Patagonia Road Trip: The Best Routes for Your Journey

Where is Patagonia?

Patagonia is located in the south of Chile and Argentina. The region’s northern boundary runs through Puerto Montt in Chile and Neuquén in Argentina.

The mountain region extends all the way south to Tierra del Fuego — an icy landscape that includes Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South America.

Patagonia consists mostly of mountains and grasslands and is one of the most sparsely populated places on earth. Tourism in Patagonia is therefore concentrated in just a handful of destinations. The largest city in Patagonia is Punta Arenas in Chile.

When is the best time to visit Patagonia?

Since the region is primarily an outdoor and hiking destination, the summer months of November through April are the best time to travel to Patagonia. Outside of these months, there is heavy snowfall in Patagonia and it gets very cold.

Because the weather in Patagonia can bring every extreme imaginable, it’s important that you prepare well for the climate. We’ll show you all the tips on the best travel time and what to keep in mind in a separate article.

Exploring Patagonia by Car or Bus?

We recommend exploring Patagonia by car. You’ll be much more flexible than with a bus and can get from A to B a lot faster. A rental car is somewhat more expensive than traveling by bus, but the advantages far outweigh the cost.

Important: You must return the car in the same country where you picked it up! You cannot pick up your rental car at an airport in Argentina and return it at an airport in Chile.
We recommend comparing rental car options on Discovercars before you book:
Find the best rental car deal on Discovercars

That said, you can also easily travel through Patagonia by bus. So we’ll also show you how to cover our routes by bus.

Patagonia in 10 Days: Our Suggested Itinerary

We think ten days is a great amount of time to see the top highlights of Patagonia. The more time you have, the better.

Beyond the top attractions in southern Patagonia, there’s still so much more to explore in the region — but we’ll get to that when we introduce our three-week itinerary.

First, here’s our 10-day route:

• Day 1: Punta Arenas
• Day 2: Isla Magdalena
• Day 3: Puerto Natales
• Day 4: Torres del Paine
• Day 5: Torres del Paine and drive to El Calafate
• Day 6: Perito Moreno Glacier
• Days 7–9: El Chaltén
• Day 10: Punta Arenas

If you have less time, we recommend skipping Day 2 and Days 7–9. That leaves you with six days in Patagonia total — but that should really be the absolute minimum. Otherwise, a trip to the other end of the world simply isn’t worth it.

We recommend the six-day Patagonia itinerary if you’re doing a 14-day road trip through Chile.

Patagonia 10-Day Road Trip Map

For a better overview, we’ve marked all the stops on the 10-day route on a map.

Now let’s take a closer look at our route for the 10-day Patagonia road trip.

Day 1: Arrival in Punta Arenas

On Day 1 of your Patagonia road trip, you’ll fly in — most likely from Santiago de Chile — and land in Punta Arenas. At the airport, you pick up your rental car and drive to your accommodation in Punta Arenas. It’s about 20 minutes by car from the airport to the city center.

We recommend booking your flight so that you arrive in Punta Arenas around midday. That way you can use the afternoon to explore the city.

Top attractions in Punta Arenas include the Mirador Cerro de La Cruz, the Cementerio Municipal cemetery, and the Costanera del Estrecho. That said, the city isn’t super exciting overall. An afternoon is more than enough.

Our Hotel Recommendation for Punta Arenas

Hostal Boutique Puerta Roja: a small, very cozy, individually decorated property with free parking.

Getting from the Airport to the City Center Without a Car

If you’d like to travel through Patagonia without a car, the only way from the airport to the center of Punta Arenas is by taxi. The price is set at 13,000 CLP (about $13) — so you shouldn’t pay more than that.

Day 2: Penguin Watching on Isla Magdalena

While many tourists head straight north from Punta Arenas, we recommend using Day 2 to take a boat trip to Isla Magdalena.

The island is 35 kilometers from Punta Arenas. What makes it special is that penguins live here. When else will you get the chance to see these adorable animals in their natural habitat?

The boat trip isn’t cheap, unfortunately. You’ll pay 110,000 CLP (about $120) for the round trip. You can book the excursion, for example, on the website Fiordos del Sur.

