Which is Better? Chilean Patagonia vs Argentinian Patagonia

Deciding between Chilean Patagonia vs Argentinian Patagonia? It’s tough.

You may have heard that Chile’s Patagonia is more rugged and remote, whereas Argentina’s Patagonia is more expansive and easily accessible. But what does that actually mean? 

After travelling in both Chile and Argentina for three weeks, I know what it truly feels like to experience both sides of Patagonia.

I felt the difference between towns in Argentina vs the towns in Chile. I felt the differences in the adventures available, the food, the language barriers, and access to easy conveniences.

In this guide, I’m going to break it all down for you. You’ll learn the top things to do in Chile Patagonia vs Argentina Patagonia, how easy it is to plan your trip for each, and logistical things like weather and food. 

I also included some sample itineraries to really help you visualize it.

Chilean Patagonia vs Argentinian Patagonia for Activities?

Argentinian Patagonia Highlights:

Perito Moreno Glacier 

Perito Moreno is the most famous glaciers in Patagonia. It is in Los Glaciares National Park near El Calafate and is part of the second largest ice field in the world. 

The glacier sits in a valley surrounded by white-peaked mountains. There are viewing platforms to see the glacier from various angles and boat tours that take you right up to it. However, the MUST-DO activity at Perito Moreno is a mini trekking or big ice hike where you actually get to walk on top of this 10,000 year old glacier! 

Trekking on the glacier, I spotted ponds that are as bright blue as Gatorade, listened to waterfalls running beneath the ice’s surface, and drank whiskey on the rocks with ice chipped right off the glacier.

🤩 This is the Mini-Trekking Glacier Hiking Tour I did and HIGHLY recommend

Argentinian Cowboys and Estancias

Argentina’s estancias are traditional working ranches. Several of them offer farm stays or day-in-the-life experiences. It’s a great glimpse into the region’s history and local culture.

Many of the estancias are multi-generational family-owned places. They provide activities like hiking, horseback riding, farm-demonstrations, lamb BBQs, and sheep herding. 

I stayed at Nibepo Aike Estancia and can with 100% certainty say this was my #1 activity in Patagonia – maybe even worldwide. 

We woke up in an old-school yet comfortably updated farmhouse to a full service breakfast, made deep connections with the local guachos (Argentinian cowboys), and my favourite, trotted alongside working dogs to herd the sheep in for the night at sunset.

This isn’t sponsored or anything, I am just absolutely obsessed with this place.

Horseback Riding in the Patagonian Steppe

Whether you do a traditional Estancia stay or not, horseback riding in Argentina is a must. The Patagonian wilderness outside of El Calafate is perfect for riding with mountains surrounding you. 

You’ll learn to steer and properly handle the horses and see some of the most incredible backcountry scenery. 

🤩 Here’s an amazing Horseback riding tour in the Patagonia wilderness

Hiking in El Chalten 

El Chalten is known as the trekking capital of Argentina. It is also home to a large number of Patagonia’s best hikes. One of said hikes is to the iconic Mount Fitz Roy, which is the mountain the Patagonia clothing brand modeled their logo after. 

Trails like Laguna de los Tres and Cerro Torre have incredible views of jagged peaks and glacial lakes. The trails are well-marked and maintained. They are also free to access which is a bonus.

El Chalten as a town is tiny and feels completely geared towards tourists. There are plenty of restaurants, gear shops, and comfortable places to stay in El Chalten. 

Bariloche and the Lake District

Bariloche is the most popular town in Argentina Patagonia’s lake district. It’s famous for its snow-capped mountain landscape interspersed with hundreds of lakes. 

Bariloche has outdoor activities galore, like hiking and kayaking in summer and excellent skiing in winter. Some of Bariloche’s incredible hikes include the 4 Refugios hike in Nahuel Huapi National Park and Cerro Campanario.

Bariloche is also known for its Swiss-inspired architecture and rich chocolate-making tradition. 

Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego 

Ushuaia is the southernmost city in the world. It is often used as a port city for people leaving on cruises to Antarctica. Ushuaia also has Tierra del Fuego National Park, which is filled with mountains, glaciers, and views over the Beagle Channel.

In Ushuaia, you can hike to the top of Cerro Guanaco or to the famous Laguna Esmeralda or take a boat tour of the Beagle Channel to spot penguins and seals.

