Undiscovered Gems | Wildlife Wonders | Meet the Locals
Ignite your explorer's spirit in the brilliant undiscovered gems of Chile and Argentina, or combine Torres del Paine and the Perito Moreno Glacier with an expedition cruise to Cape Horn or Antarctica. All trips feature epic nature, great hikes, wonderful hosts and special places to stay, and can all be tailored or blended to suit you - get in touch to discuss.
Many of our trips will look very different to other Patagonia trips you may have come across online (in the best possible way we hope!). That's because we work in a very different way to nearly all other tour operators. In a nutshell, we research, contract, experience and deliver every single part of our trips ourselves, with no middle person.
So every guide, host or driver that you meet works directly with us, rather than going through a local agency as is the usual model across tour operators. This means we are entirely independent and are able to create trips which go to places others can't, allowing you to follow in our footsteps and ignite your spirit of discovery in the wilds of Patagonia.
So what does it mean for you and your vacation?
We have experienced and loved every aspect of your trip, personally. Nothing is left to the judgement of others and it's us who plan, deliver and take responsibility for your vacation, not a Chilean or Argentine agency based 1000s of km from Patagonia.
We can create trips which take you anywhere, meaning you can go off the beaten track to combine incredible landscapes with the authentic culture, communities and ways of life you miss in the more well-known places.
We try it all and then give you the best of the best travel experiences. Think of it as this - imagine you are cooking a meal at home for a special occassion. Rather than shopping at a supermarket for convenience, you instead go to the local bakers, butchers, greengrocers and fishmongers to select the very best locally-sourced ingredients. It takes longer and a bit more effort, but you end up with the best of the best, as advised by experts. The meal is transformed and befits the occassion. That's more or less what we do. Our way of working means you end up at a winery hidden in the Andes sipping boutique wine as the sun slips behind snow-capped mountains of the Trevelin Valley, or gazing at the Milky Way with your guide in the heart of a vast rewilding protect in the Pinturas Canyon. Places you might never have heard of, but experiences you'll never forget.
Because we have no middle person, we have stronger relationships with our local partners. They know (and love) our 'typical' Pura Aventura guest and we know from experience that you'll get the warmest possible welcome. They really will treat you like family.
It's also better for the local community as our partners receive 100% of the money we pay. Small out-of-the-way communities get a chance to share in tourism income too, and we're also able to support various conservation and rewilding activities through your travels.
This is a process which has been going on for nearly 25 years now. Year after year we amass more local knowledge, first-hand experience and direct connections throughout Patagonia. All of which makes your vacations there more memorable, interesting and authentic. Exactly as travel should be.
When is the best time to visit Patagonia?
Being in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are the reverse. So our winter is Patagonia's summer. The season for travelling in Patagonia is October to April, which equates to spring through fall. Days are long, meaning you have plenty of time to explore the great outdoors.
Spring blooms along Chile's Carretera Austral
The peak season is January and February, when South Americans are on their summer vacations. On most of our trips to the undiscovered gems of Patagonia, you'll not really notice this change as things are always relatively quiet off the beaten track, save for a few better-known hotspots.
In well-known places like the Lake District in the north and Torres del Paine, the Perito Moreno Glacier and the Fitz Roy hiking trails around El Chaltén in the south, you'll notice more crowds during these months. Accommodation is also more expensive and in demand, so we need to plan well in advance, or better still look at the shoulder months. Spring and fall are wonderful (and colorful) times to travel in Patagonia. There are always options, so please do get in touch.
The Patagonia winter can still be a lovely time to travel. Torres del Paine in particular can be a joy in the off-season - the key is planning your days well and staying for longer to give you time to catch some nice weather. Again, there are options so please do reach out to us.
Many of our trips encompass dry sunny steppe, cool rainforests, oceanic glaciers and everything in between. So chances are you'll experience a bit of everything, but you should always have a good amount of sunshine along the way. Bring the sun cream, a rain jacket and a fleece and you'll be good to go!
