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Mountain Hostels in Torres del Paine

A more relaxing version of the backpacker experience. Cap the day with a comfy bed, heating, hot shower and conversations with other adventurers.

Weather in Patagonia changes from one minute to the next. Ensure a warm bed, hot shower and friendly, backpacker comradery each night by staying in our mountain hostels.

By hiking lighter, you can take advantage of being on trail and losing yourself in the beauty of each moment.

Lodging Rates: Stay in a single bed in a shared room:

• Low season (October and April): USD $160
• High season (November to March) USD $180

Meal Plans: Food service is limited in capacity.

• Full board (breakfast, box lunch and dinner*): USD $110.
• Half board (breakfast and dinner*): USD $80.

During Christmas and New Year:

• Full board (breakfast, box lunch and dinner*): USD $150.
• Half board (breakfast and dinner*): USD $120.

Note: For vegetarian option please book in advance.

Individual Meals

• Breakfast: USD $30
• Box Lunch (Lunch to go): USD $35.
• Lunch: USD $55.
• Dinner*: USD $55.
• The published rates and dates are valid until April 2025.
• During the winter season, access to the trail is only permitted with an accredited guide approved by the distinguished municipality of Torres del Paine.

It’s nice to have a day to spend here. We promise there’s no lack of sights to see or things to do! You can take advantage of the day by heading over to Mount Almirante Nieto, the Lake Nordenskjöld or the Las Torres Base Viewpoint. Or, take it easy and leisurely walk the Educational Trail or mosey over by the horse stables. At the end of the day or in-between activities, relax in the lounge or enjoy a drink at the bar or appetizers at the restaurant.

Our bustling center of operations has all your conveniences covered. You can rent tents, sleeping bags and sleeping mats at the time of booking, as well as conveniently stock up on snacks, store luggage, connect to WiFi, or, if you need a little pampering, head over to Hotel Las Torres for some Spa treatment.

It’s hard to pick favorites in Torres del Paine, but this camp is truly stellar. While the Los Cuernos Mountains will take your breath away, that’s not all this sector has to offer. Lake Nordenskjöld and a cascading waterfall are also waiting for your visit.

The stunning 360 degree views from the outside of this hostel will be beautifully ingrained in your memory forever. Looking around at Lake Nordenskjöld, Mount Paine Grande, Mount Ferrier, Mount Tenerife and the Balmaceda and Chacabuco Mountain Ranges is a humbling and inspiring experience. You’ll likely also see the famous “foehn” winds zipping like little tornadoes of water around the lake, and hear the sounds of avalanches from the Francés Glacier. This full panoramic is quite a sight to behold!

Leave your gear behind and head up the Francés Valley with a light backpack of just the essentials, then come back and savor a bite to eat in the hostel restaurant.

Happy Guests and Incredible Memories

Our guests and visitors come to experience Torres del Paine for the purity of it´s nature and extraordinary contrasts.

They leave Reserva Las Torres with the most incredible memories from an authentic natural adventure.

Excellent service and very polite and friendly. The mountain hostels are at top international standards. The best we experienced in Puerto Natales.

Excellent trekking and a wonderful place with unmissable views. My son and I hiked the W Circuit for 4 days and it was not wasted, everything was just fabulous. The contrast between the mountains and the lakes make it a really special place. It requires a basic level of physical preparation, but nothing that cannot be managed.

We are here to answer all your questions

Las Torres Patagonia

Gracias por contactarte con Reserva Las Torres Patagonia

Patagonia Travellers' Hostel

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• Excellent 294
• Very Good 117
• All languages ( 445 )
• Spanish ( 254 )
• English ( 110 )
• Portuguese ( 39 )

" "ground level" is their 1st level, "1st floor" is upstairs. "

" wifi only works in the center of the hostel "

" Get a room away from the street. The restaurant the road is loud until late. "

" Both downstairs and upstairs are good choices. "

" Great location for the trail hike "

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PATAGONIA TRAVELLERS' HOSTEL $51 ($̶8̶1̶)

THE 10 BEST Backpacker Hostels Patagonia

Backpacker Hostels in Patagonia

Property types, distance from, traveller rating, hotel class.

• Best Value Properties ranked using exclusive Tripadvisor data, including traveller ratings, confirmed availability from our partners, prices, booking popularity and location, as well as personal user preferences and recently viewed hotels.
• Traveller Ranked Highest rated hotels on Tripadvisor, based on traveller reviews.
• Distance to city centre See properties located closest to the centre first with confirmed availability for your dates from our partners

1. America del Sur Hostel

2. La Tosca Hostel

3. Antarctica Hostel

4. Patagonia Travellers' Hostel

5. Periko's Youth Hostel

6. Rancho Grande Hostel

7. Marcopolo Inn

8. El Gualicho Hostel

9. Cruz del Sur - Hostel

10. Hostel Mandala

11. condor de los andes, 12. rodinia hostel, popular destinations for backpacker hostels.

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Chepatagonia Hostel

Penthouse 1004, hospedaje lautaro, la casona de odile, la casa de tounens, hostel la angostura, hostel 41 below, hopa home patagonia hostel, hostel achalay, bla guesthouse, hostel inn bariloche, i keu ken hostel, calafate hostel, hostel los troncos, folk hostel, green house hostel bariloche, la casa del arbol hostel el bolson, backpacker hostels information.

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Guide to Patagonia: what to do, how to do it, and where to stay

Forty years ago this month, Bruce Chatwin visited Patagonia and his subsequent book lit a beacon for the remote region in many travellers’ minds. Chris Moss picks the highlights among its peaks, glaciers and lakes

F or my first forays into Patagonia, in the 1990s, I left behind my guidebooks and travelogues. Travelling light, I was blown away by big, jagged mountaintop glaciers and – more literally – the fierce westerlies that gusted summer long. Between the gawping and the roast lamb dinners, I struggled to make sense of German settlements, Tehuelche place names, Anglophile ranch-owners and ruddy Welsh faces on the coast; crossing the empty steppe, I wondered why any of these would come to such an arid, godforsaken place to make a home.

Later on, Bruce Chatwin’s In Patagonia helped me to make sense of all this. Chatwin visited the region 40 years ago this month to write what would become In Patagonia, published in 1977 to great acclaim. Drawing on a wide range of sources, from Shakespeare’s The Tempest to the accounts of the 1921-2 farm workers’ uprising (collected by Argentine author Osvaldo Bayer), the book fills the empty spaces of southern South America with people, myths and magical happenings. In Patagonia is as much a homage to storytelling as it is to the place itself.

Patagonia covers some 400,000 square miles – roughly one and a half times the size of the UK – and visitors need to plan ahead. Established tourism is found in the northern lake districts of Argentina and Chile, and around Los Glaciares national park in the former, and Torres del Paine national park in the latter. Elsewhere, the wilderness still rules, and a cursory glance at a map reveals that Argentinian Patagonia is mainly empty spaces and ranching country, while Chilean Patagonia is a collage of islands, inlets and labyrinthine channels.

Chatwin stayed for four months, but you probably won’t have that much time – below are some experiences you can fit into a 10-day or two-week trip, and a few odysseys aimed at the time-rich traveller. Tour packages from the UK are included, but it’s easy to visit Patagonia independently – there are hostels all over, excellent campsites, frequent buses and mini-buses, and English is widely spoken. Pound sterling is very strong against the Argentine peso, so short local flights are affordable right now. Across the region, food and drink are excellent value too. A few decades ago, Patagonian cuisine consisted of grilled lamb and tripe stew; these days restaurants serve everything from cured wild boar to snook-and-hake ceviche, while local parrillas (grills) are always a safe bet for a meaty feast.

Argentinian Patagonia: coast

Argentinian Patagonia is generally defined as the land south of the Rio Negro, which meets the sea near the town of Viedma. Exploring Patagonia’s Atlantic coast is relatively easy: the Ruta Nacional 3 highway runs all the way from Buenos Aires to Rio Gallegos, where you take a ferry across the Strait of Magellan to Tierra del Fuego, to complete the 3,000km run. Andesmar , Condor , Don Otto and El Pinguino operate comfortable, economical long-distance buses to the main towns (Buenos Aires to Puerto Madryn costs from £70). Hiring a car allows greater freedom, but you’d have to bring it back to the pick-up point – a 14-day hire of a small vehicle from Buenos Aires starts at £350 with Europcar or Budget.

On the northern coast, the two big stories are Wales and whales. In 1865, 165 migrants arrived from Wales aboard the Mimosa and established settlements beside the River Chubut. The towns that grew out of these hamlets – Rawson, Puerto Madryn, Trelew and Gaiman – are easy to visit by bus or car, with chapels and Welsh-themed teashops concentrated in the latter. If you want to do as the Welsh – and Chatwin – did, and travel all the way to the Andes, it’s a long bus ride or drive across the steppe. A side-theme here is dinosaurs; lots of fossils have been found in Patagonia and Trelew has an excellent collection at its Egidio Feruglio Museum of Paleontology .

The South Atlantic teems with marine life. Southern right whales can be seen calving in the southern winter (July-September) off Puerto Madryn, though the best place to see them is Puerto Pirámides on the Valdés peninsula, from which smallish boats allow visitors to get close to the huge cetaceans. Pods of orcas, as well as elephant seals, sea lions and fur seals are visible off the peninsula’s coast year round. South of Madryn, at Punta Tombo, there are 210,000 breeding pairs of Magellanic penguins – the largest colony in the world – resident from September to March. Further south, at Puerto Deseado, you can see rockhopper penguins, five species of cormorant and Commerson’s dolphins in the estuary, and a huge seal colony at Cabo Blanco.

The most southerly important landmark on the coast is Puerto San Julián. It is here that Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan made landfall in 1520, encountering the tall Tehuelche tribesmen whom he called Patagones, after a mythical character in a chivalric tale, leading to the region’s name. There is a fine 12km coastal walk here from the town centre to the abandoned Swift meatpacking plant.

There’s little reason to go further south than this unless you’re driving and bound for Cabo Virgenes, at the southeastern-most tip of mainland Argentina. This dramatic cape looks out over the Atlantic and the Strait of Magellan – the Estancia Monte Dinero is open to visitors and runs the cosy Al Fin y Al Cabo cafe-bar at the foot of the lighthouse, with sweeping views over the ocean. There’s another huge Magellanic penguin colony nearby.

Where to stay

El Gualicho hostel, Puerto Madryn Three blocks from the sea, this popular, brightly decorated hostel (orange paint is the main theme) can help guests organise diving trips and other excursions. £54 per double or twin, B&B, +54 02 80 445 4163, elgualicho.com.ar

Monte Dinero One of only a few working sheep farms open to visitors; accommodation is lavish and the food some of the best in Patagonia. £260 per double, full board, +54 29 6642 8922, montedinero.com.ar

Territorio, Puerto Madryn A stylish sort of haute motel right on the bay, equipped with library, spa, sauna and a good restaurant. D oubles from £135; + 54 28 0488 3180, hotelterritorio.com

Argentinian Patagonia: Andes

The most populated and developed area of Andean Patagonia is the lake district of Río Negro and Neuquén provinces. The latter is more popular with Argentinians than foreign visitors, but the quaint towns of Junín de los Andes, San Martín de los Andes and Villa La Angostura are good bases for camping, hiking, trout fishing, horse riding and quad biking. A photogenic drive (or tour-bus ride) here is the Seven Lakes route, which winds for 110km between a series of lakes surrounded by Andean peaks and beech and myrtle forests enlivened by red anemone-like notros and yellow michay flowers .

Bariloche, on the banks of the immense Nahuel Huapi lake, is a major town, and a base for trekking and mountain biking; Apurabici rents bikes for £15 a day and organises half-day guided rides along mountain trails for £50pp.

A popular excursion from here is a through-Andes ferry-and-bus ride to Puerto Varas in Chile, allowing you to see the further reaches of the lakes that are inaccessible by road. Operated by Cruce Andino (cruceandino.com), a single costs £146.

Bariloche is a natural starting point for a drive south along Argentina’s Ruta Nacional 40. This long, largely paved highway actually runs the length of the country, skirting the Andes, and the Patagonian section runs past all the towns listed below.

From Bariloche to Cabo Virgenes it’s 2,300km; Audley Travel can arrange a 14-day car and accommodation package for £4,295 per person, including all flights and a 4WD vehicle.

To do it yourself, use bus firms that operate along the entire route, such as Chaltén Travel and TAQSA (one-way Bariloche to El Calafate from £106). A small operator, Cal Tur , connects Los Antiguos with El Calafate.

South of Bariloche are a string of pleasant towns, including El Bolsón – a former hippy hangout, and still popular with Argentinian campers – and Cholila, where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid bought a ranch (you can visit Cassidy’s log cabin there). Close by, Los Alerces national park has some of the nicest campsites in Patagonia, especially those on the edges of Bahía Rosales and on the Kruger and Rivadavia lakes. There are seven serviced campsites and nine basic ones, and a further seven areas that allow wild camping. It’s $80 (£6) to enter the park and camping costs £8-10 per night. There’s good trekking throughout the park, and also at nearby Lago Puelo, and its namesake national park.

From Esquel, the steam-powered La Trochita train – aka the Old Patagonian Express – still has weekly departures, but most only go 20km, to Nahuel Pan. Close to the town is the Museo Leleque . Supported by the Benetton family, it showcases 14,000 native artefacts, including arrowheads, bone drills, ceremonial axes, grinding stones and pottery shards.

South of Esquel is Trevelin, where you enter, briefly, another Welsh-themed area, after which comes a lot of nada – the great empty spaces of central Patagonia. The Ruta Nacional 40 passes through backwater towns like Tecka, José de San Martín and Alto Río Senguer, and the main population centres – Río Mayo (“the national capital of shearing”), Los Antiguos (which sits on the shores of the immense Lago Buenos Aires), and Bajo Caracoles. There’s not a lot to see on the roadside except sheep, though you may catch sight of a fox, a guanaco (a camelid), or a choique (aka Darwin’s rhea – like an emu), or the whiff of a skunk.

One major highlight en route is the Unesco-listed Cueva de las Manos (Cave of Hands). On a gravel road off the Ruta Nacional 40, around 165km south of the town of Perito Moreno, are overhanging caves where, in 1972, archaeologists found 9,000-year-old stencilled handprints and galloping guanacos painted by ancient peoples – probably the ancestors of the native Tehuelche nomads. The art is thought-provoking and the setting, overlooking a deep gorge, is superb (entrance: £6).

Continuing south, you arrive – eventually – in the extraordinarily beautiful Los Glaciares national park , a huge area that protects the southern ice field, dozens of glaciers, virgin forests of lenga, ñire and guindo trees. The star attractions are the towering Fitz Roy massif at its northern end, and the huge, turquoise-coloured Lago Argentino to the south. Many travellers come here to see the lake’s glacier, Perito Moreno ; it’s world-famous, because the ice expands until the warmer waters beneath undermine it and cause a calamitous implosion, sending tsunami-like waves on to the terminal moraine.

There’s plenty to do in the park, from ice-hiking to walking up to ogle 3,405m Mount Fitz Roy, to Land Rover excursions to the top of the barren summit of Cerro Huyliche (with calafateextremo.com.ar ). Alternatively, you can relax in the backpacker town of El Chaltén , admiring the views, the condors and the craft beers – La Vineria has a great stock of ales and Patagonian wines. Frequent minibuses connect El Chaltén to the other main town, El Calafate.

America del Sur hostel, El Calafate Simple, clean rooms in a wooden villa, five minutes’ walk from the town centre. From £20 for a bed in a four-berth dorm, +54 29 0249 3525, americahostel.com.ar

Hostería Canela, Esquel This homely B&B is a tranquil bolthole just outside the town. from £105 per double, +54 29 45 453 890, canelaesquel.com

Estancia Don José, Rio Mayo On a working guanaco farm, this country house has comfortable rooms and there’s a quaint cottage set apart from the main house. £168 per double B&B,+54 29 71 5624 9155, turismoguenguel.com

Chilean Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego

No one can really agree where Chilean Patagonia begins. Much of the south of this long, skinny country is jagged coastline, uninhabited islands, roads that come to dead ends, and impenetrable forests and ice fields. The lake district looks like a mirror image of Argentina’s, though German settlers have left their mark on the churches and houses of Frutillar , Puerto Octay and Puerto Varas. These towns (and Pucón to the north) are close to a series of national parks that protect the lakes and forested slopes of the Villarrica and Puyehue volcanoes. Trekking, cycling, kayaking and rafting trips are easy to organise from any of the towns, and Pachamagua , in Puerto Varas, is a canyoning specialist.

