The Ultimate Patagonia Road Trip
There’s no better way to take in all the diversity and sights of Patagonia than with a road trip!
Patagonia stretches from the Southern most tip of South America to the town of Temuco in Chile, and the Neuquen in Argentina. It is a land of diversity, long distances, harsh climates, and hardy people. So much of the beauty and attraction of this region will never be found on tourist maps because the infrastructure is just not designed for it. It was for this reason, that we decided to embark on our Great Patagonia Road Trip! It was one of the best travel decisions we have ever made. While there were a lot of long, LONG days of driving, the scenery just never quit! The seemingly empty (but not really empty) high deserts of Argentina were fascinating. The Chilean Andes and glacial lakes were stunning. The best part? All of the small towns and people we got to meet along the way that we would have never experienced without taking a car and driving there. If you have the time for a Patagonia road trip, it will be an adventure you never forget.
Rental Cars
Your rental car is the most important decision you will make about your road trip. Choosing the wrong car or the wrong rental company can leave you in some seriously unsettling situations, so make sure you do your due diligence. Here are our 6 tips for getting a rental car in Pagaognia:
Plan your itinerary - decide where your pickup and drop off points will be: In order to even get a quote from a rental agency, you’ll need to know when and where you plan to pick up your car and the same for dropping off. You will save money by picking up and dropping off in the same location, but if you are trying to cover any reasonable amount of distance, this will become almost impossible…or just VERY time consuming.
Make sure you ask for a 4x4 SUV or truck: most reputable rental companies won’t offer you anything else, but some of the more “budget”options will have no problem quoting you for a standard sedan. We HIGHLY recommend avoiding these companies and their cars unless you plan on a very short road trip in more populated areas. There were multiple times on our trip that we would not have been able to continue without 4-wheel drive.
Get the extra insurance: Purchasing basic insurance on your vehicle should go without saying for a trip like this, but we also recommend adding supplemental insurance. Most basic insurance policies don’t include coverage for the windshield or the tires. Why? Because these are the two most likely areas of the vehicle to sustain damages on Patagonian roads. Large stones, cratering potholes, and speeding trucks all add to the potential for a cracked windshield or flat/damaged tire. The additional cost of supplemental insurance is trivial by comparison to the cost of replacing a windshield, and given the fact that damage is so likely…just buy the extra policy.
Keep your receipts whenever you make a payment: some rental companies will take a deposit up front and then charge you the rest of the amount when you drop off the car. Some will offer a discount if you pay everything up front. Regardless of which way you choose to pay, KEEP YOUR RECEIPTS and your rental agreement handy. This will ensure that at the end of your rental agreement, you have a record of how much you paid and how much you owe so you can’t be double charged. Remember, communication and computer data systems aren’t as advanced as they are in the US and Europe. If you’re dropping off a car thousands of kilometers from where you picked it up, it’s likely that your drop off location will not have access to your pickup location’s reporting.
If you plan to cross the border, be sure to tell your rental car agency: crossing the Chile/Argentina border in a rental car requires LOTS of paperwork and permits. Your rental car company is responsible for making sure all of this is in order, but you need to double (or maybe triple…) check with them so you don’t find yourself in a sticky situation at your first border crossing with Aduana (Customs and Immigration).
Be prepared….it will be expensive: there’s just no way around it; taking a road trip in Patagonia is expensive. Between the upgraded vehicle, the distance covered, service fees, and insurance costs, be prepared for sticker shock. As an example, we paid roughly $3,200 USD for our rental from November 29th - December 14th, and covered approximately 2629km (1633 miles). At first this seemed like an outrageous price, but the service we received from our company (more on that later) was phenomenal. Furthermore, we enjoyed our trip so much, that after a few days, the cost seemed almost trivial. I would pay that price over and over again for the experience we had on our road trip. Trust me when I say that it’s so, so worth it.
