29 Essential Patagonia Travel Tips (From Real Experience)

For many travelers, visiting Patagonia’s Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Parks is a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket list adventure. But with two countries, two massive parks, and countless logistics to sort through, planning it all can feel seriously overwhelming. While organizing our own trip, we kept seeing people online asking for a “Patagonia for Dummies” guide — and honestly, we totally get it now.

After spending two weeks exploring the region, making a few mistakes, and learning a lot along the way, we’ve put together this list of 29 essential Patagonia travel tips — basically, all the things we wish we’d known before arriving. 

Let’s dive in!

29 Essential Patagonia Travel Tips

To make this list of essential Patagonia tips easier to navigate, we’ve organized them into helpful categories:

• Accommodation
• Transportation
• Hiking & Outdoors
• Weather
• Money & Currency
• Food & Dining
• General Travel Tips.

If you want specific guides on how to visit each park, we also have you covered in our Complete Torres del Paine Guide and Los Glaciares Argentina Patagonia Guide. 

Accommodation and Where to Base Yourself

1) Carefully choose where to Base yourself for Torres del Paine

Take time to carefully choose where to base yourself when visiting Torres del Paine — and be sure to book early.

Staying in Puerto Natales, the nearest town, is far more budget-friendly, but it requires a 2-hour drive each way to reach the park. Staying inside the park immerses you in stunning scenery around the clock, but comes at a much higher cost — often 5 to 10 times more than accommodations in town.

If you want a full breakdown of the pros and cons of basing yourself in Puerto Natales Vs. Inside Torres del Paine, including a comparison of the best lodges and who each is recommended for, check out our Where to Stay in Torres del Paine Guide. 

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2) Your bases for Los Glaciares National Park is straightforward

In Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina, choosing where to stay is straightforward: base yourself in El Calafate to visit the Perito Moreno Glacier, and in El Chaltén for all the iconic hikes (Laguna los tres, Laguna Torre etc…).

Most trails in El Chaltén start right from the edge of town, making them incredibly accessible and you will not need a rental car.

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3) Hotel Booking Hack in Patagonia

Book your accommodation as early as possible, especially since options in Patagonia can be limited and fill up months in advance, but don’t forget to recheck the pricing closer to your travel dates.

We booked our hotel about 4 months ahead to lock in the location and property we really wanted. But just two weeks before our trip, I decided to check the same hotel again, and to my surprise, the price had dropped significantly, likely due to last-minute cancellations. I rebooked at the new rate and ended up saving around $70!

So here’s the strategy we recommend: book your hotel early (with free cancellation) to secure your top choice, but set a reminder to check the rates again a week or two before your trip. You might just catch a better deal.

And one last tip: book through the Booking.com mobile app, as they often offer mobile-only discounts that aren’t available on the desktop site.

Transportation & Getting Around Patagonia

4) Book your Rental Car as Early as Possible

Book your rental car as early as possible, ideally more than 3-4 months in advance, especially if you’re traveling during Patagonia’s peak season. We started searching around that timeframe and were surprised to find that many rental companies were already fully booked for our dates.

We usually go with DiscoverCars, which consistently offered the best rates and car options throughout our world travels. But for this trip, we actually found a better deal (and more availability) through Booking.com’s car rental platform.

We managed to book a 4-day rental of a Volkswagen T-Cross SUV with automatic transmission for just 334 CAD (about 240 USD) — that’s around 83 CAD (60 USD) per day. In contrast, the local rental companies we contacted quoted us well over 100 USD/day for a similar vehicle.

✅ So our advice: compare both DiscoverCars and Booking.com when reserving your rental car, and book as early as possible to lock in the best rates.

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5) Rent a Car in Chile, but not Argentina Patagonia

Rent a car on the Chilean side of Patagonia, but a car is not needed on the Argentinian side.

We love doing road trips and Chile’s Torres del Paine is the perfect place for it. The park has a stunning scenic loop that takes about 4 hours to complete, passing by countless viewpoints and trailheads. Since the attractions are spread throughout the park, having your own car gives you the freedom to explore at your own pace and reach areas that would be difficult without one.

In contrast, a car isn’t really necessary in Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park. You’ll likely base yourself in El Calafate to visit Perito Moreno Glacier and in El Chaltén for hiking.

In El Chaltén, nearly all the iconic trails start right from town, making it incredibly walkable and convenient without a vehicle.

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6) Crossing the Border with a Rental Car Can be Costly

If you plan to rent a car and cross the Chile–Argentina border, be prepared for extra costs and paperwork. You’ll need to complete additional documents in advance, pay a $60–$100 border crossing fee, and, if you’re not returning the car to the same location, a one-way rental fee as well.

