Encompassing the southern end of South America, shared by Chile and Argentina is the sparsely populated Patagonia region. Comprising the southern section of the Andes Mountains and almost half of Chile and a third of Argentina, one word that describes Patagonia is HUGE! It’s an adventure playground on a giant scale!
From mountains to deserts, grasslands and glaciers, Patagonia is heaven for landscape photographers and outdoor enthusiasts. However, being so large in size, deciding on what area to tackle first can be hard. If you want to make the most out of your adventure, hike some good trails and photograph some amazing landscapes, these are our top picks:
Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
If you’ve ever seen a picture of Patagonia’s dramatic mountainous landscape, chances are it was taken at Torres del Paine. The famous Chilean national park gets its name for its razor-like peaks that form the Cordillera Paine. While the keen hiker can complete the W Circuit, a 5-7 day trek, there are smaller, day hikes to the famous peaks that can’t be missed!
Fitz Roy, Argentina-Chile Border
For a real wanderlust-inducing image, you need to capture the famous Monte Fitz Roy from Argentina’s longest road, Ruta 40. About 1.5km out of El Chalten, you’ll be welcomed by the sight of Fitz Roy (the tallest mountain in the middle), the Cerro Torre and the mountains that surround – you’ll be catching views of the mountains from all directions!
Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
Make sure you pack your wide-angle lens as you head to one of Southern Patagonia’s most popular destinations (and for good reason!); the Perito Moreno Glacier. The 250 square-kilometre glacier is one of the rare glaciers today that is actually expanding and is well known for its rupturing phenomenon. If you stick around long enough, you’ll likely see chunks of ice breaking off into the water!
Cerro Torre, Argentina-Chile Border
Just west of Fitz Roy is the stunning Cerro Torre mountain peak, which is characterised by the towering rock formations. The location of Cerro Torre is disputed, as both Argentina and Chile claim that the land is theirs! Similar to the trek to Fitz Roy, you can get to Cerro Torre by hiking from the small town of El Chalten.
Condor Lookout, Chile
This lookout just above El Chalten is the perfect spot to watch the sunrise over Monte Fitz Roy. Just a short 15-minute walk from the ranger station, the walk is much easier for an early-morning start – just don’t forget to pack your headlamp!
Of course, this is just a small sampler of the amazing sights in Patagonia – given the time, there is a lot to be explored in this region! If you’re interested in a journey to the ‘end of the world’, check out our tours here.
