Traveling to a Patagonia Location

There’s a lot to be said about the distances between the major Patagonia locations. Traveling to a Patagonia Location, depending on a multitude of factors, can be quite the challenge.

During these trying times of COVID restrictions, international travel to Patagonia has stopped to a crawl. And although vaccinations campaigns are slowly turning the tide, many questions still remain unanswered about the feasibility of free, unrestricted travel, throughout its territory.

Traveling in Patagonia

There are a few factors to have in mind while considering a visit to Patagonia. Its long distances and rapid changing weather need to be included as variables that can shift quickly at any giving moment.

First, make sure you research the condition of the road and the access options to a giving site. Many Patagonia national parks might have adjusted their visiting hours because of the pandemic. Plan what route it’s better to take. There are many provinces and territories with poor infrastructure, missing signage, and bad paved access (this is specially dangerous during the rainy season). Last thing you want to do is to get stuck in the middle of the Patagonia desert. If you are renting a car, make sure that the spare tire is present, and that you have tools to replace it in case of an emergency.

Second, local authorities should be able to inform you about the current situation of the Patagonia national parks and their activities. In Chile, the national parks are managed by CONAF authority and in Argentina by Parques Nacionales.
It’s also a good idea to contact the local tourist office to answer any specific question regarding access. Our experience has shown that they usually are better informed about local restrictions.

Having a defined itinerary might be a good idea, especially when many road authorities inquiry about your destination.

If you are interested in traveling with us, please check out our next Patagonia Phototour.