On the road between El Calafate and El Chalten, Argentina
THE BEST RENTAL COMPANY
We researched numerous rental car companies in both Chile and Argentina, and none could compare to LYS Rent a Car. The owner, Andres, is AWESOME. In addition to giving us itinerary planning tips and helping us decide pickup and drop off locations to save us money, he also sent us his own photos of local spots along our route that he recommended we visit. Andres was extremely responsive to emails and WhatsApp messages and handled everything for us. He had our car dropped off at our hotel in Puerto Natales, including all the border crossing paperwork we needed. He even had the forethought to extend our border permit 10 days past our drop off date in case we decided to extend our rental (which we later did!) or in case of emergency. I can’t say enough great things about Andres and LYS. The car we got was a 2019 4x4 VW Tiguan Sport. We really felt like we got our money's worth with the constant support, the new and quality vehicle, the seamless rental process and the flexibility when we needed to change our plans. We added an additional 4 days onto the rental, and dropped off in a different location, and Andres took care of everything. All I had to do was call him and ask. It was a great experience! We will be using LYS every time we return to Patagonia.
Where To Start
Where you start your journey largely depends on your itinerary, but after hours upon hours of research (more like weeks really…), we decided to start our road trip in Puerto Natales, and here’s why:
Well, for starters, it just made sense. We were going to be in Puerto Natales anyways after hiking Torres del Paine, so instead of taking a bus down to Punta Arenas or over to El Calafate, we just decided to pick up our car right where we were. Makes sense right?
Ok, aside from the obvious “logical” reason, starting Puerto Natales gives you the most options for building your itinerary. If you plan on heading South to Tiera del Fuego, you can do that. If you plan on going East to El Calafate or El Chalten, its easy. There are so many attractions and sights worth seeing in the general area around Puerto Natales that it just makes for a great place to start. Furthermore, if you’re only planning on a short trip, it will be easy to see a lot of different attractions and return the car in the same place you picked it up.
Infrastructure: Puerto Natales has great hotels, restaurants and an airport, so it makes for a great stating point even if you don’t have any other reason to be in the area. Although, if you travel all the way to Puerto Natales and DON’T visit Torres del Paine, shame on you!
Realistically, you can start your road trip wherever you want, you’ll just have to make sure your rental car agency offers pickup in that location. I know LYS can accommodate pickup and drop off in Santiago, Temuco, Puerto Montt, Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas. If you speak to Andres, he may also be able to organize additional locations on a case-by-case basis. For ideas on where to start your trip based on what you want to see, check out our itinerary!
Border Crossing
[[IMPORTANT: Remember that little piece of paper you received at the airport when you first flew into Chile or Argentina? YOU NEED TO KEEP THAT! That is your visa (proof of legality in the country), and you will need it to enter and exit the country it was issued in. DO NOT LOSE THIS!]]
One critical part of driving through Patagonia is crossing the border. While you can feasibly travel only on one side of the border or the other, you would be missing out on so many amazing sights on the other side. Moreover, you can only go so far north through Chile because…well…there’s a massive, prehistoric ice field in the way! Assuming you want to make the most out of your trip, here’s what we learned from the 4 times we crossed the border back and forth between Chile and Argentina:
Its important to note that whenever you cross the border you will first need to clear out of the country you are leaving, and then clear in to the country you are driving into. This means that you need to stop at two customs houses: once before you cross the border and once after. You will need to leave your car parked in the road (some border stations have parking lots; in these cases, park in the parking lots) and physically walk into the customs buildings.
This should go without saying, but make sure you have your passport with you when you go into the customs buildings. Also bring the rental agreement and border crossing paperwork provided by your rental car company. Your first stop will be at the Immigration window, where the agents will check your passport. Sometimes these agents will also ask for the paperwork for your car, sometimes they don’t. It completely depends on the border station. If they don’t ask for it, don’t worry. You will be directed to Aduana (Customs) where you will be asked for the papers for your car.