Day 3: Drive to Puerto Natales

On Day 3, you’ll head to Puerto Natales in the late morning. The drive takes about three hours. Puerto Natales is smaller than Punta Arenas but equally charming. Here too, you can easily explore all the town’s highlights in an afternoon.

The standard program in Puerto Natales is to walk the waterfront promenade from one end to the other. The highlights along the waterfront are the statues Monumento al viento and Monumento de la mano, as well as the Muelle Historico pier.

If you have plenty of time and energy, you can also hike up the local mountain, Cerro Dorotea — just plan for about three hours total.

Our Hotel Recommendation for Puerto Natales
Hotel Martín Gusinde: A great hotel with excellent value right in the heart of Puerto Natales. Free parking available here too.
By Bus

Several buses run daily from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales. Tickets usually cost 8,000 CLP (about $9). Your best bet is to buy them directly at the bus terminal in Punta Arenas or on the website Recorrido Bus Sur.

Day 4: Torres del Paine National Park

On Day 4, you’ll set out early in the morning for Torres del Paine National Park. The park entrance is called Laguna Amarga. The drive takes just under one hour and 30 minutes.

The park ticket costs 35 USD and you should book it online at least one day in advance at pasesparques.cl.

Today’s highlight is the day hike to the Mirador Base las Torres — our absolute favorite in all of Patagonia!

In the evening, you can either drive back to Puerto Natales or spend the night inside the park. Since you’ll be spending Day 5 in Torres del Paine as well, staying in the park is definitely worth considering — though accommodations inside the park tend to be pricier.

Our Hotel Recommendation for Torres del Paine National Park
Hotel Lago Grey: A stunning hotel with breathtaking views of Lago Grey. Rooms are spacious and comfortable.

Day 5: Torres del Paine and Drive to El Calafate

On Day 5, you have the morning to visit more stunning viewpoints in Torres del Paine. Highlights include the Mirador Condor and the Mirador Salto Grande.

We’ve only given you a brief overview of everything Torres del Paine National Park has to offer. For a detailed breakdown of the park’s attractions, how to get there, and how to buy tickets, check out our separate article:

All the essential tips for Torres del Paine National Park

Around midday, you’ll head off toward Argentina. You drive to Cerro Castillo — just a 30-minute drive from the national park. Cerro Castillo is where the Chilean border checkpoint is located.

There, you’ll first need to present your passport and your entry confirmation, followed by your vehicle documents.

After that, you cross the border and reach the Argentine border checkpoint a few minutes later. The process is similar here. Note that in Argentina you won’t receive a stamp or an entry confirmation.

Plan for about one hour for both border crossings. If there’s a line, it may take a bit longer — but long lines usually only occur during peak season in February.

From there, it’s about four hours of driving to El Calafate. If you take the route through Esperanza, the road is fully paved except for the first few kilometers. Google Maps will show you a shortcut, but the road is in very poor condition.

In El Calafate, you’ll just check in to your accommodation for the evening.

Our Hotel Recommendation for El Calafate
Hotel ACA El Calafate: Central location with spacious, stylishly furnished rooms. Free parking available.

By Bus

Without a car, you won’t be able to make it to El Calafate after visiting Torres del Paine. Instead, take the bus back to Puerto Natales in the evening and spend the night there.

Day 6: Perito Moreno Glacier

On Day 6, you’ll take a full- or half-day trip from El Calafate to the Perito Moreno Glacier. You have several options for visiting.

You can drive to the national park with your car and organize the visit yourself. Parking at the glacier is free. The park entrance fee is 45,000 ARS (about $50). Once there, you can walk to the various viewpoints — plan for one to two hours in total.

You also have the option of taking a boat tour or kayak trip. By boat, you can get even closer to the glacier. It’s best to book these tours on-site.

Alternatively, you can book guided tours. These will pick you up in El Calafate so you can leave your car behind. This option also gives you the chance to book a glacier hike.

Glacier hike and boat trip at Perito Moreno

Tour to the Perito Moreno viewpoints with optional boat trip
By Bus

Several buses run from the terminal in Puerto Natales to El Calafate. If you book a bus at 7 AM, you’ll arrive in El Calafate around 1 PM.

