Why You Should Vacation in Patagonia South America

Mystic mountains, waterfalls, glaciers, granite peaks, glacial lakes, unpredictable weather, iconic Perito Moreno glacier and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Torres del Paine National Park are some of the sights to see in Patagonia. It is a playground for adventure seekers, luxury travelers or families with kids looking for diversity in nature and activities.

Patagonia is located in the southern part of Argentina and Chile. Most visitors from the United States or anywhere in the world fly into Santiago Chile or Buenos Aires Argentina before taking another flight to Patagonia. The city of Punta Arenas Chile is the best gateway to start your Patagonia tour.

Punta Arenas is 3 hours 13 minutes flight from Santiago and 3 hours 20 minutes from Buenos Aires.

Here are five reasons why you should vacation in Patagonia South America:

One: Torres del Paine National Park
Torres del Paine National Park was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and is one of the most spectacular landscapes in the world. With an area of 180,000 hectares, Torres del Paine offers three massive granite towers, blue icebergs, glaciers, glacial lakes, valleys, waterfalls, wild animals like guanacos and foxes, Chilean flamingos and rhea and a diverse flora that includes shrub-steppe, grass-steppe and desert like plants and pine trees.

Torres del Paine is located between the Andes Mountains and the Patagonian Steppe in southern Chile. According to most TripAdvisor reviews, Torres del Paine’s 5 days/4 nights “W” trek and 9 days/8 nights “O” full loop trek are among the best in the world.

Two: 60,000 penguins at Isla Magdalena
Located two hours by boat through the Straits of Magellan from Punta Arenas is Magdalena Island. The island is not inhabited but every year from October to March, 60,000 Magellanic penguins live and breed on the island.

The Magellanic penguins return to Magdalena Island in September each year to nest and egg laying happens in October followed by a period of incubation for 40 days. The hatching period starts in November and by January and February the hatchlings grow. By March it is shedding period for adult penguins and time to leave the island.

Francis Drake, Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa, Ferninand Magellan and Charles Darwin once took this 20-mile route.

Three: Perito Moreno Glacier at Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina
Most travelers that start their Patagonia vacation in Chile take a full day trip to Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina from Puerto Natales. El Calafate, the nearest town to Los Glaciares National Park is 219 miles or 4 hours 35 minutes drive from Puerto Natales, Chile.

Los Glaciares National Park is another UNESCO World Heritage Site in Patagonia and the second largest National Park in Argentina. Perito Moreno Glacier is a natural marvel of the world with a height of 60 km, length of 30 km and width of 5 km. It is a glacier that continues to have a cyclical movement that forces the ice to break off constantly from the glacier.

Visitors can hear a symphony of cracking sounds including a thunderous noise of iceberg calves if they stay long enough at the same spot. This is when chunks of ice crack and break off from the huge glacier to the water.

Four: Luxury in Patagonia
For those seeking luxury amidst untouched landscapes with a magnificent view of the most photographed Paine Massif, Explora Patagonia Hotel Salto Chico is the place to be. This lodge has only 49 rooms in 3 hectare of land located by the banks of Salto Chico waterfall.

According to the lodge, it was designed to create a dialogue with its environment, putting human beings in touch with the sublimity of their surroundings. (Source: Explora)

Guests have a choice of rooms facing the mountain views or the waterfall with all excursions, food and drinks included in the tour package.

Five: 4 Days/3 Nights M/V Stella Australis Cruise from Ushuaia
If you have more than a week in Patagonia, a 4 days/3nights cruise from Ushuaia, Argentina, the world’s southernmost city may be the best way to see the unique fauna, flora and landscape of the islands around Patagonia. Join M/V Stella Australis Cruise for excursions to Cape Horn, Wulaia Bay, De Agostini Sound, Aguila Glacier and Magdalena Island.

Watch Antarctic seals, sea lions, penguins, glacial lakes, forest, wildlife and more. Buses are available from Punta Arenas Chile to Ushuaia Argentina. The distance between both cities is around 383 miles.

The natural beauty and uniqueness of Patagonia is unmatched and unspoiled. If you are considering a special vacation this year, take a look at Patagonia South America.

Some helpful sites:
Airfare comparison
Car Rental in South America

Important tip:
Americans, Canadians and Australians are required to pay reciprocity fees to enter Chile and Argentina. You must pay the reciprocity fee online for Argentina.

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