3 Patagonia tours to do before you die

Patagonia is one of the world’s most beautiful places. Straddling Chile and Argentina, its landforms are untouched and unspoiled. Its got stunning glaciers to mountains so the place is a nature photographer’s dream. That’s not even to mention the wildlife, of course. Penguins, whales and condors are just the tips of the iceberg if you’ll excuse the pun. Truly, Patagonia is a dream destination for holidaymakers. At Australis, we’ve been helping people organise unforgettable Patagonia tours for years. If you’re thinking of making the trip of a lifetime, here are three Patagonia tours you won’t want to miss.

3 unmissable Patagonia tours

It’s never too late to visit Patagonia. The region has something for every type of traveller, for nature lovers to risk takers and everything in between. We’ve been operating Patagonia tours successfully for many years, so here are our top three firm favourites, tried and tested.

1. Cape Horn and Cape Horn National Park

Cape Horn is truly one of the great Patagonia tours. Discovered in 1616 by Dutch sailors, the remote cape spans three oceans: the Pacific, the Atlanic and Southern oceans all collide here. That makes for a truly unique part of the world, so there’s plenty to see here for holidaymakers. The massive cliff face that makes up the cape is some 425 metres high, an absolutely breathtaking sight. The opportunity to watch wildlife here is exceptional, with whales a regular sight off the cape. Cape Horn National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the area is known as “the end of the world” for its extreme southerly location.

2. Hiking in Glacier National Park

Glacier National Park, or Los Glaciares National Park, is Argentina’s largest. Of all the Patagonia tours out there, this one is a must-do for hikers and climbers. The massive park covers some 7,296 square kilometres, so there’s plenty of ground to cover – and plenty of mountains to scale. Check out the El Chalten hiking trails, including some of Patagonia’s most iconic spots such as Mount Fitz Roy. Other must-visit hiking spots include Viedma Lake and Glacier as well as Perito Moreno Glacier.

3. A city break in Ushuaia

When you picture Patagonia in your mind’s eye, you probably thinking pristine lakes and icy glaciers. It’s easy to forget, but the region has some excellent cities, too. Ushuaia is very easily reachable by air, by sea and by land. Travelling from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia is an easy one, so visiting Ushuaia is one of the most accessible Patagonia tours. The city itself is beautiful, though be warned that the climate is unpredictable. The city has plenty of fantastic shopping opportunities, with local and authentic craft markets particularly popular.

If a city just doesn’t sound wild enough for you, don’t worry. Ushuaia is home to plenty of weird and wonderful wildlife, including red foxes, chinstrap penguins and southern sea lions, to mention just three. There’s a great museum, Museo del Fin del Mundo, and the Tierra del Fuego National Park is nearby.

For what it’s worth, there are other Patagonian cities well worth visiting. Once you’ve visited Ushuaia, next check our Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales!