[Closed] Patagonia - the place, not the overpriced leisurewear

Currently planning a trip to Chile for next month, so spending some time researching online and with guide books.

We only have around 10 days outside of Santiago so looking at either one, or both of the following...

Pucón (and the surrounding area) in the Lake District looks worth a visit. There appears to be some good riding with decent guiding and hire places, plus general mountain and water based activities including hot springs. Fly Santiago to Tumuca.

For Patagonia (Chilean side), it looks best to fly to Punta Arenas, then head up by road to the Torres del Paines national park. Spend a few days hiking around the "W Route" taking in the glaciers, peaks etc.

Given the short time available, and the linear layout of the country, internal flights seem like a good way of getting around.

Santiago is meant to be an interesting and vibrant city for a few nights.

We went a few years ago. Flew from Santiago to Punta Arenas, hired a car and drove up to Torres Del Payne. It's a good days drive.
Stayed in hotels in PA, camped in TdP.
A fantastic trip that we need to replicate.

not the overpriced leisurewear

Bit harsh isn't it? At least they try to be sustainable as opposed to fast fashion?

As for the country, I'd love to go sometime, looks incredible.

@yosemitepaul did you feel the hire car was worth having? We are undecided whether to get one, or just take the buses. As we expect to be out walking for a few days in the Park, it would probably just be parked up unused.
Thanks, and sorry for the thread hijack.

I went to all 3 the other year.

Santiago is a good city - quite chilled as large cities in S America go, plenty going on, good public transport, lots to do. Didn't love it for some reason, but it's also easy to get to the coast from there (90 mins on a cheapish bus).

Puerto Natales - basically pure STW: a small rugged frontier town full of middle class tourists wearing goretex and heading off to the hills. Stoves, craft beer and good coffee not hard to find. Not many Audis tho. Loved it, would go back in a heartbeat. Imagine Llanberis or Betws-y-coed but with more tin shacks instead of Victorian houses.

Punta Arenas - only worth it if you want to get a boat tour to go and see penguins and seals. Otherwise it's a nondescript port town.

We were able to fly straight from Santiago to P.N. (then headed up into Torres Del Paine).

Car hire from Punta Arenas was booked via Hertz in advance and was easy. We got a pick-up which was super cool.
For us the car was great.
I guess it's what you want out of your holiday. We enjoy driving and stopping off, exploring and taking photo's en route. Our aim wasn't to go straight into TdP but to enjoy the journey, and explore whilst we were there.
I have this thing about 'always being able to see around the next bend' and the car enabled me to do that!
From TdP the car allowed us to go to El Calafate in Argentina to view the Perito Merino glacier, which is one of life's 'must sees'!
I agree that PA isn't much of a town, it's a port with the primary aim of fishing and getting to Tierra del Fuego. It's a funny place, and you should make sure you are booking overnight accommodation in a hotel and not a brothel!
Yes, Puerto Natales is much better.

What is there to believe in?

Eh?

Thanks all! Question - can you just drive over the border into Argentina? Or do you need to show your passport or have a visa ?

i haven't driven over the border but I crossed it by bus in about 2005. (not in Patagonia though, further north). You definitely needed a passport so they could do entry and exit stamps.

nb. on car hire, I don't think there was any major places in Puerto Natales but we hired a Suzuki Swift from the hostel we were staying at. It was handy to get up and around Torres Del Paine without having to rely on the buses (which are infrequent).

Some good tips and suggestions above.
Thanks.

Thinking that we will probably sack of Pucón, and hire a car from Punta Arenas for the full duration. It will allow us a bit more flex and to get over to Perito Merino glacier in Argentina.

@yosemitepaul seems like you enjoyed the pick up, but do you think it was necessary to get access to bits of the parks? The cost difference between a Toyota Corolla sized car and an Isuzu Rodeo will probably pay for food and drink for the week.

Thanks all! Question – can you just drive over the border into Argentina? Or do you need to show your passport or have a visa ?

Passports, stamps and luggage scans IIRC.

The W trek is great, alternatively head to Argentina, great hiking from El Chalten plus the perito moreno glacier.

If you want to visit Torres Del Paine (which I strongly recommend) then primary access is via Puerto Natales not Puerto Arenas (but the nearest airport is Puerto Arenas) and I'd recommend getting to the National Park by bus rather than car as they are frequent and it is the NP itself that is special rather than the drive there.

But the key thing is where you are starting from? There is southern Chile and then there is really southern Chile! Transport can take a long time in those parts, flights and coaches are not necessarily daily and this is a busy time of year so planning ahead can be important (especially if you want to stay inside the NP).

We didn't go to Puerto Arenas but did stay several nights in Puerto Natales it is likeable and atmospheric frontier town (go to Aldea Restaurant for food) but TdP is certainly a bigger reason to be there. There are several places you can hire a car at short notice in town.

But all of this needs quite a bit of time. If you are time limited then the Lake District or Santiago are likely to be better bets. There is a good mtb guiding company operating out of Santiago if that is of interest.

Absolutely no need for a pick-up, you can drive to and from the park but not really through it. Dirt roads are all in reasonable condition.

You've posted since I did - If you have the time do the W trek. Needs planning and booking and it is very busy but it was one of the highlights of our four month trip. Driving around the park does not compare (we did that the following day).

Agreed. no need for a pick up or 4x4. The dirt roads have a washboard surface which any car can drive over.
No issue getting from Chile into Argentina and return, though you do get enough stamps to fill up your passport! No visa required.
When driving you do need to watch the gas levels. Fuel stops are infrequent and not like huge BP / Shell / Esso service stations that we are used to. More like a pump next to a local store. They're easy to miss! That said the fuel works!