Because of these added expenses, and the fact that a car isn’t really necessary in Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park, we don’t recommend renting a car in Chile and driving it into Argentina.

Instead, you can rent a car locally in Puerto Natales to explore Torres del Paine, and then just take a bus from Puerto Natales to reach El Calafate in Argentina. Not only is this more cost-effective, but also hassle-free. 

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7) A 4×4 is Not necessary for Driving in Torres del Paine

A 4×4 isn’t necessary for driving in Torres del Paine, but we recommend a higher-clearance vehicle like an SUV if available.

Some of the park’s roads, especially on the western side, are unpaved and can be rough, with loose gravel and potholes along the way. Having a higher clearance vehicle will make the journey a lot more comfortable, especially since you’ll be driving 2 hours each way (if based in Puerto Natales).

We rented a Volkswagen T-Cross through Booking.com, and it handled the terrain comfortably without any issues.

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8) There are No Petrol Stations inside Torres del Paine

There are no petrol stations in Torres del Paine so make sure you fill up your tank in town before heading into the park. 

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9) Book your Bus tickets from El Calafate – El Chalten in Advanced

Be sure to book your bus from El Calafate to El Chaltén at least two weeks in advance. Buses often sell out — especially during peak season — or you might miss out on your preferred departure time. You can book directly through Bus Sur, the main operator, or use a platform like Busbud. If you’re not comfortable navigating Spanish-language websites, Busbud is definitely the easier option.

Hiking & Outdoor Tips in Patagonia

10) There are both very easy and very hard hikes in Patagonia

Hiking in Patagonia varies widely — from short, easy strolls to full-day, strenuous treks.

It’s important to research each trail in advance so you know what you’re getting into. For instance, in Torres del Paine, the walk to Salto Grande waterfall is a gentle 10-minute stroll on a well-maintained path.

In contrast, the hike to Base de las Torres is a tough 8–10 hour trek with over 1,000 meters of elevation gain.

🥾 If you’re looking for more accessible options, we’ve put together a list of our favourite easy to moderate hikes in Torres del Paine here.

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11) Use AllTrails Offline maps to Navigate your Hike

We recommend using AllTrails or Komoot to provide offline navigation on the hiking trails in Patagonia.

While most trails are generally well-marked, there are sections with multiple branch offs which can be confusing. Having offline navigation will give you peace of mind that you’re still on the right track.

For instance, on the Laguna Torre hike, there’s a stretch where you zigzag through patches of bushes — but there are at least ten different trails weaving through the area. Thanks to our offline AllTrails map, we could confidently stay on course without second-guessing which path to take.

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12) Take the Alternate Hiking Route for Laguna Los Tres

For the Laguna de los Tres hike (Argentina Patagonia), we recommend starting from the Río Eléctrico trailhead instead of the standard route from El Chaltén.

This alternative approach gives you a more varied hiking experience, allowing you to ascend and descend via different paths.

Starting from Río Eléctrico, you’ll pass through the stunning Glaciar Piedras Blancas viewpoint on your way up, before reaching the iconic Mirador Laguna de los Tres.

From there, you can descend along the classic route that passes Laguna Capri and finishes right in El Chaltén. This route not only adds more scenic variety but also makes the hike minutely easier.

To reach the Rio Electrico, you can ask your hotel to help you arrange the shuttle, which should cost around 10,000 ARS per person, one-way. 

To navigate, you can follow this route on Komoot:

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13) Start your Hikes as early as possible

Start your hikes as early as possible.

This is especially the case if you are basing yourself in Puerto Natales to explore Torres del Paine, and have to make the 2 hour drive to reach the park. When we did the full-day Base de las Torres hike, we began a little later than planned and ended up finishing right at sunset, which meant driving the entire two hours back in complete darkness.

Starting early not only helps you avoid the crowds on the trail but also gives you some breathing room in case things don’t go perfectly — like sudden weather changes or if you decide to spend more time enjoying the view at the summit (like we did… for 2 hours!).

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14) Map of Torres del Paine’s main Points of Interest

When we were planning our trip to Torres del Paine, it was difficult to visualize the layout of the entire park, the entrance gates, and main attractions we would want to visit. So to help you better understand the park, we have provided the map below. 

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15) Be Flexible with your plans in Patagonia

Be flexible with your plans, Patagonia’s weather can change dramatically from one day to the other.

