A Fresh Perspective on Travel Every Day
Less commercialized compared to other larger cities in Patagonia, Esquel is a town in the Chubut province, serving as a tranquil hub for outdoor exploration. This Welsh-founded community, home to approximately 28,000 residents, offers a perfect respite after completing your Patagonia adventure itinerary.
Trelew, a town established by Welsh immigrants in Patagonia, holds a wealth of historical significance, despite its lack of picturesque visuals or an abundance of tourist spots. With a population approximating 100,000, it is the largest city in the Chubut region and acts as a hub for Argentina’s wool industry. Within the town, visitors may explore several museums, enjoy exceptional birdwatching opportunities, and witness elements of Trelew’s Welsh heritage; however, the real allure lies outside the town limits.
Covering vast territories in southern Chile and Argentina, Patagonia is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. Strap on your boots for some of South America’s most spectacular hiking trails, adrenaline-pumping white water rafting, wildlife spotting, and horseback riding. However, there’s more to this expansive region than just its adventurous reputation. The complex history, captivating cowboy culture, and innovative fusion dining offer a unique experience at the end of the world.
Spanning across vast stretches of southern Argentina and Chile, Patagonia’s landscapes are renowned for their beauty and remoteness. Given many of its most scenic sites are well off the beaten track, a road trip is an excellent way to explore the region and decide how your journey unfolds. The main roads between towns are mostly paved, although you may encounter some challenging driving conditions, including occasional landslides, muddy stretches of road, or bumpy, pothole-riddled paths.
Patagonia is renowned for its vast, unspoiled wilderness, encompassing temperate rainforests, towering mountain ranges, and diverse ecosystems. This breathtaking region is home to over 500 species of wildlife, making it one of the most ecologically rich areas in South America, attracting birdwatchers, wildlife photographers, and nature enthusiasts alike.
In the vast region of Patagonia, numerous transportation options await travelers. The towns within Patagonia are well connected through a network of buses, along with frequent flights to larger towns from the capital cities of both Chile and Argentina. For those seeking flexibility, exploring Patagonia by car or bicycle is a popular choice.
It’s hard to think of another place on the planet that offers as much scope for varied outdoor adventure as Patagonia—a vast, sparsely populated slice of southern Chile and Argentina bristling with the Andes mountain range and crisscrossed with sinuous ribbons of glacial rivers.
Patagonia, covering southern Chile and Argentina, offers an abundance of natural wonders that seem endless. This vast region is characterized by stunning forests, majestic Andean mountains, glacial lakes, and expansive grasslands. Most attractions here are centered around outdoor adventures, making it crucial to choose the right time to visit based on the activities you’re interested in.
Split between Chile and Argentina, the rugged regions of Patagonia and neighboring Tierra del Fuego boast more than a dozen national parks. While some South American countries may have more parks, these captivating nature reserves protect vast areas of one of the last truly pristine wildernesses on Earth.
The word Patagonia conjures dreamy images of vast landscapes, stunning natural beauty, massive glaciers, soaring Andes, outdoor adventures, and iconic wildlife both on land and at sea. The Patagonia region of Argentina, stretching to the southernmost city of Ushuaia, offers all that and more.
Looking for a great reason to plan your next adventure? Here’s why you should visit Argentine Patagonia this year.
California-based photographer Evan Ruderman recently returned from his second trip to Chile’s epic Torres del Paine national park. Here, he shares some shots and tips that got him through his 10-day trek.
Patagonia conjures up images of snow-tipped mountains, glaciers, and endless grasslands – a realm of pure, untamed nature. This stunning region attracts countless outdoor enthusiasts but can often be expensive in both Chile and Argentina. However, even if you’re journeying on a tight budget, there are many varied activities to enjoy for free (or at a minimal cost) besides hiking in the national parks.
The name “Patagonia” typically conjures up visions of endless pampas (grasslands) and southern cowboys, but there is so much more to the region than that. Covering a massive chunk of southern Chile and Argentina, this unique 402,734 sq mile region is a patchwork of diverse terrains and microclimates that challenges and surprises hikers of all abilities.
I’m not exactly the rugged outdoor adventurer who seeks out adrenaline-fuelled experiences and destinations. However, sometimes I like to challenge myself, so I embarked on a trip to Patagonia, where I hoped not only to explore a place unlike any I’d previously experienced but also to discover my own comfort level.
Wondering if your outdoor gear could hold up on your next multi-day trek? I went to the ends of the Earth to put some of the biggest brands out there to the test – the five-day circuit of Dientes de Navarino at the furthest tip of southern Chile.
In Patagonia, it’s the silence that captures your attention first, followed by the breathtaking landscapes – snow-dusted mountains resembling dollops of whipped cream, shimmering lakes, and aquamarine icebergs floating past giant, jagged glaciers that crash and calve into the milky blue water below.
There are few places left in the world as wild and unruffled by the hands of man as Patagonia. The little-visited northern half of Chilean Patagonia is a markedly different world where fairytale rainforests, puffing volcanoes, raging rivers, and sharply hewn fjords all compete for attention. Ripe for exploration, here are seven of the most epic outdoor adventures you won’t want to miss.
Upon arrival, you’ll be taken into the capital to enjoy a half-day guided exploration of the city and to rest up. Your privateKnowmadguide will highlight Santiago’s most important historical sites, including the downtown area surrounding the Plaza de Armas and the La Moneda Presidential Palace. Pass by the Mercado Central, one of Chile’s largest fresh seafood markets, and stroll by the many bustling stalls to see the tremendous variety available from Chile’s bountiful sea. You’ll also visit some of the lesser-known barrios of Santiago, including Republica and Concha y Toro, which were historically privileged neighborhoods and home to Santiago’s high society. There will be time to walk around and take photos of the varied styles of architecture dating back to the 19th and early 20th century. Continuing through the cobblestoned Lastarria neighborhood, you will walk through the Parque Forestal and pass by the Bellas Artes Museum. For a panoramic vista of the city, you will visit the top of Cerro San Cristobal Hill, 984 feet above the city.
Sometimes, a picture really is worth a thousand words. At the forthcomingExplora El Chaltén, guests will be able to wake up in one of 20 rooms, step up to their windows, and take absolutely breathtaking (and jealousy-inducing) photos of the snow-covered peaks of Patagonia’s Los Huemules Natural Reserve without even stepping outside.