The best time for this trip is from mid-October to the end of November when you have the best chance to see the whales in Valdés.

However, any time between October and April is the time to catch Patagonia as it moves from late spring through summer and into autumn. If you travel in December to April you will have less chance to see the whales in Valdes but the peninsula is still a great place to visit and you will see penguins, elephant seals and sea lions as well as plenty of bird life.

In Patagonia, the weather will be whatever it will be. You are on the same relative latitude as London or Quebec, so on a still summer's day the temperature can be comfortably in the mid 20°s. In theory...in reality, hot, dry, cold, wet, snowing, raining, blowing a gale, flat, calm can all happen in a single day.

Our advice is don't sweat the weather in Patagonia, bring the right clothing and embrace it.

Mid December through February is the busier period with January as a peak as that's when South Americans are on their summer holidays.

This somewhat depends on when you want to travel but relatively small hotels and lodges in popular destinations mean that 12 months is sensible, assuming you want to travel on specific dates. The more flexibility you have, the better. It is true to say that availability usually defines the actual dates of this trip.

Total carbon generated on this trip: 4,210kg per person
Carbon mitigated by us: 6,736kg per person

As Yvon Chouinard, of Patagonia, Inc. rightly declared: “To do good, you actually have to do something.”

Therefore, for every kilometer travelled by road, air and sea on your Pura Aventura holiday, we carbon balance it by a mile - i.e. by 160% of your trip's carbon, from your front door and back again, irrespective of whether we book your international travel or not.

This is one of the travel industry's most ambitious and innovative schemes and has recently been praised by Wanderlust, Condé Nast Traveller and The Independent.

As a private trip, you are not joining a group. As such, this isn't the most obvious choice for a solo traveller since the fixed costs are quite high with many days of private vehicle and guide.

Saying that, if you were happy with the extra investment, the experience can be fantastic since you will be with a private guide through most of the trip.

Absolutely, yes. For two couples, or a small group of friends, the trip is perfect as it is, using one vehicle.

A good deal. Although you are not driving, you must be prepared for some long travel days to get between each of the destinations within this trip. The longest day in a car will be around six hours with breaks along the way.

This is a wildlife and walking holiday which has you out in the great outdoors most days. Some walking is necessary to approach some of the best sights and to enjoy the Patagonia National Park and Chaltén areas, but it is a trip that can be easily adapted to more gentle levels of exercise without loosing any of the highlights. Equally we can make it more active.

As you have a private guide throughout, you can set the pace each day depending on how you feel and your energy levels.

Really quite comfortable, though there is a wide variety of accommodation from simpler in the remote regions to very comfortable. You can see the hotels and lodges we use for this by asking for full trip details.

Special note should be made of the Los Toldos Hut in Patagonia National Park, a new accommodation run by the Rewilding Argentina Foundation where you will have a private room but with bunk beds.

The focus of this holiday is undoubtedly the landscapes and the wildlife, but spending the days with your local guide will open the door to interacting with the people you meet along the way. Staying in working ranches you will have the opportunity to see the rural life of Patagonia.

Absolutely. We can tailor your holiday in any number of ways, from switching to self-drive in Patagonia to changing Valdés for other destination if it's not whale season. Combining this holiday with Chilean Patagonia or Antarctica is incredible! Call us to start the conversation.

We take a 15% deposit to secure your holiday, with the remainder due eight weeks before your departure.

Your money is 100% protected through our ATOL licence if your trip includes a flight booked through us, or through our ABTOT bond if it does not. Either way, this protection provides a cast-iron financial guarantee and helps you book with complete peace of mind. Because the contract between us exists here in the UK, you get this protection regardless of where you live.

As always, our covid-19 policies ensure you have complete flexibility, just in case. Throughout the pandemic we have frequently been praised by Which? as a tour operator to trust, so you're in good hands. Your safety is always our top priority and we want you to be able to fully look forward to and enjoy your holiday with peace of mind.