Thursday 26 September 2013


If someone asks you, given a choice, what would you go for, the beach or the mountains? And, if it is the mountains for you, then perhaps Patagonia is one of the places you surely must give a serious thought to. Patagonia is a region in southern part of South America. It is a region that comes under both, Chile and Argentina. It comprises the southernmost portion of the Andes mountains to the west and south, plateaus and low plains to the east. Endowed with an abundance of nature's bounty, Patagonia is nothing short of a traveler's and trekker's delight. Trekking in Patagonia is a great way of exploring this mystical region.

Independent Trekking in Patagonia

Spot 1
Well, we first go north and see what does the Northern section of Patagonian Andes have to offer. This section is called the Lake District and it is a beautiful region comprising thick forests, snow capped volcanoes and lochs, straddling the Chile-Argentina border. This is one of the best areas for hiking in Patagonia because it is yet to be explored exhaustively. This area boasts of a lot of short hikes, backpacking trips and some fabulous areas for mountain biking. All this through vast, unexplored and untouched forests. In addition to this, there is no dearth of accommodation options there. Another attraction of this area is the opportunity to check out volcanoes and get a taste of river rafting as well.

Spot 2
Meiling Mountain Hut, Mount Tronador is another good option, if you want to get a good trekking experience in Patagonia. Here you can actually, either do an independent trek or go with a trekking organization, along with a local guide. This trek is usually a 2-day, one night trek. This mountain is a bit different from other mountains in Bariloche, a city in the province of Rio Negro, at the foothills of Andes. This mountain is the highest amongst the Andes peaks and has a number of glaciers. It is also blessed with water falls. The destination is reached through a forest in the first part of the trek or hike. It is then followed by going along a range of volcanic rocks with great views of glaciers and waterfalls.

Spot 3
Trekking and mountaineering at Patagonia takes a whole new dimension when you come to the part of Patagonia, near Chile. Futaleufu river valley is one such area in this part of Patagonia which offers you a fabulous array of geographical forms. It has everything, from lakes to snow capped mountains, and seems more like an experience of the wilderness. These treks are around valleys, lakes and if you are adventurous enough, over high and mighty mountain passes. What is rare and unique about this aspect of trekking in Patagonia, is the fact that some of them still include routes used by locals for going to their isolated settlements.

Spot 4
The park of Torres del Paine, is another very famous destination in Patagonia for trekking. This lies in the southernmost part of Chilean Patagonia and the specialty of this park is that it has been declared as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1978 and is a World Heritage Site. The park is no less than the places mentioned above. Caving glaciers, alpine lakes cascading rivers and waterfalls adorn this place. It is rich in wildlife and has a wide range of ecosystems thriving in there. Another thing which gives this place an advantage is the duration of daylight, especially during high season - January and February when there is 18 hours of daylight available. That makes it perfect for hiking and trekking!

Well, this was just a glimpse of what all does Patagonia have to offer you, in terms of trekking and hiking and having a great time, full of adventures! Some more trekking destinations in Patagonia which you can consider are, waterfall on the Rio Fuy, Los Glaciares National Park, Mount Fitzroy (very famous), Laguna Negra and many more. Trekking in Patagonia involves climbing mountains which are between 1900 and 2000 meters or a bit more in height.

The beauty of these treks lies in the fact that some treks start in the forests, continue and end at rocky summits. While others start at the spots which are at the edge of the chains of the Andes. Whatever route you go, trekking in Patagonia is sure to give you a breathtaking view of the Andes! Have a blast!

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