How we spent two weeks in Patagonia
We spent two weeks in Patagonia from the middle to end of March, which is considered the end of the high season and the start of the shoulder season. We split our time between Puerto Natales, which was our base for the W circuit trek in Torres del Paine national park, El Calafate, and El Chalten.
Where is Patagonia?
Patagonia is a huge but very sparsely populated area located at the southern tip of South America. The region covers both Chile and Argentina, with the Andes Mountains to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Patagonia is over 400,000 square miles and is known for its beautiful landscapes of glaciers, mountains, and lakes as well as arid desert areas.
How to get to Patagonia
How you get to Patagonia depends on your starting point. For us, that was Puerto Natales and Parque Nacional Torres del Paine, so we flew from London to Santiago and then to Puerto Natales on a domestic flight from Santiago.
If you’re starting on the Argentinian side, you may prefer to fly into Buenos Aires so you can get a domestic flight to one of the Argentinian Patagonian airports.
Once you’re in Patagonia, you can travel between towns and areas by bus, car, or plane. But note that many flights are domestic which can make it harder to cross the Argentinian and Chilean borders by air.
Is Patagonia cheap?
In a word, no. Patagonia is not cheap. It costs a lot to get there as you’ll have to fly and quite often connect through major airports first. Accommodation on hikes like the W circuit is not cheap, and once you’re in the towns, food and drink isn’t that cheap either. Add to that the cost of equipment and anything you might need to rent, and it’s an expensive trip. But it’s a trip of a lifetime and well worth the investment.
For reference, the 5-day W circuit trek with three nights in dorms, one night in a premium tent, and with three meals and transport in and out of the park included cost us about £1,000 per person in March 2026. That doesn’t include flights, renting gear in Puerto Natales, or accommodation in the area before and after the hike.
What is the best time of year to go to Patagonia?
The seasons in Argentina and Chile are basically switched from the UK, as Patagonia is in the southern hemisphere. This means that what we consider to be summer months are cold and snowy in Patagonia, and many of the national parks and hiking routes are closed to tourists.
The most popular time to visit is December to February, but many people also come in the shoulder seasons of November, March, and April.
What is the weather like in Patagonia?
The weather in Patagonia is extreme, unpredictable, and fast-changing.
We visited in March and were very lucky with the weather in Torres del Paine. We got a bit of snow at Base Torres at sunrise, some rain overnight one night, and some short bursts of strong winds. But otherwise the weather was mild.
We were equally lucky in El Calafate where the sun was shining, despite some strong winds. But things changed in El Chalten. We arrived to glorious sunshine, but the next day was torrential rain, cloud cover, and wind.
For this reason, it’s best to plan in some extra days in each place. If we hadn’t planned a four-day stay in El Chalten, we would have only had a chance to do one short hike on the day we arrived.
As a result, you should also pack for pretty much any weather. Experiencing four seasons in one day, often at the same time, is common here!
Find out more about what to pack for two weeks in Patagonia here.
Where to stay in Patagonia
If you’re doing long treks in Patagonia the chances are you will end up camping or staying in dorms at refugios, like those in Parque Nacional Torres del Paine. But between hikes, it’s best to have a base in some of the small towns around the national parks. We stayed in:
Puerto Natales (find out more)
El Calafate (find out more)
El Chalten (find out more)
Find out more about the route we took and where we stayed on the W trek here.
Do I need travel vaccines to go to Patagonia?
It’s advised to be up-to-date on all routine travel vaccines such as MMR, tetanus, diphtheria, and polio before going to Patagonia. You should also get standard travel vaccines for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and Typhoid though they are not essential. Rabies vaccines are also advised in rural areas, but also not essential. Note that in the towns in Patagonia there are a lot of stray dogs and cats so the rabies vaccine is worth it for peace of mind!
What are the best things to do in Patagonia?
Patagonia is a huge region and while it’s sparsely populated, there is a lot to do and a lot to see. The main activity is hiking in the national parks. These are some of the most popular things to do in Patagonia:
The W hike, Torres del Paine National Park (Chile)
El Calafate and the Perito Moreno glacier (Argentina)
El Chalten hiking routes (Argentina)
Ushuaia (Argentina)
Bariloche (Argentina)
Should I go to Patagonia?
Yes! It might take some saving and some serious planning (Torreshike.com saved us here!) but it is definitely worth going to Patagonia. You don’t have to do anything major, like the five-day trek, if that’s not your thing. You can take day trips to the main trails and still get a full feel for this amazing place.
A holiday to Patagonia is a truly unforgettable, unbeatable experience that you will remember and talk about forever. Just consider what time of year you’d like to visit, where you’d like to go, and how you will travel between each place, and never underestimate the weather!
What to pack for two weeks in Patagonia
It’s obvious that you will need clothing that is appropriate for hiking if you’re going to Patagonia. But you should also pack some casual clothes for the time spent in towns.
Here is a short summary of what I packed for my trip to Patagonia, not including the items we hired one we were there:
A waterproof shell coat
A fleece jacket
2 pairs of leggings
A pair of casual trousers
A casual jumper
Three thermal long-sleeve tops
Two T-shirts
Two vest tops
Three sports bras
One pair of socks per day
One warm pair of socks for nights
A long sleeved top for nights
A pair of trousers to sleep in
A wool hat
A cap
A pair of gloves
A neck warmer/buff
Sunglasses
Hiking shoes
Trainers
A day pack
Water bottle
Battery packs and adapters
Daily toiletries and SPF
You can find my full packing list for two weeks in Patagonia here.