Patagonia is a place that stirs the soul. Every glacier, mountain and open sky has a way of making you realise just how big the world really is - and how fortunate we are to be able to experience it here with no holds barred.
This journey is slowed. Intentional. Vast and grounding. It’s not a place for rushing; it’s a place to exhale.
El Calafate: Gateway to the Glaciers
Set along the shores of Lago Argentino, El Calafate is a welcoming little town with big rewards. It’s the stepping stone to Los Glaciares National Park - home to the extraordinary Perito Moreno Glacier. This massive ice wall groans and cracks as it advances steadily toward the lake, offering front-row seats to nature’s raw power.
Whether hiking across the glacier’s surface with crampons or cruising quietly at its base, the experience is unforgettable. Add a visit to a traditional Patagonian estancia and you’ll see how local gaucho culture blends effortlessly with the landscape - simple, rugged and deeply connected to the earth.
Torres del Paine: Chile’s Crown Jewel
Crossing the border into Chile, Torres del Paine National Park delivers some of the most iconic views in all of South America. Granite peaks slice through the sky above turquoise lakes while herds of guanacos graze in the wind-swept steppe.
Whether you choose a multi-day hike or a scenic drive with short walks to lookouts, the landscape humbles and invigorates all at once.
Stay: Explora Patagonia
At the heart of the park, Explora Patagonia offers a refined way to immerse yourself in this wilderness. With daily guided treks and horseback rides that leave directly from the property, your days are filled with discovery. Return to the lodge for locally sourced meals, a glass of Chilean wine and views of the Salto Chico waterfall from your window.
This is barefoot luxury with purpose - designed not to distract from nature but to deepen your connection to it.
Lakes Crossing: From Bariloche to Puerto Varas
Leaving the Andes behind doesn’t mean the beauty fades. Quite the opposite. The journey from Bariloche in Argentina to Puerto Varas in Chile is one of the most scenic crossings in the world.
Known as the Andean Lakes Crossing, this route is a remarkable blend of lake cruises and road transfers through emerald-green waters, snow-dusted peaks and ancient forests. It’s not just a way to cross a border - it’s a day-long odyssey through some of Patagonia’s most photogenic corners, from Lake Nahuel Huapi to Todos los Santos.
Every section feels like a postcard come to life.
Puerto Varas: The Rose of the South
Set on the shores of Lake Llanquihue, Puerto Varas is framed by Volcán Osorno, one of Chile’s most symmetrical volcanoes. With a strong German influence, charming timber houses and a laid-back feel, it’s a peaceful contrast to Patagonia’s wild frontier.
You can wander the lake promenade, visit the Petrohué Falls or venture into nearby national parks. It’s also a fantastic base before heading to one of Chile’s most distinctive regions - Chiloé Island.
Chiloé Island: A Side Trip Rich in Spirit
From Puerto Montt, take a ferry across to Chiloé, an island that feels worlds apart from the mainland. With misty hills, wooden churches and sea legends passed down through generations, Chiloé is a place of stories, stillness and culture.
Ancud
This northern gateway is steeped in history, with Spanish fortresses like San Antonio and an excellent Museo Regional. The coastlines here are raw and cinematic and the nearby Puñihuil Islets offer penguin-spotting boat trips.
Try the island’s most famous dish, curanto, a hearty mix of seafood, pork and potato, cooked in an earth oven—true Chilote style.
Castro
The capital of Chiloé is famous for its colourful palafitos (stilt houses) and the UNESCO-listed Church of San Francisco. The town pulses with artisan markets, folk music and community warmth.
You’ll find salmon, mussels and potato bread served up in family-run restaurants, where the stories flow as easily as the wine.
Dalcahue
A charming harbour village with a renowned Sunday handicraft market, Dalcahue celebrates Chiloé’s artisan culture. Ferries from here connect to smaller islands like Quinchao, adding more layers to your journey.
It’s a place of quiet authenticity and beautiful woven goods that reflect the textures of the land itself.
Achao
With the 18th-century Church of Santa María, one of the oldest Jesuit wooden churches in South America, Achao feels almost timeless. Set among rolling hills and green pastures, this is slow-lane Chiloé perfect for reflection and learning from the land.
Queilén
A lesser-known gem tucked in the island’s southern curve. Stroll along the Gulf of Corcovado, visit the cultural centre or simply watch the light change over the water. This is a place to pause and just be.
Quellón
At the southern tip, Quellón is both an ending and a beginning. It’s the final stop before Patagonia's ferry routes begin again and the town itself is bustling with boats, seafood markets and wetland reserves.
You can feel the confluence of stories here—Indigenous, colonial and contemporary, blending into something uniquely Chilote.
The Spirit of the South
Whether you’re standing beneath a glacier, gliding across an Andean lake or listening to sea legends in a wooden village, Patagonia and Chiloé have a way of transforming how you travel.
They offer perspective, silence and space. And in today’s fast-paced world, that’s a rare gift.
Travel with JLW Travel
Let JLW Travel take care of the details for you. From tailor-made itineraries across Patagonia to seamlessly integrated detours through Chiloé, I craft journeys to match your pace, interests and travel dreams.
Prefer to join a group? I partner with trusted operators including: Intrepid, Chimu Adventures, Adventure World, Abercrombie & Kent and Captain’s Choice.
Whether it's lakes or legends, glaciers or gauchos - let’s bring your South American journey to life.
Get in touch today!