Chilean Patagonia Highlights:

Torres Del Paine and Puerto Natales

Torres del Paine National Park is Patagonia’s most famous park. It’s known for its three distinct granite towers and its insanely diverse number of mountain ranges and landscapes. 

I was shocked that every corner I turned there was a new mountain that looked completely different from the others! The park is a haven for multi-day trekkers with its 4 – 5 day W Trek and 7 – 10 day O Circuit. 

The nearby town of Puerto Natales is the gateway to the park, but also has its own seaside adventures. You can go whale-watching, take a boat ride to nearby glaciers, or hike. Puerto Natales has tons of accommodation options, tour agencies, gear shops, and restaurants. 

Carrera Austral Road Trip 

The Carretera Austral is a scenic road trip in Northern Chilean Patagonia. It is way more off-the-beaten path than any of the destinations we’ve talked about yet. The road trip is often called Route 7 and leads between Puerto Montt and Villa O’Higgins.

The road trip passes several of Chile’s national parks that are less-frequented by tourists – like Pumalin Douglas Thompson Park, Queulat National Park, and Cerro Castillo National Park.

You’ll see some of Patagonia’s most insane scenery in its most uninhabited locations, with almost no one else around. 

Punta Arenas and Isla Magdalenas 

Punta Arenas is located on the shores of the Strait of Magellan. It is about 3 hours from Puerto Natales. 

The nearby Isla Magdalena is famous for its large penguin colony, offering one of the best wildlife-watching opportunities in the region. Visitors can take boat tours to explore the island and get up close to the penguins and other seabirds.

🤩 Here’s the best tour for seeing penguins in Patagonia!

Marble Caves

The Marble Caves in the Aysen Region is one of Patagonia’s most unique things to see. They are made of smooth, polished marble with swirling blue and white patterns. 

You can see them by taking a boat tour of Lake General Carrera. The tours will get you up close to capture photos of this otherworldly phenomenon. 

⭐️ Check Out: Marble Caves and Cathedral Tour with Lunch

Which Side is Easier to Get to and Around?

Between Chile and Argentina, Patagonia is HUGE – over 1 million square km. No matter which side you travel to, you will need to do a combination of domestic flights and whatever ground transportation you prefer (like rental car or bus).

Distances between destinations are far. For example, a “short drive” between towns is about 3 hours.

Here’s what it’s like to get to and around both sides.

How Easy is it to Get Around Argentinian Patagonia?

Argentinian Patagonia’s key destinations are very well connected through a combination of cars, buses, and domestic flights. The roads are better maintained between the drivable destinations too, with actual pavement. 

Rental Car and Coach Bus:

The only Patagonia towns it makes sense to drive/bus between in Argentina(unless you have a month budgeted and want to get off-the-beaten path) is El Chalten and El Calafate. They are 3 hours apart, the roads are paved, and buses leave several times daily. Or across the border from El Calafate to Puerto Natales, which takes 5 hours.

The drive between Bariloche and El Calafate is over 18 hours and mostly unpaved. Similarly, Ushuaia would be well over 20 hours by road.

Driving between towns, there won’t be any cell coverage. This is standard in all of Patagonia. If you are driving yourself, I recommend getting a satellite phone for potential emergencies.

 Domestic Flights:

Domestic flights are short, efficient, and affordable. You can get direct flights from Buenos Aires to Bariloche and Ushuaia.

Bariloche from El Calafate is a little trickier, totaling over 7 hours because of required connections. It’s still better than the drive though. 

There are direct flights between El Calafate and Ushuaia and they take about 1.5 hours.

How Easy is it to Get Around Chilean Patagonia?

Getting around Chilean Patagonia can be trickier than Argentina because of its rugged terrain and remoteness with fewer towns. 

For certain destinations like Torres del Paine, Puerto Natales, and Punta Arenas, this doesn’t really apply.

There are easy bus transfers between these three. But there are still certain roads that are unpaved even between Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine (I learned this the hard way while unsuccessfully trying to sleep on my drive back from hiking the 4 day W Trek). 

The Carretera Austral road trip gets some of its charm from how remote and uninhabited it is. Large sections of it are unpaved and covered in potholes. But that’s why some people choose to do it – for its raw adventuring in remote nature.

These types of conditions are typical for getting between destinations in Chilean Patagonia. There are fewer domestic flights available. But you can fly in and out of Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas from Santiago de Chile.

Which Side of Patagonia Has Better Weather?

Patagonia as a whole is known for its wild and unpredictable weather.

