One Month Patagonia Travel Itinerary
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www.worldlyadventurer.com PATAGONIA T R A V E L I T I N E R A R Y F O R O N E M O N T H FREE EBOOK GUIDE One Month Patagonia Travel Itinerary One of the best – and most frustrating – parts about exploring Patagonia is how there’s an almost never- ending list of spectacular natural formations, unspoilt nature and incredible off-the-beaten-trail adventures to be found. Why is that frustrating? Well, having now spent over two months travelling in Patagonia, I still feel like I’ve only skimmed the surface. Ultimately, Patagonia is a place where you could keep coming back and never really feel like you’ve seen it all. If you’ve only four weeks, this is ample time for seeing the region’s highlights. In one month, expect to stand in awe at the snouts of Argentina’s finest glaciers, trek through wild scenery, cruise through the Chilean fjords, hike in one of the world’s most famous national parks and road trip to some of Patagonia’s remotest places. Unfortunately, there just isn’t time to visit the Carretera Austral with this route; if you want to (and I recommend you do), consider travelling the Carretera Austral southwards from Puerto Montt and into Argentina Patagonia at the Villa O’Higgins crossing instead. This should add at least ten days to your trip and you can find information about exploring Patagonia's finest road using this article about the Carretera Austral page 2 www.worldlyadventurer.com What equipment do you need for Patagonia? Camping gear Camping equipment is useful, although not entirely essential for this itinerary around Patagonia. For the O Circuit in Torres del Paine National Park, you can rent equipment in Puerto Natales. However, if you plan on wild camping in Tierra del Fuego (or saving money on accommodation in Ushuaia), it’s worth bringing your own gear. For my recommendations on everything you need to pack for Patagonia, head over to my packing checklist for Patagonia. Food At some points along this route, it is hard to get hold of food easily, so I’ve indicated which destinations have supermarkets and are best for stocking up. Maps For the road trip at the end of the itinerary, buy a copy of the ChileTur Copec guide (available from COPEC petrol stations). You should be able to buy the “Rutas de Chile” map which will be indispensable for driving around Patagonia. I would also recommend that you download Maps.me, a free app that covers the roads and even hiking routes of most of Patagonia. www.worldlyadventurer.com page 3 RECOMMENDATIONS F O R T R A V E L L I N G I N P A T A G O N I A Don’t try and fly from Chile to Argentina. It’s The shoulder seasons, October-November and horribly expensive. If you’re not arriving in March-April are far quieter – and cheaper - Patagonia by bus, always fly internally from for backpacking in Patagonia. Santiago or Buenos Aires and then use one of Accommodation and agencies in some towns the long-distance (and generally are sometimes not running in October or April comfortable) buses to cross the border. You though. will save a lot of cash. Bus schedules vary depending on the season LATAM and Sky are Chile’s main airlines. If you and change year-to-year. Always visit the bus book through LATAM’s US site, you price is station when you get to a new place to four times greater than what you would pay if confirm timings and buy tickets for the next you buy via their Chilean site. It’s in Spanish leg of your journey. It's also important to plan though, so find someone who can translate. additional days into your itinerary in case you Patagonia is probably the safest part of can’t travel on the day you had initially South America. I’ve hitchhiked in Chile intended. without problems and would thoroughly Self-catering is by far the best way of recommend this as a form of transport. (Get keeping costs down. Where possible, I’ve tips on hitchhiking in South America here). highlighted the best places to stock up on Car hire is also an interesting and rewarding food. way of seeing Patagonia, although booking in However, crossing the border between advance during high season is again Argentina and Chile, you cannot take fresh recommended. There are plenty of fruit, vegetables, cheese or meat. It will be international companies offering car rental in confiscated and if you don’t own up to it Patagonia but you may find local businesses (particularly when heading into Chile), you offer cheaper prices; do a Google search may be fined. before booking. page 4 