7 Patagonia highlights for your bucket list
Nature lovers and
From the world-class hiking in Torres del Paine and El
Here’s a list of 7 Patagonia highlights to add to your Patagonia itinerary.
Patagonia highlights: #1 is watching Magellanic penguins on Isla Magdalena
Have you ever had to stop in your tracks to let a penguin pass the road?
Well, you can try it out by taking a trip from Punta Arenas to Isla Magdalena.
Tens of thousands of these irresistibly cute black-and-white guys call the small island in the Strait of Magellan their summer home. They come here each year at the beginning of Austral summer to breed.
This was definitely one of our Patagonia highlights! We actually got to see tiny little baby penguins! Cuteness overload!
You can visit them on an organized half-day tour from Punta Arenas, usually departing in the morning around 7 and returning around 12. Several companies offer the tour at similar prices, and after all, they might all share the same boat to Isla Magdalena. We booked with Turismo Comapa and were happy.
Patagonia highlights: #2 is hiking in Torres del Paine
There are many, many amazing hikes in Torres del Paine. But if you have limited time available, here are some of the best ones.
Mirador Las Torres
If you make only one hike in Torres del Paine, make it the trek to the base of the Towers – Mirador Las Torres.
This is a full-day trek, starting at Hotel Las Torres (refugios and campings Torre Central and Norte are close by as well) and finishing at an emerald lagoon with the stunning views of The Towers – yes, those towers that give the name to the whole park.
Three granite towers, rising vertically 2 km above the lagoon and almost stubbing the sky. If the hike didn’t take your breath away, the view will (well, if the weather cooperates, shall we say…).
The way back is exactly the same, returning to Hotel Las Torres.
Altogether it’s about 19 km to trek and about 800 m to climb (and descend on the way back). Allow about 4 hours for the way up and slightly less for the way back.
The hike to Mirador Las Torres is also the first part of the so-called W-circuit or W-trek, which is a multi-day trek in Torres del Paine, lasting typically 4-6 days, hiking a different part of the trek every day and staying overnight in various refugios or campsites located along the way.
While we don’t have experience with the W trek (let’s say we put it on our ever-growing bucket list), you can find useful information such as distances, maps, and campsites about this ultimate trek on fantasticosur.com or parquetorresdelpaine.cl. Or check out our article on campsites and refugios in Torres del Paine, so that you don’t have to jump through the different sites.
Mirador Cuernos
If you don’t feel like trekking for the whole day, or as an activity for another day, we definitely recommend a walk to Mirador Cuernos. This is an easy, mostly flat walk of approximately 2.5 km one way (even though with a wind of 100 km/h, even that might require some effort).
It starts at a parking lot by Salto Grande waterfall (check it out as well, it’s well worth feeling its power) and ends at an amazing viewpoint by Lago Nordenskjold with those iconic “horns” – Cuernos del Paine right in front of you.
Mirador del Condor
Another short walk (about 200 m to climb) is from Camping Pehoe to Mirador del Condor, offering breathtaking views of Lago Pehoe and the whole massif of Paine.
Note about hiking in Torres del Paine
Before hiking, especially the longer hikes, it’s a great idea to ask the park rangers about trail conditions and weather forecasts and get a map of the park.
Their stations are located at the Rio Serrano sector (southern entrance to the national park) and Laguna Amarga and Lago Sarmiento (two entrances from the east); there is also a visitor’s centre about 5 km to the north of the Serrano entrance.
See a map of the entrances in our Torres del Paine article. It’s a pain to look for them on Google maps!
For a suggestion about what to wear for trekking, some other information, and the best hikes in Patagonia, check our article on hiking in Patagonia.
Patagonia highlights: #3 is Watching the sunrise in Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares
If the weather cooperates, this will be an absolutely unforgettable experience. These are some of the best sceneries anywhere in the world, seriously! When those jagged mountains get illuminated by the first soft golden rays of the sun, it doesn’t get much better than that.
Here’s a list of our recommended locations, all of which are also some of the best photographic locations in Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares. Obviously, all of these locations offer amazing views throughout the day as well, in case you’re not an early bird (like Kristine) 😊
- Hotel village at Rio Serrano (located about 5 minutes’ driving time from the Serrano entrance). If you’re staying at any of the hotels here, you can literally watch the sunrise from your bed.
- The small island where Hosteria Pehoe is located, as well as the location of Camping Pehoe – convenient locations as they can be reached by car.
- Mirador del Condor – a place with an amazing view, however, requires about half an hour hike from the car to get there.
- Mirador Cuernos – another stunning viewpoint, requires about 45-60 minutes walk from the car park at Salto Grande.
- Laguna Amarga – a beautiful wide-angle view of the Towers of Paine that will be illuminated by the rising sun. The location is convenient, as you can get here by car.
