Things to Do in Patagonia

Patagonia is one of the most geographically diverse regions in the world, located in the Southern section of the Andes Mountain, shared by Chile and Argentina. The sparsely populated region is comprised of expansive deserts, lush green steppes and grasslands, glaciers and some of the largest ice fields in the Southern Hemisphere outside of Antarctica. In the central region, historic volcanic eruptions cover a large part of the land with basaltic lava caps.

The rich biodiversity of Patagonia makes it one of the most enchanting places to visit for hiking or trekking expeditions. On your next trip, visit Torres del Paine National Park, a massive preserve offering mountain and glacier views, more than 100 bird species, camping and boating. The Paine massif dominates the park’s landscape, an eastern spur of the Andes located on the east side of the Grey Glacier, rising above the Patagonian steppe. Small valleys separate the granite spires and mountains. Explore the Valley of Silence, where the towering granite walls of Cerro Fortaleza and Cerro Escudo (Shield Mountain) stand face to face.

The Southern Patagonian Ice Field is ideal for trekking and backpacking, and Cape Horn offers scenic cruises to Antarctica.

Other must-see natural attractions include the Perito Moreno glacier, located in Los Glaciares National Park in the Santa Cruz Province in Argentina. This 97-square-mile ice formation is the world’s third-largest reserve of fresh water. The glacier is less than two hours by bus from El Calafate, and many trekking tours run daily visits.

Take a ski or snowshoe tour of Cerro Castor, a resort on the southern slope of Mount Krund in the Argentine province of Tierra del Fuego. For water sport lovers, take a kayak tour at General Carrera Lake, a glacial origin lake shared by Argentina and Chile, surrounded by towering Andes Mountains. A car ferry operates in the Chilean sector of the lake well known for its premier trout and salmon fishing. Kayak through the exotic Marble Caves, unusual geographic formation of caverns located at the center of the lake, monoliths of marble formed by wave action more than 6,200 years.

Wherever you choose to explore in Patagonia, you can expect some of the most extraordinary natural beauty anywhere in the world.