Have you ever wanted to visit Patagonia? In case you were wondering, the two main parts are Chile Patagonia and Argentina Patagonia as Patagonia is not an actual country but rather a section of South America. Below is a list of the 10 best places to go to in Patagonia: five in Argentina and five in Chile depending on where you want to focus your travels!
Argentina
1. Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego literally means ‘City of Fire’ although it’s not going to be that warm as Ushuaia is most famous for being the southernmost city in the entire world! The main things people do in Ushuaia are exploring the many waterways, mountains, and glaciers. The Tierra del Fuego National Park is also close by including many trails and hikes with a wide range of difficulties and distances. If you want to be able to say you’ve been to the end of the world and back, Ushuaia is the place you have to go!
2. Los Glaciares National Park
Los Glaciares National Park is the largest national park in Argentina and is an official World Heritage Site! The national park is home to 48 glaciers! Los Glaciares is one of the five most visited places in all of Argentina, due largely impart to the Perito Moreno Glacier. The Perito Moreno glacier is a ginormous glacier covering 96 square miles and runs for over 18 miles! It is the third-largest freshwater reserve on the planet! If you’ve ever wanted to see glaciers in person, the Los Glaciares National Park has to be on your bucket list!
3. Bariloche
Bariloche is probably one of the prettiest sites you will ever see! Famous for chocolate, skiing, and the spectacular lakes, Bariloche is a must-see on any trip to Patagonia. There are many hikes you can do, all with immaculate views. The seven lakes surrounded by the mountains makes one of the best places to swim or just visit. Bariloche will not let you down.
4. El Chaltén
El Chaltén is the trekking capital of Argentina. It is also the youngest village in Patagonia. They have many lighter marked trails for the easy goers that just like to have a chill hike and to sightsee. The small village helps you feel the mountain village vibe and culture that one only sees in the movies.
5. Bahía Bustamante
Bahía Bustamante is arguably the beach town in Argentina. It is the only town in all of Argentina dedicated to collecting seaweed and mussel. Due to the amounts of seaweed, it got the nickname ‘Rotten Bay’ but don’t let the name throw you off, the plant is harvested for medicinal purposes! Filled with many little coves one can explore and many sea lions, penguins, and over 20 different species of birds for you animal lovers out there.
Chile
1. Torres del Paine National Park
If you are looking to hike in the Chilean part of Patagonia, look no further than Torres del Paine National Park. Torres del Paine is known as one of the most scenic hiking places on the planet! You can look over different mountains, lakes, and even glaciers! They have hikes for all types of travelers and hikers, from beginners to experts.
2. Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of Chile located on the small Hornos Island. Cape Horn is the northern boundary of the Drake Passage where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet. It is a beautiful view of the sea where the two oceans meet.
3. Puerto Rio Tranquilo
Puerto Rio Tranquilo is a very remote town making it a little difficult to get to but well worth the effort. The remoteness makes it so it won’t be filled with tourists and you can explore more to yourself. The must thing to do there is exploring the Mable caves in the General Carrera Lake. The marble caves are something that you will not forget.
4. Isla Magdalena
Have you ever wanted to see penguins in nature? How about over 120,000? Over 120,000 penguins flock to Isla Magdalena’s Monuments Natural Los Pingüinos. They have trails to follow the path of the penguin colonies. If you want to experience Antarctica without actually going there, Isla Magdalena is the place to visit.
5. Futaleufú
Futaleufú is a small Chilean village and truly a hidden gem. One of the main reasons to visit is the Futaleufu river that is often referred to as one of the best white water rafting spots in the world. If you are more of the adventurous traveler, Futaleufú is the place to go and go on rafting or kayak expeditions.
Doesn’t Patagonia sound absolutely amazing!? Be sure to check out our Patagonia expedition on our website if you want to experience the Patagonian way.
Post written by Eric Walton