Horse riding is available all over Patagonia, but for those seeking an adventure, the Puelo valley between Cochamó in Chile and Lago Puelo in Argentina has become something of a classic; specialists Ride World Wide and In the Saddle offer a variety of itineraries along the valley. The low pass through the Andes is also used by scores of trekkers each summer.

To the south is genuine wilderness, with the main road interrupted by river crossings. A drive down the 1,247km Carretera Austral (Southern Highway) from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins is a great way to see the lushly forested Palena and Aysén regions, and Lago General Carrera, the second biggest lake in South America. Four-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended, and you’ll need at least 10 days; it’s wise to book some accommodation beforehand, especially in the holiday months of January and February.

For the southern section, the highway follows the Río Baker (until recently the river was threatened by a hydroelectricity scheme ) and passes the new Parque Patagonia . This protected swath of steppe and low mountain ranges is starkly beautiful, with the coirón grasses and spiny bushes providing a habitat for rhea, tinamou , pigeon and burrowing owl. In the mountains are eagles and vultures, including the condor, while the beech forests teem with treecreepers, woodpeckers and even hummingbirds.

Tailor-made firms such as Last Frontiers can organise flights, accommodation and a car for around £5,000 per person, but Europcar at Coyhaique’s Balmaceda airport will rent 4WD pick-ups for two weeks from around £1,100, and you could keep costs down by packing a tent or using hostels. For those on a tight budget, there’s a ferry from Puerto Montt to Chaitén; the service takes 10-12 hours and costs £17 ( navieraustral.cl ). Becker Buses operates on the northern section of the Southern Highway (Chaitén-Coyhaique, £25). See villaohiggins.com for connecting buses south.

The centrepiece of Chilean Patagonia is the Torres del Paine national park . The park’s 130km circuit is popular, though those tight for time can opt for shorter sections. There are great campsites, several superlative hotels, some challenging walks, and the chance to see guanaco and condor against quite stunning landscapes. Several firms are now offering puma-tracking trips in the park. Chilean firm Far South Expeditions offers packages from £1,650 – it’s cheaper with a larger group of travellers; UK luxury operator Miraviva will organise a five-night puma-themed safari, from £4,825 per person (excluding flights). From nearby Puerto Natales, Skorpios offers four-day excursions into the fjords around the southern ice field from £1,100 full-board.

Punta Arenas, an important port before the opening of the Panama Canal, has stately mansions, museums and an old cemetery – Chatwin visited his uncle’s grave here, as he brought his story to its conclusion. It’s also the departure port for the excellent Australis small-ship expedition cruises to Cape Horn and Ushuaia (four nights from £920), Argentina’s – and South America’s – southernmost city.

Singing Lamb, Puerto Natales Friendly, cosy, colourfully decorated hostel with free internet, library and an international clientele. The generous breakfast is a combination of eggs, freshly baked bread, homemade marmalade, and locally grown prunes, sarsaparilla and gooseberries. Doubles from £51 B&B (also has cheap dorms), +56 61 241 0958, thesinginglamb.com

Hotel Nogueira, Punta Arenas This small, rather grand 22-room hotel (former guests include King Juan Carlos of Spain and Princess Anne) was once the mansion of sailor José Nogueira, one of the founding fathers of Punta Arenas. Doubles from £80 B&B, +56 61 271 1000, hotelnogueira.com

Antumalal, Pucón Bauhaus-style hotel built in the 1940s on the edge of Villarrica lake, beneath the volcano. The interior is all fleece, posh fabrics and Mapuche crafts. Doubles from £160, +56 45 244 1011, antumalal.com

Patagonia: A Cultural History (Landscapes of the Imagination), by Chris Moss, is published by Signal Books

• Patagonia holidays
• Argentina holidays
• Chile holidays
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• Horse riding holidays
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Backpacking in Patagonia – Ultimate Travel Guide [2024]

• Last Updated: February 6, 2024

Everything you need to know for backpacking and budget travel in Patagonia in this complete ultimate guide.

By Jason Hollinger (Me Cycling near El ChaltenUploaded by Amada44) [ CC BY 2.0 ], via Wikimedia Commons

The southern stretches of Chile and Argentina constitute what has rapidly become an unmissable part of any backpacking or adventure trip to South America.

Unlike a lot of the rest of the continent, Patagonia has a well-established network of hiking trails and a reliable tourist infrastructure that makes it a far easier location to visit for keen trekkers.

But the real allure of Patagonia is its superlative uniqueness: a region famed for towering mountain peaks, elusive yet captivating wildlife and scenery that switches between deserted grasslands, groaning glaciers and silent, shimmering lakes.

With a month or more to travel it’s possible to explore some of the region’s most mesmerising highlights. Don’t be surprised if, like many South American adventure travellers before you, Patagonia becomes the crowning moment of your whole trip.

But there is a slight problem…

Table of Contents

Budget Travel in Patagonia

Best websites for bus travel in patagonia:, best websites for boat travel in patagonia:, best websites for buying cars in patagonia:, absolute budget:, absolute budget:, food and drink, torres del paine national park, highlights on the carretera austral: pumalín park, highlights on the carretera austral: parque queulat, highlights on the carretera austral: cerro castillo national park, highlights on the carretera austral: patagonia park, nahuel huapi national park, refugio circuit, el bolson, pin it for later.

If you’ve ever researched backpacking through Patagonia, it’s likely you’ve discovered the unfortunate truth: it’s expensive, particularly by South American standards.

Before we start, it’s important to make it clear that it’s virtually impossible to travel in Patagonia on the same sort of budget as you might in Peru, Bolivia or even northern Argentina.

Travel in Patagonia is disproportionately expensive and there is no magic wand to wave to make these prices lower.

That said, backpacking in Patagonia on a budget can be achieved with some forward planning. The following budget travel tips prioritise experiencing Patagonia’s sensational places over travelling in particular comfort and expect that your Patagonia trip will cost around $50 USD (or less) per day.

Love adventure? Check out our ultimate guide to hiking in Patagonia.

When to Travel in Patagonia

The season in which you choose to travel will significantly affect the cost of your trip. The internet is in agreement that the Austral summer, between December and February, is the best time to visit Patagonia. However, this is open to debate.

These months are when the warmest, pleasantest weather is most likely, but it’s also the time when everyone else has the same idea . Cue the prices of accommodation and transport soaring and greater competition for space on hiking trails.

The little-known secret is that the shoulder seasons, either between September and November or March and May are a far better option for budget travel in Patagonia.

With reduced pressure on tourist infrastructure, you’ll not have to book as far in advance and can adapt your trip as you go. Start/end of season discounts on accommodation and tours are also a possibility.

By Justin Vidamo (Autumn Colors Of Patagonia) [ CC BY 2.0 ], via Flickr

Final budget travel in Patagonia tip: During the months of September and May at the extreme start and end of the shoulder seasons, some hostels and tour companies are not open, so researching your options and contacting them before you arrive can save headaches.

Another key way of backpacking in Patagonia on a budget is being selective about how you travel.

Ironically, the more time you have to dedicate to the region will actually save money, as a tighter schedule means some of the following forms of transport are impossible.

Flights: The issue with flights in Patagonia is that you need to book in advance – at least three months in advance in some cases.

If you’re arriving into Santiago or Buenos Aires, a short plane journey can be useful to get south into Patagonia, just be aware that internal flights in Argentina are prohibitively expensive.

Flying across to Santiago and instead taking an internal flight south into Patagonia can save a considerable amount of funds.

Sky Airlines in Chile have flights costing as little as $40 USD ($25.000 CLP) from Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas.

Avoid trying to fly across the border in Patagonia as flights can get into hundreds of dollars.

Best websites for finding flights in Patagonia: https://www.atrapalo.cl

Bus: Patagonia has a good infrastructure of buses which most backpackers in Patagonia use. Prices rise during the summer months and you’ll be looking at paying upwards of $45 USD per ten hours of travel.

You can book online (although often not for trips too far in advance), but buying in the bus terminal a few days before you plan to travel is always the easiest way of organising transport.

Be aware that during peak season, you may have to spend a day or two waiting for a free spot on a bus, so always ensure you’ve got some wiggle room with your timings.

Chile: www.recorrido.cl

Argentina: www.omnilineas.com , https://www.centraldepasajes.com.ar and https://www.plataforma10.com/

Boat : This form of transport is only really available on the Chilean side of Patagonia. Two budget travel options exist: the Navimag ferry from Puerto Montt to Puerto Chacabuco and the Naviera Austral , which disembarks from Quellón on Chiloé Island for Puerto Chacabuco.

The Navimag ferry costs $70 USD ($45.000 CLP) for a shared, dormitory style cabin plus three meals and, if the weather’s good, you’ll be treated to splendid views of the Chilean coastline.

The cheaper Naviera Austral ($16.000 for a seat and no meals) passes closer to land, where you’ve got the chance of seeing sea lions and a magellanic penguin colony. Both leave several times per week in each direction.

https://www.navimag.com/explore-patagonia-by-ferry-navimag and https://www.navieraustral.cl/ .

Car: Renting a car, or, if you have the money upfront, buying one in Chile is one of the best tips for travelling in Patagonia on a budget. Buying your own vehicle will cost from $4000 USD plus petrol costs (around $1.10 (730 CLP and 17 ARS per liter)). You’ll be able to sell at the end and reclaim the majority of your initial outlay.

The biggest problem you’ll face is that without decent Spanish (and actually, even with a good grasp of Spanish), this can be a complicated process.

Considering making local friends in Santiago through Couchsurfing who won’t mind acting as your personal translator for parts of the process.

Be aware that you will need to get a separate set of insurance for crossing the border into Argentina and having an international driver’s license is a must.

For vehicle hire, Chile is by far the cheaper country in which to do so, and a four person rental car can cost from $34 USD ($22,000) per day. You might even be able to negotiate a long-term hire discount – just remember to arrange to return your car to the original pick up point to cut costs.

This website is comprehensive and up-to-date overviews of the process.

Best websites for renting cars in Patagonia: International companies such as Hertz, Avis, Europcar, and Budget have offices in Chile and are generally cheaper than local outfits.

Cycling: You’ll need to plan this in advance (cycling gear is a lot more affordable in your home country), but as crazy as cycling the whole of Patagonia might sound, there’s a growing number of travelers doing just that.

With your own bike, you literally have everything you need with you – tent, cooking equipment and the open road. You can stop wherever you want and have the ultimate freedom to do so. The downside is that I can only even begin to imagine how much the Andes must hurt to cycle over them. But no pain, no gain, right?

Hitchhiking: Despite its bad reputation, hitchhiking (or auto stop in Argentina and hacer dedo in Chile) is a normal way of travelling in Patagonia along the Carretera Austral (Chile) and Ruta 40 (Argentina), and you’ll be surprised by how locals will go out of their way to help you get to your destination.

If you speak a little bit of Spanish and are happy to take the ultimate form of slow travel, (yes, you might be waiting a few days for a ride sometimes), this is the budget transport for you. Bring a tent, cooking equipment and stock up on food when you get the chance, so that if you do end up waiting on the side of a remote Patagonian road, it’ll feel like an awesome, impromptu wild camping experience.

Traffic is most frequent during the high season, but even during the shoulder seasons you will find a ride. Look out for lorries and red 4x4s (driven by either local or foreign tourists) as these are most likely to give you a lift.

By Douglas Scortegagna (Just Patagonia) [ CC BY 2.0 ], via Flickr

Accommodation in Patagonia

Accommodation in Patagonia can be categorized into the following: cabañas (mainly on the Chilean side), alojamientos, residenciales and pensions, hostels and camping.

One of the main issues you’ll face is that a large proportion of these types of accommodation are not on standard hostel booking websites. Instead, a quick google search or looking at your destination on Google Maps and Maps.me will bring up a lot more options to choose from.

Cabañas: These are predominately found in Chile and if there’s four or more of you, these can be the best Patagonia budget accommodation option. They include a fully-equipped kitchen and bathroom and cost from $45 USD ($30.000 CLP) per night.

Hostels: Prices fluctuate according to the season and get more expensive the further south you are. A night in Bariloche costs $14 USD in high season, whereas in Ushuaia expect to pay at least $24 USD.

If travelling during high season, you will need to book in advance. Out of season, you can generally turn up without an issue.

Residenciales/pensiones/hospedajes : The equivalent of a B&B, these are excellent options for budget travel in Patagonia. With a private room, kitchen access, breakfast and sometimes Wi-Fi included, they are very affordable and will give you a chance to practice your Spanish with the locals. Expect to pay from $18 USD upwards.

Camping: Official campgrounds in towns and national parks are the cheapest way of travelling in Patagonia – and possible the most fun. Prices can start from around $5 USD, and include flushing toilets, hot showers and sometimes even a shared cooking area.

You’ll also discover a plethora of wild camping spots for nights beneath sparkling skies, far, far from civilization. Just make sure you leave everything as you found it.

Patagonia is notorious for its strong winds, so a good backpacking tent is essential and a four season sleeping bag and comfy sleeping mat will be appreciated.

By Daniela Snow (Campamento Paine Grande) [ CC BY 2.0 ], via Flickr

As all food has to be imported into Patagonia, high prices and a lack of variety will be the main budget issues that you face. In small towns you’ll be lucky if you can get your hands on fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly as the traditional South American mercado is not common here.

Menu del día lunchtime offers can cost between $8-$10 for two or three courses and a drink, and you won’t go far without finding empanadas (a pastry shell filled with meat or cheese and ham), which are great for a snack or a light lunch.

Luckily, most types of accommodation have cooking facilities, so while your diet may not be the most diverse, you should still be able to cook up a decent meal on the road. Wine and local craft beer is also super cheap, so if all else fails, opt for a liquid lunch!

Things to see and do when backpacking Patagonia on a budget

One of the main draws of the region is its splendid scenery, so budget travel in Patagonia is realistic if you’re a fan of hiking. Although routes, for the most part, in the more visited national parks and reserves are well-marked, a little bit of Spanish goes a long way in areas that see fewer tourists but where landscapes and paths are more untouched as a result.

The ‘W’ and the ‘O’ treks are regarded as the jewel in Patagonia’s crown – and it’s immediately obviously why. This landscape of epic glaciers, scraggly peaks and wind-ravaged pampas which is only accessible by foot is the ultimate hiking trip for your bucket list.

If you want to do Torres del Paine on a budget, the simple thing is to avoid taking an unnecessary – and horribly expensive – tour. All routes are well-marked, there are plenty of other walkers in case you somehow question your way and there are excellent campsites en route . Put simply, there is no need to pay someone to guide you around.

The campgrounds range from free to $6 and upwards, and on some of them, $21 will get you the hire of a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping mat.

It makes sense to bring your own gear or rent it from nearby Puerto Natales though; some of the free campsites which don’t rent gear are actually far nicer.

Stocking up on food for the duration of your hike in Torres del Paine from the supermarkets in Puerto Natales is the cheapest option, just make sure you bring cooking facilities as these are not available at all campgrounds.

Entry into the park is $27 USD (18.000 CLP) for foreigners.

The Carretera Austral

Whichever form of transport you’ve chosen, make sure the Carretera Austral features on your trip.

Starting in Puerto Montt and ending in Villa O’Higgins in the south, the Carretera Austral or Ruta 7 is 1240km of semi-paved road lined by national parks brimming with virgin Valdivian forest, Andean peaks, steaming volcanoes and an abundance of breath-taking glacial lakes.

What makes Ruta 7 unmissable is it’s one of the cheapest budget activities to do in Patagonia, whether you road trip, hitch a ride or even shuttle between the towns using the local buses.

Bring camping equipment and stock up on food in the supermarkets of Puerto Montt and Coyhaique to maximize the opportunities for wild camping that present themselves along the route.

For more information about the highlights discussed below, check out this article about travelling along the Carretera Austral .

About 200km south of Puerto Montt, Pumalín Park was the initial Chilean conservation Project of the Tompkins Conservation group – the organisation set up by co-founder of North Face, Doug Tompkins.

A range of established trails lead up to the craters of recently active volcanoes and to the foot of glaciers, while the park is home to temperature Valdivian rainforest and some of the last remaining areas of Alerce – one of the oldest species of tree on earth.

For those who have the luck of visiting, many come away claiming it’s one of the most beautiful reserves in Chilean Patagonia; quite an assertion in a region that is covered in areas of outstanding natural beauty!

Roughly 20km south of Puyuhuapi – a town approximately half way along the Carretera Austral – you’ll find the turn off for Parque Queulat; the national park home to the spectacular V entisquero Colgante or Hanging Glacier.

A one-hour trail from the main entrance of the park leads up to a viewpoint of the glacier from where you can watch chunks of ice calving from the glacier and the meltwater waterfall that plunges into the lake below.

Small boats can get closer to the glacier by sailing through the milky-blue waters of this lake. There are also a handful of other short trails in the park.

