, located close to the South Pole, features up to eighteen hours of light in summer , while only seven to eight during winter . The Cordillera de los Andes, which curves from northwest to east through the archipelago, causes abundant rainfall in the western and southern islands, and less-humid weather in the northeastern plains.
In the northern sector of southern Chile, rains are abundant throughout the year, creating a humid and wooded weather. However, in the extreme south of Chile weather is drier and colder.
Flight: You can take a direct flight from Buenos Aires to Bariloche, Trelew (to visit Puerto Madryn), El Calafate (and from there visit El Chaltén too) and Ushuaia. From Buenos Aires to these destinations there are daily flights. There are also flights (but not daily) between these destinations. To Torres del Paine and Puerto Varas it is best to fly from Santiago de Chile. You should fly to Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales to go to Torres del Paine and to Puerto Montt to go to Puerto Varas.
Self-drive: Patagonia is perfect for self-drive trips. You can rent a car and explore the major attractions on your own and at your own pace.
Bus: The bus connection in Patagonia is very good. We recommend buses for short distances or sections for which there is no other alternative. The most common buses are: El Calafate to El Chaltén, El Calafate to Puerto Natales or Torres del Paine, Torres del Paine to Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas and finally the bus that connects Punta Arenas to Ushuaia. This trip is not short but it is the best option to connect both destinations, as there are no flights connecting these cities.
Patagonia’s weather is unpredictable. It may be warm and sunny, and suddenly cloudy and cold. In addition, Patagonia stands out for having quite interesting gusts of wind. Taking all this into account, it is recommended to pack all kinds of clothing, especially if you are planning to enjoy Patagonia hiking tours: T-shirts, thermal shirts, sweaters, divers, jackets, windbreakers, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen (since the sun beats quite hard in this region), stockings, gloves, trekking boots, etc. We highly recommend having waterproof clothes. In addition to that, we recommend taking a reusable bottle of water with you and a small backpack for day tour explorations.
You don’t have to speak Spanish to visit Patagonia. Both in Chile and Argentina everything is prepared for tourism, and therefore, guides and people who work in the tourism industry are fluent in English and other languages. Anyway, it is true that not all people speak English, and if you want to go to a more remote and non-touristy place we recommend downloading an offline translator, it will always help you.
Life in the Patagonian region is very quiet. You always have to pay attention to personal belongings but not like in big cities. During Patagonia hiking tours you must pay attention to the wildlife of each place and the recommendation of National Park guards.
Unless otherwise stated, entrance fees to National Parks are not usually included in Patagonia hiking tours or travel itineraries. Furthermore, these fees are usually paid in banknotes and in national currency. Therefore, try to have change on hand.
Patagonia is a very large region and sometimes, unless you have a lot of time, you will have to choose to visit only a part of it. The choice will depend on your preferences.
If you are looking for rainforests, fjords, and mountains, we recommend you visit Chile. On the other hand, if you are more inclined to desertic Patagonia, stunning and lonely, and also green and lakeside places, we recommend Argentina.
More days will always allow you to do more things, explore more areas and in greater depth. But think of a minimum of 3 nights to visit Patagonia.
Pick-up at airports will be upon arrival of your flight, that’s why it is so important to have the most accurate and updated flight information. Our guide or driver will be waiting for you, outside the baggage claim area, you will only have to look for a sign with your name on it. Pick-up for tours will be at the reception desk/lobby of the hotels. At the end of your itinerary, you will find the name and telephone number of each of our local representatives and our emergency phone number, which you can call if you have any urgency or a mismatch, so we can assist you during your trip.
Any foreign consulate can provide a list of area doctors who speak English. If you get sick, consider asking your hotel concierge to recommend a local doctor — even his or her own. You can also try the emergency room at a local hospital. Many hospitals also have walk-in clinics for emergency cases that are not life-threatening; you may not get immediate attention, but you won’t pay the high price of an emergency room visit.
We strongly recommend that you purchase insurance. Travel insurance helps protect against unforeseen emergencies which can occur at any time. It also helps protect you against other circumstances like travel delays, lost or stolen baggage and personal items, missed connections and so much more.
The first thing to know when you visit Patagonia is the specific destination you want to go to. It is not the same to plan a trip to Ushuaia as to Puerto Madryn. For example, if you want to see whales in Puerto Madryn you should go between June and December, but if you want to see penguins, it’s better to travel from September until March. However, if you want to visit Ushuaia, Bariloche, or El Calafate, it’s easy to travel all year round. But keep in mind that the best time to visit southern Patagonia is summer when most of the Patagonia hiking tours and trails are available.
