Safari in Patagonia
Patagonia
is the wild and dramatic
southern part of the continent
only accessible during the Oct-Mar southern summer
Patagonia is the area covered by the southern third of both Argentina and Chile, roughly the bottom 1000 km (600 miles) of South America.
The region is characterised by cooler climates, with the eastern side being composed mainly of dry open steppe grasslands, the western side by dramatic mountains with glacial valleys below extensive glaciers and ice sheets.
The landscapes are largely wild, although large parts have long since been settled by hardy sheep farmers, who largely originated from more northerly European countries like the British isles and Scandinavia.
The main reasons to visit are to experience the epic wild landscapes (by vehicle, on foot and on horseback) and to encounter the unique and diverse wildlife (with a special focus on pumas).
Most parts of Patagonia are only accessible during the Oct-Sep southern summer, with Nov-Feb being the main season. Outside that period, most of the remote areas become inaccessible and the lodges are closed.
Although it is possible to visit just one area of Patagonia for as little as 3-4 nights, much longer explorations are eminently possible and enable you to get to ever more remote and unexplored parts.
Set in the far south of Chile, Torres del Paine is a substantial national park and one of the most strikingly beautiful places on earth, with dramatic mountain peaks, vast glaciers and stunning lakes, fabulous lodges, superb hiking and some truly remarkable puma action.
incredible scenery and pumas
Set in the south of Argentina, Los Glaciares is a substantial national park which contains dramatic mountain peaks, vast glaciers and stunning lakes. There’s a wide selection of outdoor activities, including some great hiking and horseback riding, plus some wonderfully remote and authentic estancias.
epic glaciers and hiking trails
Set in the far south of Chile, Puerto Natales is an historic working port, previously a major centre for the sheep farming industry, with a couple of high class hotels, mainly offering opportunities to explore the local fjords and glaciers by boat.
remote sub-polar outpost
Set in the far south of Chile, Punta Arenas is a remote but substantial port city, the main transport hub for this part of Patagonia, the starting point for some of the best coastal cruises and with some interesting penguin colonies and other birding opportunities in the vicinity.
flights to Antarctica
Set in the south of Argentina, Los Canones is a vast area of open steppe, etched by a network of dramatic canyons, with some fascinating geology and rock-art, as well as extensive hiking trails and some pioneering puma tracking. Accommodation is in a handful of remote lodges and estancias.
remote puma tracking
Set on the east coast of Argentina, Península Valdés is renowned for its prodigious marine wildlife, with highlights including orcas taking seal pups from the beaches and enormous bull elephant seals fighting over their harems. The best accommodation is in a handful of remote estancias.
awesome marine wildlife
Set in the south of Argentina, Aysen is a relatively little-visited region, which contains gorgeous scenery, dramatic mountain peaks, vast glaciers and stunning lakes. There’s a wide selection of outdoor activities, including some absolutely superb hiking, but only a very few good lodge options.
the northern edge of Patagonia
Set in the far south of Argentina, Ushuaia is a remote but substantial port city and the capital of Tierra del Fuego. Although there is a substantial ski resort here, the place is not incredibly attractive in its own right, but it is the starting point for cruises to both Antarctica and around Cape Horn to Punta Arenas in Chile.
boats for Antarctica
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Best Lodges
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Key Locations
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