Which is best - Chile or Argentina? Or both?
As you may know, Patagonia is shared between Chile and Argentina, with the Andes mountain chain more or less denoting the border. We offer a range of trips in Chilean Patagonia, Argentina Patagonia or many which cross the border between the two countries.
Most of our travellers choose to explore the north or central parts of Patagonia, where the culture is richer, the landscapes more diverse and the roads far less travelled. It's where Patagonia is at its most authentic and where you can best indulge your explorer's spirit.
So what follows is a brief introduction to what you can expect on either side of the Andes.
Chile's Carretera Austral
The Chilean side of Patagonia offers an incredible variety of landscapes. The north is dominated by temperate Valdivian rainforests, an ecosystem found only in New Zealand, the Pacific northwest of the US and here in Patagonia. This gives way to a drier zone where great snow-capped Andean mountains line the shore of Lago General Carrera, one of the biggest lakes in South America. The 'gaucho' culture is strong here.
Driving around Lago General Carrera
Continuing south you meet the rewilded grasslands of Patagonia National Park, where herds of guanacos roam and condors soar overhead. Finally, your progress is halted by the icefields, divided into a northern and southern sector. This is the largest non-polar body of ice in the world and is home to many large glaciers.
It's easy to think of Argentine Patagonia as being endless sweeping steppe - a desert landscape which covers much of southern Argentina. However, if you stay close to the Andes then Argentina also offers a wealth of varied and vast scenery to discover, every bit as incredible as what you can see in Chile.
Where the Andes strip much of the moisture coming off the Pacific Ocean, the Argentine side tends to be drier. But there are still pockets of rainforest and hidden hanging glaciers to discover, such as in Los Alerces National Park in the north, right near the border. There is also a small wine valley (with somewhere special to stay), a wealth of Welsh cultural heritage and of course, you have all the forests, lakes and rivers of the Lake District right there to enjoy too.
But what the Argentine side does best is the dry landscapes which you might more readily associate with the north of these two countries in the Atacama or around Salta. The canyons, plateaus and river valleys down here are on an immense scale. They also harbour 10,000-year-old cave paintings and even arrowheads from hunter-gatherer communities, remote lagoons visited by huge groups of flamingos, plus the tantalising prospect of catching a trace or (if you're lucky) a glimpse of the elusive puma.
This is easily done on a self-drive vacation and arguably makes for the ideal Patagonia journey. It offers the best of both sides, with variation in the landscapes, cultures and people that you encounter on the way. It really adds an extra layer of discovery to your travels, weaving in and out of the Andes.
Border crossings are simple and usually very efficient, and in our experience some of the most interesting and quietest drives of any trip happen on these days.
Patagonia is one of the world's great outdoor destinations. On any of our trips, you will have the opportunity to walk in beautiful nature of an epic scale, with activities such as kayaking, horse riding and rafting also on offer. The nature of the terrain and the resulting weather patterns create incredible contrast, from dry sunny steppe deserts to some of the wettest rainforest and biggest non-polar ice sheets on Earth. So there are some key differences which might impact which is the right trip for you.
To answer this, it's easier to split Patagonia broadly into northern, central and southern sections.
Patagonia begins with the famous Lake District, split across Chile and Argentina. This is a place of emerald forests, deep blue lakes and pretty towns nestled below mega volcanoes. It is beautiful and epic but requires a specialist to find the balance between the must-see places like Osorno Volcano and Nahuel Huapi Lake, and keeping you clear of the crowds so that you have a more authentic and enjoyable experience.
As an example, instead of the busy city of Bariloche you might stay in the smaller and prettier town of Villa la Angostura and a stunning eco-lodge further south where you have the landscapes practically to yourself. If you are driving, you can call in at Bariloche for lunch on the way down if you wish.
