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Patagonia

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Perito Moreno glacier at sunset.

Matt Munro

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Overview

On South America’s southern frontier, nature grows wild, barren and beautiful. Spaces are large, as are the silences that fill them. For the newly arrived, such emptiness can be as impressive as the sight of Patagonia’s jagged peaks, pristine rivers and dusty backwater oases. In its enormous scale, Patagonia offers a wealth of potential experiences and landscapes.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • Glaciarium

    Glaciarium

    El Calafate

    Unique and exciting, this gorgeous museum illuminates the world of ice. Displays and bilingual films show how glaciers form, along with documentaries on…

  • EcoCentro

    EcoCentro

    Puerto Madryn

    Celebrating the area’s unique marine ecosystem, this masterpiece brings an artistic sensitivity to extensive scientific research. There are exhibits on…

  • Museo Oceanográfico y de Ciencias Naturales

    Museo Oceanográfico y de Ciencias Naturales

    Puerto Madryn

    Feeling strands of seaweed and ogling a preserved octopus gives a hands-on museum experience here. The 1917 Chalet Pujol features marine-and-land mammal…

  • Reserva Natural Laguna Nimez

    Reserva Natural Laguna Nimez

    El Calafate

    Reserva Natural Laguna Nimez is a prime avian habitat alongside the lakeshore north of El Calafate, with a self-guided trail and staffed Casa Verde…

  • Reserva Faunística Punta Loma

    Reserva Faunística Punta Loma

    Puerto Madryn

    Home to a permanent sea-lion colony and cormorant rookery, the Reserva Faunística Punta Loma is 17km southeast of Puerto Madryn via a good but winding…

  • Observatorio Punta Flecha

    Observatorio Punta Flecha

    Puerto Madryn

    Run by Fundación Patagonia Natural, this whale-watching observatory sits 17km north of Puerto Madryn on Playa el Doradillo. It offers tourist information…

  • Centro de Interpretacíon Historico

    Centro de Interpretacíon Historico

    El Calafate

    Small but informative, with a skeleton mold of Austroraptor cabazai (found nearby) and Patagonian history displays. The friendly host invites museum-goers…

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Planning Tools

Expert guidance to help you plan your trip

Best Things to Do

From exploring the grasslands on horseback to hiking mountain trails to glaciers, here are the best experiences in Patagonia.

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Best Places to Visit

When a traveler used to luxury hotel rooms pushes past her comfort zone in Patagonia, it turns out good for the soul.

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Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit Patagonia depends on what you want to do. We've got everything you need to know to pick the perfect time for you.

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Transportation

Patagonia is vast, but luckily, there are plenty of different transport options. Here are our tips on getting around.

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Free Things to Do

Patagonia can be the most expensive place to visit in Chile and Argentina. But fear not! These are the best things to do for free (or almost free).

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Best Road Trips

From remote scrubland to towering glaciers, a road trip will bring you to every corner of Patagonia like nothing else. Here are 8 of the best.

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