Thinking of travel to Patagonia Argentina? We leave you the information and tips you need to know to plan your trip based on our experience traveling several times to this area.
Patagonia Argentina is one of those places where every landscape will dazzle you. Glaciers, snow-capped mountains, volcanoes, turquoise lakes, long beaches and native flora and fauna are among the main attractions.
If you are a foreigner, here is all the information you need to plan your trip to Patagonia.
Table of Contents
Where is Patagonia Argentina
Located in the extreme south of the country, Patagonia Argentina is spread over five provinces. Although there is no established limit, the Colorado River that flows through the steppe to the Atlantic Ocean can be taken as the beginning of Patagonia, everything to the south is already Patagonian soil.
The territory it covers is very extensive, about 2,500 kilometers from north to south and about 800 kilometers in its widest part from west to east.
What landscapes you will find in Patagonia Argentina
The Argentine Patagonia is delimited by the high mountains of the Andes Mountain Range in its western part with the presence of lakes and glaciers, and wide wild beaches in its eastern part on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, with the presence of high cliffs in many of them.
In the center between the mountains and the Atlantic Ocean is the Patagonian steppe, a large arid and windy area with gentle undulations and where sheep and animals such as guanacos and rheas are raised.
In addition, the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean are excellent for the sighting of marine fauna such as whales, dolphins, orcas, penguins, sea lions and elephant seals.
Best time to travel to Patagonia Argentina
The best time to travel in Patagonia Argentina is from november to march., when the weather is ideal for beach holidays on the Atlantic coast, such as Las Grutas or Puerto Madryn, trekking in the mountains of the Andes in Bariloche, El Chaltén, Ushuaia or El Calafate, enjoying the lakeside campsites and visiting the natural wonders without getting too cold. In addition, there are activities that cannot be done in the middle of winter, such as the hike over the Perito Moreno glacier.
At this time of year, there are noticeable temperature differences between northern Patagonia Argentina (Neuquen, Rio Negro provinces), with warmer weather and cooler nights, and southern Patagonia Argentina (Ushuaia and El Calafate). The latter two cities are cold and windy all year round.
Winter is ideal for lovers of snow sports. There are several ski resorts scattered throughout the mountains including Cerro Catedral in Bariloche, Cerro Bayo in Villa La Angostura, Cerro La Hoya in Esquel and Cerro Chapelco in San Martin de los Andes.
If you want to see marine wildlife, you have to go at certain times of the year. From may to november is the time for whale watching at Peninsula Valdes, from october to february is the time to see penguins at Punta Tombo, near Trelew.
How many days are needed to visit Patagonia Argentina?
According to our experience touring Patagonia, to see the essentials you will need at least two weeks in Patagonia Argentina. This is to visit Ushuaia, El Calafate, El Chaltén, Bariloche and surroundings.
If you only have 7 days in Patagonia Argentina, I recommend focusing on El Calafate, El Chaltén and Ushuaia.
If you want to do a more extensive tour and visit other places such as Puerto Madryn on the Atlantic coast, Cueva de las Manos and other more inhospitable places, I recommend you to stay in Patagonia Argentina for at least three weeks.
What are the requirements to travel to Argentina as a tourist?
The requirements to enter Argentina as a tourist are as follows:
- Valid passport with at least three months validity. If you are a Mercosur citizen you can enter with an identity card.
- Proof of financial means can be requested (50 dollars a day for the number of days of stay in the country). Proof can be in the form of cash, credit card or traveller’s cheques.
- A return flight ticket to the country of origin or a ticket to leave the country may also be requested.
- The maximum length of stay in the country is 90 days and a visa is not required for most nationalities (Europe, United States, Latin America, Australia, etc.).
- From 2025 onwards, it is compulsory to take out travel insurance to visit Argentina, according to regulations issued by the Argentinean government. 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 Argentina here.
Is it safe to travel to Patagonia Argentina?
There is a lot of talk about insecurity in Argentina when you travel as a tourist. It is true that in certain areas it is not advisable to walk at night (Buenos Aires, Rosario, Cordoba, Mar del Plata, Mendoza), but if you move around the city centres you are not likely to be at risk of robbery.
