Nestled at the very southern tip of the South American continent, the Patagonia region straddles both Chile and Argentina and offers those lucky few who visit, a glimpse at some of what is undoubtedly the most spectacular scenery on the planet.
So, what to see in Patagonia? Whether you’re exploring Argentinian Patagonia or Chilean Patagonia, there are some absolute musts in each region.
Overview:
- Torres del Paine National Park
- Los Glaciares National Park
- The Singular Hotel (and Puerto Natales)
- El Chaltén
- El Calafate
- The Glaciarium
- Visit an Estancia
1. Torres del Paine National Park
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One of the highlights of Chile’s Patagonia region, Torres del Paine National Park is an area of pristine natural beauty, and one of the most remote places on earth. Named after the three majestic granite rock towers that soar to the sky, the national park has a plethora of rocky mountain crags, icy, white glaciers and crystal clear, bright blue rivers and lakes that have to be seen to be believed. And believe us - , the colours you see in the photos (which you might assume are fake!) in fact, do not do the absolute brilliance of the rivers and lakes justice.
The surrounding shimmering grasslands are home to a wide variety of local animals, including the guanacos (who look a little like a llama), Huemul deer and pumas, and if you look towards the sky, you may be lucky to see an Andean condor swooping about, searching for food.
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Many of the attractions and activities in the Patagonia region are outdoorsy and a trip to Torres del Paine National Park will be no different. Some things to see and do here include viewing the Three Towers that have made this park famous, the Southern Ice Fields, Grey Glacier and Salto Grande… each offering more eye-popping scenery than the place before.
For the more adventurous, Torres del Paine National Park has several of the most notorious treks in the world – the famous ‘O’ circuit and the ‘W’ circuit.
Discover Torres del Paine National Park on a range of our Chile tours.
2. Los Glaciares National Park
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Located in an area of Argentina called the Austral Andes, Los Glaciares National Park sits close to the Chilean border. Well known for its abundance of glaciers (more than any other in the Patagonia region), and home to one of the world’s only advancing glaciers, Perito Moreno, Los Glaciares National Park is truly a sight to behold!
Due to its spectacular scenic beauty and wide biodiversity, Los Glaciares National Park was declared a World Heritage site in 1981.
It is estimated that the park has a whopping 356 glaciers in total, but it’s the advancing Perito Moreno Glacier that brings in the visitors. This unique glacier is, to this day, advancing into Lago Argentino, by approximately one metre a day! One of the biggest draw cards for visitors to this glacier is watching huge chunks of ice wall crumble and crash into the icy lake from many of the vantage points around the lake.
At the northern end of the park, Mount Fitz Roy offers visitors a visual feast of the senses and is so remote it can only be climbed about once a year.
Explore Los Glaciares National Park on a range of our Argentina tours.
3. The Singular Hotel (and Puerto Natales)
On the outskirts of the super cool, rough and ready frontier town of Puerto Natales in Chile, is the Singular Hotel Patagonia – one of the most architecturally stunning (and unique) hotels on the planet. The Singular began life as a cold storage meat packing plant, Frigorifico Bories, in the early 1900’s and was designated as a national monument in 1996.
Thoughtfully redesigned and repurposed, the Singular is now a unique hotel, celebrating its working heritage with much of its industrial past still proudly on display. In the new wing, hotel rooms feature incredible floor to ceiling windows to take advantage of the enchanting, ever-changing views over the Last Hope Sound, snow-capped mountains, and vast sky outside.
It is possible to visit the hotel at any time, and tours of the hotel are run regularly.
Stay at the opulent Singular Hotel in Puerto Natales on our Patagonia In-Style independent travel package.
The nearby town of Puerto Natales is also well worth a wander.
4. El Chaltén
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This colourful mountain village is located in Los Glaciares National Park and is known as Argentina’s trekking capital due to its multitude of hiking trails including those at the base of nearby peaks and glacial lakes. El Chaltén is a gateway to two of the most impressive peaks in the Patagonian Andes—Mt Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre.
Two of the most popular hiking trails in El Chaltén are the Laguna de Los Tres and the Laguna Torre. Trekkers from across the world flock to hike the Laguna de Los Tres to reach the iconic viewpoint of Mt Fitz Roy towering above the turquoise lake. This trail takes a day and despite its popularity, is not as easy as you might think! Taking anywhere between 7 to 10 hours to finish the 25km trek, expect a steep climb as you near the last kilometre.