Entry costs $8 and camping prices are $8 per night with basic facilities.

Highlights on the Carretera Austral: Bosque Encantado

50km south of Puyuhuapi is another captivating spot: El Bosque Encantado or the Enchanted Forest. A short hike brings you out at Los Gnomos Lagoon, which is fed by the crashing waters of the glacier draped over the mountain above.

It’s a peaceful place to while away a few hours and the hike through the moss and ferns of this ancient forest will leave you convinced that fairies must exist. Park entry costs $6 and the forest is best reached by your own vehicle or hitchhiking.

330 km south of Coyhaique, the jagged basalt peaks of Cerro Castillo have captivated all backpackers who find their way to this remote national reserve.

The main circuit up to the shimmering waters of Laguna Cerro Castillo is a moderate, 62km hike surrounded by forests of native lenga and with basic campgrounds for each night of the trek.

It is recommended that you start the hike at the trailhead at Laguna Chiguay campground, where the CONAF ranger offer can give information regarding the conditions of the route.

Be aware that poor weather, particularly during shoulder season (September and March/April), can make the trek inadvisable.

Taking a bus from Coyhaique to Villa Cerro Castillo and hitchhiking to the trail head is the only way of getting here.

100km south of Puerto Tranquilo you’ll find Patagonia Park ; a private reserve also founded by the Tompkins Conservation family.

Currently under-construction, the park at present has six main trails, including the Aviles Valley trail (50km one-way) which connects to trails in the Jeinimeni Mountains and takes approximately three to four days to arrive at the Jeinimeni Reserve Ranger Station, around 70km from Chile Chico.

Two campgrounds are available, both of which cost $15 USD per person per night with toilets. The West Winds Campground is more accessible if you do not have your own transport.

From Puerto Tranquil on Lago General Carrera, hitchhike and jump out at the El Cruce Entrada Baker crossroads or take an early-morning bus from Coyhaique to arrive at the park.

Best budget travel activities in Argentine Patagonia

The Ruta de los Siete Lagos is a picturesque drive that weaves between stunning, alpine lakes and snow-capped Andean mountains.

Visitors traditionally stop at the seven most impressive lakes, where free and serviced campgrounds ($8 per night) allow you to pitch up on their shores. Visit with your own vehicle to take advantage of the lakeside camping as buses drive this route without stopping.

Nahuel Huapi National Park has some spectacular day and multi-day trails and is easily accessible by bus or hitchhiking from nearby Bariloche.

One of the most popular is from the base of Cerro Catedral to the lake at Refugio Frey (24km, 8-hour trek), while the five-day, 50 km Pampa Linda to Colonia Suiza has spectacular views as it winds through a landscape strewn with glaciers and soaring mountains.

Campgrounds (often free) and refugios (bring a sleeping bag and food – these start at $8 USD) are available along all trails. For excellent information about routes and facilities in the park, check out this website .

Argentina’s self-proclaimed hiking capital ranks as Patagonia’s second most popular trekking destination thanks to its selection of one and multi-day hikes. Entry into the park is free, and the three-day, two-night Monte Fizt Roy/Cerro Torre loop has free campsites en route .

Staying in El Chaltén is not the cheapest (a bed in a dorm room will set you back at least $18 USD and will need to be booked in advance during the high season), but the access to day hikes, such as spectacular Laguna de Los Tres (12.5km) and Laguna Torres (11km), completely make up for it.

All hikes start from the town, so your only additional costs will be if you treat yourself to delicious roasted lamb and Malbec or other Patagonian delicacies in the excellent restaurants that you’ll find along the main road.

The Andean forests that surround hippy hangout El Bolsón are perhaps Argentina’s best kept secret. Here, a series of gentle and more challenging treks connect a circuit of thirteen refugios – all of which are at least four hours from the nearest road.

Offering one of the best sensations of trekking in Patagonia – that feeling of being lost in the wilderness, far from civilization – the paths also bring you to the ice of the Hielo Azul Glacier and to viewpoints for admiring neighboring Chile’s Osorno volcano which rises from across the border. Check out these suggested routes for multi-day hikes through the area.

These refugios are basic but offer some creature comforts – well, a mattress and a hot meal – and cost from $20 a night.

Cheeky budget Patagonia backpacking tips

• Don’t over pack. Getting a hitch is significantly easier if you’ve not got a huge amount of stuff. You’ll also be thankful when you don’t have to worry about where you leave the belongings that you don’t need when hiking.
• Learn some Spanish and get chatting. I was offered accommodation by locals on more than one occasion as well as being gifted food and drink by kindly Chileans who picked me up when I was hitchhiking. Patagonians are so friendly and often pretty curious to hear about your story.
• If you’re cycling, make sure you stop to ask friendly locals for water at around 2pm each day. A cyclist I met had done this and been invited in for lunch nearly daily. Never underestimate the kindness of the Patagonian people!
• Consider investigating a few weeks of volunteering using the opportunities advertised on Workaway or Helpx . Numerous farms and sustainable projects are seeking labor in Patagonia and this is an excellent way of living in the wilderness while getting a free roof over your head and a couple of meals a day.

Steph Dyson

Hi, We’re Alesha and Jarryd!

We’ve been traveling the world together since 2008, searching for the planet’s best destinations and adventures.

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Hi, great article, really inspired to go. I will go the end of september, then chill in santiago a little while. One questions, when you get to O´Higgins, how can you get further south? Down to the O and W treks, or over to argentina?

Glad you liked the article. There are buses all over the country. Their system is very good and connect many towns. Happy travels.

Thank you for the post, super helpful! I’ll be in Patagonia the month of October and plan on camping. Do you know if there is dispersed/free camping allowed in most places and where I can find that information? Thanks!

Hi Caitlin, not too sure about the free camping. I know they are strict within the national park but not too sure about everywhere else. All the best

El Bolson is such a quaint place that we decided to stay there for nearly a week. It’s more affordable than Bariloche and has a fraction of the crowds. Slow down and enjoy this lovely town.

Sweet. thanks for the advice Scott. 🙂

Hi, Thanks for all the helpful info! I would like to hike the W teck, solo, from May 10 to May 14. Is it really mandatory to have a certified guide? If so, how could I find a cheap one?

Hi Koohyar, Do you do a lot of hiking? If you do then you definitely do not need a guide. You definitely need to book your accommodation whether you are staying in a dorm bed or a tent site. If you are not bringing your own tent to Patagonia, you can hire what you need from Puerto Natales. If you do not hike a lot and are not used to carrying a bag up to 10kg, then maybe look into a guide. It is all up to you. It is not mandatory to have a guide just your bookings. As for finding a guide, we are not too sure. Ask around in Puerto Natales at the hostels, they’ll be able to help. Have a great trip.

Such breathtaking views! Loving the advice. My next stop is the Philippines this March. Maybe one day I’ll make it here.

Awesome. Glad we could help with your research. It is an amazing place. Have a great time in the Philip[pines

The article is outdated. Now there are low cost airlines in Argentina. Norwegian Airlines operates the route Buenos Aires –> Bariloche for just 60 dollars. All you have to do is book three months in advance. Another point here is that the Argentine peso has plunged to its lowest in 13 years. You should bring dollars and exchange them in Argentina as you need them.

Thank you for that. We will be sure to look into that airline. Is this the only information outdated? You only mention an airline. The peso does fluctuate in Argentina so it is hard to keep u with the pricing. One day it is low next it can be high.

Hi, I am looking to explore Patagonia solo at the end of this year. I have a couple questions, how do I book accommodations online? Also if I hike on the Argentinian side an visit El Chalten can I just visit the park for the day and then come back to El Chalten instead of having to stay in the park like Torres del Paine? I will also have a 60L backpack with me plus a camera back pack, I of course don’t want to bring all that with me for 1 week so do they have a place in Puerto Natales I can leave some of my things or do I have to take it all with me? Thank you!

Hi Tiana, that is amazing your trip is coming up. El Chalten is a gorgeous place. We stayed in town and did day hikes from our accommodation. You can find these all on booking. com ( https://bit.ly/2BSzqTa )

Here is a video we did on El Chalten https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9s9361ReO0&t=9s

Getting the bus to Torres del Paine is about 6 hours either way and a little further for Puerto Natales. To explore Torres del Paine it is best to stay in the park for a few days. Do you want to hike the W trek? You can stay in a tent (you can rent from town) or book a dorm bed but it is not cheap.

Here is a great website with the booking websites. https://www.worldlyadventurer.com/camping-in-torres-del-paine/

Staying in Puerto Natales is a great option to prepare for the trek. The bus from there to Torres del Paine is about an hour and a half I think. If you do not have pre-booked accommodation in the park you are expected to leave and head back to Puerto Natales. In Puerto Natales you can leave your bags at the hostels as they are use to this and many people do this. Lighter is better. All the best and have a great hike.

Hi Alesha and Jarryd, thank you so much for all this helpful information. I am traveling to patagonia on my own for 3 weeks in November (mainly Torres del Paine, el chatel and Ushuaia). Do you know if I need to book accommodation in advance for this period? also I am finding it hard to decide on what dates to buy flights (Buenos Aires – calafate; calafate Ushuaia and back again). Also, I am not such a pro trekker so I wouldn’t like to do it by myself. do you know if it is possible to join a group on the spot? Truly appreciate if you can give me your opinion and all the best for your travels. ana

Hi Ana, It would be best to book accommodation in Ushuaia as this is a busy town. As for Torres del Paine you 100% need to book campsites if you are hiking the O trek or W trek. If you do not have accommodation booked the rangers will turn you back on certain areas of the trek. Puerto Natales you should be fine as there is many options. As for El Chaltan you should book as it is a small town and there is not a lot of accommodation. Our friends, Nick and Dariece from Goats on the Road wrote a great post on trekking in Torres del Paine. https://www.goatsontheroad.com/ultimate-guide-trekking-camping-o-circuit-torres-del-paine-chile/

There are many companies in tour that offer tours, but if you stay at Base Backpackers you should meet people and you can ask to trek with them. This is the backpacking place everyone goes to to find out information for the trek. There are a lot of places in town to rent gear if you need. Check it before you go on your trek. In El Chaltan these hikes are popular and you will be passing many people. All the best and have a great time.

Hi Ana – I am looking to do this same thing in December – solo – and I know pretty much nothing – but I am an avid camper and so considering renting a car and doing it that way – road trip – camp – would love to hear how your trip went!

Hi Scott, If you want to do a road trip in Patagonia, Chile check out Soul Vans. These guys are great and better than other bigger well known companies here. Check out Steph from https://www.worldlyadventurer.com/chile/ , she has written a lot on Chile as she used to live there. Check out Steve from https://www.back-packer.org/backpacking-chile/ as he travelled Chile and wrote a lot about it also. Have a great trip.

Hi, you’re site is fantastic, the best I’ve found!

I am thinking of travelling to South America for a 5 – 6 week trip and Patagonia is my priority. I plan on flying into and out of Santiago. I am considering mid March 2019.

I have a couple of questions I am hoping you can help with.

Would hiking be possible solo through Patagonia, staying at B&Bs, hostels and campgrounds, particularly at that time of year?

Your articles mention needing to book things well in advance. Does this include national park entries, B&Bs and camping etc? Are there some sites you would recommend to research this and make bookings?

Once again thank you for starting and maintain a wonderful site.

Safe travels, Craig

Hi Craig, When hiking in Torres del Paine there are only a few hotels you can hike from. We recommend Eco Camp. You can do different hikes with them or on your own to different parts of the park. You can hike the W trek on your own and book at the accommodation places. They are not cheap but the price includes dinner and breakfast. If you choose to do this option, you need to book the accommodation in advance. As for the entrance fee you get that on the day you enter and that will last for the period you are in the park. Have a great trip

Thanks for sharing, this sounds like awesome fun. I gather from your post that having our own tent and gear is a must? Would you also recommend buying a van or are most places accessible by bus and little hitchhiking 🙂

Hi Conor, not at all. You can hire camping gear when you need. Buying a van would be awesome to travel the country or you can rent one. There are many buses and the price is reasonable. Hitchhiking is common so will be easy to do. Have a great time.

Thanks for sharing! Patagonia sounds like such an awesome place! I would love to plan a trip there some day!

It really is an amazing place Jimmy. Hope you get there soon. 🙂

Hi, I always wanted to go to Patagonia but was not clear about the place and other stuff. Thanks for mentioning all the things in detail that will help me in planning the tour.

No worries. Glad Steph could help. It is an incredible area and we highly recommend travel there. 🙂

This is incredible! Thanks so much for posting all the info! I’m going to be in South America with my boyfriend next month and we were trying to figure out which route to take down south- one would get us there in July/August, the other late April/early May. From all your information would you say that the better time to be in southern Patagonia would be late April/early May? Its so nice to know we wouldn’t have to book a super inflated tour!

This you so much. We are glad we could help. Hope you are having a blast in Patagonia at the moment, We loved travelling the area. 🙂

Does anyone know how trustworthy https://www.atrapalo.cl is?

I just looked it up and there is a whole string of bad stories about it on TripAdvisor.

Can anyone verify or refute the claims? The payment landing page seems a little fishy and so I thought to double check what the internet had to say about the company.

Also, the flight times it offered were sold out on Latam and Aerolineas.

Thank you for the update Peter. Steph (the lady that wrote the article) lives in Chile and wrote this a little while ago for us. We will check out the reviews and look into it. 🙂

You just got me super excited planning my trip to Patagonia! So many useful info on here!!!

Thanks for sharing!

You will have a blast Mick. It is a beautiful area and great hiking.

Hello! Does anyone know if it’s possible to go hiking from O’Giggins to Coyahique and how?? My partner and I are really expecting to go from Chaltén to Villa O’Giggings (passing throw Lago del Desierto), but we don’t know if its whorty. Thanks!

Has anyone got any info about treks in patagonia in may/june? Super keen after all these blogs but unsure if i should say for another trip during warmer months. Thanks!

Hi Steph, it is really cold at that time of year down there so you have to be very prepared. In May there might be a few trails open but June I think most/all will be closed. The O circuit was shutting at the mid April when we were in that area but we have heard you can do a winter trek along the W. We have not come across anyone that has done it. The best option is email Base Camp in Puerto Natales and ask for information for those months. They were very helpful when we were down there hiking and were the information centre the Torres del Paine. They speak English and Spanish fluently. All the best.

Thank you so much for this guide. Patagonia is really confusing for me and this helped clear up some of the confusion. Currently in Brazil heading south towards Patagonia!

Awesome. We are so glad Steph could help you. She wrote an awesome guide. We are here in Patagonia now and it is amazing. Highly recommend hiking in Torres del Paine. If you are interested make your reservations sooner than later. The trekking in the park closes in the winter. Patagonia is expensive but just watch what you spent your money on. They people are so lovely and very friendly. They accommodation is on the expensive side for what you get but unfortunately thats how it is. We have not been staying at hostels as guesthouses have been cheaper and breakfast is usually included. Anyway if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to send us a message. We would love to help. Happy travels

Hiya, we booked our tickets to arrive in Chile in January, thinking this would give us plenty of time to book campsites for Torres Del Paine but they all seem to be booked up already?! A year ahead? Does this mean we can’t visit the park..? Any advice so welcome, this is quite shocking… 🙁

Hi Nancy, we just finished the O circuit. We hiked it is 8 days and we got very lucky with the weather. It was stunning. The situation with the park has dramatically changed as of January this year. If you are doing the O circuit they are only letting 80 people in a day on the back side. The rangers check that you have a booking and if you do not they will not let you continue on. As for the W hike we don’t think there is a number. Look up the CONAF details for in Puerto Natales. You may be able to email them as sometimes the information on the website may not be correct. Keep trying. When you finally do have your booking, print them and have them on you or a screen shot on your phone. Some guards are strict and want to see the bookings. All the best.

I agree with you, sometimes, there’s no way around the actual prices of the destination, but planning ahead would help you save a lot!

You are so right Agness. We are heading to Patagonia now and we have had to book all our camping sites for the O Trek. It is booked up all of February already. We don’t normally travel like this but it has been better for the budget. We were a little surprised but have been budgeting well so far. Steph’s article has definitely helped us. 🙂 Happy travels

Hey! When will you guys be in Patagonia exactly? Crazy! Myself and a bunch of travbuddies ( about 20 of us ) are going to antarctica Feb 5-15 and then trekking and visiting around Patagonia after that for a few weeks! Maybe , just maybe, we will be at the same place at the same time!

Hey Hali! We land in Buenos Aires on Feb 12th, will be heading off to Antarctica from the 25th to March 7th, then bumming around Patagonia afterwards. Maybe our paths will cross! 🙂

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• best hostels
• El Chaltén

4 Best Hostels in El Chaltén

Always keep exploring: Find exactly what you're looking for by jumping to your preferred sections.

