By late March, Patagonia will start to feel autumnal, a beautiful time of year when the winds die down, the crowds diminish, and the southern beech forests turn bright shades of red. Days are still long and temperatures hold fairly steady.

Torres del Paine feels calmer and wilder, as it draws breath following a busy summer season. Whether pottering around in Paine, or exploring down Chile's Carretera Austral or Argentina's Ruta 40, it's one of our favourite times to visit Patagonia.

April is the last month of the season for cruises around Cape Horn and ‘Big Ice’ treks on Argentina’s Perito Moreno Glacier. It’s also the month to see orcas come up to the beach on the Valdes Peninsula. So everything is firmly back on the table during these autumnal months.

Whichever side of the border you wind up on, there’s a wine harvest happening not too far away, in Santa Cruiz in Chile or Cafayate in Argentina, if you want to end your trip with something a little more gentle. March is also the last month for cruises to Antarctica, where whales are at their most prevalent.