Patagonia is a plateau that spreads almost over the whole southern sections of Argentina’s land. With a surface area of around 673 thousand km2, Patagonia consists of vast desserts and steppes. The name Patagonia originates from the word “Patagones”, which the Spanish used to denote the Teheuelche Indians, who were the first settlers of the area. The Patagonian plateau is covered in dessert spanning from the Andes to the Atlantic coast. There are also vast steppes that reach the foot of the Andes. The coast is mostly covered in tall cliffs that are separated from the water by a patch of dry land. The shoreline is mostly made out of layers of sediment stone made as a consequence of the flow of lava. The hills of Patagonia are made out of very resistant crystal rocks that “stand out” from the plateau.
The long, narrow strip of Patagonia’s western border supports vegetation such as what can be found in deciduous and coniferous forests. The vast tableland region is divided into northern and southern zones, each of which has its own characteristic vegetation.
The Valdés Peninsula, located on the Atlantic coast of Patagonia, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999. Its waters are home to numerous marine mammals such aswhales, seals and sea lions.
It is important to note that visits to Patagonia should be planned in advance, as the tour of the whole area can take between 10 days and 2 weeks. It is impossible to witness all the beauty of the area in just a few days.
It is important to mention that you can organize tour trip to Patagonia on you own. Local airline companies offer transport between Buenos Aires and Patagonia, with the flight lasting only a few hours. You can also go by car or by contacting an Argentine tourist agency. Bear in mind that Argentine tourist agencies offer transport by bus which pays off, as you will also have a guide on-board to tell you what you must see.
Lodging is easily accessible in Patagonia, so you can book it in advance, or find a place to stay when you get there. The cuisine of the area mostly consists of veil, but you can find something to fit your taste in one of the many restaurants there. But make sure you try the local veil.
Tourism is mostly developed in the northern sections of Argentine and Chilean Patagonia. This section boasts many lakes and two major national parks – Los Graciares in Argentina, and Torres del Paine in Chile. The remaining parts of Patagonia are mostly covered in pastures, bays, canals and islands, depending on whether you are in the Argentine or The Chilean section of the area.
Argentine Patagonia is mostly defined as the area south of the Rio Negro, that reaches the sea near the city of Viedma. The tour of the Atlantic coast of Patagonia is fairly simple: the Ruta Nacional 3 highway takes you from Buenos Aires to Rio Gallegos, where you board a ferry over the Strait of Magellan to Tierra del Fuego.
Patagonia’s coast
The best spot for whale-watching is Puerto Piramides on the Valdes Peninsula, where you can take a boat ride to be even closer to the whales. You can also witness seals and sea lions all year round at this spot.
South of Madrino, on Punta Tombo, there are 200 thousand pairs of Magellanic penguins, the largest penguin colony on earth, which spend the season between September and March in this area.
In Puerto Deseado, you can see leaping penguins and dolphins. The center of the south of Patagonia is Puerto San Julian, where Ferdinand Magellan first landed in South America, establishing contact with the indigenous people.
Andean Patagonia
The most densely populated and most developed region of Andean Patagonia is the lake district of the Rio Negro and Neuken provinces. This area is particularly suitable for adventurists, as it is ideal for tenting, fishing, particularly of salmonids, horse riding and bicycle riding.
A bus will take you through a beautiful route that takes you along seven lakes surrounded by the Andes, endless forests, while the winding road makes everything even more scenic. The 100-kilometer trip is a truly special experience. Places where you can rest and camp at include San Martin de los Andes, Junin de los Andes and La Angostura.
If you like mountaineering and bike riding, you can rent a bicycle and see the local scenery in a town called Bariloche. We highly recommend taking a tour with a guide along the mountains, it is a truly unique experience. This sort of tour will ensure that you will see all the best spots and know all the rest places along the mountain tracks. These tours will also enable you to visit the Chilean portion of Patagonia.
South of Bariloche, you will be able to visit several pleasant towns such as El Bolsón or the Los Alerces National Park which has one of the most beautiful camping sites in all of Patagonia, especially those along the Kruger and Rivadavia Lakes. The entrance fee for the national park is 80 ARS, and it offers you multiple mountaineering tracks.
In addition to this, make sure you visit the Leleque Museum, which displays tens of thousands of items and tools used by the first settlers of the area.
Central Patagonia
This part of Patagonia boasts several inhabited towns such as Rio Mayo, Bajo Caracoles and Los Antiguos. The main attraction is the Cuevo de las Manos, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site. In 1972, 9000-year old handprints were discovered in this cave, as well as other cave paintings painted by ancient peoples. It is incredible that you will be able to see paintings made over 9000 years ago, and the scenery around the cave makes the experience all the more marvelous. The entrance fee for the cave costs €7.
If you continue travelling south, you will reach the Los Glaciares National Park. You should try and visit this spot, as it is one of the most visited places in Patagonia. This vast area is protected by massive glaciers, containing the massive Fitz Roy Mountain, as well as the large turquoise Lago Argentino Lake to the south.
Many visitors come to the area to see the glacial Lake Perito Moreno. Ice spreads over this area until warm waters don’t start flowing beneath it, subsequently causing a tsunami-like implosion on the lake’s surface.
The scenery is wonderful, but bear in mind that the walk will not be easy, as the Fitz Roy Mountain is 3500 meters tall. Walking along the ice of the mountain is truly a unique experience.
Horse riding is available all over Patagonia, but true seekers of adventure will mostly enjoy doing so in the Puelo valley between Cochomóa in Chile and Lago Puelo in Argentina. The low passage through the Andes is also used by many avid mountaineers during the summer.
The transitions from Argentine to Chilean Patagonia is not clearly marked, but you will usually not go through the area without a guide or, at least, a map.
The central point of Chilean Patagonia is the Torres del Paine National Park. The 130-kilometer tour of the park is very popular, but you can also go along a shorter route if you are short of time. The area boasts many camping sites and several hotels. The nature there is absolutely stunning, with many animals that live exclusively in this area.
Visitors should bear in mind that Patagonia is a vast area, as well as that the Argentine section doesn’t offer the same opportunities as the Chilean one.
All tourist agencies, even those in Patagonia, offer visits to both parts of Patagonia, so you will be able to see it all. If you only want to see the main attractions of Patagonia, you will need between 10 days and two weeks. The experience of seeing Patagonia is truly unique and you will definitely not see anything like it anywhere in the world.
photo credit: Thayran Melo