Flight: You can take a direct flight from Buenos Aires to Bariloche, Trelew (to visit Puerto Madryn), El Calafate (and from there visit El Chaltén too) and Ushuaia. From Buenos Aires to these destinations there are daily flights. There are also flights (but not daily) between these destinations. To Torres del Paine and Puerto Varas it is best to fly from Santiago de Chile. You should fly to Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales to go to Torres del Paine and to Puerto Montt to go to Puerto Varas.
Self-drive: Patagonia is perfect for self-drive trips. You can rent a car and explore the major attractions on your own and at your own pace.
Bus: The bus connection in Patagonia is very good. We recommend buses for short distances or sections for which there is no other alternative. The most common buses are: El Calafate to El Chaltén, El Calafate to Puerto Natales or Torres del Paine, Torres del Paine to Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas and finally the bus that connects Punta Arenas to Ushuaia. This trip is not short but it is the best option to connect both destinations, as there are no flights connecting these cities.
You don’t have to speak Spanish to visit Patagonia. Both in Chile and Argentina everything is prepared for tourism, and therefore, guides and people who work in the tourism industry are fluent in English and other languages. Anyway, it is true that not all people speak English, and if you want to go to a more remote and non-touristy place we recommend downloading an offline translator, it will always help you.
Unless otherwise stated, entrance fees to National Parks are not usually included in Patagonia hiking tours or travel itineraries. Furthermore, these fees are usually paid in banknotes and in national currency. Therefore, try to have change on hand.
More days will always allow you to do more things, explore more areas and in greater depth. But think of a minimum of 3 nights to visit Patagonia.
Any foreign consulate can provide a list of area doctors who speak English. If you get sick, consider asking your hotel concierge to recommend a local doctor — even his or her own. You can also try the emergency room at a local hospital. Many hospitals also have walk-in clinics for emergency cases that are not life-threatening; you may not get immediate attention, but you won’t pay the high price of an emergency room visit.
Patagonia is a region that presents different types of climate. The air masses of the Pacific shoot almost all their humidity to the Chilean side of the Andes, returning to the arid and semi-desert Argentine territory.
The island of Tierra del Fuego, located close to the South Pole, features up to eighteen hours of light in summer , while only seven to eight during winter . The Cordillera de los Andes, which curves from northwest to east through the archipelago, causes abundant rainfall in the western and southern islands, and less-humid weather in the northeastern plains.
In the northern sector of southern Chile, rains are abundant throughout the year, creating a humid and wooded weather. However, in the extreme south of Chile weather is drier and colder.
Patagonia’s weather is unpredictable. It may be warm and sunny, and suddenly cloudy and cold. In addition, Patagonia stands out for having quite interesting gusts of wind. Taking all this into account, it is recommended to pack all kinds of clothing, especially if you are planning to enjoy Patagonia hiking tours: T-shirts, thermal shirts, sweaters, divers, jackets, windbreakers, hats, sunglasses, sunscreen (since the sun beats quite hard in this region), stockings, gloves, trekking boots, etc. We highly recommend having waterproof clothes. In addition to that, we recommend taking a reusable bottle of water with you and a small backpack for day tour explorations.
Life in the Patagonian region is very quiet. You always have to pay attention to personal belongings but not like in big cities. During Patagonia hiking tours you must pay attention to the wildlife of each place and the recommendation of National Park guards.
Patagonia is a very large region and sometimes, unless you have a lot of time, you will have to choose to visit only a part of it. The choice will depend on your preferences.
If you are looking for rainforests, fjords, and mountains, we recommend you visit Chile. On the other hand, if you are more inclined to desertic Patagonia, stunning and lonely, and also green and lakeside places, we recommend Argentina.
Pick-up at airports will be upon arrival of your flight, that’s why it is so important to have the most accurate and updated flight information. Our guide or driver will be waiting for you, outside the baggage claim area, you will only have to look for a sign with your name on it. Pick-up for tours will be at the reception desk/lobby of the hotels. At the end of your itinerary, you will find the name and telephone number of each of our local representatives and our emergency phone number, which you can call if you have any urgency or a mismatch, so we can assist you during your trip.
We strongly recommend that you purchase insurance. Travel insurance helps protect against unforeseen emergencies which can occur at any time. It also helps protect you against other circumstances like travel delays, lost or stolen baggage and personal items, missed connections and so much more.