Hola fellow solo travelers! If you're planning a trip to Argentina and seeking a thrilling adventure in the heart of Patagonia, then El Chaltén is the place to be! This picturesque town nestled amidst snow-capped mountains and mesmerizing glaciers is a paradise for hikers, climbers, and nature enthusiasts. And what better way to experience the spirit of El Chaltén than by staying in one of its coolest and most social hostels?

Here's a list of the 7 best hostels in El Chaltén that are perfect for solo travelers like us!

Short and crisp: The Best Hostels in El Chaltén

• Aylen-Aike Hostel - best for Party Hostel
• Patagonia Hostel - best for Adventure Hostels, Digital Nomads, Party Hostel, Solo Traveller
• Hostel Kaiken - best for Adventure Hostels, Solo Traveller
• La Comarca Hostel - best for Adventure Hostels

1 Aylen-Aike Hostel

#1 Top Rated Hostel in El Chaltén! Rating: 9.2

Situated at the base of the famous Mount Fitz Roy, Aylen-Aike Hostel is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. With its cozy and rustic vibe, it offers dormitory-style rooms with comfortable beds and ample storage space for our gear. The communal areas are buzzing with fellow travelers, and the friendly staff organizes exciting activities like BBQ nights and group hikes.

Aylen-Aike Hostel also offers a well-equipped kitchen for us to whip up our own meals after a day of exploring the wilderness. And did I mention the stunning views of the surrounding mountains from the hostel's windows? It's a postcard-worthy sight!

Prices start from $32.46 for a dorm.

Beyond the Basics - El Chaltén

Other Amenities

Lounge Area

2 Patagonia Hostel

Rating: 9.3

Both budget-friendly and social: Patagonia Hostel . Its vibrant and colorful interiors instantly lift our spirits, and the friendly staff makes us feel like family. The hostel offers a range of accommodation options, from shared dorms to private rooms, catering to all types of travelers. The communal lounge area is a hub of activity, with board games, a pool table, and a bar serving delicious local brews. And the cherry on top? Patagonia Hostel's prime location just a short walk from the town's main hiking trails!

Prices start from $28.47 for a dorm and $98.00 for a private room.

Freebies/Included

Extra services.

Bike Rental

3 Hostel Kaiken

Rating: 8.6

A rustic gem in the heart of El Chaltén, Hostel Kaiken is perfect for solo travelers who crave a unique experience. The hostel's decor is inspired by the region's natural beauty, with wooden furniture and earthy tones creating a cozy ambiance. The dorms are spacious and comfortable, and the hostel offers a well-equipped kitchen where we can cook up a storm. The highlight of Hostel Kaiken is its friendly and knowledgeable staff, who are always ready with insider tips on the best hiking trails and hidden gems in the area.

Prices start from $20.76 for a dorm and $74.37 for a private room.

4 La Comarca Hostel

Rating: 8.4

Located in the heart of El Chaltén, La Comarca Hostel is a vibrant and lively hostel that's perfect for socializing and meeting fellow travelers. The dorms are bright and colorful, and the communal areas are designed to encourage interaction, with cozy seating areas, a shared kitchen, and a bar serving up local craft beers. The hostel also hosts regular events like movie nights, live music, and BBQs, creating a fun and lively atmosphere.

The staff at La La Comarca Hostel are known for their warm hospitality and are always ready to provide insider tips on the best trails and outdoor activities in the area.

Prices start from $26.92 for a dorm.

On the map: Hostel Locations in El Chaltén

We've got your back when it comes to finding a great hostel location in El Chaltén. We've gone ahead and mapped out all the hostels for you so you can get a good idea of where they're all at. This map will make your life so much easier!

Hostel Haven: Choose Your Character

Still not sure? Pick this!

#1 Top Hostel in El Chaltén: Aylen-Aike Hostel

This is the overall best rated hostel in Aylen-Aike Hostel. The overall rating is 9.2. You cannot go wrong here .

It is your safest bet in case you are not sure which hostel to pick.

The price for a dorm at Aylen-Aike Hostel starts from $16.23.

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Backpacking El Chaltén

El Chaltén itself is a dream destination for outdoor enthusiasts. Known as the trekking capital of Argentina, it offers a plethora of world-class hiking trails that cater to all levels of fitness and experience. From the iconic Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre to the stunning Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Torre, there's something for everyone. The landscapes are breathtaking, with rugged peaks, glittering glaciers, and pristine lakes that are sure to leave us in awe. El Chaltén is also a UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its rich biodiversity and unique ecosystems, making it a haven for nature lovers.

But El Chaltén is not just about the outdoor adventures. The town itself has a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere, with a range of cozy cafes, restaurants, and artisanal shops where we can sample local cuisine, meet friendly locals, and immerse ourselves in the local culture. And at the end of an exhilarating day of hiking, these hostels provide the perfect retreat, offering a warm and social environment where we can connect with fellow travelers, share stories, and make lifelong memories.

Summary: You got your hostel, now explore!

So, fellow solo travelers, if you're looking for an unforgettable adventure in the heart of Patagonia, El Chaltén is the place to be! And with these 7 best hostels catering to the needs of solo travelers, you're sure to have an incredible experience, making new friends, and creating unforgettable memories. Happy trails and buen viaje!

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Five Patagonia Itineraries For One And Two Weeks of Travel

By Author Steph Dyson

Posted on Last updated: 28th November 2023

The sky-piercing peaks of Torres del Paine National Park; the dense, milky blue hue of Glacier Perito Moreno; the huge wingspan of an Andean condor sailing through in the skies of Tierra del Fuego; every moment traveling through Patagonia is one of utter magic.

There are few other places on earth where nature and vast, hostile wilderness are so easily accessible. But, thanks to the region’s huge size and its dazzling array of unmissable sights, it’s never an easy task designing a Patagonia itinerary, particularly if you’ve only got one or two weeks to travel.

Click to navigate this article:

Why use these Patagonia itineraries?

Here’s why:

Patagonia covers an area over 402,000 square miles, making it two-thirds of the size of Alaska. What’s more, this region crosses into not one but two countries, meaning travel here can be more complicated as a result (and it’s useful to identify exactly where Patagonia is before you start planning your trip.

Finally, it’s a notoriously expensive part of the continent to visit, so a comprehensive Patagonia travel itinerary can help those planning a trip to Patagonia know how to stretch their holiday – and their budget – as far as possible (although if you want to take this even further, read about how to visit Patagonia on a budget ).

These itineraries focus slightly more on Chilean Patagonia as, from my own travels around the region, I personally feel that the area is less developed in terms of tourism and, as a result, it’s a world away from the hordes of tourists that you now find across the border in Argentina. It’s also home to many of what I consider to be the best destinations to visit in Patagonia .

There are a lot more off-the-beaten-trail adventures to be had in Chilean Patagonia and it’s home to some of the region’s best hiking trails . It’s also – contrary to what most believe – cheaper to travel in Chilean Patagonia due to the huge rates of inflation currently affecting the Argentine economy.*

*As of September 2023, the exchange rate between the dollar and the Argentine peso is now very favourable for foreign travellers, although prices on the ground continue to rise. If visiting Argentina, either bring dollars as it’s often hard to get cash out of ATMs or you can use Western Unions around the country to withdraw cash at a much more favorable rate than via an ATM. Additionally, the Blue Dollar (an unofficial, black market exchange rate) exists again, which means you can get extra pesos for your dollars by using unofficial exchange places. Find out more about it here . 

My recommendations for planning a Patagonia travel itinerary 

I’ve spent around six months altogether in Patagonia over the past few years, both travelling and research for the Moon Chile guidebook . 

I’ve written extensively about the region as part of my day job as a travel writer (as well as here on the blog, so check out my Patagonia archives) .

I can’t count how many people whose Patagonia travel routes I’ve planned (you can find more information about my Patagonia trip planning service ) and all have included the following pieces advice about planning a Patagonia itinerary:

• Patagonia is huge. Slim down your Patagonia travel itinerary, make the most of some of the lesser visited parts (we’ll go into that shortly) and you’ll enjoy the region more.
• Don’t try and fly from Chile to Argentina. It’s horribly expensive. Always fly internally from Santiago or Buenos Aires and then use one of the long-distance (and generally comfortable) buses to cross the border. You will save a lot of cash. Find a detailed guide to how to get to Patagonia here .

Argentina economy update

The Argentine economy is a huge mess at the moment, with inflation expected to hit 200% this year. Using Argentine pesos can therefore be a nightmare – and mean you lose a lot of money. The blue dollar (an unofficial exchange rate that gives you a better conversion than the official rate) is around, but if you want to avoid carrying lots of cash, you can now pay using your credit card and get an exchange rate similar to the blue dollar rate. You must choose to pay in Argentine pesos (not USD!) to secure this rate.

Both Mastercard and Visa give you what is called the MEP rate, which is almost as good as the blue dollar rate. Mastercard will charge you the official rate but refund you the money a few days later; Visa will charge you the MEP rate from the beginning.

If you do want to have some Argentine pesos for paying in cash (which I highly recommend as you will need them for some restaurants and attractions), it’s best to use Western Union, whereby you send cash to yourself using the Western Union app and then withdraw it in Argentine pesos from one of their branches in Argentina. Bear in mind, those in El Calafate and Ushuaia can run dry of notes, so it can be easiest to do this in Buenos Aires.

Additionally, you can bring USD (unmarked and untorn hundred dollar bills), which you can exchange at “cuevas” (unofficial exchange houses). These will be able to give you the blue dollar rate and any hotel owner will be able to tell you where your nearest one is. Souvenir shops in most parts of the country will be able to give you pesos in exchange for dollar bills – although they might not give you the best rate.

Avoid cash machines. Currently, the maximum withdrawal is the equivalent of $15 USD in Argentine pesos and it will cost you $10 USD in fees.

• LATAM  (expensive),  Sky Airlines  (cheap) and Jet Smart (very cheap) are the main airlines in Chile. Compare prices through Skyscanner.com and then book directly for the best deals. Be aware that if you book through LATAM’s US site, you may well pay up to four times the price than if you buy it via their Chilean site. Unfortunately, the latter is in Spanish – so find someone who can help with the translation! Sometimes this isn’t the case though – but it’s worth check out the website in both English and Spanish to see the difference. 
• Internal flights in Argentina are significantly more expensive than those in Chile. You can save a few hundred dollars by flying into Santiago and then to Punta Arenas in Chilean Patagonia, rather than flying to Buenos Aires south to El Calafate in Argentine Patagonia.
• LATAM (expensive) and  Aerolineas Argentina (cheaper but unreliable) are the main airlines in Argentina. Fly Bondi (cheap) is a new low cost airline, but it only flies from Buenos Aires to Bariloche (a 12-hour bus journey north of El Chalten). Norwegian also operate this route for a similar price.
• Be aware that booking flights, buses and car rental in advance during peak season (December through March) is generally necessary. The same goes for accommodation in places such as Ushuaia, El Calafate, El Chaltén and Puerto Natales.

• You will need to book your accommodation in Torres del Paine National Park from as early as September/October for visits in January and February, and at least two months in advance for trips at other times. This is because the park has become incredibly popular with tourists and there is a limited amount of accommodation. Sometimes it’s possible to find a spot in the campsites or refugios a couple of weeks in advance (tour agencies have provisionally booked up lodgings and not filled the spots which then get released back to the general public) so it’s worth checking back in regularly if you can’t get a spot. If you’ve missed out on accommodation, don’t despair: read my guide to your six options if you can’t get reservations in Torres del Paine .
• The shoulder seasons, October-November and March-April are far quieter for travelling in Patagonia and, in most cases, cheaper. Be aware that accommodation in smaller towns and some tourism agencies may not be operating in October or April. For more information, read this article about the best time to visit Chile and Patagonia . 
• Bus timings can and do vary depending on the season, so never trust 100% what is written on the internet. Always make the bus station your first port of call when you get to a new place to confirm timings and buy your tickets for the next leg of your journey. Bus Chile and Recorrido are good for finding bus timetables in Chile; in Argentina, Omnilineas does the same job.
• Before choosing to rent a car, read this packed post about planning a Patagonian road trip . It’ll save you time and money and contains three road trip itineraries along with other essential information.
• Patagonia is probably the safest part of South America. I’ve hitchhiked in Patagonia without problems and met some of the world’s nicest people.
• I’ve written extensively on this subject, so make sure you head over to this really comprehensive, 15,000-word guide to travel in Patagonia , which covers everything from how to get there, where to go, where to stay and everything else in between.
• If you want something to take with you and have access to regardless of internet connection, you can get your hands on my brand-new guidebook, Moon Chile .
• If you’re on a budget, this guide to budget travel in Patagonia should help considerably , too. 

Patagonia itineraries for one week of travel

A one week Patagonia itinerary isn’t the longest, but if you’ve got a reasonable budget for transport around the region, then you can still cram plenty into just seven days of travel.

These two Patagonia travel itineraries for one week include hiking Patagonia’s most famous trails, such as the W trek in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile and around El Chaltén, Argentina, as well as a visit to the mesmerising Perito Moreno Glacier.

Patagonia itinerary for one week of travel: Hike the W in Torres del Paine National Park

Overview of this one-week Patagonia itinerary:

Day One: Santiago to Puerto Natales

• Day Two: The W trek hike to Glaciar Grey, Torres del Paine National Park
• Day Three: The W trek hike to Paine Grande, Torres del Paine National Park
• Day Four: The W trek hike to Valle Frances, Torres del Paine National Park
• Day Five: The W trek hike to Las Torres, Torres del Paine National Park
• Day Six: The W trek hike to Mirador Torres, Torres del Paine National Park

Day Seven: Punta Arenas to Santiago

If you’ve only got a week to travel to Patagonia, chances are you’ll be starting from the Chilean capital Santiago. I would recommend flying into this city, rather than Buenos Aires in Argentina.

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What previous clients have said:

“It’s refreshing to find someone with insider knowledge that can take you off the beaten track, away from the mainstream. I particularly liked the detail you give; where to stay and your favourite places. We stayed in some lovely places because of your knowledge, places that we would probably never have found. I also liked the fact that we could ask you questions whilst on the move. Lots to like Steph!”

This is because Chile has one of the most extensive selections of internal flights of all countries in South America, meaning that you can fly to Patagonia quickly and affordably.

With one week in Patagonia, you can hike the fabled W trek , Torres del Paine’s most famous trail.

The domestic terminal is inside the Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Santiago, although you will likely have to collect your baggage and check in to your internal flight.

Fly to Patagonia with from Santiago to Punta Arenas (three hours 35 minutes, every two hours, from $80 USD return).

If you’re planning a trip to Patagonia, Chile between December and February, LATAM offers flights directly to Puerto Natales from Santiago (around four, three hours 10 minutes, from $80 USD return).

From the airport in Punta Arenas, board a bus to Puerto Natales (three hours 30 mins, around $8,000 CLP ($12 USD)). Check out Bus-Sur , Buses Pacheco and Buses Fernandez  who run this route. You must buy your ticket on the internet because they do not sell bus tickets to Puerto Natales in the airport.

When you arrive in Puerto Natales, buy return tickets to Torres del Paine National Park from the bus station. 

Puerto Natales is the town closest to Torres del Paine National Park, where the question of where to hike in Patagonia is easily answered in the form of the popular and rewarding five-day W trek.

Use the afternoon in Puerto Natales to buy food and organise your hiking gear (visit my complete and 2020/2021 season guide to trekking the W in Torres del Paine National Park for all the information you need, including routes and packing lists).

Where to eat in Puerto Natales

For a truly unique Patagonian dining experience, book a table at the matchbox-size Lenga (Bories 221) which uses fresh, local ingredients, such as eel cheeks, sea asparagus, guanaco and lamb, turned into mouthwatering, modern twists on traditional Patagonian dishes. 

For a heartier dinner, opt for La Mesita Grande (Arturo Prat 196), a Puerto Natales institution named after the long, communal tables where diners eat together and known for its excellent pizzas, many of which take the names of hiking routes in Torres del Paine.

Budget accommodation in Puerto Natales 

The cheapest accommodation in Puerto Natales is camping at  Jos Mar II ($6,000 camping per person ($9 USD)), who have eight grassy spots with picnic tables, plus a shower block with hot water and a small indoor kitchen with fridge.

For upmarket lodgings – at very affordable prices – stay at the characterful, vintage-style Vinnhaus ($13,000 dorm ($20 USD), $38,000-$50,000 double ($58 USD-$77 USD), where a 1920s house has been converted into smart, modern accommodation, with a comfortable attached cafe and grassy patio.