While Chile and Argentina have different ways of getting and processing this information, you will need to know the address of the first place you are staying in the new country. Cell phone reception can be a bit shady in the middle of nowhere, so it will help if you have this information somewhere in hard copy that you can refer to. Pro tip: I take screenshots of all my reservations so they can be accessed offline in my phone’s gallery.
CHILE TO ARGENTINA:
Crossing from Chile to Argentina is a pretty pain-free process. You will first start on the Chilean side and clear out. You will make one stop at the Immigration window where they will check your passport, stamp you “out” and then you will be directed to the Customs, or Aduana window. This is where they will check the paperwork for your car; they are checking that you have the right to take the car out of the country. They will need to see the passport of the primary renter on the rental agreement, then they will make some notes and stamp your rental paperwork. After that, the customs agents will open the road block and you’ll be free to drive across the border.
On the Argentinian side, the process is pretty much the same: immigration first, then Aduana. Immigration will ask you where you intend to stay, and you can either tell them or, if your Spanish is kinda sketchy like mine, show them on your phone or printed copy of your reservations. Aduana will want to make sure you aren’t transporting any livestock or plants over the border, but that’s pretty much it. They will not need to search your car or luggage. After Aduana signs and stamps your rental car permit, you’re free to continue your drive.
Borders we crossed from Chile to Argentina:
Cerro Castillo - Paso Rio Don Guillermo
Futaleufu - Paso Futaleufu
ARGENTINA TO CHILE:
Argentina to Chile gets a little more complicated. Clearing out of Argentina is standard procedure: Immigration first, then Aduana; present your passport, then your rental permits, and you’re done. Getting into Chile on the other hand…not so simple.
Entering into Chile is a much longer, and more painful process. For starters, there’s a lllooonnnngggg list of things you may not carry across the Chilean border, regardless of whether or not you bought them in Chile. For the sake of this post, it's easiest to say that it includes all open food packages, and any organic material such as fruits and vegetables. For a full list of what you can and cannot bring into Chile, click here. Needless to say, make sure you dispose of any contraband prior to when the Chilean authorities search your vehicle - which they will do. There are garbage cans at the customs houses for disposing of any items you will not be able to carry over.
Ok, the first step for crossing into Chile is filling out the paperwork. This will either be one or two forms depending on the border crossing. Either way, they will be located at a clearly marked table. Once you have filled out your forms (complete with the first address you will be staying at), present them to the Immigration officer. He/She will check your passport against your forms, stamp you in, and then direct you to Aduana. Aduana will check your rental papers as usual and do the usual stamp and sign thing. However, after they sign off on your papers, they will direct another customs agent to search your car. Any suitcases, backpacks or other closed luggage you have in the car will have to be removed and sent through a scanner inside the customs house. Once all of THAT is complete, you will be free to move through the border. Obviously if you have something you shouldn’t have, this process will take much longer.
Lastly, because the border crossing process is more involved coming into Chile, be prepared for a wait, and factor that into your drive time to your next location. We never had to wait more than 10 or 15 minutes at a border crossing, but we have heard horror stories of travelers waiting in excess of 6 hours at some of the busier crossings. Lucky for you, none of the REALLY busy crossings are located in Patagonia.
Borders we crossed from Argentina to Chile:
Chile Chico - Border CHILE
Volcan Lanin - Paso Mamuil Malal
Route 40 - Argentina
Route 40 is Argentina’s most famous highway. Stretching all the way from Rio Gallegos on the Southern Atlantic border North to Bolivia, the total distance of the road is a staggering 5224 km (3246 miles). The section that runs through Patagonia passes through diverse landscapes and world famous attractions like the Perito Moreno Glacier and Mt. Fitz Roy. Most of the road cuts through Argentina’s arid high deserts where you will find Guanaco and Emu at every turn. Watch out for the Emu! They don’t exactly know how to get off the road…
The most important thing about planning a road trip on Route 40 is understanding where your fueling stations are located. You will drive hours and hours without seeing another car or town, so keeping your fuel tank topped up is critical. Here is a map based on one we procured (but sadly did not save) from a wonderful hotelier named Carlos who runs the tour company Pumagonia:
Route 40 - highlighted in blue. Fueling stations in red - Santa Cruz Province only
Fueling stations don’t always have fuel available. For example: we elected to skip Gobernador Gregores fuel station because our tank still looked pretty good, and Tamel Aike wasn’t that far away. You guessed it…Tamel Aike was closed when we got there. Sold out. Luckily our VW got excellent mileage, so we pressed on to Bajo Caracoles, but we were running very low by the time we got there.
