One of the great trips for adventure or to enjoy nature is to visit the extreme south of Chile. I prepared this guide to travel to Chilean Patagonia with tips, information and what I recommend to visit.
This guide is based on my experience travelling through this beautiful part of the country. I was born in the Argentinean Patagonia, in the city of Bariloche, and for many years I travelled a large part of this territory on the Argentinean and Chilean side.
Many people wonder whether it is better to visit Chilean Patagonia or Argentine Patagonia, and based on my experience I recommend visiting both, together or on different trips. Both have unique sights to see, with lakes, glaciers, snow-capped mountains and charming villages predominating. On the Argentinean side there are areas of steppe that you won’t find in Chile, in Chile you have fjords that you won’t find in Argentina, and so on and so forth.
Focusing on Chile, here is a detailed guide to travelling to Chilean Patagonia with everything you need to know before you set off.
Table of Contents
Where is Chilean Patagonia?
Although it has generated controversy where Chilean Patagonia begins in its extreme north, for me the real Patagonian landscapes start from the south of the city of Temuco, Pucon and Villarica area, to the extreme south of the country in Punta Arenas.
It is a strip of land covering some 2,000 kilometres, surrounded by the Andes Mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
What landscapes will you find if you visit Chilean Patagonia?
Visiting the Chilean Patagonia is mainly about getting to know one of the most beautiful landscapes in the world and a region with a low population density.
Their beauty includes volcanoes such as Villarica, lakes such as Frutillar or General Carrera, glaciers such as Queulat, Balmaceda and Serrano, marine fauna sighting such as penguins and whales, culture, ancestral traditions and architecture on Chiloe Island, fjords visitable by cruise ship and of course high snow-capped mountains of the Andes Mountain Range with unique landscapes such as Torres del Paine.
Many of the landscapes that Chilean Patagonia has to offer are not to be found in other parts of the world. Only similar landscapes are found on the Argentinian side of Patagonia, next to the mountains.
Requirements for travel to Chile as a tourist
Most passports do not require a visa to enter Chile. If you are a citizen of the European Union, United States, Canada or Mexico you can enter Chile without a visa for a period of 90 days.
Citizens of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, Paraguay and Peru can enter with their DNI, without a passport.
An exit ticket and proof of sufficient funds during the stay in the country, which is currently USD 46 for each day of stay, may also be required at the time of entry into Chile.
Citizens of Australia are required to obtain an electronic visa to enter the country subject to the payment of the so-called Reciprocity Tax. It can be processed through the official website of Tramites Consulares, more information on the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Chile.
Although it is not compulsory to take out travel insurance to visit Chile, we recommend you do so, as you are covered for any unforeseen medical and accident event, including repatriation, theft or loss of luggage and many other benefits.
As a Gopatagonic reader, you have a 5% discount when taking out travel insurance regardless of the date of travel, which is extended to a 20% discount if you travel with a family group (at least one of the three people is a minor and they all live at the same address). Take advantage of this offer by taking out travel insurance to Chile here.
Best time to visit Chilean Patagonia
Clearly the best time to visit Chilean Patagonia is during the summer months of the southern hemisphere, from November to March.
However, it is necessary to differentiate by zones. From Puerto Montt upwards you can visit at any time of the year, because although it is cold in winter, it is not so extreme.
From Puerto Montt on down, the cold is already felt much more outside of the summer season. Even many of the treks you will not be able to do due to the presence of snow that blocks the road. In addition, some lodging places and campgrounds are closed during this season.
Therefore, if you are thinking of a trip to Chilean Patagonia visiting several areas, it is best to do it during the country’s summer. The end of the year, January and February are the most crowded months due to the country’s vacation period. Although these are the best months in terms of weather, prices are higher than in other periods such as November or March.
How many days are needed to visit Chilean Patagonia?
It depends a lot on what region you want to visit, if you just want to see something in particular or make a trip to get into the landscape of the Chilean Patagonia.
At the very least I recommend you to visit Torres del Paine and if possible go trekking, an experience you will never forget. Also, Chiloe Island and some sites in the Aysen region such as Queulat Park near Puyuhuapi, the chapels of Mármol or glaciers near Puerto Río Tranquilo. Finally, another must-see in Chilean Patagonia is the area of Pucon with its volcanoes.
