Top 5 Must See Patagonia Destinations

Patagonia ranks among the top travel destinations in the world. It’s possible to spend months exploring national parks, trekking glaciers and visiting picture perfect small towns. However, if your time is limited it’s quite possible to tour the main attractions in just a week or two. Regardless of the amount of time you plan to spend in the region, don’t miss the following top five must see destinations.

1. Bariloche, Argentina
Bariloche’s gorgeous setting on the shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake, a glacial relic over 100km long, is just one of the town’s many attractions. Situated within the limits of Nahuel Huapi National Park, in the Argentinian Lake District, Bariloche serves as the gateway to Patagonia. The clear turquoise blue waters of Nahuel Huapi Lake are backed by lofty mountain peaks and forest. Bariloche is an outdoor lovers paradise with ample opportunities for hiking, biking, skiing, camping and cycling. The lovely city center bustles with touristy chocolate shops, souvenir stores, outdoor craft markets, trendy boutiques, and gourmet restaurants. About two hours south of Bariloche is the small town of El Bolsón, best visited on Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday when the famous feria artesanal, or craft market, is held.

2. El Chaltén, Argentina
Declared the national trekking capital of Argentina, the small town of El Chaltén is quickly becoming one of Patagonia’s premier traveler’s magnets. Located at the northern end of Los Glaciers National Park just a few hours north of El Calafate and situated at the foot of the extraordinary snow-capped towers of the Fitz Roy mountain range, El Chaltén’s well-marked and well-maintained trails offer something for every type of visitor from easy day hikes to difficult multi-day mountain treks and everything in between. The most popular trek is the Mount Fitz Roy/ Cerro Torre Loop through the national park.

3. El Calafate, Argentina
Located just 80km from Los Glaciares National Park, El Calafate serves as the jumping-off point for visits to the park. The southern sector of the park holds one of the world’s largest ice fields after those of Antarctica and Greenland. The park’s main attractions are the enormous glaciers that flow down from the heights of the Southern Continental Ice Cap, most notably the blue-hued towering obelisks of ice known as the Perito Moreno Glacier. A visit to the glacier is undoubtedly one of the highlights of many a tourist’s time in Patagonia.

4. Torres del Paine, Chile
No visit to Patagonia is complete without crossing the border into neighboring Chile to visit the magnificent Torres del Paine national park. The park’s famous centerpiece is the Paine Massif, a small mountain system that is completely independent from the Patagonian Andes Range. There are exceptional views throughout the park including turquoise lakes, glaciers, icebergs, the towers of Paine and the horns of Paine. It’s possible to visit the park on a day trip from Puerto Natales, though to truly experience its beauty it’s advisable to spend at least a day or two, more if possible, at one of the lodges or campsites located within the park’s boundaries.

5. Ushuaia, Argentina
As if arriving at the end of the world isn’t enough, there are plenty of other reasons to head south to Ushuaia. Located on the southernmost tip of Argentina, Ushuaia is the capital city of Tierra del Fuego, Argentine Antartica and the South Atlantic Islands. Situated along the coast of the Beagle Channel, the channel that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world and the gateway to Antartica which is located just 1000km away. Popular activities include a visit to Tierra del Fuego National Park, Argentina’s southernmost protected area, and a voyage along the Beagle Channel which is a rare and unique opportunity to experience being at sea at the end of the world. While in town don’t forget to have your passport stamped so you can prove to all your friends back home that you actually did make it to the end of the world.