Another important thing to remember is that it’s very dangerous to drive at night. Most of Route 40 is gravel or dirt, and not very well maintained. Some sections (Zona de Batchas) have more potholes than actual road…and we aren’t talking regular potholes. We’re talking lose a whole tire or bottom out the SUV type potholes. Animals are another consideration. While Guanaco will get out of the way quickly, Emu get confused and mostly just run in front of your car. Cows on the other hand might not move at all. Nothing ruins a vacation quite like hitting a cow at 90 kph. As you can see, Route 40 comes with enough challenges during the day, so it’s really best not to drive at night.
WHAT WE VISITED ALONG SOUTHERN ROUTE 40:
Perito Moreno Glacier - 45 minutes West of El Calafate:
While many of the worlds other glaciers are retreating, the Perito Moreno glacier is actually maintaining a state of equilibrium, if not growing! This means that for every kilogram of ice it loses from melt and calving in the summer months, it gains back in the winter months; and sometimes even more! Perito Moreno is GIGANTIC! At her highest point, she is 74 meters (240 ft) above the water. There are walkways along part of the glacier’s face, and if you visit in the winter or shoulder seasons, the glacier will be extremely close. Along the whole walkway, we heard her cracking and shifting. If you visit in the afternoon like we did, you are likely to see huge pieces falling off the face of the glacier with a thunderous roar. It’s such an awesome experience. The drive is beautiful, and the walkways make it effortless to enjoy. If you want an even closer view, you can book a ticket on one of the ferry boats that will take you up close and personal to the base of the glacier. Pro tip: if you’re using the walkways, pack your day pack with a bottle of wine and some snacks and stay a while.
Mt. Fitz Roy - El Chalten:
Mt. Fitz Roy is the crown jewel of Argentinian Patagonia. So much so that it’s actually included in the Santa Cruz Province’s coat of arms. Fitz Roy is definitely spectacular, and the backpacker town at the bottom, El Chalten, is lively and full of great hostels and pubs. There are multiple day hikes you can take to and around Mt. Fitz Roy, including the trails Laguna de los Tres, Laguna Capri, and Laguna Torre to name just a few. It is also home to the Humel Circuit - a 3 to 4 day circuit that takes you out to the Humel glacier and into the Southern Patagonia Ice Field which starts and ends in El Chalten. Due to time constraints, we only had one day to spend in El Chalten, but to do it all over again, I would definitely stay for a couple days. El Chalten is quaint, pretty, and the trails around Mt. Fitz Roy are stunning. We took the back trail from Hostal El Pilar to Laguna de los Tres and it took us about 7 hours round trip, which included a 1 hour stop at the top to admire the view.
The Lake District & San Carlos de Bariloche
We found ourselves in San Carlos de Bariloche totally on accident. We meant to spend most of our drive on the Carretera Austral in Chilean Patagonia, but found out a little too late ferry tickets for the last section of the Carretera must be booked a couple weeks in advance (whoops! we’ll go over all that later). We had to make some last minute alterations to course, and that landed us in Bariloche for one day and one night. We were so happy we went! Not only did my husband get to have is picture taken with a steampunk version of one of his favorite movie characters (facepalm…), we wound up having the best steaks of our lives in this town at local restaurant Alto el Fuego. Seriously guys, if you are in Bariloche and are looking for a dinner spot, go to Alto el Fuego. I have honest to god never had a better steak anywhere. And that’s saying a lot since we spent 5 days in Buenos Aires doing nothing but visiting world famous parrillas (steakhouses). And while we never actually got to spend any time in the lake district, we did drive around a bit and found ourselves wishing we didn’t have an itinerary to keep. We will absolutely be returning to Bariloche on our next trip to South America.
