Chile vs Argentina Patagonia: which should you choose?

The untamed southern reaches of South America, Patagonia’s wild landscapes are as spectacular as they are beautiful, a land of towering mountains reflected in shimmering lakes, ice-blue glaciers and thick forest. From the gentler drama of the Lake Districts to the rugged scenery of Torres del Paine National Park and El Chalten, you can hike, kayak, cruise and drive your way around, spotting wildlife and icebergs forming, and discovering unexpected history and heritage along the way. But the big question is whether to choose Chile or Argentina Patagonia for your trip. We’ve picked some of the highlights of both – and the best ways to squeeze both into a single itinerary.

Patagonia stretches across the southern tip of South America, split across Argentina and Chile by the Andes mountains, and bordered by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to east and west, and the Strait of Magellan to the south. The entire region covers around 400,000 square miles, approximately half the entire landmass of Chile and a third of Argentina.

The vast majority lies within Argentina, around 90% of Patagonia, compared to 10% in Chile. But it’s home to less than 5% of either country’s population, making it the least populated region on the planet – there are almost as many penguins as people in Patagonia.

This wild region is famous for its glaciers, rugged landscape, snowy peaks, forests and lakes, with the Lake District in both Chile and Argentina also forming part of Patagonia. Home to Mount Fitz Roy, one of the world’s most challenging climbs, as well as active volcanoes, the area also includes an area in Argentina known as Welsh Patagonia, home to Welsh colonists who settled here in the mid-19^th century to preserve Welsh heritage and language.

Patagonia’s own name derives from the word ‘patagónes’, which means big feet, a name given to the local inhabitants, the Tehuelche, by Ferdinand Magellan, the first European to set foot here in 1520.

Whether you choose to visit Patagonia in Chile or Argentina, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable experience in this wild corner of the world. But each country has its own particular attractions, so if you’re struggling to make up your mind, we’ve picked out the highlights of each. Still can’t decide? You can visit both on our Argentina and Chile: The Ultimate Journey itinerary, or on a cruise from Argentina to Chile around Cape Horn, following in the footsteps of Charles Darwin.

Although Chile has a smaller share of Patagonia, you won’t be short of places to explore, particularly at Torres del Paine National Park which is one of the most popular areas for tourists. While it takes some effort to get here, you’ll find everything from easy hikes to more demanding treks to allow you to make the most of the dramatic landscapes.

There’s also a chance to spot penguins in locations from the southernmost tip of Chile to the northernmost gateway to Patagonia, along with other wildlife, or explore the beautiful Lake District with its glacial lakes and European-influenced towns.

• Torres del Paine National Park – most famous for the four-day W trek, which gives you a chance of spotting guanaco (a type of llama), condor and even puma as well as the dramatic landscape of mountains, lakes, vast glaciers and dense forest, you’ll also find shorter (and more challenging) hikes to explore. And if you don’t fancy doing it all on foot, you can also explore a lot of the area around Puerto Natales by car
• Punta Arenas – on the southernmost tip of Chile, the town of Punta Arenas manages to feel remote but with an unexpectedly lively atmosphere. There’s history to enjoy or you can spot a huge colony of Magellanic penguins on Magdalena Island nearby.
• Puerto Varas and the Lake District – this German-style town sits on a lake with views across two volcanoes. Set out on scenic drives around the area, follow walking trails around the lake shore or see the beautiful Petrohue Falls. You can also explore the oldest national park in South America, Vicente Rosales before crossing from Chile to Argentina.
• Isla de Chiloé – the Chiloé archipelago is part of Northern Patagonia, but probably not what you picture when you think of the region. Just a short ferry ride from the mainland, you’ll find lush forests and wooden churches, as well as lots of penguin spotting. The beaches might be wet and wild at times, but it’s a wonderful place to hike as well.

By far the largest chunk of Patagonia lies in Argentina, and this vast expanse brings both pros and cons – there’s also a huge amount here to discover but you’ll need to allow more time to travel. It’s over 1,300 miles from Bariloche to Ushuaia, for example, and 1,100 between Puerto Madryn and Ushuaia. If you’re hoping to visit more than one part of Argentine Patagonia, you’ll need to be ready to fly along the way.

But as long as you’re prepared for the distances, Argentina’s slice of Patagonia is home to the wonderful Los Glaciares National Park, as well as popular hiking areas including El Calafate, El Chalten and remote Tierra del Fuego, the Valdes Peninsula, the Lake District, and even a chance to experience gaucho life.

• El Chalten – Argentina’s youngest town, the name means ‘smoking mountain’, a reminder of the looming summit of Mount Fitz Roy, with the chance to take a full-day hike to the foot of the peak from El Chalten. Having your base in the town means you’ll have restaurants and shops within walking distance, as well as easily accessible trails which start from El Chalten itself, alongside some easier treks to nearby waterfalls and lakes.
• Los Glaciares National Park – home to 13 separate glaciers, you can get close to the 60m-high Perito Moreno glacier, where jagged sheets of ice often break off to plummet into the water below. Less busy than Torres del Paine National Park, it’s often quieter than the Chilean side, but this world of icy blue landscapes, icebergs and glacial lakes is spectacular.
• Valdes Peninsula – heaven for anyone who loves marine wildlife, this stretch of land in northern Patagonia borders the Atlantic Ocean, where Southern Right Whales arrive from June to December with their calves, and where you can spot elephant seals, penguins, orca, dolphins and more. The Valdes Peninsula is also home to the Welsh Patagonia settlement.
• Bariloche and the Lake District – one of the loveliest parts of Argentina, the chocolate box town of Bariloche sits on Lake Nahuel Huapi, ringed by the snow-tipped Andes. Enjoy everything from kayaking on glacial lakes to walks through the forest, plus skiing and snowboarding during winter. You can also cross from Argentina to Chile from here.
• Stay with gauchos – a mainstay of Argentinian culture, the country’s cowboys are often associated with the grasslands of the Pampas, but you’ll find their ranches in Patagonia too, where you can stay on an estancia and get involved in the life of the farm. Try your hand at everything from shearing sheep and milking cows before tucking into traditional barbecue, or asado.
• Ushuaia – if you’re combining your time in Argentina with a trip to Antarctica, you’ll almost certainly leave from Ushuaia, the closest inhabited place to the South Pole, so exploring Argentinian Patagonia means you’re in the right place to start your next adventure.