Heading south you come to the start of Patagonia proper. To the east you have the edges of the vast, dry steppe which dominates much of southern Argentina. A day spent out here takes you to remote flamingo-nesting lagoons, past herds of guanacos and into towering canyons and volcanic monoliths.
Then turning west into the Andes you pick up a patchwork of landscapes which blends from rare temperate rainforest to a sunny wine valley and a network of flowing rivers, offering some of the world's best rafting at Futaleufú in Chile. Keep going and you get to the Pacific coast, where primeval forests drop from steep mountainsides into the sea.
The north is therefore dominated by forests and water, but with snow-capped mountains all around, hanging glaciers spilling down cliff-faces. The roads are mainly paved, so it's a good choice if you're a less adventurous driver. The food, local wine and hospitality is outstanding, so you have plenty of creature comforts to go with your intrepid discovery. It's an ideal trip for anyone who has never been to Patagonia, or who has seen the main sights and wants to go back for a deeper dive.
We describe the centre as 'pure Patagonia'. In Chile, you will experience snow-capped mountains of unimaginable scale, deep blue lakes, rich green rainforests and vast oceanic glaciers. In Argentina, the desert canyons of the steppe reach their most dramatic, on a par with what we've seen in Chile's Atacama. As you travel down Ruta 40, the skies are huge, the horizons endless. It's the Patagonia of your imagination.
There is wildlife everywhere too - condors in the sky, herds of guanacos in the grasslands, rheas on the steppe, dolphins in the fjords and flamingos in the lagoons.
The culture is rich and authentic. From cave art painted 10,000 years ago to time spent mucking in on our friend's estancia ranch, it's a place to explore the many threads of local culture and the traditional sheep-rearing ways of life in Patagonia.
The unpaved roads lend a further spirit of adventure and exploration if you embrace the bumps. Accommodation and food are of a high standard, but not such a feature as they are further north. A trip here is about embracing Patagonia's wild landscapes, but in comfort and with our full local support.
Torres del Paine, Perito Moreno Glacier & Fitz Roy hikes
Expedition cruises to Cape Horn
No driving needed
The far south is where Patagonia's epic landscapes arguably reach their most dramatic.
Chilean Patagonia's most visited destination is Torres del Paine. The national park is home to all of Patagonia's different ecosystems; immense glaciers spill into icy lakes, dry pampa grasslands stretch to the horizon, granite massif rises sharply out of the ground to tower high overhead like skyscrapers. This a place of Hollywood good looks and megastar mountains - the full stop on the end of the Andes.
In Argentina, the Perito Moreno Glacier is one of Patagonia's great natural wonders. The scale is bewildering - a wall of shimmering, glassy blue ice some 5 kilometres long. It is one of only three glaciers in Patagonia known to be advancing, and forms part of the third largest body of frozen freshwater in the world - the Southern Patagonian ice field.
Further north up the Ruta 40, the village of El Chaltén is hiking country, oriented around the beautifully sculpted Southern Icefield peaks of Cerro Torre and Fitz Roy.
Then there are the expedition cruises to Cape Horn of course. For many who have the privilege of sailing through the channels and fjords of Tierra del Fuego and landing on the hallowed turf of Cape Horn, the voyage is the realisation of a lifelong dream. These typically depart from Punta Arenas in Chile and finish in Ushuaia in Argentina.
What's the downside to all of this? If you want the greatest of great outdoors and have some flexibility with budget and when you can go (to avoid the busiest time) then very little. If you want your epic landscapes and world-class hiking to come with a bit of local culture and a chance to meet the people, this part of Patagonia is not necessarily the part you would choose if that is an important factor for you. Whilst you stay in towns such as Puerto Natales or El Calafate, you'll find that these are primarily geared up for tourism.
In general, the land in the south was divided up into huge parcels of land and given to early European settlers. This means you don't get the small communities and villages that you experience further north in Patagonia, going more off the beaten track. So whilst you will have some exposure to the sheep-rearing way of life, it's a trip more aimed at the remarkable landscapes than at local color.
