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Patagonia

Undiscovered Gems | Wildlife Wonders | Meet the Locals

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Patagonia

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Road journeys

Carretera Austral; Ruta 40

Highlights

Torres del Paine; Perito Moreno Glacier; Mount Fitz Roy; Lake District; Cape Horn; Bahia Bustamante; Parque Patagonia; Chiloé; General Carrera Lake

 Major airports

Puerto Montt; Coyhaique; Punta Arenas (all Chile); Bariloche; Trelew; El Calafate; Ushuaia (all Argentina)

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Patagonia Photo Journey

Patagonia Photo Journey
Before we start, it might be useful to keep this Patagonia map open in a new tab for reference. It marks out Chile's Route of Parks, from the lakes to Cape Horn, but has much of Argentina labelled too.

1 of 40

Valdés Peninsula, Argentina
We start, briefly, on Argentina's wild Atlantic coast. The Valdés Peninsula is one of the regions great wildlife destination. Come for sightings of Southern Right whales, orcas, elephant seals and more.

2 of 40

Bahia Bustamante, Argentina
Patagonia Azul is Argentina's first coastal national park and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. As well as the marine wildlife, we introduce you to the people behind this pioneering Rewilding project.

3 of 40

Lake District, Chile
Moving west to the top of Patagonia, Lake Llanquihue and the Osorno Volcano provide the backdrop to the Germanic architecture of Puerto Varas in the Chilean Lake District's most iconic view.

4 of 40

Lake District, Chile
The Lake District can get busy, but stray from the beaten path and you can immerse yourself in vast, unspoilt nature. These alerce trees are some of the oldest and most precious living things on earth.

5 of 40

Chiloé, Chile
Drifting west, Chiloé is easy to fall in love with. The wooden churches and palafitos houses are beautiful and the penguins payful. But what we really love are the stories the Chilotes tell.

6 of 40

Lake District, Argentina
Over the border in the Argentine Lake District. Rather than busy Bariloche, we prefer to set you up on a beautiful estancia for a few days of peaceful walking, varied activities and a slice of rural life.

7 of 40

Lake District, Argentina
Estancia owner Evelyn has transformed an over-grazed and illegally-logged slice of the Lake District into a home for wildlife. It's our privilege to introduce you to people like her as you explore Patagonia.

8 of 40

Ruta 40, Argentina
Whether in Chile or Argentina, the Lake District can be a starting point for an epic road journey south through the unspoilt and wilder parts of Patagonia. We'll return to Argentina's Ruta 40 soon...

9 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
On the Chilean side, the Carretera Austral (Southern Highway) runs for 770 miles from Puerto Montt to the icefields, passing cool rainforest, basalt mountains and rewilded grasslands en route.

10 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
If starting from the Lake District, one of the world's great road trips actually begins with two stunningly scenic ferry crossings. This one traverses a fjord below the Hornopirén stratovolcano in the Andes.

11 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
On the Chilean side, much of northern Patagonia is defined by its temperate Valdivian rainforests close to the sea - a precious ecosystem and wildlife habitat found in ony a handful of places worldwide.

12 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
As well as the rainforests, Queulat's most emblematic feature is the Hanging Glacier, spilling down the cliff-face into the icy lagoon below. Many start their Carretera Austral road trips at this national park.

13 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
As part of your trip, you'll likely stay at Pato and Rosario's fjordside cabins. Pato discovered this unseen paradise when laying the Carretera Austral 40 years ago and has many a tale to tell at dinner.

14 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
As you move south, things tend to dry up and the landscape changes dramatically. The basalt mountains and glacial lagoons of the Cerro Castillo National Park provide a wonderful place to hike.

15 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
Chile's - and Patagonia's - greatest lake is the border-straddling Lago General Carrera, seen here with the snow-capped Andes behind. Close to its shores are high peaks, grasslands, rivers and...

16 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
On the edge of Lago General Carrera, the Marble Caves are the most photographed natural wonder along Chile's Carretera Austral. The best way to see them is on an early kayak or boat trip.

17 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
As you move south on Chile's Southern Highway, it's not just the great outdoors we love to share. There are some truly special places to stay, like Carolina and Stefan's lovely lakeside cabins.

18 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
Part of the Patagonia National Park, Jeinimeni sits in a double rain shadow in the Andes, creating the sorts of lunar landscapes more commonly associated with the Atacama in the far north of Chile.

19 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
The grasslands of Patagonia National Park were tamed and denuded by unsustainable sheep farming. After 25 years of conservation, they are back and roamed by wild rheas, guanacos and puma.