Mid-range accommodation in Puerto Natales

Comfortable beds, quirky, modern décor and access to a number of snug communal areas with squishy sofas and wood burning stoves makes Amerindia Hostal ($48,000-$55,000 double ($74 USD-$84 USD)) a great choice for couples or single travellers who don’t want to stay in dorms. 

Luxury accommodation in Puerto Natales 

As I found during my stay, sunsets across the Seno Última Esperanza are nothing short of spectacular from the vast windows of Simple Patagonia ($127,000 double ($195 USD)), four kilometers north of Puerto Natales. Set within what looks like an original  granero  (barn), it combines modernity with astonishing views from the bedrooms (eight and 11 have the best) and living and dining area. They also offer up three-course dining in the evening, using local Magellanic ingredients to produce delicious, top-quality dishes.

Days Two-Six: Hike the W in Torres del Paine National Park

At 6.40am or 7:30am, take the bus from the bus terminal in Puerto Natales ($15,000 CLP ($23 USD) return, two hours 15 minutes (to Laguna Amarga) four hours 15 minutes (to the Catamaran stop) to Torres del Paine National Park and start trekking the W from either the west at Paine Grande or from the east at Torres Central. 

JB Buses Patagonia , Transport Maria José , Buses Juan Ojeda  and Buses Gómez run this route. 

Get more detailed information about preparing for the W trek without a tour , plus a complete guide to booking campsites and refugios in Torres del Paine National Park and this comprehensive guide to Torres del Paine National Park . 

If you’re struggling to get reservations for the W trek or want someone to organise all of the logistics for you , check out our local partner Chile Nativo . They give a 5% discount on tours in the park to Worldly Adventurer readers – just use the discount referral code “Worldly Adventurer” when you book!

Expect to stare across huge, sparkling glaciers, catch a glimpse of condors floating on thermals above and, in the light of dawn, admire the rearing silhouettes of the granite needles that give the park its name.

Take the bus back to Punta Arenas and your flight back to Santiago.

If you have a bit of extra time, take a wander along the waterfront in Punta Arenas or visit the Museo Regional de Magallanes , located in the neoclassical Palacio Braun Ménendez that once belonged to wool magnate family, the Braun Ménendez and which now offers an interesting history of the region, including it’s indigenous former inhabitants.

Don’t miss the deliciously thick traditional hot chocolates at La Chocolatta (Calle Gobernador Carlos Bories 852).

Patagonia itinerary for one week of travel: Perito Moreno and hiking in Los Glaciares National Park

Day one: buenos aires to el calafate.

• Day Two: Visit Glacier Perito Moreno
• Days Three-Six: Hiking in El Chaltén
• Day Seven: Return to El Calafate and fly back to Buenos Aires

Many of those travelling in Patagonia will be flying directly into the region from Buenos Aires, from where it’s possible to fly south to El Calafate.

Again, a one week Patagonia travel itinerary isn’t a huge amount of time for visiting, but you still have the chance to appreciate Argentine Patagonia’s absolute highlights.

Fly to Patagonia on an early morning flight from Buenos Aires (read our guide to the Argentine capital ) to El Calafate (four daily, three hours 15 minutes, from $158 USD return).

There’s not much to do in town (except for shopping in overpriced hiking gear shops), so in the afternoon, rent a bike and cycle to Punta Walichu , a cave network that’s home to 7,000-year-old cave paintings.

An alternative is the fascinating Glaciarium , with a range of informative displays, focusing on the Southern Patagonian Ice Field (including the nearby El Perito Moreno glacier ). Downstairs, they even have an ice bar – although visits are limited to 30 minutes!

It’s six kilometres west of El Calafate in the direction of Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, but a f ree, hourly minibuses shuttle visitors between the car park of the Secretaría de Turismo Provincial (1 de Mayo, between Av. San Martín and Julio Argentino Roca) and the museum.

Where to eat in El Calafate

For a combination of beautiful lake views and a feast of succulent, expertly-roasted Patagonian lamb, don’t miss Parrilla Don Pichon (Calle Puerto Deseado 242). 

It’s a ten-minute walk from the centre of El Calafate, but Pura Vida (Av. San Martín 1876) has hearty meat stews and pies – perfect for cold El Calafate nights. They also have plenty of vegetarian options if you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by all the meaty options. The atmosphere, with its roaring fire and chirpy waiters, is even more inviting than the menu.

Budget accommodation in El Calafate

The cheapest rooms in town are found in the no-frills El Ovejero (José Pantín 64, $5 USD camping, $9 USD dorm). There’s a very small kitchen and communal area for the dorms and space for over 60 tents outside next to a small stream, with access to hot showers and washing up and laundry sinks.

More spacious and considerably more comfortable is the  Albergue & Hostal del Glaciar Libertador ($18-25 USD dorm, $62 USD double). Dorms are a bit cramped but the doubles are well-sized and there’s plenty of communal areas, including a large kitchen.  

Mid-range accomodation in El Calafate

A ten-minute walk or shorter bike ride and located in the converted main buildings of an old estancia , Kau Yatún ($77 USD standard double, $90 superior double) offers hotel facilities in a pretty, rural setting. Parts of the ranch are still in operation and you can take a free tour. 

For those wishing to self-cater, Linda Vista Apart Hotel ($165 USD double) has functional but pretty cabins, all with kitchens and living areas. 

High-end accommodation in El Calafate 

Hotel Posada Los Alamos ($270 USD standard double) is a four-star hotel with little character but everything you need, including a restaurant, pool and spa, nine-hole golf course and even a cocktail bar overlooking it.

With incredible views of the lake, a good restaurant and indoor swimming pool, Design Suites Calafate ($115 USD double) is the perfect getaway. It’s a 10-minute drive into town (but there’s a shuttle bus for guests, but with access to a couple of short hikes and those views, you’ll be more than content staying on the ground.

Day Two: Glacier Perito Moreno

At dawn, take a walk over to Reserva Laguna Nimez , where flocks of flamingos, black-necked swans and over 70 species of birds nest and are most active in the early morning.

Today’s the day for appreciating one of Patagonia’s greatest highlights: Glacier Perito Moreno .

To get to Los Glaciares National Park and the glacier, if there’s more than two of you, rent a taxi for the day for an agreed fee or take the bus from the main bus terminal (one hour thirty minues, $24 USD return). Cal-Tur and Chaltén Travel offer run this route and often offer hotel pick ups – check this when you book. 

Entry into the park is around $25 USD (cash only), but worth the expense, as you can walk up to the snout of this huge glacier thanks to a boardwalk that sits only a few hundred metres away.

You can take a one-hour boat tour up to the snout of the glacier (it’s impressive but I wasn’t sure it was worth the expense as the view from the boardwalks is fantastic already) with Southern Spirit  ($20 USD per person, leaving from the boardwalk in front of the glacier).

Hielo y Aventura also run one-hour tours ($20 USD, leaving from Puerto Bajo de las Sombras, a port six kilometers before you reach the main car park).

From the same port, they also run ice trekking (“Mini Trekking”, one hour, thirty minutes on the ice from $110 USD; “Big Ice”, three hours 30 minutes on the ice, $215 USD).

Mil Outdoor  also run kayaking tours (two and a half hours of paddling in double kayaks, $195 USD) and while you can’t get as close to the snout as the boat does due to safety concerns, it’s a far quieter and back-to-basics way of appreciating the glacier. 

Get more information about visiting El Calafate in our complete guide to the Perito Moreno Glacier . 

Days Three-Six: El Chaltén

Board an early bus to El Chaltén (three hours, $22 USD) from the bus station. When you arrive in El Chaltén, it’s a good idea to buy your bus ticket back to El Calafate if travelling in Patagonia in high season.

Spend the next three days of your one-week Patagonia itinerary in El Chaltén, Argentina’s self-designated hiking capital.

Set on the northern edge of Los Glaciares National Park, this town is within striking distance of plenty of Patagonia’s most famous hikes.

These include to the bewitching Laguna de los Tres (a personal favourite) and the flatter and less challenging routes to Laguna Torre , both of which give astounding views of the iconic Cerro Torre (the inspiration for the clothing brand, Patagonia’s, logo).

The shorter trail to Mirador Los Cóndores and Mirador Águila is also worthwhile, with dazzling views of El Chaltén and the national park beyond.

For full information about the trails you should check out, visit this website entirely dedicated to self-guided hikes from El Chaltén.

Where to eat in El Chaltén

Off the main road, so offering a great place to escape the crowds, La Ruca Mahuida (Lionel Terray 55) has huge pizzas and calzones that are big enough to share between two. Prices – and food – are superb and they have a beer garden in summer.

You can’t miss sampling wine in Argentina, so head to the poky La Vinería (Av. Lago de Desierto 265), with really knowledgeable staff and plenty of cheese and meat sharing platters to nibble on as you sip.

Go for unfiltered blonde or bock on tap at the popular La Cervecería (San Martín 320) which has hearty Patagonian dishes on offer too, including their famed  locro soup (a spicy meat, maize and vegetable stew). 

Budget accommodation in El Chaltén

Camping El Relincho ($7 USD camping per person, $10 USD dorm) has huge grounds with plenty of space for tents, hook-ups for camper vans and motor homes with a large, heated toilet block with hot showers and a wooden cabin open to guests. There’s one tiny – and barely furnished – dorm room, too. 

Probably the best dorm options in town are at the popular Patagonia Travellers’ Hostel ($25 USD dorm, $75-$105 USD double). It has a friendly, backpacker vibe, hot showers and is right on the main street. 

Mid-range accommodation in El Chaltén

Offering truly excellent value for money, the friendly and cosy Nothofagus B&B ($49-$65 USD) also has wonderful Mont Fitz Roy views from some of its upstairs rooms. There are also plenty of living spaces around the guesthouse, plus a small cafeteria-style breakfast room downstairs.  

For self-catering, you can’t go wrong with Latitud 49˚  ($100 USD double apartment) and their modern apartments, complete with living room and kitchen. Owners Florencia and Lucas live next door and also have encyclopedic knowledge of El Chaltén, its restaurants and activities.

High-end accommodation in El Chaltén

Rooms are large at Infinito Sur ($144 USD double), with stylish, modern furnishings and a living room look right out across to Monte Fitz Roy. They can also arrange lunch boxes for hikers, for an additional fee. 

Quite possibly the best views in town are from the plush sofas of the Los Cerros Boutique Hotel  ($187 USD standard double, $220 USD superior double), part of an Argentinean chain of hotels. Rooms are somewhat characterless and ask one with an even number for the best mountain views. There’s a jacuzzi and sauna plus bar and restaurant. 

Day Seven: Return to El Calafate

Take the bus back to El Calafate and then fly back to Buenos Aires.

Changes you can make to this one-week Patagonia itinerary:

• If you’d rather visit Torres del Paine National Park rather than El Chaltén , swap the time in the latter town for a day trip or two from Puerto Natales instead – although you will spend a lot of time travelling between the two places.
• Buses leave in the morning and afternoon from the bus station in El Calafate ($25-32 USD, five to nine hours – depending on how long the border crossing takes). It’s recommended to book these tickets a day or two in advance as they can get booked up in high season.  Bus Sur ,  COOTRA  and Turismo Zaahj run this route. 

Patagonia itineraries for two weeks of travel

Two weeks is a much more manageable time in Patagonia and means you’ll spend a lot less time travelling between destinations and more actually exploring the area.

In fourteen days in Patagonia, you can hike the O Circuit in Torres del Paine , explore the lesser-known but spectacular Carretera Austral and cover most of the region’s highlights. 

Need more inspiration?

You’ll find even more detailed itineraries, off-the-beaten-path gems, hiking routes and accommodation, restaurant and tour recommendations to suit your travel style in my brand-new guidebook, Moon Chile.

Patagonia itinerary for two weeks of travel: Highlights of Patagonia

Overview of this two-week highlight of Patagonia itinerary:

• Day Seven: Return to El Calafate and onwards to Puerto Natales
• Day Eight: Puerto Natales and bus to Torres del Paine National Park

Days Nine to Twelve: Hike the W in Torres del Paine National Park

• Day Thirteen: Bus from Puerto Natales to El Calafate
• Day Fourteen: Fly back to Buenos Aires

Many travellers want to see Patagonia’s “highlights”, which involves combining both of the two itineraries above.

These include hiking the W trek in Torres del Paine National Park (Chile), visiting El Perito Moreno Glacier (Argentina) and exploring the hiking routes of Los Glaciares National Park (Argentina). 

Fly to Patagonia on an early morning flight from Buenos Aires to El Calafate (four daily, three hours 15 minutes, from $158 USD return).

An alternative is the fascinating Glaciarium , with a range of informative displays, focusing on the Southern Patagonian Ice Field (including the nearby El Perito Moreno glacier). Downstairs, they even have an ice bar – although visits are limited to 30 minutes!

It’s six kilometers west of El Calafate in the direction of Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, but a f ree, hourly minibuses shuttle visitors between the car park of the Secretaría de Turismo Provincial (1 de Mayo, between Av. San Martín and Julio Argentino Roca) and the museum.

With incredible views of the lake, a good restaurant and indoor swimming pool, Design Suites Calafate ($115 USD double) is the perfect getaway. It’s a 10-minute drive into town (but there’s a shuttle bus for guests, but with access to a couple of short hikes and those views, you’ll be more than content staying on the ground.  

Today’s the day for appreciating one of Argentine Patagonia’s greatest highlights : Glacier Perito Moreno .

To get to Los Glaciares National Park and the glacier, if there’s more than two of you, rent a taxi for the day for an agreed fee or take the bus from the main bus terminal (one hour thirty minues, $24 USD return).

Cal-Tur and Chaltén Travel offer run this route and often offer hotel pick ups – check this when you book. 

Spend the next three days of your two week Patagonia itinerary in El Chaltén, Argentina’s self-designated hiking capital.

Set on the northern edge of Los Glaciares National Park , this town is within striking distance of plenty of Patagonia’s most famous hikes.

These include to the bewitching Laguna de los Tres (a personal favorite) and the flatter and less challenging routes to Laguna Torre , both of which give astounding views of the iconic Cerro Torre (the inspiration for the clothing brand, Patagonia’s, logo).

If opting for the Laguna de los Tres hike, make sure you set off early – and factor in spending time at the top. If hiking the Laguna Torre route, once you reach the final viewpoint, on a clear day, follow the ridge to the right and you’ll find an even better view.

Day Seven: Return to El Calafate and onwards to Puerto Natales 

Take the bus back to El Calafate. Change buses at the terminal and board one to cross the border to Puerto Natales  ($25-32 USD, five to nine hours – depending on how long the border crossing takes).

As these tickets often sell out in high season, you may want to buy this a few days in advance to ensure you get a spot on the bus.  Bus Sur ,  COOTRA  and Turismo Zaahj run this route.

For a heartier dinner, opt for La Mesita Grande (Arturo Prat 196), a Puerto Natales institution named after the long, communal tables where diners eat together and known for its excellent pizzas, many of which are named after hiking routes in Torres del Paine.

Mid-range Accommodation in Puerto Natales

Comfortable beds, quirky, modern décor and access to a number of snug communal areas with squishy sofas and wood-burning stoves make Amerindia Hostal ($48,000-$55,000 double ($74 USD-$84 USD)) a great choice for couples or single travellers who don’t want to stay in dorms. 

As I found during my stay, sunsets across the Seno Última Esperanza are nothing short of spectacular from the vast windows of Simple Patagonia ($127,000 double ($195 USD)), four kilometers north of Puerto Natales.

Set within what looks like an original  granero  (barn), it combines modernity with astonishing views from the bedrooms (eight and 11 have the best) and living and dining area. They also offer up three-course dining in the evening, using local Magellanic ingredients to produce delicious, top-quality dishes.

If you’re looking for something a little different to the accommodation options listed here, we’ve pulled together a guide featuring 19 of the best Puerto Natales hotels across different budgets and travel styles.

Day Eight: Puerto Natales and bus to Torres del Paine National Park 

Use the morning in Puerto Natales to buy food and organise your hiking gear (visit my complete and 2020/2021 season guide to trekking the W in Torres del Paine National Park for all the information you need, including routes and packing lists).

Take the afternoon bus at 2.30pm ($15,000 CLP ($23 USD) return, two hours 15 minutes (to Laguna Amarga) four hours 15 minutes (to the Catamaran stop) to Torres del Paine National Park and camp up either at Paine Grande (for the W trek hiking west to east) or Torres Central (for the W trek hiking east to west). 

Get all the  detailed information about preparing for the W trek without a tour  you need, plus a complete guide to booking campsites and refugios in Torres del Paine National Park . 

Return to Puerto Natales by bus on the final day of your hike. 

Day Thirteen: Puerto Natales to El Calafate

Return by bus to El Calafate (again, it’s wise to book this ticket in advance). 

