Destination: Chile

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION

Itinerary: Patagonian adventure

TWO WEEKS / PUERTO MONTT TO TIERRA DEL FUEGO

You can discover the wilds of Patagonia in just two weeks, but it's best to allow yourself more time to cover this nearly 3500km route in order to appreciate the remoteness and local pace, and to protect yourself against fickle weather and ferry schedules.



Head south – really far south – and take in the stunning landscapes of Patagonia’s final frontiers. As more and more tourists set foot in Patagonia each year, now is the time to visit the pristine mountains, glaciers and forests here at the end of the world.

Cast off from the bustling port of Puerto Montt on the Navimag ferry and spend the next four (or so) days cruising through twisting Patagonian fjords lined with virgin forests. Rediscover your land legs quickly in Puerto Natales before venturing into the nearby Parque Nacional Torres del Paine to hike around the rocky torres (towers) and cuernos (horns) that made Patagonia famous. The park has world-class infrastructure and can simultaneously challenge the most experienced hikers and pamper those who prefer to observe from a distance.

After the park, take a bus north across the Argentine border to El Calafate, the departure point for Parque Nacional Los Glaciares and its 15-story high Perito Moreno Glacier. More adventurous travelers will want to spend a few more days exploring this permafrozen parkland. Hop on an inexpensive flight from El Calafate to Argentina’s charming southern outpost of Ushuaia on the legendary island of Tierra del Fuego. Savor that end-of-the-world feeling by taking a short trip from Ushuaia by boat or plane to Chile’s Isla Navarino – home to the world’s southernmost city, Puerto Williams – or to the actual end of the Americas on the lonely islands of Cabo de Hornes (Cape Horn).