Volcan Lanin - Northern Patagonia
One attraction that we simply drove by on our way to our next stay was Volcan Lanin. Located North of San Carlos de Bariloche on the border between Argentina and Chile, Volcan Lanin is technically a part of two national parks: Lanin National Park in Argentina, and Villarica National Park in Chile (named after Volcan Villarica which we will get to in 10 Pucón Attractions that can’t be Missed). If volcanoes are your thing, then this one is a must see. There is a campsite nearby - actually just across the street - and multiple mountain guides that can take you to the glaciated summit of the volcano. One of the great things about Lanin is that while the climb will be challenging, I’m told there isn’t much technical mountaineering involved, so it’s a great climb for beginners!
Other Route 40 Attractions:
The above mentioned attractions are what we saw on the small part of Route 40 that we traveled. We drove all the way from El Calfate to Chile Chico on Route 40, and then again from Esquel to Lanin National Park. Once you get past El Chalten, it’s pretty bare…and I don’t just mean the landscape. You will hardly see another car, and towns are few and far, far between. The section we drove between Esquel and Lanin was much more populated, and the roads were in significantly better condition.
While we can’t give you firsthand experience on all the Route 40 attractions, if you are planning a big Route 40 road trip, here are 10 other sights you won’t want to miss:
A multi-colored stone valley with ochres, reds, pinks, and hues of white and gray set in the Puna Plateau in Jujuy province
212 sq km (82 sq miles) of white salt flats in the Puna Highlands at 3450 meters (11,300 ft)
The highest national highway pass in the whole world - 4895 meters (16,050 ft) above sea level
Like the Badlands, but badder. Prepare to drive through rock formations that look more like outer space than Earth
These pre-Hispanic ruins were once a provincial capital of the Inca empire
Adrenaline junkies, this one is for you: this section of Route 40 is famous for it’s danger; a cliffhanger highway in the Famatina Mountains
A UNESCO world heritage site, Talampaya is known for it’s rock formations, dinosaur fossils, and pre-Hispanic rock art
Some of the largest lava flow and lava fields in South America. Also, this region is tied for most volcanoes in a given area, averaging 2.75 volcanoes every 10 sq miles
Translate: The Road of 7 Lakes. Running through the Lake District outside San Carlos de Bariloche, this section of paved highway is an alpine wonderland
The cave of hands is in the absolute middle of nowhere, but if you’re driving Route 40, you’ll go right past it. Its famous for it’s paintings of hands that are somewhere between 13,000 and 9,000 years old.
Carretera Austral - Chile
The Carretera Austral, also known as Chile’s Route 7 runs from Puerto Montt in the Los Lagos region all the way to O’Higgins and the start of the Southern Patagonia Ice Field in the Aysén region. There are countless beautiful attractions that can be found along the Carretera Austral that can only be accessed by car; no bus runs the entire route, so if you want to see it, be prepared to road trip or hitchhike. Some of the most famous landmarks along Route 7 are the Marble Caves in Puerto Rio Tranquilo and Queulat National Park.
Much like Argentina’s Route 40, the Carretera Austral is not exceptionally well maintained, so it’s best not to drive at night if you can avoid it. And while animals are less of a concern on Route 7, the road is winding, narrow, and often with little visibility. Chilean truck drivers use this route for deliveries in Aysén, and they don’t slow down. They take corners like they’re the only ones on the road because…well…usually they are. This can make for some close encounters, so be careful around those hairpin turns.
A note about ferries: much of the Chilean side of Patagonia is made up of island archipelagos. At some places, the Carretera Austral will stop completely and you need to board a car ferry to continue on the other side. Make sure you buy your tickets well in advance (like a couple weeks or even a month). We ended up driving a lot of extra miles and going off course because we couldn’t get a ferry.