Visiting these places requires at least 7 to 10 days. If you have less than a week, I recommend focusing on only one area of Chilean Patagonia (Carretera Austral or Extremo Sur de Chile or areas near Puerto Montt). Even in this period you can combine some of Chilean Patagonia and Argentina such as Torres del Paine and El Calafate.
If you want to tour Chilean Patagonia in detail, it is best to do it in at least two weeks, although if you have even three weeks you can do it more easily.
🔎 See our article on the 7-day itinerary for Chilean Patagonia and 10-day itinerary.
How to get to Chilean Patagonia and how to move between destinations
The best way to get to Chilean Patagonia is by plane. The airport of entry to Chile is its capital Santiago de Chile, then from there you can fly to different airports in Chilean Patagonia.
Which airlines mainly operate in Chilean Patagonia: Most flights are operated by Latam, JetSmart, Sky and Dap to the following destinations: Puerto Montt, Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales in summer and Balmaceda.
Both Balmaceda, Punta Arenas and Puerto Montt are well connected to each other, allowing you to fly between destinations without returning to Santiago de Chile to visit different parts of Chilean Patagonia such as Chiloe Island, Pucon, Torres del Paine or the Aysen region.
Due to its geography, traveling through Chilean Patagonia by car or bus is recommended from the Araucania region (Temuco and Pucon) to the Lakes region (Puerto Montt and surroundings and Chiloe Island). The Aysen region, basically known as the Austral Highway, can be done by car, but it is important to take into account that part of the route is on gravel roads and some ferries must be taken.
🚗 Want to rent a car? Quote here.
Many people want to travel to the Chilean Patagonia to live the adventure of doing the southern highway by car or motorcycle. If you want to live this experience you will not regret it, but you should at least dedicate about two weeks to fully explore the landscape of this area of Chile.
The southern tip of Chile is inaccessible by car through Chilean territory. To access the area, you must enter through Argentina and then cross back into Chile from the border crossing near Puerto Natales. Due to the large number of kilometers, it is not recommended if you are only going to visit the southern end of Chilean Patagonia.
Chilean Patagonia Cruises
Another way to connect different sites in Chilean Patagonia is with a cruise. In addition, you have the advantage of visiting the impressive coast of the Chilean Patagonia with its fjords. There are several companies that make the trip such as Navimag and Skorpios or Australis.
Many of the cruises in Chilean Patagonia depart from Puerto Montt. Two of the most recommended tours are:
- Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales in 4 days, which allows then to go to Torres del Paine.
- Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales, passing through Chiloe Island and Aysen. Spectacular to know fjords, channels and glaciers.
In addition, there are other routes to get to know the landscapes of the Chilean Patagonian coast and even cross into Argentina:
- Cruise around the islands of Chiloe.
- Cruise from Puerto Natales to the South and North Ice Fields (Amalia Glacier, San Rafael Glacier or Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers), returning to Puerto Natales.
- Cruise from Punta Arenas to Ushuaia in Argentina, passing Cape Horn.
Prices are not cheap for these cruises, starting at USD 800 per person if traveling in a double room and reaching up to USD 4000, depending on the time of year and the route.
Passenger cruises operate on most routes from October to April. If you are going to visit Chilean Patagonia in at least three weeks, I recommend taking this type of cruise to see the glaciers and fjords from the sea.
Is it expensive to travel to Chilean Patagonia?
By South American standards, travel to Chilean Patagonia is expensive. However, if we compare it with other destinations in the world such as the United States, Switzerland, Japan, the United Kingdom or Nordic countries, prices are lower.
The prices of the excursions vary, but the ones that are really worthwhile start at about USD 50 per person and go up to USD 200. Even cruises exceed USD 500 per person.
As for lodging, the price varies depending on the place in Chile, the further south, the more expensive. A double room in a basic hotel costs around USD 70/80, rising to USD 150/200 for higher category hotels.
Is it safe to travel in Chilean Patagonia?
Traveling in Chilean Patagonia is very safe. You can move both day and night in the tourist places and in the center of towns and cities.