Day Fourteen: Flight home

Fly from El Calafate to Buenos Aires and catch your return flight home. 

Patagonia itinerary for two weeks of travel: The Carretera Austral

Overview of this two-week Carretera Austral Patagonia Itinerary:

• Day One: Fly from Santiago to Puerto Montt
• Days Two-Three: Board the Navimag or Naviera Austral ferry
• Day Four: Exploring Río Tranquilo and the marble caves
• Days Five-Six: Hiking in Parque Nacional Patagonia
• Day Seven: Bus from Parque Patagonia to Coyhaique
• Day Eight: Bus from Coyhaique to Puyuhuapi

Day Nine: Parque Nacional Queulat

• Days Ten-Twelve: Hiking and thermal springs in Parque Nacional Pumalín
• Day Thirteen: Bus and boat from Chaitén to Puerto Montt
• Day Fourteen: Fly back to Santiago

This two-week itinerary covers a lot of ground:  almost the entire length of the Carretera Austral – aka Chilean Patagonia’s ultimate road trip.

This 1,240km/770-mile road slices through the heart of northern Chilean Patagonia and offer dazzling natural landscapes at each adn every turn.

Although two weeks is a little on the short side for seeing this part of Patagonia (I would recommend three weeks if you don’t want to feel rushed ), it is possible to see the highlights in this period of time.

For more information about the highlights of this Patagonia itinerary, check out my guide to  visiting the Carretera Austral .

Required equipment for this two-week Patagonia itinerary

To get the most out of this two-week Patagonia travel itinerary, I would recommend bringing camping equipment with you to give the extra freedom that this backpacking route offers.

If you’re not sure what equipment is necessary or where to get hold of it from, read this article which includes my full packing list for Patagonia .

If you would prefer to take this itinerary as a road trip , I would recommend reading this article about driving in Patagonia , which offers essential guidance about car rental, border crossings, insurance and other essentials for would-be road trippers

Day One: Santiago to Puerto Montt

Fly from Santiago to Puerto Montt (at least 11 flights per day, one hour 45 minutes, from $34 USD return).

From the airport, take the bus right outside the terminal ($2,500 CLP/$4 USD, every 30 minutes) to the bus station in the centre of Puerto Montt.

From here, a 20-minute local minibus ride gets you to Puerto Varas – one of Chile’s most picturesque towns. Spend an afternoon soaking up its lakeside vantage point and – if the weather’s sunny – the views across the water to Volcán Osorno from the beach.

If you’ve got time in the afternoon, take a minibus from  Puerto Varas’ main bus stop on the corner of Martinéz and San Bernando ($2,000, one hour 15 minutes)  to visit Saltas de Petrohué , a set of dazzling waterfalls set in the shadow of the volcano.

Where to eat in Puerto Montt

Eat overlooking the late at Mesa Tropera (Santa Rosa 161), a chic pizzeria serving up their own locally brewed craft beer. For some of the region’s freshest fish, book a table at La Olla (just before the road bends north out of Puerto Varas, Ruta 225) for traditional Chilean seafood.

Budget Accommodation in Puerto Varas

Stay overnight in Compass del Sur  (dorm $14,000 CLP ($21USD), double room $39,000-$46,000 CLP ($60-70 USD)), possibly my favourite hostel in Patagonia thanks to its huge rooms, kitchen and delicious, home-made breakfast. They’re also experts on the region so have plenty of hand knowledge. 

Mid-range accommodation in Puerto Varas

Set in a traditional German mansion  Estancia 440 Hotel Boutique ($72,000 CLP ($110 USD) double) marries elegant rustic decoration with absolute comfort, plus plenty of communal spaces, from a small kitchen, to a terrace with sun lounger, hot tub and sofa room.  

High-end accommodation in Puerto Varas

Set right on the shores of the lake (you will need a car to get here or to arrange transport) AWA ($400,000 CLP ($613 USD) double is a five-star option with swimming pool and an excellent restaurant that’s also open to the public. All bedrooms have mesmerising views of the volcano. 

Days Two-Three: Navimag or Naviera Austral

Take a bus back to Puerto Montt and board the Navimag to Puerto Chacabuco *. Be aware that the boats don’t necessarily leave at the time they ought to (the Navimag left 12 hours late when I sailed in April 2016) so leave room in your Patagonia itinerary for this eventuality.

Boats theoretically should leave at 8am (requiring you to be at the port around 6am in the morning, so double check this the day before in case you need to stay the night in Puerto Montt instead).

Sail along the coastline of Chile, catching glimpses of sea lions, dolphins, penguins and even southern right whales if you’re lucky. If the weather’s in your favour, you can watch Chile’s incredible shoreline of dense Valdivian temperate rainforest scattered with volcanoes and glaciers as you pass.

Dock at Puerto Chacabuco, where you’ll find a local minibus that can drop you off at one of the bus companies in Puerto Aysén. Board a bus to Coyhaique (one hour 30 mins) and buy tickets to visit Río Tranquilo for tomorrow.

There’s not a whole lot to do in Coyhaique, but if your boat arrives in the morning as it should, you’ll have time to head out to Reserva Nacional Coyhaique , three miles away from the centre of town by taxi or hitchhiking. There are a number of short walks (from 30 minutes to a couple of hours) with views across the town and the region.

Where to eat in Coyhaique

Run by the same owners as Mesa Tropera in Puerto Varas, Casa Tropera (Calle Camino Aeródromo Teniente Vidal – check out their Facebook Page for a map) has excellent burgers and their range of craft beer.

For vegetarian or lighter fare,  Basilic Bistrot (Gral. Parra 220) has a wide selection of dishes, ranging from tabbouleh-style salads, through lentil and chickpea or roasted red pepper and sweet pickle burgers, thick vegetable soups, cakes and pudding – the majority of which can be made vegan on request. 

Budget accommodation in Coyhaique

Tiny but an excellent find for backpackers and budget-minded travellers, Patagon Backpackers ($10,000 CLP ($15 USD) dorm, $32,000 CLP ($49 USD) double) is run by a welcoming, good-humoured mother-daughter team. You can use the kitchen and dining area downstairs.

Mid-range accommodation in Coyhaique

Rooms are dated and it’s a 10-minute walk to the Plaza de Armas, but the English-speaking owner at Aumkenk Aike ($34,000 CLP ($40 USD double0) is very knowledgeable and friendly. There is laundry service, a bar and games area and kitchen access.

High-end accommodation in Coyhaique 

Coyhaique’s smartest option and offering exceptional value for money, Raices Bed and Breakfast ($82,000-$92,000 CLP ($126-$141 USD) double) is run by friendly, bilingual Cecilia who’s always on hand to help you out with restaurant and activity recommendations. 

Day Four: Río Tranquilo and the marble caves

From the bus terminal in Coyhaique, hop on a bus in the morning (most leave at 8.30am or 9am) to Río Tranquilo (five hours, $10,000 CLP ($15 USD)) and organise a tour from one of the agencies along the lakefront to visit the marble caves.

Speedboat tours last for around 1.5 hours and cost $10,000 CLP ($15 USD) per person. 

These rock formations contain marble in all colours of the rainbow and are made even more picturesque thanks to the turquoise of the waters of Lago General Carrera.

If you pay a further $10,000 CLP, you can take an extended, three-hour trip across the lake to Puerto Sánchez, where there are further caves – and fewer tourists – and they’re more accessible by boat.

Whichever tour you choose, go in the early morning for the best lighting, although departures depend on weather conditions, as waves in the lake can be fierce.

Where to eat in Puerto Río Tranquilo

There are only a handful of restaurants in the town. Hands down the best is  Mate y Truco (Carretera Austral 121), a tiny restaurant with thin-crust pizzas, whipped up on demand using whatever ingredients they have in stock, fresh gnocchi and pastas, and a handful of other traditional Chilean dishes. 

If you’ve got cooking gear and are on a budget, you’re better off buying food from the Unimarc supermarket in Coyhaique , where it’s cheaper and there’s more choice.

Budget accommodation in Puerto Río Tranquilo

Accommodation options are fairly limited. The best budget choice – and popular with backpacker – is the family-run Bellavista ($5,000 ($8 USD) camping, $12,000 CLP ($18 USD) dorm, $25,000 CLP ($38 USD) double) which has a small kitchen and simple but clear rooms. 

Mid-range accommodation in Puerto Río Tranquilo

El Puesto ($110,000 CLP ($168 USD) double) is somewhat over-priced but is the smartest option in the town and has pretty wooden bedrooms with white linens.

High-end accommodation in Puerto Río Tranquilo

50 kilometers south of the town, Mallin Colorado Ecolodge ($101,000 CLP ($155 USD) double, $158,000 CLP ($242 USD) two-person cabin) is a lovely lodge with pleasant views across the lake, a restaurant on-site for guests and even their own hiking trails starting from the property. You will need a car to get here. 

Days Five-Six: Parque Nacional Patagonia

Take the bus to Cochrane leaving between noon and 12.30pm (three hours, $10,000 CLP ($15 USD)) and ask to be dropped at the turning point to enter Parque Patagonia , El Cruce Entrada Baker (three-four hours from Río Tranquilo), 17km/10.5-miles before you reach Cochrane.

From here, you’re 11 kilometers from the entrance to the park, so either hitchhike (particularly during summer when there should be more traffic) or walk. Find out more about getting to Parque Patagonia here .

As one of Chile’s newest national parks (created only in 2018), Parque Nacional Patagonia is a truly under-visited gem in Patagonia.

Infrastructure is excellent, including various day and multi-day hiking trails. You can find all the information about the park in English on their website . 

Where to eat and stay in Parque Nacional Patagonia

The park has excellent facilities, including an expensive but good cafe/restaurant/bar, El Rincón Gaucho , various campgrounds and a luxurious lodge. 

There are three campsites in the park, the most central being Los West Winds campground ($8,000 CLP ($12 USD)), which has covered picnic areas and basic toilet facilities, including solar panel showers (but bring your own toilet paper and soap!). It’s one kilometre from the Visitor’s Centre and restaurant.

The only other lodgings in the park is the beautiful  Explora en Parque Nacional Patagonia (from $2000 USD in high season and you will need to book in advance), with sweeping views across the steppe of the valley and a living area with floor-to-ceiling windows and a terrace for appreciating the scenery. 

Day Seven: Parque Patagonia to Coyhaique

Buses leave daily from Cochrane at 6.30am (passing the entrance to the park around 30 minutes later), which you will need to flag down on the main road or hitchhike back to Coyhaique (nine hours).

Buy tickets from the bus station in Coyhaique to go to Puyuhuapi the next morning.

Day Eight: Coyhaique to Puyuhuapi

Board the bus to Puyuhuapi (five hours, $8,000 CLP ($12 USD)), which either leave at 2pm with Terraustral or at 8am Tuesdays and Saturdays with  Buses Becker .

If you’ve got camping, cooking gear and food (you can buy the latter from the Unimarc supermarket in Coyhaique), get the bus to drop you off at the entrance Parque Nacional Queulat and camp overnight in the campground ($5,000 CLP ($8 USD).* 

Or, continue onto Puyuhuapi and spend the night at the grand, Germanic  Casa Ludwig  ($30,000-$50,000 CLP ($46-$77 USD) double), a landmark in the village and run by friendly English, Spanish and German-speaking host Luisa Ludwig. 

For dinner,  Misur (Av. Otto Uebel 86) is surprisingly good, with fish caught from the fjord served as beautifully-presented ceviches and risottos or oven-baked with chorizo. Cash only.

*This is currently closed due to the pandemic.

Hitchhike or jump on a local bus to visit Parque Nacional Queulat and the incredible Ventisquero Colgante (possibly the most beautiful glacier I’ve ever seen).

Covid-19 update: You MUST make a reservation in order to visit the park. You can do this on this website , but you will need to pay in cash (bring small notes) upon arrival. You can only enter the park between 9:00am and 14:30pm (you can stay within the park until 16.30pm) and you must bring your reservation code on your phone or printed off to show at the park entrance.

Turismo Experiencia Austral  (Otto Uebel 36) in Puyuhuapi have 8.30am departures daily ($5,000 CLP ($8 USD) return), leaving from the car park of the park at 6.30pm.*

*Due to the pandemic, I am not sure this is still operating. Contact the company directly to find out.  

There are a few short hikes in the park to keep you busy for a day. Get the bus back in the afternoon to Puyuhuapi or, in the shoulder or high season, it shouldn’t be a problem hitchhiking (get some tips on how to hitchhike in South America safely ).

Days Ten-Twelve: Parque Nacional Pumalín

Take the bus from Puyuhuapi to Chaitén (three hours, $6,000 CLP ($9 USD)) operated by  Buses Becker  Tuesdays at around 2pm or by Terraustral (tel. 67/2325 131), the latter leaving from outside the Nido de Puyes minimarket Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday at 6am.

Stock up with cooking supplies and food in one of the small shops in Chaitén and then hitchhike to Parque Nacional Pumalín .

If you’ve not got camping gear, there are lodgings in the park but camping is the better option (see the full list here ).

There are twelve trails in the park, most of which do require you to pack up camp and move around a bit, however, it’s fairly easy to hitchhike between campgrounds with the cars travelling along the main road that cuts through the park.

Again, this brand-new national park was only founded in 2018 and you can find all the information you need about it on their English-language website . 

Hitchhike back to Chaitén and book tickets to catch the bus in the morning back to Puerto Montt.

Budget accommodation in Chaitén

Hospedaje Don Carlos  ($30,000 CLP ($41 USD) double) is a great choice. Their 23 rooms vary significantly in size; opt for the newer wing on the west of the house for substantially larger and superior rooms, all with private bathrooms and central heating. Rooms are plain but spotless, but wooden floors do mean you can sometimes hear your neighbours.

Mid-range accommodation in Chaitén

Hotel Mi Casa  ($57,500 CLP ($79 USD) double) sits on a low hill above the town with beautiful views of the bay from the breakfast rooms – but none from the guest rooms. Rooms are a mishmash of modern decor but double-glazed windows and central heating ensure the hotel is welcomingly warm.

Day Thirteen: Chaitén t o Puerto Montt  

Hop on the 8am or 11am bus back to Puerto Montt (10 hours, $20,000 CLP ($31 USD)).

It’s a long journey, but luckily the scenery as you pass through Valdivian Temperate Rainforest and take ferry crossings through silent Patagonia fjords, more than makes up for the time.

You can get out of the bus during the ferry crossings (included in the price of the ticket) and it’s worthwhile bringing your own lunch (although there is a small cafe serving food and hot drinks on board). 

Accommodation in Puerto Varas/Puerto Mont

I would recommend spending the night in Puerto Varas again or you can stop overnight in the wonderful Austral View Hostel  ($15,000 dorm ($23 USD), $30,000-$45,000 CLP ($46-$69 USD) for double/cabin/dome) in Puerto Montt. The owner is exceptionally friendly (she lives in the house) and it’s very comfortable and with splendid views all the way down to the water and beyond. 

Day Fourteen: Back to Santiago

Take the bus to Puerto Montt bus terminal and then onwards to the airport for your return flight. Alternatively take a taxi directly from Puerto Varas – a more expensive option.

Changes you could make to this Patagonia itinerary for two weeks of travel:

• *If you’ve got more time, it’s worth considering the Naviera Austral rather than the Navimag Ferry – read this article discussing whether the Navimag Ferry or the Naviera Austral is the better option.
• Consider renting a car from Coyhaique and driving to Parque Nacional Patagonia instead. This will give you a lot more freedom and allow you to really enjoy the experience of the Carretera Austral. I recommend booking with Rental Cars as they provide your insurance details in English but double check that your insurance includes driving on the Carretera Austral (sometimes it doesn’t!!). Read this article about renting a car and driving in Patagonia before you arrange your plans.
• Consider renting a car from Puerto Montt and doing this whole trip by rental car. You can take a car on the Navimag Ferry for a fee. As above, I recommend booking with Rental Cars  and check what your insurance covers. Make sure you read the article above about renting a car in Patagonia and taking a road trip (it also has additional Patagonia road trip itineraries! ).
• If you want to visit San Rafael, a hanging glacier that is receding so quickly that experts are concerned it’ll soon disappear completely, spend an extra day in Río Tranquilo and organise a tour from an agency located there. These tours are very expensive – but reportedly worth it.
• If you’re really into long-distance hiking, there’s a 50km/31-mile hike that starts in Parque Patagonia and crosses into Argentina.
• If you have more time, consider travelling the Carretera Austral from north to south and crossing into Argentina from Chile Chico.

Patagonia itinerary for two weeks of travel: The O Circuit, Torres del Paine National Park

Overview of this two-week Torres del Paine National Park itinerary:

• Day One: Fly from Santiago to Puerto Natales
• Day Two: Explore Puerto Natales
• Days Three-Eleven: Hike the O Circuit in Torres del Paine National Park
• Days Twelve-Fourteen: Off-the-beaten-path in Cabo Froward

If you want to spend less time on buses and more time trekking in the Patagonian Andes, this travel itinerary is likely more your style.