WHAT WE SAW ON THE CARRETERA AUSTRAL:
Lago General Carrera - Mallin Grande - Aysén Region
To this day, the land in Chile’s Aysén region around Lago General Carrera is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. From the jagged and towering snow capped peaks to the unimaginably blue water (that is somehow still crystal clear!), to the green pastures and wildflower valleys, this area is absolutely stunning. I could have happily gotten lost here and never returned to the world of civilization, and that would have been perfectly fine by me. In fact, I loved it so much, that you can find an entire post on this site titled Mallin Grande - Patagonia’s Best Kept Secret because I honestly believe that this part of the region embodies everything that Patagonia has come to be known for. You can find perfectly polished marble stones on the beaches, friendly sheep in pastures, gigantic boulders scarred by prehistoric glaciers, and mountain trails a-plenty. To top it off, we had the most amazing time staying at Patagonia Acres, which is run by a family from Arizona! When we head back down to Patagonia, we will be paying them a visit as they have become great friends of ours. On the far Western side of Lago General Carrera lie the world famous Marble Caves, which we will talk about….now!
The Marble Caves - Puerto Rio Tranquilo
Most of the reason we decided to take a major Patagonia road trip was because the Marble Caves have been on my bucket list for YEARS, and there’s really not a good way to get there if you don’t have a car. Let me tell you, we were not at all disappointed. Not only were the Marble Caves absolutely stunning and the kayaks super fun, we would probably not have come to this region had it not been for this activity. And this region - Aysén - turned out to be so spectacular! But back to the caves…we had an awesome tour guide that we kind of found by accident. Robinson with Sueños del Sur was so much fun! Even though he spoke no English, and my Spanish is…um…not great…we still managed to have a blast and learn a lot too. He offered to take our GoPro and do all the videoing and photography for us, and it all came out great. Seriously guys, I can’t say enough good things about this experience. It’s truly one of a kind. Check back soon for a video of our Marble Caves adventure!
Other Carretera Austral Attractions:
So, we actually meant to see a lot more on the Route 7 section of our road trip, but we just loved Mallin Grande and Aysén so much that we actually ended up staying a couple extra days and canceling some of our other stops. While we can’t say enough awesome things about Mallin Grande, Aysén and Patagonia Acres, here are some other amazing sights along the Carretera Austral:
The Hanging Glacier - Queulat National Park
A beautiful glacier perched atop a mountain pass with a huge waterfall plummeting down to the base of the canyon below. Oh, and we hear the hike to the viewpoint (2-3 hours) is pretty awesome too.
Be forewarned: this trail crosses private land, and some trekkers have had to pay off the land owners to get access. But from what we’ve heard, it’s totally worth the $15
We were told time and time again by the proprietor of Patagonia Acres to go check out the confluence of these two rivers. However, for some reason we just never made time. Regardless, based on what Justin said, this is a site wort seeing.
Patagonia National Park is newer, and largely unknown. So if you are looking for something off the beaten track and not crowded but still with great views, I’d say check it out!
An artist colony turned large town, Coyhaique has some great shopping, an awesome craft market, and some really great food/drinks. There are a couple of other cool nature attractions nearby as well. We stayed at an AirBnB here for one night just to get some rest and some dinner, and then pressed on in the morning.
Our Itinerary
Now that we’ve covered what you can see on both of the epic and fabled Patagonian highways, here is how we broke it down. Not to pat ourselves on the back or anything, but we think this itinerary is pretty great; we had an AWESOME time! That said, we’ve added some notes at the end about some things we would do differently if we had the chance to do it all over again - after all, hindsight is 20/20.
Day 1: Pick up car in Puerto Natales and drive to El Calafate - 3 hour, 17 minute drive
Day 2: Explore El Calafate
Day 3: Visit Perito Moreno Glacier - 45 minute drive
Day 4: Day trip up to El Chalten and hike trails around Mt. Fitz Roy. Drive back to El Calafate or stay in El Chalten for the night - 3 hour, 39 minutes one way
Day 5: Drive to Puerto Rio Tranquilo or Mallin Grande (wherever you have accommodation - we recommend Mallin Grande) - 12 hour, 9 minute drive —> remember those llooonnnggg days we told you about?
