Overview
For many, Patagonia summons up an image of a remote, hostile wilderness, tawny grasslands buffeted by screaming gales, ice-cold lagoons and insurmountable glaciers, inhabited only by hardy rough-haired mammals and scavenging birds. In fact, holidays to Patagonia offer an abundance of variety and contrast; the region extends down from the lake district of Chile and Argentina to Tierra del Fuego knocking on the door to Antarctica. e door to Antarctica comprises a world of variety and contrasts.
In the north, snow-tipped volcanic cones are skirted by lush cool temperate forests, meadows and pastures; in the Atlantic east the Valdez Peninsula is home to a cornucopia of wildlife, and in the far south the Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Parks are spiked with icy pinnacles and criss-crossed by hiking trails. Some previously inaccessible parts of the region, such as the fractured land of fjords and islets of Chile’s Aisén province are now opening up to visitors, making Patagonia holidays richer than ever.
This increasingly popular region is huge enough to absorb the growing numbers of visitors, so that the feeling of being alone with nature is never more than a short stroll away.
To learn more about this breath-taking region or to find out about holidays to Argentina and holidays to Chile speak to one of our Travel Experts.
Our top holiday styles to Patagonia
Holidays Patagonia
From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays.
Private Journeys
Chile / Patagonia
Active Chile: Trek in Torres Del Paine
13 days from £4,451pp
Private Journeys
Chile / Patagonia
Active Chile: Hiking, cycling and kayaking in the lake district and Patagonia
13 days from £3,690pp
Private Journeys
Chile / Argentina / Patagonia
Active Patagonia: Classic treks in Argentina and Chile
14 days from £3,630pp
Private Journeys
Argentina / Iguazu Falls / Patagonia
Argentina Wildlife: Tropical wetlands and Patagonia
16 days from £6,320pp
Places To Visit In Patagonia
Discover our guide to the most exciting, memorable and inspiring places to visit.
Aisen and the Carretera Austral
Home to lush, temperate forests, tumultuous rivers and jagged mountain passes, Aisen is a pristine wilderness made accessible by the Carretera Austral.
Argentine lake district
This region of snow-dipped volcanoes, sapphire lakes and dense alpine forests is linked to the Chilean lake district by the Lakes Crossing, one of the continent’s most stunning passes.
Chilean Lake District (north)
A Tolkienesque landscape of monkey puzzle forests, soaring snow-capped volcanoes and lakes of the deepest blue. This is where Patagonia begins.
Chilean Lake District (south)
This lunar landscape is the world’s driest desert, home to hissing geysers, sprawling salt flats and otherworldly valleys of magnificent amber rocks.
Things to do
We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.
Accommodation
Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation . Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you’ll relax in utter comfort.
Where to go when - our guide to Patagonia
The weather in Patagonia is wide and varied
Patagonia stretches from the verdant mountains of Chile and Argentina’s Lake Districts all the way down to the glacial massifs and remote fjords at the tip of the Southern Cone. The weather in this vast region is renowned for its unpredictability; bursts of rain, radiant sunshine, snowstorms and driving winds can all make an appearance in a single day. However, from the lush, temperate forests of Aisen in the north, to the frozen pinnacles of the national parks in the south, there are discernable seasons which affect when you may like to visit. For the warmest and clearest weather conditions and lush, thriving landscapes, the summer months of December - February are ideal, although you may encounter crowds in popular locations such as Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park. The shoulder seasons (September - November and March - May) offer the spectacular colours of springtime blooms and autumnal foliage, with fewer visitors. This also increases your chances of spotting some of the region’s cornucopia of wildlife, including ñandus, pudus, guanacos, condors and famously, the elusive puma. During the winter, many outdoor areas and hotels will be closed due to the harsh weather conditions. You may wish to explore the frozen landscapes and icy lakes at their most wild and remote, or try skiing in the fjords of southern Patagonia.
View our Patagonia weather guidePapagaio
Your edit for Latin American inspiration
Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.
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Ben Line - Travel Expert
Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Head of Sales.
Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert
Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.
Sophie Barber - Travel Expert
Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.
Millie Davies - Travel Expert
Having caught the travel bug as a child, Millie has travelled all over Latin America before making her home in Buenos Aires for 3 years.
Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert
Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.
Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert
Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.