If you're at all confused about what's best for you, or perhaps you want to combine some of each of these regions, then please do get in touch. We'd love to chat things through and make some suggestions based on our 25 years of tailoring travel in Patagonia. There will be at least one option to suit everyone, or we can tailor something from scratch.
Where are the best places for walking?
Everywhere! The good news is that all of our trips offer many opportunities to get out walking in beautiful and epic nature. Walks range from relaxed riverside strolls or short but steep climbs up to glorious viewpoints, all the way up to full-day 20km+ hikes in national parks. Generally, you set the pace and the route as you go, as advised by our local walking guides. You can mix and match as you go, and vary things according to your energy levels.
A few of the best places for walking in Patagonia are:
Queulat National Park, Chile - temperate rainforest and hanging glacier views
Patagonia National Park, Chile - rewilded grasslands, crystal-clear rivers and mountain valleys
Cerro Castillo National Park, Chile - glacial lagoons and dramatic high mountains
Pinturas Canyon, Argentina - Patagonia's best canyon scenery with 10,000-year-old cave art
As a side note - the trails in Torres del Paine and around Mount Fitz Roy get busy in peak season and Paine's trails can be demanding, so it pays for us to plan carefully. We're always very happy to chat through what is right for you as we've been out in our boots walking the trails at each place, so we have plenty of first-hand experience to call upon.
What is it like driving in Patagonia?
All in all, driving is a very safe, easy and enjoyable way to travel in Patagonia. We have various options if you prefer not to drive, but having your own vehicle gives you wonderful freedom to explore and deepens the spirit of discovery that makes our trips here so special.
Driving in Chilean Patagonia
Most of your driving is done on the two major highways running north to south either side of the Andes - the Carretera Austral in Chile and Ruta 40 in Argentina. Both are single-carriageway and traffic is usually very light.
Ruta 40 is paved nearly all the way, where as the Carretera Austral is only paved in the northern half. As you come off the main roads, expect most of the roads to be unpaved. By 'unpaved' we refer to a surface of usually loose gravel on a flattened/scraped bed of dirt. Whilst they might not be paved, they are regularly pressed to create a smoother surface. It is always safe and we provide a substantial 4x4 to give you good clearance, though it's rare that you'll need to use the 4-wheel drive facility. Along most of its length, there is plenty of room for two-way traffic - the road being approximately three car widths from side to side. Expect to be travelling an average of around 50km, which gives you plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy the views along the way.
You stay two, three or four nights in most of your destinations before moving on. Most distances are between 120-200km so you would generally expect to be driving for three to four hours every few days. You have plenty of time and daylight to complete your journey and our Vacation Guide makes suggestions for stops along the way, places you can head off for short walks or stop to appreciate particularly fine views. It is rare that a day would be dedicated to driving, the norm would be that you set off in the morning and have the afternoon free to walk and explore.
The simplest way to navigate is to download Google Maps or Waze onto your phone and use that as a GPS - it's very accurate and easy in our experience.
We provide a complete driving guide to ensure you are fully prepared for your travels.
What wildlife might I see?
From flocks of flamingos to herds of guanacos, migrating whales to stealthy pumas, Patagonia can be a fantastic wildlife-watching destination. Here are some of the main highlights, most of which can be seen on our Chile to Argentina: Off the Beaten Track Patagonia trip.
Andean condors are the largest flying birds in the world with wingspans of around 3 metres. They can be seen wheeling on the thermals along the full extent of Patagonia, so it's always worth keeping an eye on the sky. Some of the best places to see condors are the Patagonia National Park along Chile's Carretera Austral highway, the Pinturas Canyon in Argentina and the Torres del Paine National Park.