We recommend taking your time to exchange money, check into your hotel, and visit the Perito Moreno Glacier on Day 7. Bus tickets to the glacier can be booked at the terminal or through your accommodation. The round trip costs around 50,000 ARS.

Days 7–9: El Chaltén

On Day 7, you’ll drive to the mountain village of El Chaltén — about a 2.5-hour drive by car. El Chaltén is something of the hiking capital of Argentina, and there’s a ton to do here. So feel free to spend a few days.

Day 7 is perfect for a shorter hike. Here are two we recommend:

• Mirador Las Áquilas: 4 kilometers total with about 200 meters of elevation gain.
• Chorrillo del Salto: 3 kilometers total, mostly flat.

On Days 8 and 9, you’ll have more time to tackle the two most popular hikes in El Chaltén: Laguna de los Tres at Fitz Roy and Laguna Torres.

Both mountain lakes are not far from each other. If you’re up for a camping adventure, you can spend the night at one of the campgrounds instead of returning to El Chaltén between hikes.

Note: You’ll need your own camping gear, and nights can get very cold.
The most important tips for the hikes:

• Laguna de los Tres: 20 kilometers total with 800 meters of elevation gain — roughly half of which is packed into the final kilometer. That last stretch is very steep and demanding. Difficult hike.
• Laguna Torres: 20 kilometers total with about 300 meters of elevation gain. Moderate hike.

Our Hotel Recommendation for El Chaltén
Andino Aparts – El Chaltén: Beautiful, cozy apartments with large beds. Excellent value for money.

By Bus

You can either head to El Chaltén directly on Day 7 after visiting the glacier, or leave in the morning on Day 8. A bus ticket costs around 50,000 ARS (about $55) and the bus ride from El Calafate takes just under three hours.

Day 10: Return to Punta Arenas

Since the drive from El Chaltén to Punta Arenas is very long, the drive itself is the only item on the agenda for this day. You’ll need to plan for nine hours including border crossings. Your return flight from Punta Arenas should therefore not depart until the evening.

If that’s too much driving for one day, you can already cover part of the route on Day 9 and spend the night in El Calafate again, for example — from there it’s only 6.5 hours to Punta Arenas.

By Bus

If you’re traveling by bus, we don’t recommend going back to Punta Arenas. After all, you don’t have a rental car to return in Chile. The best option is to book your return flight from El Calafate on Day 10. By bus, it’s about 2.5 hours from El Chaltén to Calafate Airport.

There are no direct flights back to Chile, but there are flights to Buenos Aires. From Buenos Aires, there are plenty of connections to Santiago.

Patagonia Road Trip if You Have More Time

The route we just presented is the classic road trip through southern Patagonia. But Patagonia has many more stunning corners to explore.

If you want to extend the 10-day route, on Day 10 you don’t head back to Punta Arenas — instead, you take Route 40 in Argentina heading north. This is, incidentally, the only road connecting southern Patagonia to civilization.

From here, we recommend two different routes depending on which country interests you more — Chile or Argentina. Both options total three weeks in Patagonia.

If you’re traveling without a car, you should go with the Argentina route, as the Chilean side of Patagonia is very difficult to travel without a car.

Option 1: Continuing Through Patagonia in Argentina

We’ll first walk you through the Argentina route by car, then tell you how to get around if you don’t have a rental car.

Days 10–11: El Chaltén – El Bolsón

Your first stop on the extended journey is El Bolsón. The total drive from El Chaltén is about 16 hours, so you should split it over two days. The small town of Perito Moreno is a great place to spend the night, as it’s roughly halfway along the route.

Our Hotel Recommendation for Perito Moreno
Hotel Kelman: Simple and no-frills — perfect for an overnight stopover. Free parking available.

Days 12–13: El Bolsón

The charming town of El Bolsón is something like the hippie capital of Patagonia. You’ll notice right away how many free spirits are wandering the streets.

Day 12 is best spent driving to the Mirador Del Azul or hiking up the local mountain Cerro Amigo. A trip to Lago Puelo is also worthwhile — it’s about 18 kilometers from El Bolsón.