When hiking on both sides of the border, I experienced days where I started my hike in 3 layers with a puffy jacket, stripped down to a t-shirt 30 minutes later, and then put back on my layers an hour after that. It really is as invariable as people say. 

Another characteristic of both sides is the wind. There is something called “Patagonia hair” which is basically a difficult-to-brush nest on top of your head from the wind blowing it every direction at high speeds all day. 

So no matter which side you visit, you’ll need to pack for high winds, warm to cold temperatures in the same day (so layers), and rain! 

Weather in Argentina Patagonia

Argentinian Patagonia is generally drier and more stable than its Chilean counterpart, but it still has wide variations depending on the region.

In El Calafate and El Chaltén summer temperatures range from 10°C to 20°C (50°F to 68°F). While El Calafate is drier, El Chaltén can experience more rainfall, especially in the fall.

The Lake District around Bariloche has a warmer climate because it is so much further North. The temperatures range between 15°C and 25°C (59°F and 77°F) in summer. 

In Ushuaia, which is far south and on the water, expect colder weather. Temperatures hover between 5°C and 10°C (41°F and 50°F) in the summer.

Weather in Chile Patagonia

Chilean Patagonia is known to have slightly wetter and rainier conditions because of its giant coastline on the Pacific. Some people say it’s a bit windier too. 

I experienced the higher winds and cooler temperatures while hiking Torres del Paine compared to El Chalten, but that could just be my own experience. Like I said, Patagonia weather is unpredictable.

Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales tend to be colder and windier because they are coastal towns. Temperatures average between 5°C and 15°C (41°F and 59°F) in summer.

In Torres del Paine and Chile’s other mountainous parks, expect strong winds and rain, especially in the late afternoon. The mountains create microclimates, so even if it’s sunny at the start, conditions can shift quickly. 

Which is Better for Short Itineraries?

Both Chile and Argentina work for shorter itineraries but which you choose will be based on what you hope to accomplish in that time.

Argentina for Shorter Itineraries

Argentina’s Patagonia has a few more options for shorter itineraries.

Option 1:

You could head right to Bariloche from Buenos Aires and spend your days hiking, chair-lifting to the top of mountains, and eating Swiss-style chocolate. 

Option 2:

You could fly into El Calafate and combine it with El Chalten because they are close together. I’d spend a few days in each. This option offers the most variety of experiences because you can tour glaciers, do farm-stays at Estancias, see flamingos at Laguna Nimez in El Calafate, AND hike some of Patagonia’s top hikes from El Chalten. 

Option 3:

Alternatively, you could fly directly down to Ushuaia and spend a week exploring more rugged terrain and boat touring around the Beagle Channel.

Chile for Shorter Itineraries

If you are visiting Chilean Patagonia on a shorter timeline, the only place that makes sense is flying into Puerto Natales and exploring Torres del Paine. 

Torres del Paine has several long and short day hikes. You can use Puerto Natales as a home base and go in daily or stay in the park. Puerto Natales has some great tours for seeing the highlights of the regions, like whale watching and tours to see glaciers in Torres del Paine. 

Which Has Better/More Convenient Cities?

Argentinian Patagonia Cities

Argentina’s towns feel a little more built for tourism. They have slightly more options that range more between budget and luxury – for both restaurants and accommodation options. 

With that being the case, you’ll see a wider variety of tourists – luxury travelers booking high price tag experiences on the same street as “dirt-bag” hikers. 

Chilean Patagonia Cities

Chilean Patagonia has a few key cities that are relatively easy to get to like Puerto Natales, Puerto Montt, and Punta Arenas. The main towns and Coyhaique along the Carretera Austral are similar in size to Argentina’s tourist towns but feel slightly less touristy. 

They still offer a range of hotels, restaurants, and shops, but they are a bit more basic. The variety and number of options are also not quite as high, so finding budget options can be trickier.

Which Side of Patagonia Has Better Food?

Food in Argentinian Patagonia

Argentinian Patagonia has a meat-heavy cuisine, influenced by the country’s strong cattle-ranching culture. They have a special way of BBQing things called Asado, where the focus is on cooking meat over an open fire AND (this is apparently crucial to the word’s definition) gathering with friends and family to enjoy it together. 

Typical dishes look like cordero patagónico (Patagonian lamb), which is slowly roasted over wood, or tender beef cuts.