Try not to lock in which specific hike you’ll do on which day until you’re actually there. For example, we had 4 days in the park and only finalized our daily plans after chatting with the hotel staff and checking the latest weather updates.

In the end, we had to shuffle things around, saving the tougher hikes for the forecasted clearer days and doing the easier ones when it was cloudy or windy. Bad weather there can be very dangerous so being adaptable makes all the difference.

This post is part of our series about Patagonia. If you want to learn more about Patagonia on both the Chilean and Argentina side, planning your trip, and some of the best experiences there, check out the guides below:

8 Best Day Hikes in Torres del Paine, Chile (Easy to Moderate Trails)

1 Week in Argentina Patagonia: Ultimate Los Glaciares Travel Guide

How to Visit Torres del Paine in Patagonia, Chile (Beginner’s Guide)

Chile Patagonia vs Argentina Patagonia: Which is Right for You

Where to Stay in Torres del Paine: Puerto Natales vs Inside Park Hotels

Weather and Packing Tips

16) Dress in Layers

Dress in layers and always bring extra layers since the weather can change through all four seasons in one hike. As a general guideline, you will need to wear a baselayer, insulating layer, windbreaker/waterproof jacket, gloves, and hat. But we always ended up packing an extra jacket in case it gets colder, or if somehow a layer gets wet. 

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17) Brings Waterproof and Windproof Gear

Bring windproof and waterproof gear. The wind in Patagonia was some of the worse i’ve ever experienced travelling the World. Its the type of wind where you can practically lean 45 degrees and not fall. Don’t just bring a flimsy poncho as the wind will just blow it off. Also make sure your jacket has a hood that can cover your head.  

18) Double check the Weather Report Daily

Be mindful of the dangers from the weather, make sure to check the weather report and wind reports since the wind can make the hike very dangerous. We recommend checking with the park rangers at the checkpoints, as well as the hotel staff as they are experienced with the Patagonian weather. 

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19) Best Time to Visit Patagonia

The best time to visit Patagonia is from November to March (summer in the Southern Hemisphere).

During these months, you’ll get the warmest weather, the longest daylight hours, and the most accessible trails, but also some of the strongest winds. However, it’s also the busiest season, so book accommodations and tours well in advance.

For fewer crowds but still decent weather, consider shoulder months like October or April.

Money & Currency in Patagonia

20) Credit cards are widely accepted in Chile

In Chile, credit cards are widely accepted at restaurants, grocery stores, and for purchasing the Torres del Paine park tickets. The currency in Chile is also stable so you will get a good rate by paying with credit card. 

If you want a travel card with super-low exchange rates, make sure to check out WISE Card. we have been using it in all our travels across the world and it has saved us a ton of money!

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21) Currency and Payments are Complicated in Argentina

In Argentina, the currency situation is complicated, and it’s important to understand how it affects travelers. There are multiple exchange rates in use:

• Bank rate: This is the official rate used at ATMs, and it’s the least favourable for travelers.
• MEP rate: A government-approved rate meant to encourage credit card use. It’s usually close to the blue dollar rate and is supposed to apply automatically when using foreign cards.
• Blue dollar rate: This is the best rate available. As a traveler, the most reliable way to access this rate is by sending yourself money via Western Union and picking it up in cash.

These differences can drastically impact how much you pay for things.

Credit Card MEP Rate

For example, we used our credit card a few times, expecting the MEP rate to apply. But when we checked our credit card statement, we were charged around 10% more than the blue dollar/MEP Rate. We tried this with both VISA and American Express and the results are similar.

Checking other traveler’s experiences online, it seems like the rate you get will also depend on the origin country of the VISA card. However, the rate you get with credit card will always be better than the official rate. Plus, this saves the hassle of withdrawing cash, which will be explained below.

Western Union Blue Dollar Rate

Withdrawing cash through Western Union gave the best deal (around 10% better than MEP rate)—although the rate also fluctuates. On our first withdrawal, we got a great rate, but just two weeks later, the rate had dropped by about 8%.

But withdrawing cash at Western Union comes with it’s own set of hassles. It took us over 3 days in order to successfully withdraw cash due to the store being unexpectedly closed, system down, running out of cash (common), requiring a passport photocopy, and other issues.

So if you’re heading to Argentina, make sure you understand the different exchange rates. I would recommend using Western Union to withdraw cash in the bigger cities like Buenos Aires, so that you will have the option of using both Cash and credit card once in Patagonia.

Overall, Withdrawing Cash from Western Union > MEP rate with credit card > Official rate withdrawing cash from ATM.