On Day 13, we recommend hiking to the Cajón del Azul. You’ll drive about 20 minutes to Wharton, and from there a 16-kilometer trail (round trip) leads to the Cajón.

The Cajón del Azul is a gorge with a river running through it, where the water glows in an incredibly vivid shade of green. It’s a great spot for photos, and in summer you can swim in the river.

Our tip: If you stay longer in El Bolsón, you can do a multi-day hike — not just to the Cajón del Azul, but also up to Laguna Hielo Azul, which sits 1,000 meters higher.
Our Hotel Recommendation for El Bolsón
Sukal: Beautiful apartments in a quiet location. Excellent value for money. Free parking.

Days 14–16: Bariloche

From El Bolsón to Bariloche is just over an hour by car, so it doesn’t really matter whether you make the drive on the evening of Day 13 or the morning of Day 14.

Bariloche is one of the most popular vacation destinations for Argentinians, which means the city is quite touristy overall — but there’s also plenty to see.

On Day 14, start by exploring the city itself. The town center, Centro Cívico, has an alpine feel to its architecture and is home to lots of great restaurants and bars.

Bariloche is especially known for its delicious chocolate and beer. It’s pretty amusing that one popular beer is called Kölsch — and it actually tastes quite similar to the beer from Cologne.

Days 15 and 16 are best used to explore the surroundings of Bariloche. There are beautiful hiking trails as well as scenic drives along lakes, so there’s really no shortage of things to do.

Here are some highlights and things to do around Bariloche:

• Cerro Otto: Bariloche’s local mountain, reachable by car, on foot, or by cable car.
• Circuito Chico: A driving or cycling route past small and large lakes, about 60 kilometers long.
• Refugio Frey hike: A popular hike near Bariloche.
• Colonia Suiza: A small Swiss-style village with great restaurants.

Our Tips for Bariloche

All our highlights and recommendations for Bariloche can be found in a separate article.

Days 17–18: San Martín de los Andes

On Day 17, you’ll drive from Bariloche to San Martín de los Andes — about a three-hour drive. Since the route is a popular scenic drive, you should set aside the whole day for it. It’s called the Ruta de los Siete Lagos.

The first section of the drive — from Bariloche to Villa la Angostura — is not officially part of the scenic route; the route proper begins at Villa la Angostura.

From there, you’ll pass seven lakes, each more beautiful than the last. You can stop at viewpoints along the way and, in summer, swim in some of the lakes.

These are the seven lakes you’ll pass:

• Lago Espejo
• Lago Correntoso
• Lago Escondido
• Lago Villarino
• Lago Falkner
• Lago Machonico
• Lago Lácar

At the last lake lies the charming little town of San Martín de los Andes. On Day 18, you’ll have time to explore San Martín. We recommend doing the short hike to Playa Bonita. The beach is simply breathtaking and perfect for swimming (at least during the summer months).

Our Hotel Recommendation for San Martín de los Andes
Hosteria Hostal del Esquiador: A lovely place to stay right in the heart of San Martín.

Days 19–21: Pucón

On Day 19, you’ll cross the border into Chile at Volcán Lánin. It’s about 1.5 hours by car from San Martín to the border. We recommend leaving early, as this crossing often sees heavy traffic.

The border crossing process is the same as in the south at Torres del Paine. Once you’ve cleared the Chilean checkpoint, it’s just over an hour’s drive to Pucón — assuming no traffic delays.

Plan for four to five hours in total for the drive and border crossing.

In Pucón, you’ll have two days to wind down your Patagonia road trip. The most popular activity is the hike up Villarica Volcano. Or you can simply kick back on the beach in Pucón.

On the last day, you’ll return your rental car. Alternatively, you can drive to Santiago de Chile and drop it off there — the drive takes about 8.5 hours.

Our Hotel Recommendation for Pucón
Pucontours River Lodge: A fantastic property just outside Pucón, set in a breathtaking natural location. Free parking.

Continuing Through Argentina Without a Car

You can also do this Argentina route by bus. However, we recommend taking the bus from El Chaltén on Day 10 to El Calafate Airport and flying from there to Bariloche. There is a bus connection to Bariloche, but it takes 24 hours.

