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.
The best time to visit Patagonia is between September and March when days are longer and warmer and there is less rain.
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
(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)
Private Journeys
Chile / Patagonia
Active Chile: Hiking, cycling and kayaking in the lake district and Patagonia
(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)
Private Journeys
Chile / Argentina / Patagonia
Active Patagonia: Classic treks in Argentina and Chile
(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)
Private Journeys
Argentina / Iguazu Falls / Patagonia
Argentina Wildlife: Tropical wetlands and Patagonia
(based on two people sharing & excluding flights)
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
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