Tips for Trekking in Patagonia

Many people visit Patagonia and struggle to come to grips with the vastness of the area that the region covers. The following is an easy itinerary to the highlights.

Starting from Buenos Aires, take a LAN flight to El Calafate before transferring directly to El Chalten. There are a number of day hikes possible from the village itself, including Laguna Torre and Loma del Pliegue Tumbado, but Laguna de los Tres comes highly recommended thanks to its amazing views of Fitz Roy.

After taking in as many of the hikes around El Chalten as you wish, return to El Calafate and organize a daytrip to the Perito Moreno glacier from one of the many travel agencies in town. Upon your return, organize onward travel to the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile.

Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile © Maciej Bledowski | Dreamstime

The world famous W trail is a spectacular trip through breathtaking scenery, and it can be trekked as a whole or taken on in sections depending on your physical fitness and time constraints. If you can only do one trek, make sure it is the route from Refugio El Chileno to the base of the towers that give the park its name.

Once you have seen as much of the park as you can, take a bus to Puerto Natales before continuing your trip on the Navimag ferry through tight fjords and open seas until you reach Puerto Montt. From here it is possible to explore the southern regions of Chile, with its lakes and volcanoes, or continue on to the capital, Santiago, to catch a flight home.