From Bariloche, buses run to El Bolsón and Villa La Angostura. Here are the prices and travel times for these routes:

• Bariloche – El Bolsón: 10,000 ARS (about $11)
• Bariloche – Villa La Angostura: 9,000 ARS (about $10)

From San Martín you can take the bus to Pucón:

• San Martín de los Andes – Pucón: 32,000 ARS (about $35)

Option 2: Continuing Through Patagonia in Chile

The route through Chile can only be done by car. There are no public buses here.

Day 10: El Chaltén – Los Antiguos

In our second option for a three-week Patagonia road trip, you take Route 40 from El Chaltén north only as far as Perito Moreno. There you turn west and drive to Los Antiguos. The drive takes about nine hours.

Los Antiguos sits on Lago Buenos Aires, where you can swim in summer. Otherwise, Los Antiguos is a small, fairly unremarkable village just before the border with Chile.

Our Hotel Recommendation for Los Antiguos
Lau-Fert-Apartamentos: The apartments are a great fit for a short stopover. Free parking available.

Days 11–16: Carretera Austral

The Carretera Austral is a long-distance highway through Chilean Patagonia, running from Puerto Montt to Villa O’Higgins.

Starting from Los Antiguos, you begin your road trip on the Carretera Austral at the village of Aldana. It’s just under three hours by car from Los Antiguos to Aldana.

At Aldana, you turn onto the Carretera Austral heading north. On this Patagonia itinerary, you won’t be exploring the southernmost section of the Carretera Austral between Aldana and Villa O’Higgins.

You now have six days to drive the nearly 1,000 kilometers along the Carretera Austral. The scenery is stunning at every turn, so your best bet is to stop wherever you feel like it — with your rental car, you have complete flexibility.

Make sure not to miss these highlights along the Carretera Austral:

• Capillas de Mármol
• Villa Cerro Castillo
• Rio Futaleufú
• Cochamó

Day 17: Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas is a very beautiful little town at the end of the Carretera Austral. It’s just under 1.5 hours by car from Cochamó. If you leave in the morning, you’ll have almost the whole day to explore Puerto Varas.

The fact that many German colonies once settled in Puerto Varas is evident both in the architecture and in small details like the fire trucks.

From Puerto Varas, you have a stunning panorama of Osorno Volcano, which rises up behind Lago Llanquihue. The lake itself is crystal clear, and in summer you can wonderfully relax on the beach in Puerto Varas.

Our Hotel Recommendation for Puerto Varas
Hotel Puerto del Lago: Excellent value for money and a great location in Puerto Varas.

Days 18–20: Chiloé

Chiloé is an island connected to the mainland, located just about two hours by car from Puerto Varas.

The island is a paradise for nature lovers. The vast majority of Chiloé is uninhabited, and there’s no sign of tourist crowds here. You’ll quickly find yourself with this gorgeous green landscape all to yourself.

The most popular destinations on Chiloé are the Muelle de las Almas, the town of Castro, the Cascadas de Tocoihue, and Isla Aucar.

Our Hotel Recommendation for Chiloé
Hotel Palafito: A beautiful hotel in Castro with water views. Breakfast and service are fantastic.

Day 21: Puerto Montt

Puerto Montt is your last stop in Patagonia. From Chiloé, it’s about two hours by car to Puerto Montt.

The port city is one of Chile’s largest cities, but honestly doesn’t have a whole lot to offer. The long waterfront promenade is lovely, and the viewpoint on Isla Tenglo is worth a visit.

Depending on what you have planned after your Patagonia road trip, you can return your rental car in Puerto Montt or continue driving to Santiago. The drive to the capital takes about 11 hours.

Our Hotel Recommendation for Puerto Montt
Hotel Don Luis Puerto Montt: Central location, large breakfast buffet, and free parking. Great value for money too.

Cost of a Patagonia Road Trip

Estimating the exact cost of a road trip through Patagonia is virtually impossible, as it depends entirely on how you plan your trip and how long you’re on the road.

The approximate costs per person for our 10-day road trip (not including flights to and from Patagonia) are as follows:

• Rental car: €500
• Gas: €150
• Accommodations: €400
• Attractions: €200
• Food: €200

Total cost: €1,450

Average cost per day: €145