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22) Some restaurants in Argentina give discounts for Cash payment

Some restaurants in Argentina will give you a further 10% discount if paying with cash, so this could be a total cost difference of over 20% as compared to the MEP rate, and over 30% difference compared to the official dollar rate.

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23) Tips for using Western Union in Argentina

Use Western Union to withdraw cash at a better rate in Argentina, but there is only one Western Union in El Chalten, and around 3 in El Calafate but only 2 are more central.

Most of the time, you will need a physical photocopy of your passport in order to withdraw cash from Western Union. try to have it ready and bring it with you before arriving in Argentina since it is very challenging to get once you are in El Chalten.

Also, do not withdraw too much cash though since the ARS is going through insane inflation and you will be unable to exchange it outside of the country. 

Be prepared that the Western Union may be unexpectedly closed, have run out of cash, requires further validation (like a physical copy of your passport), or that their system is down. It took us 3 days before we successfully withdrew cash.

Food & Dining in Patagonia

24) Food is expensive in Argentina Patagonia

Food is quite expensive in Argentina, try to pick hotels that include breakfast or do grocery.

But if you are going out to the restaurants, we recommend checking out B. Fitz Resto Bar. We went there 3 days in a row since they have some of the most affordable meals in El Chalten. We ordered their 500g Bife de Chorizo steak which comes with fries, salad, and an alcoholic drink, and it cost us around 25$ only.

Keep in mind that many restaurants in El Chalten and El Calafate charge extra for all the sides (usually around 3-5$ each) so this combo for 25$ is definitely a steal! Another place we enjoyed for lunch was Banneton Panaderia. They have the best sourdough bread and their meals are well priced. 

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25) Indulge in Seafood in Chile Patagonia

Indulge in the seafood in Puerto Natales. Our favourite restaurants are Cangrejo Rojo, and Santolla. They are very reasonably priced and had the best king crab dishes that we tried during our stay in Patagonia. Make sure to try their scallops gratinée, King crab risotto (to die for!), and salmon! Back home, king crab is a rare luxury we’d never dream of ordering, but in Puerto Natales it’s actually quite affordable.

General Travel Tips in Patagonia

26) Argentina Patagonia Vs. Chile Patagonia

Overall, Chilean Patagonia has more diversity of activities, is more affordable, and has better food. But Argentinian Patagonia is the pinnacle of hiking, has some of the most epic views, has the most impressive glacier (Perito Moreno Glacier), with the drawback that it is a lot more expensive to travel.

Trying to decide between Argentine Patagonia and Chilean Patagonia? We put together a full breakdown comparing the highlights, drawbacks, and unique experiences of each — plus who each destination is best suited for.

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27) Patagonia is very safe

Patagonia is very safe. We walked late at night in Puerto Natales, El Chalten, and El Calafate and always felt safe. 

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28) Book your tours through Denomades

We recommend booking your day tours like Perito Moreno Glacier, Scenic Drive route through Torres del Paine, or horseback riding in an Estancia through Denomades. Their tours are commonly 20-30% cheaper than with GetyourGuide or Viator and they are a more local tour agency. Similar to the discount offered by some restaurants, some tour companies may also offer further discounts if paying in cash. 

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29) Don’t miss out on Non-hiking Activities in Patagonia

Don’t miss out on the non-hiking activities of Patagonia including:

• Kayaking in Patagonia
• Horseback Riding in a traditional Estancia in Chile
• Full Scenic drive through the highlights of Torres del Paine (no hiking)
• Puma Tracking
• Upscale dining cruise around the glaciers
• and more! 

Using WISE card in Chile and Argentina

When taking cash out of an ATM while abroad, you will most likely be charged both a foreign exchange fee and a foreign transaction fee by that country’s ATM. With my Canadian card, this can easily be 3-4$ + 2.75% + a markup on the exchange rate charged by my bank, and then another 3-5$ charged by the foreign ATM.

This can be really costly. For this reason, we recommend using WISE card which has only minimal fees and just about no foreign currency exchange markup. This helps me save at least 5-7$ every time I take out money from an ATM. If you want to see our full review of the card showing exactly how WISE can help you save, check out our WISE Travel card Review post.

Summary: Essential Tips for Traveling in Patagonia

If a friend asked us how to plan their dream trip to Patagonia, these are the 29 tips we’d share. From saving money and finding the right place to stay, to navigating the parks efficiently and staying safe in the rugged Patagonian wilderness — these are the things we wish someone had told us before we went. If you will be traveling through Chilean Patagonia and have a bit of extra time, make sure to visit the Atacama Desert in the North of Chile. It was one of our favourite experiences in all of South America! 

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