wwwwww..wwoorrllddllyyaaddvveennttuurreerr..ccoomm page 3 ONE MONTH PATAGONIA TRAVEL ITINERARY Day 1: Santiago to Puerto Montt Days 2 to 5: Navimag Ferry to Puerto Natales Fly from Santiago to Puerto Montt (11 flights Take a bus back to Puerto Montt and board the per day, one hour 45 minutes). Navimag to Puerto Natales. The ferry should set From the airport, take the bus ($2,500 sail at 4pm, but be aware that the boats don’t necessarily leave at the time they should (the CLP/$4 USD, every 30 minutes) to the terminal Navimag left 12 hours late when I sailed in April in Puerto Montt and board a local minibus to 2016) so leave room in your Patagonia itinerary lakeside Puerto Varas (20-minutes) – one of for this eventuality. Chile’s most picturesque towns. According to the 2017 schedule, these boats If you’ve got time in the afternoon, take a only leave on Fridays. Learn more about taking minibus (ask at your hostel for instructions) to this ferry by reading this article about the visit Saltas de Petrohué, waterfalls that sit Navimag. below imposing Volcán Osorno. Days 6 to 7: Puerto Natales Accommodation & Food You should arrive around 4pm into the port at Puerto Natales. Go directly to the bus station Compass del Sur (dorm $9,500 CLP/$14 USD, to book return tickets to Torres del Paine double room $24,000 CLP/$36 USD), is my National Park for Day 8. favourite hostel in Patagonia (it’s got huge Spend the afternoon relaxing and sampling rooms, a kitchen and delicious, home-made the local beer at Cerveza Baguales (Calle breakfast). Carlos Bories 430), Chile’s first brew pub or Mesa Tropera (Calle Santa Rosa 161) enjoying a Torres del Paine Austral beer in any has top notch pizza and beer (and an other bar (it’s a limited edition so you don’t incredible location overlooking the lake) and find it in many places in Chile). La Olla (Calle Ruta 22) has Puerto Varas’ best seafood. www.worldlyadventurer.com page 5 Accommodation & Food the bus at Laguna Amarga Ranger Station (the first one you reach). Pay your entry fee You’re spoiled for choice when it comes to ($21,000 CLP/$32 USD) and start the hike. accommodation. Spend the night at Hostal Enjoy nine days of trekking through magical Lili-Patagonico’s (dorm $14,000 CLP/$21 USD, scenery, spotting wildlife such as owls, double $28,000 CLP/$42 USD) or get a guanacos and Andean Condors and finishing cheaper room at the basic, but comfortable with the sight of the towers at dawn. Casa Teresa (Calle Esmeralda) (dorm $10,000 Return to Puerto Natales in the evening of CLP/$15 USD). Day 12 and enjoy a celebratory beer – you’ve earned it! Buy tickets for the morning bus to El The next day, organise hiking gear and sort Calafate. out your shopping. Unfortunately, there is only one supermarket in town but there are plenty Days 16 to 18: El Chaltén of small shops selling nuts and dried fruit Buses leave in the morning from the terminal in which will be great for maintaining your Puerto Natales to El Calafate (five hours energy levels on the trail. including border crossing). Check the Spend any free time visiting the waterfront timetable for buses back to Puerto Natales or just enjoying the town. There are plenty of and buy return tickets to El Chaltén. If you’re good restaurants, including La Guanaca on a budget, stock up on food for the next few Pizzeria (Calle Magallanes 167). days and then board the bus to El Chaltén Days 7 to 15: Hike the O Circuit, (four hours). Torres del Paine National Park There are plenty of hikes to keep you busy, including to Laguna de los Tres and Laguna At 7:15am, board the bus to Torres del Paine Torre, both of which offer the best views in National Park. You can start the O hike town. There’s even multi-day hikes in the from various different points, but most get off national park. Check out this website for full information about El Chaltén and where to hike in this part of Patagonia. There are lots of restaurants in town, none of which are for those on a budget. The steaks at La Tapera (Calle Jose Antonio), the beer in Don Guerra (Calle San Martin) and the sweet and savoury waffles in La Wafleria (Calle San Martin 640) are delicious. There are a small number of minimarkets around the town but they regularly sell out of basic supplies. page 6 www.worldlyadventurer.com Accommodation & Food This city is often overlooked in favour The Pioneros del Valle Hostel (dorm $350 of heading directly to Puerto Natales, but it’s ARS/$20 USD, double $1,300 ARS/$77 USD) is actually an interesting place to spend an comfortable, although campgrounds, such as afternoon.