20 of 40

Route of Parks, Chile
The vast landscapes of Patagonia are wilder and more protected thanks to three decades of pioneering conservation work by Kris and the late Douglas Tompkins, enshrined in Chile's Route of Parks project.

21 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
To know Patagonia you need to meet its people. Someone like our gaucho friend Sebastian, who our guests exclusively visit to help out on his estancia farm and tuck into freshly barbecued lamb.

22 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
The turquoise waters of the Baker River spill out of Lago General Carrera and, right by the roadside, mingle with the grey water of the Nef, which traces its origins to the glacier of the same name.

23 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
As the ice begin to dominate, the scenery changes again. Tortel is about as remote a village as you could wish to stay, tucked between the northern and southern icefields and steep green hillsides.

24 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
For a truly exceptional experience, exclusive to Pura, you can dine, sleep and sip pisco sours on a privately-chartered boat, built by Chilote craftsman, anchored by a rarely-seen glacier in the icefields.

25 of 40

Ruta 40, Argentina
We're back up below the Argentine Lake District now, travelling south on the Ruta 40 on the other side of the Andes. This is Los Alerces National Park, a place of ancient forests and glistening lakes.

26 of 40

Ruta 40, Argentina
By contrast, just 40 miles away, Esquel is a place of mega volcanoes, petrified woods, salt lakes, meandering rivers and blood red canyons of geological cliffs. No one does diversity like Patagonia.

27 of 40

Ruta 40, Argentina
Flamingos gather in large flocks in the shallow salt lakes of Chabut Province, close to Argentina's Ruta 40. Patagonia is a place where nature is allowed to express itself on a vast scale.

28 of 40

El Chaltén, Argentina
One of the best bases for walking in Argentina is El Chaltén. Trails lead through meadows and along rivers to silent glacial lagoons below the photogenic peaks of Mt Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre.

29 of 40

Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
Patagonia is synonymous with glaciers, and Perito Moreno is the one everyone wants to see. Our unqiue approach gets you there when others can't, for a private audience with this true force of nature.

30 of 40

Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
Rather than busy Calafate, we prefer you to stay on a 100-year-old working estancia near the glacier. Join in the chores, walk in the 12,000-hectare grounds and enjoy a taste of rural life, unscripted.

31 of 40

Torres del Paine, Chile
Our border-hopping self drive holidays link the glaciers and trails that you've just read about, with the highlight hikes of Torres del Paine in Chile. Here the iconic towers glow with the first rays of the sun.

32 of 40

Torres del Paine, Chile
Beyond the highlight hikes, we love to help you get out to the quieter corners, where Paine feels even more wild. Having a 4x4 and our walking notes gives you complete freedom to go where others can't.

33 of 40

Ushuaia, Argentina
Jumping south-east, we're down in Ushuaia, the self-styled (but much disputed) southernmost city in the world. We're still not convinced it's a city, but there's plenty to see before or after a cruise.

34 of 40

Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
If you're down here for an Antarctica cruise, or disembarking after visiting Cape Horn, we'd love you to stay a day or two to get out walking and see what wildlife you can see. Austral parakeets, for example.

35 of 40

Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
The only way to land on Cape Horn is on an expedition cruise through the channels and fjords of Tierra del Fuego. Typically lasting four nights, the journey is every bit as memorable as the destination.

36 of 40

Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
Moving slowly through the channels gives the perfect vantage point to soak in scenery like this. Here, the French Glacier spills down the hillsides below the sculpted peaks of the Darwin range.

37 of 40

Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
Wildlife is an unexpected highlight of a Cape Horn cruise. Some 4,000 Magellanic penguins raise their young on Tucker Islets, whilst Chilean skuas, kelp geese and dolphin gulls are often seen here.

38 of 40

Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
It's not guaranteed, but for many, stepping foot on fabled Cape Horn, visiting the monument and exchanging a few words with the solitary lightkeeper stationed here is the fulfillment of a dream.

39 of 40

Plan Your Own Patagonia Journey
We hope you enjoyed this journey through Patagonia. If you're ready to start planning, please have a look through our Trip Ideas section or get in touch if you'd like to chat through your options.

