What's the best route to experience Patagonia?

[Erik_G]

Originally Posted by maomao

Thanks everybody for the incredible info! Do you think it is worth bringing a tent for camping? I've done camping on a previous long term bike trip in Africa so I wouldn't mind it at all. Though i'm not sure if it would be too windy during this time of the year in the Patagonia.

Absolutely yes. If you like camping.
I Used my tent from that I passed Osorno in Chlle on the way south.
Until I came to north of Argentina.
=
I did not go all the way to Ushuaia, over the open and windy area.
But if some places does not fit camping, rent a room.

Carretera Austral area is green and with mountatins. Nice area for camping.


Edit:
During peak season regarding Carretera Austral = Jan-Feb. Hotels fills up. Than it is ggod to have a tent.
It isnot so easy to book far in advance at a MC trip. Where you may be dealyed by weather or...

Camping in Argentina is very common. Families/groups to to the camping sites over the weekands. To do BBQ.

Picture one: From camping outside Villa Cerro Castillo. Along Carretera Austral, Can it be better ? Preparing you morning coffee with that view

Picture two: Watching World Cup in football. Together with Argentinians on a camping site. Would never happen in a hotel.

[jamwil]

Some great info in this thread. Thanks Erik and Steve!

[Plodding]

Thanks to all the contributors to this thread. I'm in Mendoza right now and will be heading south to Bariloche after Christmas and then the Carretera Austral. This info is really useful.

[mojos]

A route I would recommend for southern Pagagonia which is a circular trip. Start from from Puerto Mont, the start of the Austral, (routa 7) to O Higgins. A large part of the Austral is now paved and is slowly being paved. Then retrace your steps to the ferry at Caleta Yungay (which you have to do).
From there take the magical ferry throught the islands and fjords to Puerta Natales. It takes about 48 hours. Meals and drinks are included in the price. Take snacks if you are a grazer. The whole trip is a stunningly beautiful journey which in some ways is better than the Austral for panoramic landscapes. I would recommend booking a seat on the ferry as there are no berths.
From Natales you can zip down to Ushuaia. Then you have options of either returning north via the carretera 40 or the coast road.
You can of course reverse the route or tweak it to suit yourself.

[matteoPL]

Hi friends, I am currently planning to go to Patagonia in next season. Now I see it is quite a logistics challenge. I need your advice. I would love to start at Puerto Montt and get a car rental there. Then my basic question is: Can we rent a car in Puerto Montt and drive all the way down to Ushuaia and then leave the car in Punta Arenas and there get an airplane to go back by flight?

By driving down I would have to visit both Chilean and Argentinas sides:

- Villarica
- Bariloche
- all the way down to El Chalten, El Calafate
- Ushuaia
- Punta Arenas => leave the car here

This is very basic question - literally everything depends on this. Otherwise it gets pretty tricky to transfer between places there. Do you know if it is the way others do it and Car Rentals offer such option?

[Flipflop]

Originally Posted by mojos

A route I would recommend for southern Pagagonia which is a circular trip. Start from from Puerto Mont, the start of the Austral, (routa 7) to O Higgins. A large part of the Austral is now paved and is slowly being paved. Then retrace your steps to the ferry at Caleta Yungay (which you have to do).
From there take the magical ferry throught the islands and fjords to Puerta Natales. It takes about 48 hours. Meals and drinks are included in the price. Take snacks if you are a grazer. The whole trip is a stunningly beautiful journey which in some ways is better than the Austral for panoramic landscapes. I would recommend booking a seat on the ferry as there are no berths.
From Natales you can zip down to Ushuaia. Then you have options of either returning north via the carretera 40 or the coast road.
You can of course reverse the route or tweak it to suit yourself.

I don’t think this ferry takes vehicles anymore - it didn’t 2 years ago.

[Surfy]

Damn, it’s hard to make route suggestions for that area—because you never really know what you might have missed.

Here's my map:


I haven’t seen any travel reports, videos, or reels that made me feel like I missed something essential in Patagonia. I flew to Ushuaia and booked off-road trips there, mainly to skip the section that is often described as “boring” and to save time.

I got lucky with some annual town festivals along Ruta 40, which I hadn’t planned for but were amazing experiences.

There’s also an adventure waiting at O’Higgins—even if you can’t cross:
https://vanlife.4x4tripping.com/2021...argentina.html

As for the Antarctic cruise—I didn’t do it yet. I plan to go in about 10 years with my wife and kids. It’s more of a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and not many solo travelers go there anyway.

My travel diary is still online, also if it is 10 years old: https://adventure-overland.blogspot.com/



I do still remember that taste of this king crab!

Did one of my best ever fotos down at ushuaia:



Not my skill, it is that beautiful!

Surfy