The Lake District and Bariloche are known for their chocolate and food influenced by European immigrants, particularly the Swiss and Germans. You’ll find artisan chocolates and cheeses.

Argentina also has a stronger wine culture. They are known for their Malbecs and Patagonian Pinot Noirs. Argentina made me a Malbec fan. 

If you are a foodie, Argentina is for you. 

Food in Chilean Patagonia

The food in Chile is more coastal with a heavy focus on seafood. King Crab is a popular dish, especially in coastal towns like Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas. 

I spent $50 on a King Crab dish that was basically just crab and melted cheese mixed together in a flaming (literally) pot. My stomach cried from all the cheese but it was delicious.

They also have some delicious traditional stews like Curranto. It combines seafood, meats, potatoes, and vegetables, and is typically cooked in a pit.

Chile is also known for its empanadas (meat and veggie stuffed pastries). If you’re visiting Punta Arenas, try Cordero al Palo (roast lamb), slow-cooked over an open fire.

In general, Chilean Patagonia’s food scene is a little more basic in terms of quality and variety. Smaller towns like Puerto Natales and Coyhaique have fewer dining options so the food is often more simple. 

Which Side of Patagonia is Cheaper?

Chilean Patagonia tends to be slightly more expensive than Argentinian Patagonia, especially when it comes to accommodations and guided tours. I’d say they have comparable prices for the same quality/experiences, but Argentina has a wider number of options so you can find more budget-friendly places to stay, eat, and explore.

Torres del Paine has a cost to enter, whereas Argentina’s best hiking spot El Chalten doesn’t have any fees to access its trails. Although, most other tourist spots like Perito Moreno do have entry fees.

Chilean Patagonia also has fewer budget-friendly options compared to Argentina, especially in towns like Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas. For example, there were dozens of low-budget hostel options in El Calafate when I looked and only a few in Puerto Natales. 

If you are a budget traveller, Argentina’s side near El Calafate and El Chalten is your best bet. 

Can You Travel to Both Chile and Argentina Patagonia?

If you have more than two weeks available, then yes, you can easily travel between Chile and Patagonia.

The best way to do that is by spending time in El Calafate and El Chalten on Argentina’s side and then Torres del Paine, Puerto Natales, and/or Punta Arenas in Chile. 

El Calafate and Puerto Natales are only a 6 hour bus ride apart. Buses run between these two towns several times daily and go direct so it is easy. There is a border crossing with a few steps required (mainly a declaration form and checking to see if your country needs a visa), but its pretty simple and doesn’t take too long. 

I travelled between El Calafate, El Chalten, Puerto Natales, and Torres del Paine on my three week solo trip to Patagonia. If you have more time, you could easily add in Ushuaia with a direct flight to/from El Calafate. 

How to Start Planning Your Trip to Patagonia 

With Patagonia being so massive and remote, it’s hard to know where to start planning.

First, narrow down the places you want to see and the hikes and activities you want to do. I always make a grand list in Google Maps and then see which ones are close enough together to fit into my itinerary.

Next, determine when you want to visit. This should be based on the best time to visit Patagonia and also your own time constraints.

Then, narrow down your itinerary. If you’re travelling for three weeks you can check out mine. And star finding the best accommodation for the towns you are staying in.

Figure out logistics, like if you are going to join a tour or not (I had to decide if I wanted to hike the W trek in Torres del Paine alone or with a guided tour), and which tours you are going to book (I figured out I wanted to go with G Adventures for the W Trek and booked tours to see places like Perito Moreno).

Finally, prepare! I looked up packing lists and read about where I was going so I knew what to expect. If you’re interested in the W Trek for example, I have a guide on everything you need to know before doing it.

Read More about Planning Your Trip to Patagonia:

• Which is Better? Chilean Patagonia vs Argentinian Patagonia
• 27 Best Hikes in Patagonia: Day Hikes and Treks
• 23 Top Things to See in Patagonia (Plus Trip Guide)
• The Ultimate 3 Weeks in Patagonia Itinerary
• The Ultimate Guide to Female Solo Travel in Patagonia

Read More about Planning Your Trip to Patagonia:

• Which is Better? Chilean Patagonia vs Argentinian Patagonia
• 27 Best Hikes in Patagonia: Day Hikes and Treks
• 23 Top Things to See in Patagonia (Plus Trip Guide)
• The Ultimate 3 Weeks in Patagonia Itinerary
• The Ultimate Guide to Female Solo Travel in Patagonia