40 of 40

Patagonia Photo Journey
Valdés Peninsula, Argentina
Bahia Bustamante, Argentina
Lake District, Chile
Lake District, Chile
Chiloé, Chile
Lake District, Argentina
Lake District, Argentina
Ruta 40, Argentina
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Route of Parks, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Ruta 40, Argentina
Ruta 40, Argentina
Ruta 40, Argentina
El Chaltén, Argentina
Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
Torres del Paine, Chile
Torres del Paine, Chile
Ushuaia, Argentina
Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
Plan Your Own Patagonia Journey

Patagonia Photo Journey

Patagonia Photo Journey
Before we start, it might be useful to keep this Patagonia map open in a new tab for reference. It marks out Chile's Route of Parks, from the lakes to Cape Horn, but has much of Argentina labelled too.

1 of 40

Valdés Peninsula, Argentina
We start, briefly, on Argentina's wild Atlantic coast. The Valdés Peninsula is one of the regions great wildlife destination. Come for sightings of Southern Right whales, orcas, elephant seals and more.

2 of 40

Bahia Bustamante, Argentina
Patagonia Azul is Argentina's first coastal national park and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. As well as the marine wildlife, we introduce you to the people behind this pioneering Rewilding project.

3 of 40

Lake District, Chile
Moving west to the top of Patagonia, Lake Llanquihue and the Osorno Volcano provide the backdrop to the Germanic architecture of Puerto Varas in the Chilean Lake District's most iconic view.

4 of 40

Lake District, Chile
The Lake District can get busy, but stray from the beaten path and you can immerse yourself in vast, unspoilt nature. These alerce trees are some of the oldest and most precious living things on earth.

5 of 40

Chiloé, Chile
Drifting west, Chiloé is easy to fall in love with. The wooden churches and palafitos houses are beautiful and the penguins payful. But what we really love are the stories the Chilotes tell.

6 of 40

Lake District, Argentina
Over the border in the Argentine Lake District. Rather than busy Bariloche, we prefer to set you up on a beautiful estancia for a few days of peaceful walking, varied activities and a slice of rural life.

7 of 40

Lake District, Argentina
Estancia owner Evelyn has transformed an over-grazed and illegally-logged slice of the Lake District into a home for wildlife. It's our privilege to introduce you to people like her as you explore Patagonia.

8 of 40

Ruta 40, Argentina
Whether in Chile or Argentina, the Lake District can be a starting point for an epic road journey south through the unspoilt and wilder parts of Patagonia. We'll return to Argentina's Ruta 40 soon...

9 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
On the Chilean side, the Carretera Austral (Southern Highway) runs for 770 miles from Puerto Montt to the icefields, passing cool rainforest, basalt mountains and rewilded grasslands en route.

10 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
If starting from the Lake District, one of the world's great road trips actually begins with two stunningly scenic ferry crossings. This one traverses a fjord below the Hornopirén stratovolcano in the Andes.

11 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
On the Chilean side, much of northern Patagonia is defined by its temperate Valdivian rainforests close to the sea - a precious ecosystem and wildlife habitat found in ony a handful of places worldwide.

12 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
As well as the rainforests, Queulat's most emblematic feature is the Hanging Glacier, spilling down the cliff-face into the icy lagoon below. Many start their Carretera Austral road trips at this national park.

13 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
As part of your trip, you'll likely stay at Pato and Rosario's fjordside cabins. Pato discovered this unseen paradise when laying the Carretera Austral 40 years ago and has many a tale to tell at dinner.

14 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
As you move south, things tend to dry up and the landscape changes dramatically. The basalt mountains and glacial lagoons of the Cerro Castillo National Park provide a wonderful place to hike.

15 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
Chile's - and Patagonia's - greatest lake is the border-straddling Lago General Carrera, seen here with the snow-capped Andes behind. Close to its shores are high peaks, grasslands, rivers and...

16 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
On the edge of Lago General Carrera, the Marble Caves are the most photographed natural wonder along Chile's Carretera Austral. The best way to see them is on an early kayak or boat trip.

17 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
As you move south on Chile's Southern Highway, it's not just the great outdoors we love to share. There are some truly special places to stay, like Carolina and Stefan's lovely lakeside cabins.

18 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
Part of the Patagonia National Park, Jeinimeni sits in a double rain shadow in the Andes, creating the sorts of lunar landscapes more commonly associated with the Atacama in the far north of Chile.

19 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
The grasslands of Patagonia National Park were tamed and denuded by unsustainable sheep farming. After 25 years of conservation, they are back and roamed by wild rheas, guanacos and puma.

20 of 40

Route of Parks, Chile
The vast landscapes of Patagonia are wilder and more protected thanks to three decades of pioneering conservation work by Kris and the late Douglas Tompkins, enshrined in Chile's Route of Parks project.

