Patagonia is a region at the southern end of South America, shared by the countries of Argentina and Chile. For a long time it was considered a remote area of the world, but these days it’s much more accessible and still retains the magical feeling of being in a faraway place.
It was a dream come true when I visited the Argentine side last year. I could never have imagined a place of such beauty without seeing it for myself. Now I’m eagerly waiting for the day until I can return to explore the Chilean side.
Patagonia is certainly not a place I only plan on visiting once, and if it’s not already on your bucket list, it will be after reading what this beautiful region has to offer.
A hiker's paradise
Innumerable hiking opportunities in Patagonia await, but none more exceptional than in El Chalten, a small village located at the base of two iconic mountains, Cerro Torre and Cerro Fitz Roy.
On offer are a vast number of hiking trails each revealing the spectacular view of these immense granite mountains. Spend several days exploring various routes depending on your fitness. The hike to Laguna Torre is perfect for beginners, while a more challenging hike to Laguna de Los Tres has arguably the best views of Cerro Fitz Roy. Any visitor to El Chalten will soon discover why it’s named the Trekking Capital of Argentina.
Spotting penguins
There’s a high chance of spotting these adorable aquatic birds in Patagonia if you know where to go exactly. While in Ushuaia I took a boat trip to Martillo Island where hundreds of Magellanic penguins reside and make their nests.
In Chile, not far from Punta Arenas, is the popular penguin-spotting Magdalena Island where an estimated 60,000 breeding pairs migrating there each summer to raise their young. While Magellanic penguins are most commonly seen, you have the chance to see the only colony of King penguins, famed for their large size and bright yellow mane at Parque Pingüino Rey on the coast of Bahia Inutil in Chile.
Further reading: Martillo Island: See & Walk with Penguins in Patagonia
Its diverse cultural heritage
Patagonian history reveals a melting pot of culture, with some surprising elements too. For example there are the Welsh settlers known as Y Wladfa who began immigrating to Patagonia in the 19th and early 20th Century. Today you will find Welsh towns such as Gaiman, Trelew and Trevelin, and over 50,000 Argentines claim Welsh descent.
Furthermore are the indigenous people and their traditions. Some of the most captivating examples of Patagonian history are the hunting scenes and stencilled handprints of the native nomadic Tehuelche people that cover the walls of La Cueva de Manos (the Cave of Hands) near the town of Perito Moreno.
Perito Moreno Glacier
Considering everything Patagonia has to offer, perhaps its most striking feature is its multitude of glaciers.The Patagonian icefields stretch for hundreds of kilometres atop the Andes mountain range in Chile and Argentina.
To experience them for yourself, head to Los Glaciares National Park, which is home to the largest ice cap outside of Antarctica and Greenland.
Inside the National Park is the immense Perito Moreno Glacier, which soars up to 70m high and 5km in width. The park has specially constructed walkways so that you can walk close to the head of the glaciers and there are also options to get closer via boat trips and guided hiking tours over the ice formations and crevasses.
The gateway to Antarctica
In the southernmost province of Patagonia lies the small town of Ushuaia which serves as the gateway to Antarctica and is commonly referred to as Fin del Mundo (the end of the world).
While Ushuaia is certainly more than just the starting point to Antarctica, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted to jump onboard any vessel heading that way whilst I was in town. But with my purse strings unable to reach that far, Ushuaia was the southernmost destination I reached. I took a day-trip into the Beagle Channel which offered a stunning glimpse into the wildlife that one would should expect venturing to the South Pole.
No trip to Fin del Mundo is complete without first taking time to understand its fascinating history. Discover how it turned from being a penal colony to a thriving tourist destination filled with adventure.
Further reading: Ushuaia travel guide – journey to the end of the world