Although plenty of visitors to the region trek the five-day W, far fewer attempt the O Circuit, a nine- or ten-day trek that winds through wilder parts of the national park and gives a better sense of what Patagonia once was before tourism arrived.

Although it is challenging if you’ve not tried multi-day hiking before, there are ways that you can prepare for the experience: read about 14 essential things to know before you hike the O Circuit .

Although camping equipment isn’t entirely necessary for this two-week itinerary, it can work out cheaper than renting all of your gear in Puerto Natales. You will also need a cooking stove, plus pots and pans.

Read my packing list for Torres del Paine National Park to give you some ideas of the equipment that you will need.

From the airport in Punta Arenas, board a bus to Puerto Natales (three hours 30 mins, around $8,000 CLP ($12 USD)). Check out Bus-Sur , Buses Pacheco and Buses Fernandez  who run this route.

You must buy your ticket on the internet because they do not sell bus tickets to Puerto Natales in the airport.

Day Two: Puerto Natales

Spend the day getting your food and your hiking gear sorted if you’ve not brought camping equipment for the O Circuit with you.

If you’ve got a bit more time to spare, consider going  horseriding on the outskirts of the national park  or horseriding and a barbecue and estancia experience at the incredible Estancia La Peninsula .

Days Three-Eleven: Hiking the O Circuit in Torres del Paine National Park

If you’re wondering where to hike in Patagonia, look no further than the O Circuit, a nine-day trek through the pristine scenery of Torres del Paine National Park .

This trek is much quieter than the W and promises even more spectacular scenery, including views of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field from the trek’s highest point, Paso John Gardner.

Get planning with this complete guide to the Torres del Paine O Circuit .

Days Twelve-Fourteen: Cabo Froward

Head back to Punta Arenas and hire a car for the next three days (I recommend Rental Cars as they give you your insurance documents in English).

Stock up on food and water in one of the supermarkets in the city – UNIMARC generally has the best food (and wine!!) selection.

From Punta Arenas, it’s only an hour’s drive to the end of the road near Cabo Froward (the southernmost point of the Americas).

While the trek to reach the cross that marks this point is a five-day round trip, you can instead spend an afternoon wandering along the beach to stare across the Strait of Magellan at the looming peaks of Isla Dawson and Tierra del Fuego beyond.

Be aware of the tide, as it can turn quickly and catch you out.

There’s also plenty of wild camping spots (unfortunately most covered in rubbish) and a beautiful little campsite “A Las Perras” that you’ll find signposted a short distance before you pass through San Juan. Alternatively, if you haven’t got camping gear, return to Punta Arenas for the night.

The next morning, drive back along the road towards Punta Arenas and visit Pali Aike , a barely-known national park that is home to strange volcanic landforms, plenty of guanaco and rheas and the possibility of seeing Chilean flamingos and even pumas.

There are a number of hikes around the park and you can stay overnight in the cabañas (cabins) found at Hostal San Gregorio  ($15,000 CLP/$22 USD p/p) in Punta Delgada. They also serve a tasty and inexpensive dinner menu and breakfast (both of which are enormous).

• If you like penguins, swap the visit to Cabo Froward for a drive over to Tierra del Fuego to visit the king penguin colony at Parque Pinguino Rey , Bahía Inútil. It’s open from 11am-6pm with last entry at 5pm and entry is $12,000 CLP ($18 USD). Tour groups arrive normally at around 1pm and 2pm so try and avoid these times. You now need to reserve a ticket via their online system. 

• If you’ve a couple more days to add to the trip, miss out Cabo Froward and drive directly to the penguin colony and continue onwards to Lago Blanco, where you can stay overnight in the extremely comfortable cabañas at Hosteria Las Lengas  (four-person cabin $83,300 CLP/$125 USD, double room $134,470 CLP/$202 USD). They do offer food, but your best bet is to bring food with you as they have fully-equipped kitchens and BBQs.
• If you want to visit El Calafate and El Chaltén, swap the O Circuit for hiking the W and use the additional four days to visit these two towns.
• Want to head to the White Continent?  Most departures for Antarctica leave from Ushuaia. For the best experience, I highly recommend the brilliant Swoop Antarctica. Their staff have extensive, first-hand experience of sailing to Antarctica and, because they sell cruises for all the well-known companies, they can give you handy, impartial advice for choosing the one that best suits you. What’s more, they specialize in small ship expedition cruises, which means you’ll be allowed to get off the boat at every stop on the itinerary (which is not the case for large ships!) and you won’t pay a cent more by booking through them rather than directly with the cruise company themselves. Check out their  classic cruises to the Antarctica Peninsula , or their more unusual trips to  wildlife-rich South Georgia and the Falklands , or, if you’re short on time, fly in and cruise out .

Did you find these Patagonia itineraries for one and two weeks of travel useful? Pin them for later!

Wednesday 15th of November 2023

Hi Steph! Thanks for the blog! I was wondering how do you book the Chilean airlines. It seems that both websites like JetSmart or Sky Airlines show the LATAM flights. Thanks!, Diana

Steph Dyson

Thursday 23rd of November 2023

Hi Diana, I'm not sure what you mean? JetSmart and Sky Airlines only show their own sites to book. Steph

Tuesday 7th of November 2023

Hey Steph! Thanks for providing such detailed advice - it's been so helpful!

Something I wanted to check with you are the prices of the Minitreking and Big Ice on Moreno. I'm looking at this now and they charge 143,000 ARS and 253,500 ARS for the Minitreking and Big Ice, respectively. These translate to $408.72 and $724.55 per person at the current exchange rate (Nov 7, 2023), which is considerably more expensive than the $110 and $215 you mention in this post (and even double the $240 and $385 mentioned in your post about Moreno https://worldlyadventurer.com/perito-moreno-glacier-argentina/#Trekking_on_the_ice).

Have prices really gone up that much or am I missing something?

Tuesday 14th of November 2023

Figured out the answer to my own question: paying with Amex doubles the price. Ended up being 510 GBP for two of us! Pay with a Visa or MasterCard and you'll get a better rate.

Tuesday 26th of September 2023

Hi, Steph, Do you know any buses run from El Chalten to Puerto Natales on Thursdays? I could not find one. Thanks.

Hi Tyler, no, you need to change in El Calafate. There are no direct buses from El Chalten to Puerto Natales. Buses from El Chalten to El Calafate run multiple times daily, those from El Calafate to Puerto Natales run daily and sometimes twice daily. Steph

Saturday 25th of February 2023

Hi Steph, firstly thanks so much for the time and energy put into this site. I echo everyone else when saying it’s the most useful resource on Patagonia out there! I’m planning to book buses for onward journeys in Argentina when I arrive at each destination (Bariloche, El Chalten, El Calafate, Puerto Natales) to take advantage of the exchange rate. Do you know if it’s possible to book onward routes from Bariloche? I.e. if I wanted to book El Calafate to Puerto Natales at the Bariloche terminal? Thanks.

Tuesday 28th of February 2023

Hi Emily, I don't think so, as it's going to be different companies that are operating in different parts of the country. I would recommend using https://www.busbud.com/. You should be able to book those as you go.

Sunday 8th of January 2023

Hi! Thank you for the information. I have 1 week in patagonia in winter and wanted to mix both of your 1week itineraries. I would like to see perito moreno glacier but also hike in Torres del Paine. What are your thoughts?

Thursday 19th of January 2023

Hi Cindy, for Torres del Paine you will need to go with a guide (for both day hikes and the W). You can definitely combine both, although most of the trails in El Chalten will likely be closed because of snow. Steph

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Destino Calafate

Hotel in El Calafate

Located in El Calafate, 2.6 miles from Argentinean Lake, Destino Calafate has accommodations with a garden, free private parking and a shared lounge. The staff was so nice, so helpful. Great attitude. Breakfast is varied.

hosteria las cachi alojamiento

Hotel in Esquel

Located in Esquel, within 12 miles of La Hoya and 13 miles of Nant Fach Mill Museum, hosteria las cachi alojamiento provides accommodations with a garden and free WiFi throughout the property as well... Good, friendly people - went the whole mile to see I was comfortable

Cilene del Fuego Suites & Spa

Hotel in Ushuaia

Cilene del Fuego Suites & Spa provides rooms in Ushuaia near Ushuaia Harbour and Government House. The 4-star hotel has air-conditioned rooms with a private bathroom and free WiFi. Clean facilities and a great staff

Dormís Acá has a garden, shared lounge, a terrace and bar in Esquel. Among the facilities at this property are a concierge service and a tour desk, along with free WiFi throughout the property. Great stop in Esquel! The check-in was very easy, the room and bathroom was clean, and the bed was comfortable. Guests are able to use the shared kitchen and there was a decent selection for breakfast.

Hotel in General Roca

Located in General Roca, 26 miles from Limay River, Hotel Bait provides accommodations with a garden, free private parking and a shared lounge. If you’re visiting General Roca , Rio Negro Arg. This is the Hotel for your stay . We stayed for one night attending to a family birthday and everything was perfect . We book a de luxe double room with a small fridge , the bed was so comfy , exterior view to the garden , plenty of light. You need a car to move around . Excepcional staff , good breakfast not to much choices but was ok . I highly recommended Bait Hotel . Parking with not extra charge

Hotel Campanilla

Located in Ushuaia, 2.2 miles from Encerrada Bay, Hotel Campanilla provides accommodations with a garden, free private parking and a bar. This hotel greatly exceeded my expectations. It really shows that it is directly managed by the owners who are extremely friendly and willing to help with anything. They helped me to rent a car by doing all the talking and arrangements on WhatsApp. The car arrived at the hotel, and it was very new, in excellent condition and had a great price. I didn't even need a credit card for the car rental. The car rental experience has been amazing, and it was possible only because of the hotel hosts. They helped another tourist as well with the car rental, as he was refused by the big car rental companies for not having a credit card. The hotel is very clean and has a rustic feeling. The heating worked great and the bathroom had very hot water with great pressure. This was very nice since I visited in winter and it was cold outside. The price of this hotel is extremely affordable compared to what you get.

My Pod House

Located in Esquel and with La Hoya reachable within 10 miles, My Pod House has a garden, non-smoking rooms, free WiFi and a bar. This 4-star hotel offers ski storage space and room service. The best hostel/hotel in Esquel by far. Perfect location in the middle of the town, the rooms were very well designed and clean. The private rooms were very spacious. The staff is very nice and friendly and they were very flexible to accomodate my changing plans.

El Refugio Ski & Summer Lodge

Hotel in San Martín de los Andes

San Martin de los Andes is 14 mi from El Refugio Ski & Summer Lodge. The nearest airport is Aviador Carlos Campos Airport, 12 mi from the hotel. the place is wonderful, very quiet and peaceful in summer, excellent for couples. is was no snow so the place was half empty so very very quiet, the staff super helpful and nice, the room like the description, the view excellent and the breakfast not a continental one but with enough options.

Calfuco Wine Hotel & Spa

Hotel in Villa La Angostura

Located in Villa La Angostura, 6.5 miles from Isla Victoria, Calfuco Wine Hotel & Spa provides accommodations with free bikes, free private parking, a fitness center and a shared lounge. This is the most fabulous hotel with awesome views ofer the lake. There’s a private beach down by the lake, a great spa, rooms all have a panoramic view of the lake. Dinner and breakfast were first class and the wine list is extensive.

Ushuaia Lodge Las Margaritas 430

Located in Ushuaia, 3 miles from Encerrada Bay, Ushuaia Lodge Las Margaritas 430 provides accommodations with a garden, free private parking, a terrace and a bar. Fantastic stay - host very friendly and helpful, lovely seating area with views over the town to the sea, clean and comfortable room, great value.

Hotels with extra health and safety measures

Find hotels in patagonia with added hygiene measures plus high cleanliness ratings, charming luxury lodge & private spa.

Hotel in San Carlos de Bariloche

Aldebaran Hotel & Spa

Hotel in Peninsula San Pedro, San Carlos de Bariloche

Casona Del Alto

Alma andina hosteria, arakur ushuaia resort & spa, hotel y casino del río - cipolletti.

Hotel in Cipolletti

Calfuco Wine Hotel & Spa

Most-booked hotels in patagonia in the past month, esplendor by wyndham el calafate.

Popular with guests booking hotels in Patagonia

Hotel Nahuel Huapi

Lagos del calafate, hotel ecoski by bund, del glaciar libertador hotel, hotel cottbus, hotel concorde, hampton by hilton bariloche, hotel eco max, fitz roy hostería de montaña - el chaltén.

Hotel in El Chalten

Patagonia's best hotels with breakfast

Hotel y casino del río - general roca.

Hotel y Casino Del Río - General Roca has a garden, restaurant, a casino and spa and wellness center in General Roca. Great hotel. Quality rooms, great space.

Hotel y Casino Del Río - Cipolletti offers accommodations in Cipolletti. There is a casino on site and guests can enjoy the on-site restaurant. Nice and quiet hotel next to a Casino that did not make any difference for us.

Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa

Boasting impressive panoramic views and two swimming pools, Arakur Ushuaia Resort & Spa offers luxurious rooms with free WiFi access. The property is located in Cerro Alarkén Natural Reserve. The pools with the view over the whole city were amazing! Amazing!!

Hotel Costa Limay

Hotel in Plottier

Located in Plottier, 1312 feet from the commercial area, Costa Limay has rooms with free Wi-Fi in Neuquen. A daily buffet breakfast is offered. Comfortable room, quiet and excellent shower and pillows, good breakfast.

Hotel ACA El Calafate

Housed inside a historic stone building in El Calafate, the stylish Hotel ACA El Calafate features free Wi-Fi, The rooms have splashes of bright color and wooden furniture in a contemporary design. Excellent location! Great staff! Facilities are just excellent!

Located 984 feet from the commercial area, Alma Andina Hosteria offers free Wi-Fi and panoramic views of the Andes mountain range in Villa La Angostura. Good hotel , friendly, close to the city, perfect service, great garden

Boutique Hotel & Spa Bosque del Nahuel

Located at the gateway of Chico Circuito de Bariloche, Boutique Hotel & Spa Bosque del Nahuel offers charming Alpine-style cottages with a hot tub. The staff is super friendly and professional.

Las Hayas Ushuaia Resort

Boasting a spa, an indoor swimming pool and a hot tub, Las Hayas Ushuaia Resort offers comfortable accommodationsi. There is a restaurant, a terrace and free WiFi in common areas. We liked everything about this hotel. Location is awsome for a calm and comfortable stay.

Budget hotels in Patagonia

Casas noviembre.

Located in Plottier, within 11 miles of Maria Auxiliadora Cathedral Church and 13 miles of Balcón del Valle Viewpoint, Casas Noviembre has accommodations with a garden and free WiFi throughout the... breakfast options very limited

Hotel Kallfu by Nordic

Hotel in Caviahue

Located in Caviahue and with Caviahue reachable within 1.7 miles, Hotel Kallfu by Nordic provides concierge services, non-smoking rooms, a garden, free WiFi and a shared lounge. The owner was lovely and very helpful and staff were friendly.

Las Tejuelas Hosteria Patagonica

Hotel in El Bolsón

Located in El Bolsón, 13 miles from Puelo Lake, Las Tejuelas Hosteria Patagonica provides accommodations with a garden, free private parking and a shared lounge. Everything was perfect! A special thanks to the receptionist Joana!!!

Hosteria Andina

Located in Esquel, 12 miles from La Hoya, Hosteria Andina has accommodations with a fitness center, free private parking, a garden and a shared lounge.

Global Hotel

Hotel in Centenario

Located in Centenario, 3.2 miles from Parque Provincia de Neuquén Race Track, Global Hotel provides accommodations with a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a fitness center and a...

Hostería Antu Kuyen

Comfortable rooms with free Wi-Fi are offered in Melipal, 2.5 mi off downtown Bariloche. Private parking is free and there a daily breakfast with coffee, croissants and regional jams is offered. The owner was wonderful. We had an early flight, before breakfast hours, and he had a meal ready and...

Trip Bariloche Select

Located in San Carlos de Bariloche, a 6-minute walk from Playa del Centro, Trip Bariloche Select features a shared lounge and views of the city. The staff was kind and the location was excellent

Cyan Soho Neuquén Hotel

Hotel in Neuquén

Located in Neuquén, less than 0.6 mi from María Auxiliadora de Almagro Cathedral, Cyan Soho Neuquén Hotel features accommodations with a restaurant, private parking with additional cost (subject to... Beautifully decorated!! very good breakfast.

