Because is a wild and diverse land, full of extreme landscapes ranging from deserts to deep rain forests and from endless plains to dramatic peaks. Patagonia still remains pristine and full of wildlife, reminding us how our planet was long before we sat foot on it. The last territory on Earth conquered by humankind, full of myths and stories of native Peoples, conquerors, pioneers and adventurers. For a lot o reasons Patagonia is really “the last frontier”.
At the southern end of South America, shared by Argentina and Chile. The Colorado and Bio Bio rivers are its north limits, going down to Cape Horn, on Tierra del Fuego. The region comprises the southern end of the Andes mountain range, as well as grasslands, steppes, deserts a two coasts: an easter one towards the Atlantic Ocean and a western one towards the Pacific.
Patagonia is a huge territory of more than 1 million km2 75% in Argentina, 25% in Chile. The main airports are in Bariloche, El Calafate, Trelew and Comodoro Rivadavia in Argentina, with several daily connection to Buenos Aires and Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas in Chile, connecting to Santiago.
Most travel guides and major travel companies focus just on small areas of Patagonia such us the Lake District and the Perito Moreno Glacier areas on the Argentinian side and Torres del Paine in Chile but there is definitely much more to it. Our recommendation if to use that places as starting or ending points but going deeper, getting off the beaten track to explore the most remote and isolated areas that make Patagonia so unique and striking.
Route 40 on the Argentinian side and Carretera Austral in Chile are the backbones that connect the amazing lakes and forests of north Patagonia with the dramatic mountains and glaciers of southern Patagonia, with the mostly flat Patagonian steppe in the middle. By taking one of our tours you can really get a feel of the extreme landscapes that make up this part of the world.
Seasons here are very well-defined: mild springs, warm and mostly dry summers, rainy autumns and cold winters with frequent snowfalls. Each one has different attractions. Spring and summer are great for long tours when the good weather and the long hours of daylight allow to spend the whole day outdoors. Autumn is amazing on the Lake District, with the Andean forest tree species turning yellow, orange and fire-red. In winter you can enjoy snow sports, like skiing in Bariloche or San Martin de los Andes or enjoying the icy landscapes on a snowshoe hike.