Patagonia is a must when you visit Argentina and Chile for a first time. It´s one of the highlights with a wide variety of attractions to be discovered by the international tourist. A good itinerary to visit Argentina should include Patagonia, and the same for Chile. So, let me start with a map with the destinations I think your itinerary should include in Patagonia:
Patagonia Tours: Destinations you should include in the tour itinerary
Of course, the number of destinations to visit and the duration of the stay in each place depends on the time you have to enjoy your trip. So, the next map is an overview of the main destinations in Patagonia:
I think it´s a nice map isn´t it? Now, Patagonia is a vast area and offers many other destinations to see. It´s just a guide to see what you should include in your perfect itinerary to visit Patagonia. If you have plenty of time, the answer is clear: all of them. Now, if we have to establish a priority scale, due to the time we have, then we have to choose. And what I suggest is to prioritize the southern Patagonia region.
Patagonia Tours
Southern Patagonia: Ushuaia, El Calafate, Torres del Paine, and Southern Fjords and Glaciers
It´s in my opinion, the first trip you have to do if you visit Patagonia for the first time and you have a reduced time. The reason is that these areas focus on a wonderful collection of highlights, it´s wonderful attractions you cannot avoid. Places like the incredible Perito Moreno Glacier, or Torres del Paine National Park, the incredible Ushuaia and the magic of the end of the world, and the incredible cruise expeditions to southern fjords, glaciers, and the mythical Cape Horn.
We have many tours to visit this portion of Patagonia. With different durations, combinations with Skorpios Cruises and Australis Cruises, including Buenos Aires and Santiago, and also including other destinations in Patagonia. Take a look at a list of my suggested tours to visit Patagonia:
Patagonia Tours: Visiting the Southern area of Patagonia
Check my favorite first, but then a list of other suggested programs to visit southern Patagonia. My favorite is Incredible Patagonia with Australis Cruise, a Patagonia tour starting in Buenos Aires and visiting Ushuaia, the Australis Cruise to Cape Horn, Torres del Paine, El Calafate, and Santiago de Chile.
Now, if you already visited this area in Patagonia, or have more time to add to your itinerary, a good idea is to include the Lakes District in Argentina and Chile with Bariloche and Puerto Varas, and Peninsula Valdes with the incredible sealife, with penguins, whales, sea lions, elephant seals, orcas… Amazing isn´t it?
Patagonia Tours
The Lakes District in Argentina and Chile, and Peninsula Valdes
The Lakes District is a place full of national parks, lakes, volcanoes, mountains, forests… A place with beautiful landscapes, where you can enjoy sightseeing but also an adventure activity to choose between rafting, rappel, canopy, horseback riding, biking, paragliding… A good idea is to visit both sides and link Argentina and Chile with the Lakes Crossing, a wonderful activity that combines boat navigations with bus rides. The Lakes Crossing departs from Bariloche and ends in Puerto Varas and vice-versa. You can take this Lakes Crossing in 1-day or in 2, with an intermediate overnight, to enjoy some adventure activities in Peulla or Puerto Blest. So, you have 5 to 7 nights to visit the area and of course, the other amazing destinations in the northern portion of Patagonia is Peninsula Valdes, to enjoy the incredible sea life. Puerto Madryn is the gate to enjoy whales, penguins, sea lions, orcas, elephant seals, birds… An incredible diversity of marine mammals that can be seen every year in the area. Check our fauna calendar to see when to go, and what to see in each month. The area also offer a rich culture. Gaiman is a local village with welsh origins where you can taste a typical welsh tea, and in Trelew visit the MEF, Museo Egidio Feruglio, one of the most important museums of dinosaurs in Latin America, with an important collection of dinosaur fossils, and the unique Patagotitan Mayorum, recently discovered in Patagonia. It´s the biggest dinosaur in the world!
Patagonia Tours: Visiting the Lakes District in Argentina and Chile, and Peninsula Valdes
We have different options to visit the northern portion of Patagonia. Check the following list of Patagonia Tours, including Peninsula Valdes and the Lakes District in Chile and Argentina
