Patagonia
Top Treks in Patagonia
by Kathy Jarvis on
What Are the Top Treks in Patagonia? Discover the top treks in Patagonia, as picked by Andean Trails’ director, Kathy. She’s been exploring Patagonia’s vast wilderness for more than 25 years. Here are her top treks in Patagonia, surrounded by fabulous mountains, sparkling glaciers, and welcoming hosts. Top Treks in Patagonia: How to Choose? …
Perito Moreno Glacier Day Tour Options from El Calafate
by Tom Shearman on
Day Tour Options from El Calafate to Perito Moreno Glacier There are many Perito Moreno Glacier day tour options from El Calafate. Read through our suggestions to help you choose the best Perito Moreno trip for your travel style. We can include any of these trips as part of your Patagonia itinerary. In our guide …
Wildlife Guide to Peninsula Valdes
by Tom Shearman on
Wildlife Guide to Peninsula Valdes The wildlife guide to Peninsula Valdes will help you decide the best time to visit Argentina’s number one animal haven. Peninsula Valdes is a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to its role as a marine mammal and bird sanctuary. The peninsula offers some of the world’s best whale-watching opportunities. There’s …
Nibeko Aike Estancia, El Calafate, Argentina: Travel Review
by Tom Shearman on
Nibeko Aike offers a genuine Estancia stay near El Calafate. Patagonia is synonymous not only with incredible landscapes and high winds but also with the Estancia and Gaucho cultures. Here, a hundred years ago, people started a new life working the land, including at Estancia Nibeko Aike. Now, visitors can live the Estancia experience with …
Self-Guided Paine W Trek, Torres Del Paine National Park
by Tom Shearman on
Chile’s Paine W is on many trekkers’ lists. Patagonia is a trekker’s paradise, Kat headed off on a self-guided hike along the famous Paine W trek to find out where its appeal lies. She came back with everything you’ll need to know about hiking the Paine W. Getting to Torres del Paine …
A Guide to Spotting the Aurora Australis (Southern Lights)
by Tom Shearman on
Seeing the night sky dancing during an aurora is on rightly many people’s bucket lists. Watching solar activity painting the Earth’s atmosphere shades of purple, green, red and white is an unforgettable experience. Aurora hunters often head to northern countries to glimpse this natural phenomenon, to destinations like Iceland or Canada. But the north’s Aurora …
Travel & Money in Argentina: The Blue Dollar
by Tom Shearman on
Travel Money in Argentina: Currency Exchange, Best Rates, and Blue Dollar (Updated March 2024). The Argentine Peso has been experiencing a volatile time on currency exchanges for several years. The country’s rampant inflation and unstable currency do indeed make it a little more complicated to pay for things in Argentina, but the latest devaluation of …
Plan the Perfect 4-week Trip Around South America
by Tom Shearman on
South America is a vast destination with so many attractions. Often, the question is ” How can I fit in as much as possible — in my 4 weeks in South America?” We have a quarter of a century of experience putting together the logistics for top tours and making dream trip ideas a reality. …
Tours to See Puerto Madryn Penguins, Patagonia
by Tom Shearman on
The famous Puerto Madryn penguins, where up to a million Magellanic penguins congregate to breed, are not found in Puerto Madryn. While the town is famous for being one of the best places to see penguins in Argentina, Puerto Madryn penguin tours actually take place in Punta Tombo. However, the tours do start in Puerto …
The Patagonia Mountain Ranges Explained
by Tom Shearman on
The vast open spaces of Patagonia’s mountain ranges remain an enthralling draw to visitors from around the world. Be it climbing, hiking, rafting, or wildlife watching, Patagonia’s mountain ranges hold something for everyone. Soaring, ice-capped peaks, glaciers, dense and verdant forests line crystalline lakes and tumbling waterfalls. Let’s look at Patagonia’s inspiring geography, and the …
What to do For 3 Days in El Chalten, Patagonia
by Tom Shearman on
Do you have three days in El Chalten, Argentina? Here’s the lowdown on the best tours and attractions, plus sample itineraries to make the most of your time in Patagonia. El Chalten is a small town built on the floodplain of Rio de Las Vueltas and part of the vast Los Glaciares National Park. The …
Behind the Scenes: Planning a Trip to South America with Andean Trails.
by Tom Shearman on
There’s nothing we love more at Andean Trails than helping people when they’re planning a trip to South America. We hope our passion for this incredibly diverse continent shines through and inspires people to travel. Our connection with the destinations we offer comes from personal experiences spanning decades. You’ll find we ask lots of questions …
Sustainable Travel at Patagonia’s Hotel Las Torres.
by Tom Shearman on
With Chile’s border entry arrangements relaxing from December 1, travellers can now look forward to taking the first steps back to an adventure holiday — including a sustainable trip to Hotel Las Torres. And what better than a green, responsible, and ecological path to follow. Hotel Las Torres in Patagonia has taken the time the …
The Best Hikes & Treks in Chile.
by Tom Shearman on
Chile’s sleek and elongated geography helps make it one of the best trekking destinations in the world. With that in mind, let’s look at some of the best hikes in Chile. The country stretches some 2,690 miles (4,329km) from north to south; South America’s distinctive spine formed thanks to Chile’s mighty Andean mountain ranges. It’s …
Guide to the Best Hiking Trails and Walks in and around Bariloche.
by Tom Shearman on
Bariloche is one of Patagonia’s most enchanting spots, nestled on Lake Nahuel Huapi and surrounded by glacial lakes, mountains, and beautiful forests. It is this landscape that makes Bariloche’s hiking trails so good. Also known as San Carlos de Bariloche, this town offers hikers access to some of the best trails in Argentina’s Lake District. At its …
What to Wear: Packing Guide For Your Patagonia Holiday
by Kathy Jarvis on
Patagonia, mythical land at the end of the earth. What a wonderful part of the world. This is one of my all time favourite places. Patagonia is remote and stunningly beautiful. It is a land of vast landscapes, with sharp granite spires such as Cerro Torre and Fitzroy, big mountain ranges, extensive ice-caps, masses …
Bucket List: Birds of Patagonia
by Kathy Jarvis on
Patagonia is a magical territory that covers the southern tip of South America. A land of plains, fjords, mountains, glaciers, rivers and lakes; an extraordinary place and home to the amazing birds of Patagonia. There are nearly 300 bird species to be found in Patagonia, so it is the ideal place for birding. These …
Guide to the Best Glacier Hikes in Patagonia
by Kathy Jarvis on
Visiting Patagonia and hiking on the glaciers go hand in hand. Read on for our suggestions of some of the best glacier hikes in Patagonia. Patagonia offers a wonderful array of glaciers: some you hike to, some you trek on top of and other, more remote, glaciers you can only reached by boat. …
Why Should I Visit The Chilean Fjords?
by Alan Lyall on
The magnificent Chilean fjords stretch down the south west coast of South America. They start in the Reloncavi Sound near Puerto Montt and finish at the end of the continent in Cape Horn. As the crow flies, this is a distance of well over 1,500 km. This length would be equivalent to a …
South America: The Best Countries To Visit on Holiday
by Alan Lyall on
When planning your holiday to South America you may ask yourself; which are the best countries to visit in South America? South America is a continent of amazing contrasts. These range from tropical jungle to glaciers, remote high mountain villages to bustling coastal cities, mountain ranges to endless pampa. The continent is blessed with a …