Adventure Tour across Patagonia

Whether in Argentine Chile, the Patagonian landscapes seem to compete as regards beauty. Fortunately, some tours cross the border. Thus, we can appreciate the contrasts between the lush Valdivian rainforest and the vast lands of the pampas, going southwards- between Chilean national parks such as the Queulat and Torres del Paine and Argentinian protected areas such as Perito Moreno and Los Glaciares.

An interesting option to travel through these places is a 14-day expedition on comfortable, fully-equipped 4WD vehicles. The departure point is the City of Puerto Montt, heading towards Chiloé Island.

Making some stops at villages that show the richness of their history and culture, the tour goes southwards along the West coast up to Quinchao Island, well-known for its handicrafts.

Then, the tour continues by ferry through the channels up to Chaitén. There, we continue along the Southern Highway towards Queulat National Park. Once the native flora and fauna have been appreciated, the idea is to make a stop at the Puyuhuapi hot springs to enjoy a bath and get our energy back.

This interesting journey continues towards Lake General Carrera, the largest South American water mirror, which crosses the border into Argentina, where it is called Lake Buenos Aires.

The Argentinian Side

The Puerto Ibáñez international pass allows us to continue this expedition on mythic Route 40 towards the Perito Moreno National Park, which is not the reserve of the famous glacier but it has incredible mountains that form an impressive natural amphitheater, besides giving shelter to many species of Patagonian wildlife.

Route 40 also leads to the City of El Calafate, where Los Glaciares National Park is located. This place is characterized by the presence of the Perito Moreno Glacier.

The tour returns to Chilean territory through the Torres del Paine National Park, where the Paine Massifs may be seen, carved millions of years ago by the last glaciation. Taking a walk through the reserve, the lenga forests and typically Patagonian animals, such as guanacos, foxes, and huemules, may be observed along with birds, rheas, and condors. Another attraction to visit in the Southern region is the Mylodon Cave, a prehistoric animal that became extinct millions of years ago.

This adventure ends at Punta Arenas, the southernmost city in Chile, which displays all its historical richness and its importance in the Magallanes Region.

• Type of tour: 4x4 tour.
• Duration: 14 days.
• Difficulty: medium.

Tips

See the schedule for the 14-day expedition, since there are limited vacancies. The tour includes transportation, meals and tickets to the parks, as well as accommodation in nearby townscamps along the way.