21 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
To know Patagonia you need to meet its people. Someone like our gaucho friend Sebastian, who our guests exclusively visit to help out on his estancia farm and tuck into freshly barbecued lamb.

22 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
The turquoise waters of the Baker River spill out of Lago General Carrera and, right by the roadside, mingle with the grey water of the Nef, which traces its origins to the glacier of the same name.

23 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
As the ice begin to dominate, the scenery changes again. Tortel is about as remote a village as you could wish to stay, tucked between the northern and southern icefields and steep green hillsides.

24 of 40

Carretera Austral, Chile
For a truly exceptional experience, exclusive to Pura, you can dine, sleep and sip pisco sours on a privately-chartered boat, built by Chilote craftsman, anchored by a rarely-seen glacier in the icefields.

25 of 40

Ruta 40, Argentina
We're back up below the Argentine Lake District now, travelling south on the Ruta 40 on the other side of the Andes. This is Los Alerces National Park, a place of ancient forests and glistening lakes.

26 of 40

Ruta 40, Argentina
By contrast, just 40 miles away, Esquel is a place of mega volcanoes, petrified woods, salt lakes, meandering rivers and blood red canyons of geological cliffs. No one does diversity like Patagonia.

27 of 40

Ruta 40, Argentina
Flamingos gather in large flocks in the shallow salt lakes of Chabut Province, close to Argentina's Ruta 40. Patagonia is a place where nature is allowed to express itself on a vast scale.

28 of 40

El Chaltén, Argentina
One of the best bases for walking in Argentina is El Chaltén. Trails lead through meadows and along rivers to silent glacial lagoons below the photogenic peaks of Mt Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre.

29 of 40

Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
Patagonia is synonymous with glaciers, and Perito Moreno is the one everyone wants to see. Our unqiue approach gets you there when others can't, for a private audience with this true force of nature.

30 of 40

Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
Rather than busy Calafate, we prefer you to stay on a 100-year-old working estancia near the glacier. Join in the chores, walk in the 12,000-hectare grounds and enjoy a taste of rural life, unscripted.

31 of 40

Torres del Paine, Chile
Our border-hopping self drive holidays link the glaciers and trails that you've just read about, with the highlight hikes of Torres del Paine in Chile. Here the iconic towers glow with the first rays of the sun.

32 of 40

Torres del Paine, Chile
Beyond the highlight hikes, we love to help you get out to the quieter corners, where Paine feels even more wild. Having a 4x4 and our walking notes gives you complete freedom to go where others can't.

33 of 40

Ushuaia, Argentina
Jumping south-east, we're down in Ushuaia, the self-styled (but much disputed) southernmost city in the world. We're still not convinced it's a city, but there's plenty to see before or after a cruise.

34 of 40

Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
If you're down here for an Antarctica cruise, or disembarking after visiting Cape Horn, we'd love you to stay a day or two to get out walking and see what wildlife you can see. Austral parakeets, for example.

35 of 40

Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
The only way to land on Cape Horn is on an expedition cruise through the channels and fjords of Tierra del Fuego. Typically lasting four nights, the journey is every bit as memorable as the destination.

36 of 40

Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
Moving slowly through the channels gives the perfect vantage point to soak in scenery like this. Here, the French Glacier spills down the hillsides below the sculpted peaks of the Darwin range.

37 of 40

Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
Wildlife is an unexpected highlight of a Cape Horn cruise. Some 4,000 Magellanic penguins raise their young on Tucker Islets, whilst Chilean skuas, kelp geese and dolphin gulls are often seen here.

38 of 40

Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
It's not guaranteed, but for many, stepping foot on fabled Cape Horn, visiting the monument and exchanging a few words with the solitary lightkeeper stationed here is the fulfillment of a dream.

39 of 40

Plan Your Own Patagonia Journey
We hope you enjoyed this journey through Patagonia. If you're ready to start planning, please have a look through our Trip Ideas section or get in touch if you'd like to chat through your options.

40 of 40

Patagonia Photo Journey
Valdés Peninsula, Argentina
Bahia Bustamante, Argentina
Lake District, Chile
Lake District, Chile
Chiloé, Chile
Lake District, Argentina
Lake District, Argentina
Ruta 40, Argentina
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Route of Parks, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Carretera Austral, Chile
Ruta 40, Argentina
Ruta 40, Argentina
Ruta 40, Argentina
El Chaltén, Argentina
Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
Torres del Paine, Chile
Torres del Paine, Chile
Ushuaia, Argentina
Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
Cape Horn & Tierra del Fuego
Plan Your Own Patagonia Journey

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