In Patagonia Argentina this situation changes completely, as it is an area of the country where robberies, especially armed robberies, are infrequent and you can walk around with complete peace of mind, even at night. With the exception of large cities such as Bariloche, in the rest of the touristic places of the Argentinean Patagonia such as Ushuaia, El Calafate, El Chaltén, San Martín de los Andes, Villa La Angostura, Esquel, El Bolsón, Puerto Madryn, Las Grutas and the small towns, security is total and life is very relaxed.
How to get to Patagonia Argentina and move between destinations
Due to the distances, it is advisable to take flights whenever possible. By bus, it takes about 23 hours from Buenos Aires to get to Bariloche, for example. By plane, on the other hand, it takes only two and a half hours.
There are flights from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia, Bariloche, El Calafate, San Martin de los Andes, Esquel, Comodoro Rivadavia, Rio Gallegos and Esquel. Also from inland cities such as Rosario or Cordoba there are some flights to Patagonia Argentina.
Check here for cheap flights to Patagonia Argentina.
In many occasions, the bus is the most convenient means of transportation to move between cities in Patagonia, such as going from Bariloche to San Martín de los Andes, Villa La Angostura or Puerto Madryn. The buses have spacious seats that allow for comfortable travel.
State of the roads in Patagonia Argentina if you travel by car
Argentine Patagonia has two main routes: the route 3 east side and bordering the Atlantic Ocean passing through Puerto Madryn, Las Grutas, Trelew, Comodoro Rivadavia until reaching Rio Gallegos, and the route 40 which runs along the Andes Mountains in the west, from the town of Chos Malal in Neuquén to Río Gallegos, passing through Bariloche, San Martín de los Andes, Villa La Angostura, El Bolsón, Esquel and El Calafate.
Route 3 is completely asphalted with some sections that are not in good condition. Route 40 is almost completely asphalted except for two sections: 48 kilometres between Río Gallegos and Río Turbio and 72 kilometres from Estancia Lucia to the junction with Lake Cardiel, both in the province of Santa Cruz.
Check here for rental car pricesin Patagonia Argentina.
There are several roads connecting Route 3 in the east with Route 40 in the west. Those that are fully paved are Route 22 in the north of the province of Río Negro, Route 26 in the south of the province of Chubut, Route 43 in the north of the province of Santa Cruz, Route 27 and 288 in the center of Santa Cruz and Route 5 that connects Río Gallegos with El Calafate.
Is it expensive to travel to Patagonia Argentina?
If we take as a reference the whole country from north to south, Patagonia Argentina is an expensive place to travel compared to other destinations in Argentina.
Nowadays, travelling in Argentina for a foreigner has become more expensive than in previous years. The appreciation of the local currency against the dollar and the euro, makes it not so cheap to visit the country, and especially Patagonia.
As for accommodation, you can get double rooms in mid-range hotels for about USD 60/70 per night, up to USD 150/200 in higher category hotels. This will vary according to the destination (El Calafate and Ushuaia are the most expensive) and the time of the year (New Year’s Eve and January are the most expensive).
Where to exchange and withdraw money in Argentina (2026)
The Argentine peso is stabilising month by month, as annual inflation, although still high, is falling (currently 33.6% per annum).
Since April 2025, the official exchange rate (1 dollar = 1,460 pesos; 1 euro = 1,725 pesos as of January 2026) has been operating almost normally. There is still a parallel market, but as restrictions on the purchase of dollars for Argentines are completely lifted, this black market will begin to disappear, or its rate will tend to be similar to the official exchange rate.
At present, any expenditure made with a foreign credit card is quoted at the official dollar rate.
Our recommendation is that, if you are travelling in Argentina for about 15 days, take some cash to exchange and pay the rest by credit card.
Another factor to bear in mind is that not all shops in Argentina accept credit card payments, especially some restaurants, or in some cases apply a small surcharge on the price. That’s why it’s a good idea to take some cash with you to change it in the country, and there are even places where you can get a discount of up to 10% for paying in cash.