Hotels in Patagonia you can book without a credit card

Hotel el recreo.

Located in General Roca, within 24 miles of Limay River and 27 miles of Balcón del Valle Viewpoint, Hotel El Recreo provides accommodations with a restaurant as well as free private parking for guests... Friendly, attentive staff. Location is great.

Hotel Parador Ruta 40

Hotel in Gobernador Gregores

Featuring a garden and free WiFi, Hotel Parador Ruta 40 is located in Gobernador Gregores. The property has a shared lounge, a 24-hour front desk and currency exchange for guests. New clean and tidy. Friendly staff

Hotel Centro SMANDES

Hotel Centro SMANDES is located in San Martín de los Andes, within a 18-minute walk of Playa San Martin and 26 miles of Junin de los Andes Bus Station. The hotel, staff and parking are excellent. Amazingly well run hotel.

Amancay, hostal patagonico

Located in El Calafate, within 3.1 miles of Argentinean Lake and a 16-minute walk of El Calafate Regional Museum, Amancay, hostal patagonico has accommodations with a garden and free WiFi throughout... The service by all the staff members was beyond excellent, especially Maximo.

Cabañas Años Verdes

Hotel in Sarmiento

Located in Sarmiento, Cabañas Años Verdes has a garden. This 3-star hotel offers a 24-hour front desk, a concierge service and free WiFi. big spacious cabin, friendly owner and great for a stop over when exploring route 40, we stayed...

Hotel Crismalu

Hotel Crismalu is located in San Martín de los Andes, a 17-minute walk from Playa San Martin and 26 miles from Junin de los Andes Bus Station. The room was lovely, clean, nice staff, the town in beautiful

Hostel El Paredon

Located in El Chalten, Hostel El Paredon features a garden, a shared lounge and barbecue facilities. We came here after hiking to Mt Fitz Roy and needed a break from tents and body odor.

HOSTERIA AKINO

Located 10 miles from La Hoya, HOSTERIA AKINO offers 3-star accommodations in Esquel and features a garden, a restaurant and a bar. All guest rooms in the hotel are equipped with a flat-screen TV.

FAQs about hotels in Patagonia

What are the best hotels to stay at in patagonia.

hosteria las cachi alojamiento , Ushuaia Lodge Las Margaritas 430 , and Casona Del Alto are some of the popular hotels in Patagonia.

In addition, Peninsula Petit , Calfuco Wine Hotel & Spa , and Charming Luxury Lodge & Private Spa are also popular in Patagonia.

How many hotels in Patagonia are listed on Booking.com?

There are 4,389 hotels in Patagonia you can book on Booking.com.

What hotels in Patagonia offer great breakfasts?

Hotels in Patagonia that offer highly-rated breakfasts include Casona Del Alto , Lirolay apartments , and Los Cauquenes Resort + Spa + Experiences .

Breakfast at these hotels in Patagonia are also highly-rated: Antuquelen , Calfuco Wine Hotel & Spa , and hosteria las cachi alojamiento .

Which hotels in Patagonia are good for families?

Many families visiting Patagonia loved staying at Estancia Quillen Lodge - Hosteria , La Posta de los Toldos , and HOTEL LE CHARME con parking .

hosteria las cachi alojamiento , Hermoso Eco Lodge , and Peninsula Petit are also popular among family travelers.

What are the best cities to stay at in Patagonia?

San Carlos de Bariloche , El Calafate , and Ushuaia are popular with other travelers visiting Patagonia.

What are some popular places to stay in and around Patagonia?

Popular places to stay in Patagonia include hotels near Llao Llao, Termas de Copahue, and Port Blest.

How much is a hotel in Patagonia for this weekend?

The average price per night for a 3-star hotel in Patagonia this weekend is $925 or $128 for a 4-star hotel. Looking for something even fancier? 5-star hotels in Patagonia this weekend cost around $272 per night (based on Booking.com prices).

What are the best hotels in Patagonia near Llao Llao?

Some of the best hotels in Patagonia near Llao Llao include Cabaña de Montaña , Hosteria Katy , and Llao Llao Resort, Golf-Spa .

How much is a hotel in Patagonia for tonight?

On average, it costs $929 per night to book a 3-star hotel in Patagonia for tonight. You'll pay around $128 on average if you stay at a 4-star hotel tonight, while a 5-star hotel in Patagonia will cost around $290 (based on Booking.com prices).

What is the best neighborhood to stay at in Patagonia?

Lago Gutierrez , Llao Llao , and Cerro Catedral are popular with other travelers visiting Patagonia.

How much does it cost to stay at a hotel in Patagonia?

On average, 3-star hotels in Patagonia cost $94 per night, and 4-star hotels in Patagonia are $185 per night. If you're looking for something really special, 5-star hotels in Patagonia cost around $341 per night (based on Booking.com prices).

What hotels in Patagonia have nice views?

Hermoso Eco Lodge , Peninsula Petit , and Hotel Puerto Blest in Patagonia have received great reviews for the views from their hotel rooms.

Guests staying in Patagonia also loved the views from their rooms at Linaje Hotel Boutique & Relax , Hostería Isla Victoria Lodge , and Lirolay apartments .

What hotels in Patagonia are good for couples?

Couples traveling to Patagonia loved staying at Rotui Cabaña Exclusiva La Juanita , Hostería Isla Victoria Lodge , and Hermoso Eco Lodge .

These hotels in Patagonia are also highly-rated by couples: Casas Noviembre , Estancia Quillen Lodge - Hosteria , and hosteria las cachi alojamiento .

Planning a trip? Get inspired by reviews of cities in Patagonia

It's not a large city as compared to my experience back....

It's not a large city as compared to my experience back home. But to Patagonia and the Magallenes cities and towns I have seen, El Calafate offers quiet streets. Plenty of sports oriented shopping and food stores. I enjoyed the craft kiosks. Speaking to people in the restraunts and bakeries gave me a sense of a citizenship working and content with tourists in there city.

El Chalten is a really small town with just a few...

El Chalten is a really small town with just a few restaurants and shops, but enchanting nonetheless. Great place for trekking and hiking in Patagonia. Awesome views!

Comfortable small town entirely focused on the impressive...

Comfortable small town entirely focused on the impressive national park "Los Glaciares" with its awesome views, easy to supremely challenging hikes, and mountaineering/rock climbing. It's windy. It's Patagonia! It blows hard every day. There are a few sheltered areas, but bring plenty of wind protection and warm clothes even in summer. Plan well ahead and be prepared to spend plenty for glacier and boat trips. Access to the backcountry is almost always a drive. Restaurants: many, good, not as expensive as El Calafate. Lunch at La Cervecería (the beer garden next to Muuucho Amor) was outstanding, as was dinner at Fuegia Bistro which is two doors away.

El Chaten is the hiking capital of Argentina Patagonia...

El Chaten is the hiking capital of Argentina Patagonia region. It is a small town with many affordable bakeries and restaurants. It is useful to have a car to access trail heads so you conserve energy for actual scenic trails. Best easy hikes with the most wonderful views are mirador laguna torre, Mirador condores with 360 panoramic views, followed by Mirador Fitz Roy and laguna capri. Salto chorillo is a walk to waterfall but is v. crowded with selfie crazy folks. La hoy de hoy is a great bakery with many types of tarts as well as good empanadas. Che emapandas has the best selection and tastiest empanadas. Patagonicus has the best pizza in town or anywhere in Argentina.

El Calafate is great little town to visit if you want to see...

El Calafate is great little town to visit if you want to see Argentina's glassiers. It is the town that host the National Glassier Park. If you want to see something amazing , you need to go to La Patagonia.

The town which is in a little valley looks as if it was...

The town which is in a little valley looks as if it was constructed overnight. Some of the hostels feel that way as well. There are a few really great solidly constructed ones though. There's plenty of restaurants and yummy food after your day of hiking, a few bars.. You're not there for the town though you're there for the scenery. Don't miss El Chalten if you're traveling through Patagonia!

Great town-quaint with many great places to eat/shop,...

Great town-quaint with many great places to eat/shop, etc. Perfect to go to Perito Mareno!!!!!!!!!!!! Flamingos, Glacierium with Ice Bar and more. We also rented a car and went to El Chalten for 3 nights for Mt. Fitzroy-so glad we did. also took bus to Chile from there-good spot in Patagonia!

It is a great town fir all kinds beds of outdoor adventures...

It is a great town fir all kinds beds of outdoor adventures from mini trekking to kyaking (if you can afford it). It is an expensive town including hotels and restaurants so be prepared. The loose dogs in the streets, although sweet, are heart breaking. This was my second trip, last n more appropriate 2003, and it was much cheaper then even though there had been a devaluation if the Argentinian peso in 2001. I found the restaurant staff a hit and miss. At the Luchuza a well known pizza place our waitress would have been more appropriately located in New York. You don't expect they in a tiny temote town in Patagonia. Also thryvhdvdvit srtbup where you have to buy excursions if you want to do anything like mini trekking etc. it's not allowed to go on your own even if you're experienced. I guess that's how you make money and stick it to tourists. Lastly the your company who died the Big Ice adventure that spends 3 ½ hours on the ice versus the 1 ½ of the mini trekking, arbitrary cuts age at 50. Really? Many half that age can't do it. Why not carefully make the process more sensible by assessment by fitness and health through a questionnaire or even medical proof if needed. As an avid outdoors person who hones the Grand Canyon, I found this truly backward and biased way to do business. And it's fescrikibayory and unthoughtful.

Enjoyed the downtown area, the bird sanctuary and the...

Enjoyed the downtown area, the bird sanctuary and the walkability of the city. Close to an airport which made the beautiful mountains in Patagonia more accessible.

Very nice city, clean and organized, excellent to spend some...

Very nice city, clean and organized, excellent to spend some days and do some trips to other locations in the nearby. Patagonia is amazing. Local food is excelent, specially the BBQ, as well there are some international options. Go to a brewery during the night is a very good idea to try the different craft beers.

Explore guest reviews of hotels in Patagonia

Los cauquenes resort + spa + experiences.

After five weeks of travelling through all of Chilean Patagonia and the better parts of Argentinian Patagonia - El Calafate and El Chalten - spending a night here and a couple of nights there, it was time for a long rest at a resort/spa hotel in Ushuaia. Five nights in a Patagonia Suite was the ultimate in comfort. The restaurant food of a very high standard and the Pisco Sours best drunk sitting down. All the staff were very welcoming and extremely efficient. The hotel service into downtown Ushuaia ran many times each day.

Hostería Suiza - Ex Casita Suiza

Staff was very helpful and everyone was friendly. The restaurant food was delicious and I think the fastest service we’ve had across Argentina. We ended up staying longer in Bariloche and we were glad we moved to this property. Supermarket right across the st. Walking distance to the main st. stores, restaurants, desserts, and money changer most importantly bus stops Also the shower was amazing best one we’ve had around patagonia and breakfast was pretty good. Hoping for some eggs but its seems its not a thing in Argentina.

Calafate Hostel

Loved everything!! The hostel were able to arrange excursions for me at a very good price, as well as a shuttle to/from the airport. The room itself was spacious, warm (underfloor heating particularly appreciated during the Patagonian winter!) and the shower was instantly hot and insanely powerful. The daily housekeeping was also a nice surprise. Extremely quiet while also very close to the main street, with a range of restaurants and shops nearby. A basic breakfast was included, with extras being very reasonably priced.

Somewhere in between a hotel and a hostel. Lots of services, including laundry (they do it for you), a tour company (Patagonia Backpackers), and packed lunch (for a cost). Nice building. Good sized bedrooms and comfortable bed. Very nice staff. Free luggage storage (not locked) and ample common space in the breakfast area for hanging out. Location was nice: on the Main Street of the city but a couple minutes’ walk from the main sites which let it be quieter. It’s also an easy walk to the bus station in El Calafate.

Guanaca Lodge

Wonderful hosts with a common area to hang out in. The rooms must be recently renovated, lots of modern touches such as USB plugs in the outlets. The outside of the hostel is very unassuming but pleasantly surprised by the rooms. Breakfast tends to be very basic throughout Patagonia, but of all the breakfasts at different Patagonian towns we had, this was by far the best. Bathrooms are very nice, hot water and good water pressure. Walking distance to everything in town. Far exceeded my expectations.

Patagonia Oeste

Patagonia Oeste is a very well located apartment in Bariloche, it has a great view of the lake and mountainsq, a very goo size, 2 double beds and a small kitchen good enough to make your breakfast. Mariano is the host who will get in contact to deliver the keys, always very much gentile provided many tips about the city, sightseeing, snow/winter clothes rental and places to eat. The apartment is very clean in the heart of Bariloche where you can do everything in a walking distance.

Hotel Turismo

Hotel in San Martín de los Andes

The location is great and the staff members were very kind, friendly and helpful, specially Sofia. The hotel is very close to everything in S. Martin. It is all decorated with a patagonian style and they have a very charming common living room with a fire place. The room was basic but it had ll we needed and was clean. Breakfast was delicious! We would definately go back and can only recommend it.

Del Nomade Hosteria Ecologica

Puerto Pirámides

Simple but clean, fair rooms, very helpful staff who did an excellent of organising transfers and all the activities. If you are willing to accept that in a village of 600 people in Patagonia you get something different from a big hotel in a big city, you will love the place and the staff. Puerto Piramides is the best whale watching location. Go in September-October, it's the best time!

Hosteria Roblesur

This cute little hotel was a peaceful, comfortable spot for us to spend our last night in Patagonia. The staff were so friendly and accommodating and made us feel right at home. We stayed in the suite and especially loved the big bed with high-end bedding and the jacuzzi tub. The value couldn't have been better. We were very happy with what we received for the price we paid.

Ushuaia aparts

Our host Gustavo was so kind, providing suggestions for restaurants and transportation around the area and even providing us a ride to the airport when we departed. The apartment was spotless and spacious and was stocked with everything we needed. We especially appreciate the in-unit washer and heaters which kept the space very cozy despite the Patagonia weather.

Hostel Los Cormoranes

I loved the view from the private double room! Wow that was spectacular. Hugo, Gustavo and the ladies had great humour and helped us so much with anything needed. The community kitchen is a great place to make friends, learn languages, share food and learn about Patagonia. The hostel is also right next to the D bus line if you have a Sube download iBondi :)

Rancho Grande Hostel

I’m not sure why this hostel/hotel has this rating cause I’d definitely give it a 9.5 out of 10! We stayed in a private room and it was great: warm, clean, all the toiletries provided. The breakfast was the best we’ve had so far in Patagonia! The receptionists at the check in are very helpful and friendly. Gracias Valentin por todos!

Aparts Calafate Suites

We liked everything. When we return to Patagonia next year we will stay here again. Our apartment was spacious, clean, warm and well fitted. The manager was also very prompt in responding to any questions we had. An excellent stay all round, best so far in the region, only a 10 minute walk from the main street. 100% recommended.

Hosteria Los Hielos

Everything was perfect, from our warm reception till the end. The personnel are very experienced and very friendly. They will assist you in any need. The take away lunch they prepared for our trip was a 10+. The location might not be centric but it guarantee you a total Patagonian ranch feeling, very relaxing and cozy.

3 bed apartment with loads of room. Very comfortable. Santiago met us at the apartment and was very good even though our Spanish is very poor. Perfect for anyone adventuring Patagonia. 45 min walk to the bus terminal which wasn't ideal but otherwise perfect. We could even see the sunset from the bedroom.

Patagonia Jazz Hostel

I stayed 3 nights at Patagonia Jazz Hostel and I enjoyed my stay. A huge plus is the breakfast which offers a variety of also healthy food. They make homemade bread each evening which is served - absolutely incredible. The atmosphere is great, the staff is friendly and my laundry was done perfectly.

Red House Hostel

An amazing stay at this very high spec hostel. We had a private room and it basically felt like a hotel. Cecelia on the front desk was so friendly, and helped arrange our taxi to the airport. The WiFi was also the best we had during our entire trip across Patagonia! Would definitely come back here!

Hermoso Eco Lodge

This place is absolutely magical. In the middle of the patagonian forest, you will feel as close to nature as if you were camping but with the luxury and comfort of a well design hotel. Beds were dreamy, food delicious and you have access to Lago Hermoso and many water sports to enjoy.

Land Express Neuquén

Hotel in Neuquén

Not in the town centre, but very conveniently located for me (I was passing through Neuquén on way home from Patagonia). Decent breakfast, large room, good parking, friendly staff. It's not going to win awards, but I'd definitely stay here again in the same circumstances.

Hostel Familia de Campo

The building didn't shake with the Patagonia wind and the rooms were warm, shower pressure solid, and there was ample seating and tables in the common areas. The staff wasn't super friendly but also wasn't not friendly. Location was solid though!

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