Visiting Patagonia: Useful Information

For our South America trip, we decided to add Patagonia to the itinerary, a bit of a last-minute decision, as we weren’t sure if we’d make it before winter hit. Normally, we try to travel as cheaply as possible, but visiting Patagonia felt like a no-brainer, even though we’d heard (and later confirmed) that it’s one of the more expensive destinations out there.

This ended up being one of the most expensive trips of my life, but we knew we wanted to experience Patagonia now, before inflation made it even less accessible, and before the glaciers, snow-capped peaks, and incredible biodiversity start disappearing more rapidly. Looking back, we have no regrets.

Patagonia is spread across two countries: Argentina and Chile. For our trip, we decided to focus on three of the main attractions: Torres del Paine (Chile), El Chaltén (Argentina), and El Calafate (Argentina).

Entry Requirements

Chile:

• Visa: Check in advance if you need a visa depending on your nationality.

• Proof of onward travel: You must show a ticket out of Chile. We showed our bus ticket to Argentina, which was accepted without any issues, so we recommend booking it in advance.

• Yellow fever regulations: Although we had visited yellow fever countries earlier, Chile does not require proof of yellow fever vaccination.

• Important document: Upon entering Chile, you’ll receive an immigration slip (PDI paper). Keep it safe! Make a copy or take a picture, because losing it can cause problems when you try to leave the country.

Argentina:

• Visa: Again, check if you need a visa based on your nationality.

• Proof of onward travel: They did not ask us for proof of onward travel, but it’s still a good idea to have one just in case.

• Yellow fever regulations: No proof of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter Argentina either.

When to Go?

• High Season (December to March): Warmest weather, but very crowded and more expensive
• Late April (when we went): Cooler, but amazing fall colours in Torres del Paine and fewer people. However, it was still somewhat busy, so I can’t even imagine peak season crowds! In El Chalten, the fall colours are already gone by mid-April.
• Low Season & Winter (May to August): Expect snow, cold, and closures. The O-trek closes mid-April, but the W-trek stays open until late April (depending on weather). Some refugios and trails are closed, but the park remains open year-round. However, you’ll need serious winter hiking experience
• Recommendation: Visit the last two weeks of March or first two weeks of April for peak autumn season.

Budgeting and Costs

Patagonia has a reputation for being expensive, and it’s completely justified. Transportation, food, and accommodation are all much pricier than elsewhere in South America.

Here’s how we tried to keep our costs down:

• We booked the cheapest hostels available.

• In Torres del Paine, we stayed outside the national park because accommodations inside are extremely expensive.

• We cooked all our meals ourselves, and yes, by the end of the trip, we were absolutely done with pasta.

• Try to avoid the INSANE entry fees in Argentine (read more).

Even with all these efforts, we still ended up spending quite a bit over three weeks. Patagonia is simply not a low-budget destination, unless you hitchhike to the national parks or between destinations, and try to camp in free camping spots (easy to find in Argentine). Though, be careful in autumn when camping, it can get extremely cold!