While there have been, and still are, confrontations over land claims of the indigenous Mapuche people against the government and owners of large tracts of private property in Chilean Patagonia, these are sporadic and pose no danger to tourists.
What to see in Chilean Patagonia
From Temuco to Punta Arenas the places to visit in Chilean Patagonia are almost endless. The following is a summary of the main places of interest if you take a two-week to one-month itinerary in Chilean Patagonia. If you are traveling less than two weeks you will have to choose some of them.
- Pucón area: the must are the ascent to the Villarica volcano and rafting on the Trancura river or the Geometricas hot springs. You need at least two days, although the ideal is to spend 3 days in Pucón. City to base in Pucon or Villarrica.
- Frutillar area: lake, waterfront and the impressive views of the Osorno volcano plus a boat ride on the Todos los Santos lake. I recommend one or two days. City to base Frutillar.
- Chiloe Island: you must visit the palafitos of Castro, eat in the kitchens of Dalcahue, visit some of the churches built in wood and the Chiloe National Park with its pier of the Souls. I recommend 3 days in Chiloe. Ideal city to base Castro.
- Carretera Austral from Puerto Montt to Villa O’higgins: you must visit the Queulat National Park, make the excursion to the Marmol Chapels, sail towards the Exploradores Glacier and San Rafael Lagoon, and of course, travel the entire Carretera Austral. If you want to see any of these places, we recommend taking a flight to Balmaceda airport or going from Puerto Montt renting a car. As a minimum you should consider five days, but if you want to do the entire Carretera Austral you should consider at least 10 days.
- Magallanes area (extreme south of Chile): essential Torres del Paine plus some additional excursions such as Milodon Cave, Magellanic penguin sighting or Balmaceda and Serrano glacier. If you get here you have to do one of the treks in Torres del Paine (the so-called W circuit is five days in total). Recommended place to base, Puerto Natales.
- And if you want to go even further south…from Punta Arenas you can go to Antarctica either by cruise ship or by plane. I tell you about it in our guide to travel to Antarctica. I anticipate that it is not a cheap trip but the experience is unique!
🔎 If you are traveling two weeks to Chilean Patagonia, we have an article with a detailed itinerary to visit Chilean Patagonia in 15 days.
Do you want to combine Chilean Patagonia with Argentina? Check out this article with the itinerary I recommend to visit the must-see places in Patagonia in 10 days.
What to wear to Chilean Patagonia
My clothing recommendations based on trips I have made to Patagonia are as follows:
- You should bring a coat even if you are traveling in the summer season, especially if you are visiting the extreme south of Chile. Do not forget thermal shirts and pants. If you are going trekking, take at least two trekking pants.
- Bring waterproof clothing to have on hand in case of rain, for some lake excursions in small boats or marine fauna sightings.
- Cap, sunglasses and sunscreen are indispensable if you go trekking or if you visit the glaciers. Although it may not look like it, the sun burns a lot
- Wear gloves and a winter hat if you visit the southernmost area, as it is windy and the temperature drops sharply at night.
- In the north of Chilean Patagonia during the day you will be able to wear short sleeve shirts, but at night you should always wear a coat.
Tips for traveling to Chilean Patagonia
- Don’t try to cover everything, Chilean Patagonia is very large and if you don’t have at least two weeks, focus on one area.
- Book flights in advance, especially if you are traveling to Punta Arenas because in high season there is a lot of demand.
- For trekking, you can rent clothes in many places in Chilean Patagonia. For example, in Puerto Natales to go to Torres del Paine.
- Check the weather before trekking. The weather in Chilean Patagonia is changeable, typical mountain weather. If there is excessive wind, avoid visiting outdoor places.
- Taste the exquisite gastronomy of Chilean Patagonia, mainly seafood such as spider crab in the extreme south, lamb, salmon, trout, curanto (meat and vegetables cooked underground with hot stones) and paila marina (soup containing seafood such as clams, octopus).
- Finally, enjoy the excursions and landscapes while respecting the environment. Fortunately, Chilean Patagonia continues to maintain places free of human contamination.
Map with the must-see places in Chilean Patagonia
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