- Mirador Las Torres – for all those who like it hard-core 😊 The closest accommodation is Refugio and Camping Chileno, from where it’s still about 2 hrs hike (or 4 hrs from Hotel Las Torres), so to get here for the sunrise requires a very early start.
Note: Campamento Torres, which is the closest campsite to Mirador Torres, is currently closed, however, check with the park rangers for the latest news about this.
- The road just outside of El Chalten – drive a few kilometres out of the town and an amazing view opens up – the quintessential Patagonian postcard view of Fitz Roy being bathed in the golden morning rays.
- Laguna Torre – stupendous view of Cerro Torre, another iconic mountain of Argentinian Patagonia. There’s a campsite De Agostini close by, otherwise it’s about 3 – 3.5 hrs hike from El Chalten.
- Laguna Capri – about 1.5 hrs hike from El Chalten, a beautiful lagoon with a nice vista of Fitz Roy.
- Laguna de los Tres – another one for you hard-core guys 😊 Breathtaking views of Fitz Roy mountain from the shore of an emerald lagoon. The closest camping is Poincenot, from where it’s about 1-hour hike (400 m climb); otherwise it’s about 4 – 4.5 hrs hike from El Chalten.
Patagonia highlights: #4 is Having fun while riding a horse, sailing a boat, or kayaking among the glaciers in Torres del Paine or Los Glaciares
While the weather conditions didn’t allow us to experience these activities, here’s some information.
Torres del Paine:
Sailing on Lago Grey: the boat departs from Grey Beach (close to Hotel Lago Grey) and stops by Refugio Grey, where it’s possible to embark and disembark. The whole sailing takes about 2 hrs 45 min. Check lagogrey.com for details.
Kayaking on Lago Grey: Offered by Bigfoot Patagonia with departures from their camp close to Refugio Grey.
Horse-riding: we suggest getting information from the park’s visitors centre or your accommodation.
You can find more information and more activities in our article about the best things to do in Torres del Paine.
Los Glaciares:
Hiking on a glacier: you can hike on many glaciers in Los Glaciares, but the most popular is definitely Perito Moreno. We managed to do this hike and loved it! Definitely one of the (many) Patagonia highlights from our trip.
Kayaking on Lago Argentino: Many companies offer kayaking to the Perito Moreno. Check out their list right here!
Climbing (mountaineering): Some of the most notable peaks to climb are Cerro Vespignano and Cerro Solo near El Chalten. There are actually peaks for every single skill level – even for beginners! – available. El Chalten is a hiker’s and climbers’ paradise, so it’s no surprise that there are many companies that offer tours around the area.
You can find more information and more activities in our article about the best things to do in Los Glaciares!
Patagonia highlights: #5 is Going trekking in El Chalten, the trekking capital of Argentina
If you make only one hike, let it be the trek to Laguna de los Tres.
All your effort and sweat will be rewarded with a beautiful emerald lagoon with a breathtaking background of Mt. Fitz Roy – be ready for your jaw to drop.
This is one of the best hikes in Patagonia. The hike takes about 4 -4.5 hrs one way while climbing approximately 800 metres.
It starts in El Chalten, right at the end of the main street. However, we recommend using a shuttle service to Hosteria El Pilar (ask your accommodation to book this for you) and hiking from there, thus turning this into a one-way hike (except for the section between camping Poincenot and the lagoon itself – the 400-metre zig-zag climb).
Another recommended hike in El Chalten is to Laguna Torre which offers stunning views of Cerro Torre. The trail starts right in El Chalten and it takes about 3 – 3.5 hrs to reach the lagoon, climbing about 250 m along the way. We recommend being nice to your legs and doing this hike after the Laguna de los Tres one, as it is easier.
Patagonia highlights: #6 is Enjoying whiskey and ice on Perito Moreno
Perito Moreno’s front wall is about 60
Related: All you need to know about visiting Perito Moreno glacier
However, to best
Minitrekking is an easy and shorter option while BigIce requires a bit more effort. Whether you choose one or the other, fun is guaranteed, as is whiskey with the glacial ice at the end of the trek 😊
Patagonia highlight #7: Open a bottle of local wine (advice for rainy days)
The weather has turned foul?
Unfortunately, that’s what the Patagonian weather knows how to do damn well.
We had to skip several of our planned activities due to everlasting rain and wind, especially in Torres del Paine.
So what to do on such a day?
Feel free to brainstorm for ideas with a bottle of wine 😊 Whether you prefer Chilean Carmenere or Argentinian Malbec, it’s still gonna be an awesome day at an awesome place.
Our hotel in Torres del Paine actually had a hot tub with a view of the mountains, which was the perfect place for enjoying a little wine with a view.
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