An Andean condor soars in Argentina
Guanacos are similar to llamas and are native to South America. They are usually seen in big herds roaming open areas of steppe and grassland - many centuries ago the hunter-gatherer populations of Patagonia would follow the guanacos across vast distances, becoming dependent on them for their way of life. Guanacos make for wonderful photography subjects, not least the males who are apt to watch for puma on rocky promontories, with the big mountains in the distance. The best places to see guanacos are Patagonia National Park and Torres del Paine in Chile, or around Piedra Parada in Argentina.
Guanaco standing watch in Patagonia National Park
Pumas are the apex predator of the steppe and grassland. They are famously stealthy hunters who prefer to avoid human contact, but are becoming more visible in key areas in Patagonia. Torres del Paine remains the most reliable place to see them, particularly around dawn and dusk on the edges of the national park. As visitor numbers have grown and grown, up to 300,000 before the pandemic, and as humans have swapped guns for cameras in Chile where they are now protected by law, the puma population has lost its fear. Rewilding efforts in the Patagonia National Park are also increasing the number of guanacos in the grasslands, the puma's primary source of food.
In Argentina, the attitude to pumas is very different. They are still seen as pests who devour farmers' livestock and killing them is not illegal. Even so, puma populations are healthy and if your luck is in, it's possible that you might see one as you explore the Pinturas Canyon with your guide.
Puma in the Pinturas Canyon, Argentina
Huemul deer are native to Chile and Argentina. They are very beautiful but also sadly are still highly endangered - conservation work and legal protections are slowly boosting numbers, but seeing one is a real red-letter day. The best places to see them are the Patagonia National Park and the Cerro Castillo National Park, both along Chile's Carretera Austral.
Chancing upon a huemul in Patagonia National Park
Flamingos can be seen gathered in lagoons in Argentina. One of the best places to see them is a remote lagoon that can only be accessed by crossing private estancia land. In the nesting season you can sometimes see them gathered in their hundreds or even thousands. Because we know the estancia owner, we are the only ones who can take travellers there, so it's a very special experience that features on these Patagonia itineraries.
Flamingos gathered in a lagoon in the Argentine steppe
Dolphins are often seen frolicking in the fjord at Queulat. The fjord effectively belongs to the small lodge that you stay at, nestled in the heart of the temperate rainforest. So again you'll likely be the only one around as you head out on a wildlife-watching zodiac ride or by sea kayak if you prefer. Like everything wild, sightings are not guaranteed but they are reliable.
Dolphin in the fjord at Queulat
Down in the far south, it's possible to see penguins and elephant seals on an expedition cruise to Cape Horn. Over on the Atlantic coast, whales, penguins, elephant seals and orcas can be seen at close quarters on the Valdés Peninsula. The time for Southern Right whales is July to December as they come to the protected bay for the breeding season.
I can't find a trip to suit my duration, can I still go with you?
Absolutely. A good starting point is to let us know which trip attracts you the most and then if you have specific dates for your travels then just let us know and we can work with you to tailor or tweak an itinerary which fits perfectly.
How do I get a personalised itinerary?
You can either send us a request for one of our recommended itineraries, use our enquiry form, or e-mail us at [email protected].
If you'd rather have a chat on the phone then give us a call.
One of our Patagonia specialists will work with you to create your perfect vacation.
Can I make changes to these itineraries?
Yes, our itineraries have all been carefully selected and planned, but they can be tweaked and tailored to suit your dates, durations, and specific needs.
We can also build a custom vacation for you from scratch.
What if I have more questions?
We're only an email away on [email protected] if you have any queries.
Or call on +44 1273 676712 if you'd prefer to chat anything through.
Patagonia's Hidden Highlights
Patagonia's greatest travel experiences often happen in the beautiful nature and rich culture of its undiscovered gems...
Travelling with one of the first travel companies to be certified B Corp means your vacation, according to Which?, meets "the highest standards of social and environmental performance".
Beautifully Local
Vacations away from the crowds, crafted to give you a more authentic, local experience. Small-scale accommodation, exceptional guides & in-depth local knowledge.