What to see in Patagonia Argentina, the essentials
Based on our experience, here are the essential things to do in Patagonia Argentina with the recommended days in each area:
- Bariloche area and surroundings: it is essential to do the Chico circuit, Mount Catedral, navigation on Lake Nahuel Huapi, the panoramic route of the Seven Lakes and Mount Tronador. You will need at least three days to see some of this, five days if you want to do the whole thing. Check here the best excursions to do in Bariloche.
- El Calafate and surroundings: the Perito Moreno glacier, navigation on the glaciers and a visit to El Chalten are a must. Minimum 3 days, but if you want to do trekking in El Chalten or visit a Patagonian estancia, we recommend at least five days.
- Ushuaia: a must: End of the World Train, TIerra del Fuego National Park, navigation on the Beagle Channel and the Presidio Museum. We recommend at least three days in Ushuaia.
- Puerto Madryn: whale watching is a must from July to November, penguin watching from September to April. In addition, it has extensive beaches to enjoy in summer and the town of Gaiman where you can drink Welsh tea. We recommend a minimum of three days.
There are many more places to visit in Patagonia Argentina, that’s why we have made this article with everything to see in Patagonia Argentina with recommended days in each place. You may also find our article with a 7, 10 and 14 day itinerary through Patagonia Argentina useful.
What to take to Patagonia Argentina
Depending on the time of the year you visit, the clothing to wear varies. Winters are very cold with snowfalls throughout the mountain range area and summers are hot during the day in the northern part of Patagonia Argentina, and temperate in the southern part of Patagonia Argentina.
At night, the temperature drops considerably in the southern area of Patagonia (El Calafate and El Chaltén) and you need warm clothes.
In general considerations if you visit several places in Patagonia Argentina do not forget:
- Bring warm clothes, even if you go in summer. The climate is windy and if you visit Ushuaia or El Calafate it is cold all year round.
- Wear thermal T-shirts and pants if you go trekking in winter or if you visit glaciers or Ushuaia at any time of the year.
- It is essential waterproof clothing, especially if you go to the mountains, the southern end of Patagonia or go on an excursion embarking on the Atlantic coast.
- Cap, sunglasses and sunscreen are indispensable at any time of the year. There is snow on the peaks in summer and the reflection of the sun on the ice masses of the glaciers burns the skin.
- Bring gloves and winter hat if you visit the southernmost area, it is windy and the temperature drops sharply at night.
- In summer, if you visit the beaches or the northernmost western area of Patagonia, such as Bariloche, you should also wear light clothing, since during the day temperatures exceed 20 degrees Celsius, even reaching 30 degrees.
- Don’t forget your bathing suit if you visit the beach area in summer. Although the water is cold, although with a certain microclimate in areas of Las Grutas, for example, it is worth swimming in the sea.
Tips for traveling to Patagonia Argentina
- If you are going to drive in Patagonia Argentina, try not to do it at night. The distances are long, many of the stretches are deserted and there are no gas stations, in addition to the presence of animals on the roads. If you suffer a car breakdown, it is very likely that you will be stopped on the road for several hours until the tow truck arrives or you receive help from another driver.
- Try to ensure that the minimum length of stay in Patagonia is adequate. There are many places to see and the distances are great, added to a not so frequent air connection. If you want to visit both eastern and western Patagonia Argentina and Ushuaia you need at least fifteen days.
- In high season (winter vacations in Argentina and the months of January and February) reserve your accommodations in advance. The number of Argentine and foreign tourists increases significantly during these dates.
- It is a good option to buy a SIM to have whastapp and phone in the country. There are prepaid subscriptions that are very cheap for foreigners.
- Prices for lodging, meals and excursions are more expensive in Patagonia than in the rest of the country. So if you are going to continue on your way through Argentina keep this in mind when budgeting. In any case, for a foreigner today it is cheap to travel around the country due to the devaluation of the Argentine peso.
See here where to sleep in Patagonia Argentina and the best excursions to do.
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