Day 6 - 8: Explore Mallin Grande, Lago General Carerra and Puerto Rio Tranquilo. Kayak the marble caves, and maybe do some fly fishing! Check out the confluence or maybe do some of the awesome day hikes in the area.
Day 9: Drive to Coyhaique. Enjoy the scenery, check out the craft markets and have a nice dinner in town - 6 hour, 13 minute drive
Day 10: Drive to Futaleufu. Get some rest, enjoy the small town. 8 hour, 28 minute drive
Day 11: Drive to San Carlos de Bariloche. Check out the city - it will be the biggest city you’ve seen in a while. And you MUST have dinner at Alto el Fuego!! - 5 hour, 17 minute drive
Day 12: Drive to Pucón. Have dinner at one of the numerous amazing restaurants in town - 4 hour, 49 minute drive
Day 13-15: Explore Pucón. Go white water rafting, trek up Volcan Villarica, and don’t miss Thermas Geometricas! For a full list of great things to do and see in Pucón, check out 10 Pucón Attractions that can’t be Missed
Day 14: Sad day. Drive to Temuco Airport to drop off rental car and end your road trip - 1 hour, 34 minute drive
What we might have done differently:
Allocate more time: most of the guides we read said that you need about 1 month to do a full, true Patagonia road trip…and they’re right. While we are extremely happy with our decisions about what we saw and what we skipped, we did in fact have to skip some things due to time constraints. Our advice? If you’ve got the time, take the time. Not only will you get to see more of the awesomeness Patagonia has to offer, you won’t feel quite as rushed and will have more time to rest between long drives.
Spend more time in Bariloche and the Lakes District: we only got one day and one night in San Carlos de Bariloche (and that was totally by accident), but we certainly left feeling like we didn’t get enough. If we went back and did it again, I would spend 2 or 3 days exploring the town and the lake trails.
Visit Queulat National Park: We drove through Queulat National Park, but did not do any hiking. The park was on our original itinerary, but because we elected to stay an extra day at Patagonia Acres in Mallin Grande, we had to skip our one night camping at Queulat.
Break up the drive better between Coyhaique and Futaleufu: While the route that took us to Futaleufu was 100% improvised due to lack of ferry availability, there is definitively a better way to do that. I wanted to stop at all sorts of little towns and beautiful natural monuments and miradors along the way, but due to the fact that we had a deadline, we had to press on.
What we absolutely wouldn’t change:
The amount of time we spent in Mallin Grande at Patagonia Acres: ok, seriously guys, you’ve just got to go read my post about this place. Once you get there, you’ll never want to leave. Honestly…we were even looking at property for sale! There is so much diversity here and the scenery is out of this world. Not to mention that staying at Patagonia Acres feels more like visiting family or old friends than it does staying at a hotel. The family that runs the place is SO NICE! They make you feel amazingly welcome. And let’s not forget about the animals everywhere!
The amount of time or where we stayed in Pucón: at first we weren’t exactly sure that we needed that much time in Pucón, but after being there for a couple days, we were super glad we had it. Much of this had to do with the AMAZING AirBnB we stayed in during our time there. Much of our time in Pucón was spent achieving some much needed r & r. We had been driving pretty much non-stop for 3 days, and it was nice to have a comfortable, cozy and nice place to call our own for a while. Furthermore, there’s actually tons to do in this little hipster town! It actually reminded us a lot of Boulder, Colorado.
Anything else: honestly guys, we probably wouldn’t change anything else about this trip. We had so much fun together driving through all the diverse and amazing scenery. We loved meeting our AirBnB hosts and talking to them about their towns (spoiler: they were all so proud of being Patagonian!), and we loved all the fun activities we got to enjoy along the way. I only wish it didn’t have to end.