Laguna Torre on the other hand, offers a much less challenging trek while still rewarding you with breathtaking views of Cerro Torre and a glacier that spills into Laguna Torre. This trek, although still taking anywhere from 6 to 9 hours to finish, is generally much flatter and less physically demanding
While Laguna Torre and Laguna de Los Tres are the most iconic hikes in El Chaltén, there are plenty of hiking trails of varying length for most fitness levels to choose from.
Spend two nights in El Chaltén on our Patagonia In-Style independent travel package.
5. El Calafate
El Calafate is a picturesque town bordering the Southern Ice Fields in Argentina, and is recognised as the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park. It’s also huddled on the southern edge of Lago Argentino, one of the largest lakes in the region.
For the adventurous, there are many optional activities in El Calafate such as hiking, horse riding, 4WD excursions and archaeological sites to discover. Asides from the obvious draw cards in El Calafate, it’s also known as the town of artisanal food and drinks in Patagonia. If you have the time, be sure to try some locally brewed craft beer, artisanal chocolate, ice cream and the local specialty of Patagonian lamb! Be sure to check out the charming main street, Avenida del Libertador, full of souvenir shops, chocolate shops, restaurants and quaint cafes.
6. The Glaciarium
The Glaciarium, Argentina by Dan Lundberg/Flickr
When you’re wondering what to see in Patagonia, the Glaciarium is at the top of our list! The Glaciarium, located just outside El Calafate, is a dramatic building that looks like an iceberg. Here, visitors can learn about the fascinating history and science of the Patagonian Ice Field, and its glaciers, as well as its unique geology. Interestingly, the Glaciarium also addresses the effects of climate change on the glaciers.
Surprisingly, the Glaciarium is also home to Argentina’s first ice bar, the Glaciobar Branca, where the entire bar is carved from ice… literally. Including the bar itself, glasses, tables, chairs, and couches – and all drinks are served with glacier ice, of course! This is a unique experience in a unique part of the world and should not be missed.
7. Visit an Estancia
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Calling all wanna be gauchos…! Due to the perfect cool climate and fertile grasslands, the Patagonia region has a host of estancias, or working ranches, which offer fantastic experiences for visitors that often include horseback riding, hiking, farming demonstrations and ends with a traditional, full Patagonian BBQ while a real-life gaucho explains the history and working life of the estancia around you.
There are estancias dotted throughout both Argentinian Patagonia and Chilean Patagonia that offer this fantastic experience to visitors and are usually included on a day tour from El Calafate or Puerto Natales.
Ready to see Patagonia?
If we’ve whet your appetite to see more of Patagonia, join our joint-CEO Sacha Bunnik and his dad, Frank, on the trip of a lifetime in February 2024. The escorted tour includes Patagonia, a cruise with Aurora Expeditions to the untouched white continent of Antarctica, and the Atacama Desert in Chile. On this trip you can opt in for as much or as little as you like – contact our friendly Travel Specialists for more details!
Learn more: Patagonia Adventure
Bunnik Tours also has a land only tour to Patagonia that can be done by itself or added on to any Bunnik Tour visiting South America. This fascinating 7-day itinerary visits both Chilean Patagonia and Argentinian Patagonia and everything in between!
FAQs
What is Patagonia best known for?
There are so many things that make up a mouth-watering ‘what to see in Patagonia’ list. Patagonia is best known for its incredible glaciers and icefields, its stunning national parks, unique fauna and flora, famous hiking trails and wonderful frontier towns.
Patagonia is full of bucket list experiences, including Torres del Paine National Park, Los Glaciares National Park and the Perito Moreno Glacier, and for the more adventurous, some of the best hiking in the world, mountain biking, horseback riding, and kayaking. And for those slightly less adventurous, there is plenty of exploration to do in and around the smaller towns… El Calafate and Puerto Natales being just two such towns with plenty to offer.
Is Patagonia worth visiting?
Yes, yes, yes… YES! The Patagonia region is without a doubt one of the most spectacularly beautiful places I’ve ever been. If you are the type to enjoy breathtaking vistas at every turn, pristine landscapes, high snow-capped mountains, granite crags, dazzling crystal blue lakes, glaciers and snow fields, then Patagonia is for you!
How long do you need to see Patagonia?
If you were wanting to see both Argentinian Patagonia and Chilean Patagonia, we would recommend a week to ten days to do both areas properly.
