Last Updated on June 1, 2020
Patagonia Hiking and Camping: Hello, Adventurous Minds. Patagonia is the most popular and adventurous hiking and camping spot in South America if you are thinking of hiking and camping. It is such a spot where you will have the most scenic landscapes and also can make you every moment breathtaking. The beauty of Patagonia and hiking activities keep a backpacker always busy to explore.
Patagonia Hiking and Camping
Patagonia is one of the most hardly populated regions of South America that Patagonia has several scenic zones to hike. The green wilderness, icy glaciers, azure lakes, everything will amuse you entirely. From the rivers of Rio Moscu to the icy glacial lakes of Tigre Sur, you will have the most adventurous hiking and camping experiences. The most rugged hiking routes from lush meadows of wildflowers to icy-tough peaks at the base of Mount Fitz Roy will make the hike more challenging. You can also hike in the Torres Del Paine National Park.
Among the endless list of all the spots, you may be confused to choose one particular spot for hiking and camping. Before you start your trek, read the whole article for once. Here we are providing you all the important information and basic guidelines about hiking and camping in Patagonia.
Best Time To Arrive
Before recommending you any seasonal period or month, we tell you one thing- the weather of Patagonia is not constant. It may change at any time. So keep it in your mind. You have to be prepared for the changing weather.
Now, generally, the best time depends on your favorite weather. If you love winter and snowfall, then October to January is the best time for you. If you do not like cold, then February and March are the warmer months when you can enjoy the early summer.
From the end of March to mid-April, you can enjoy slightly cooler weather in Patagonia. In one line, from early November to late April, you will have the best time in Patagonia for hiking and camping.
Activities
Patagonia is equally popular with both single day and multi-day backpackers. One can enjoy the types of activities there.
- Climbing: You climb over the Mount Fitz Roy to some safe extent.
- Fishing: You may enjoy fishing at the Rivers of the Rio Moscu.
- Hiking: You may hike in the- Torres Del Paine National Park full of Green wilderness, Shoreline of glacial lakes of Tigre Sur. For hiking, there are so many literally uncountable spots.
- Boating: In the river area, you can enjoy boating with your teammates.
- Camping: For night staying either you may have a hotel reservation or you may set-up a tent and camping accessories at a secured campsite. Such a campsite may be at the peak of a mountain or lake’s side. From those campsites, you can enjoy the most beautiful views of the starry night’s sky.
- Cycling: You will get the perfect trail for cycling around Patagonia, in the wilderness or in a rocky way.
Besides all these activities you may enjoy swimming, jogging or capturing the best landscapes. To a photographer, Patagonia is one of the best sources for photography.
Some Best Hiking and Camping Spots in Patagonia
As we said before, the list of all the spots in Patagonia for hiking and camping is countless. However, now we will describe some of the best places in Patagonia which are popular for hiking and camping. You may go there.
Torres Del Paine National Park
The first spot for hiking in Patagonia is the Torres Del Paine National Park. Without trekking here, your Patagonia trip will have no means. We recommend you to be prepared for 7-9 days hiking in the park if you want to explore the park fully.
In the Eco-Camp, you will have sustainable accommodation to stay in. You may also set your camping with your teammates. Here in Mirador Las Torres, you can start a day hike. Here within the park, you will have some more hikes to some other awesome spots.
Paine Circuit or the “O” Circuit, hundred miles of wilderness, in the park, you will amuse you. It will take a long time here in “O” Circuit hiking and camping.
From here, you may start a side trip to the French Valley. The best side trip to the French Valley for 3-4 hours will amuse you in this Patagonia hiking trip. The frozen waterfalls of the valley will steal your heart.
Besides, if you love the cool weather, then Lago Grey Lake is the best spot for you to arrive. Along with the “W” Trek, you may go for a day hike there. The glacier grey is an icy lake, where you can see the floating icebergs. You may enjoy a day out here with boating, fishing.
Camping is also available here at the Mountain Lodge Paine Grande and Refugio Grey. You may stay there. In the boat or ferry, you may also stay to enjoy the night view. You are also allowed to arrange a personal tent. All over in the Torres Del Paine, you will have a complete hiking experience with natural sites.
El Chalten
After completing your hiking in the Torres Del Paine, now if you want more beauty and have more time in your hand, then start from here again. With no entry fee, you will start your all hikes from right in the middle of the village. And it is the most awesome fact that makes El Chalten so epic.
Across the border of Argentina, El Chalten is a small village that is situated in the middle of Los Glaciares National Park. You may enjoy the cool weather here with some perfect natural views. The snow-covered mountains, Viedma lake, all will amuse you. You may arrange camping and stay the night. If you are going to stay here, don’t miss the view of sunrise.
Next day, you may start your hike to the base of Mount Fitz Roy. This is the best day hikes over in El Chalten. You will have the taste of mount climbing here. From the base of Mount Fitz Roy to the Laguna De Los Tres, the day hike will take 8-9 hours to arrive.
After this day hike, either you may return, or you may camp at Campamento Poincenot. You may go for a day hike to the Cerro Torre. Then to the Huemul Circuit for 3-4 days hike, which is the most difficult treks at El Chalten in Patagonia hiking.
Ushuaia
At the bottom of the South, there in Ushuaia, you may find some better hiking and camping spots to arrive. In 6-7 days, you may complete the hike.
Therein, Laguna Esmeralda, you may go for a day hike. For night camping, there is a Refugio “campsite,” where you can stay. From the top, you will have some amusing views of Esmeralda Valley.
Therein, Glacier Vinciguerra, you may also have a day hike. From there, you can also start your hike to the Laguna Encantada. Here you will have the opportunity to climb up to the peaks of Cerro Esfinge.
There is another challenging trek in Patagonia, the Sierra Valdivieso Circuit. For a challenging adventure, you may have a multi-day hike around here.
There are some other hiking and camping spots in Patagonia, which are uncountable. Some of the spots are- Carretera Austral, Laguna Tigre Sur, Valle Rio Moscu, Cerro Castillo, Pumalin Park, Cascadas Waterfalls, etc.
In all these spots, there are campsites available for you. You may stay there or arrange your camping along with your teammates. Before deciding your destination, you should decide how much time you have for the hike, as per the time you have to choose the spot and pack your baggage.
Backpacking Guidelines for Patagonia Hiking and Camping
As per the destination and budget, you have to choose the items. Now here we are providing you a basic list of the important hiking accessories for Patagonia hiking and camping.
1. Mandatory Gears: Some of the gears without which you can’t think about hiking in Patagonia. Those gears are:
- All essential documents (permissions & reservations related, Passport, Final Bulletin, Air Tickets)
- Durable backpack and bags (hiking backpack, duffle bag)
- Cooking Accessories (stove, fuel, lighter or match-boxes, utensils, dishes)
- Tent (accessories for setting up a tent)
- Sleeping Pad
- Clothes as per the weather (see further description)
- Hiking shoes
- Foods (snacks, energy bars, dry fruits, energy beverages, chews, trail mix, powdered drink mix)
- Enough Water (filled water-bottles)
- Cell-phone (carry some extra batteries)
All these are the mandatory gears for your Patagonia hiking. Before you start, check for once that you have kept all these gears in your backpacks.
2. Recommended gears: Now here we are recommending you the list of those accessories which you should take to make your hiking more enjoyable and secure.
- Backpack and bags: Sleeping bag, Daypack, Water bag, Trash bag.
- Accessories: Helmet, alternative tent, multi-tool, Bear Canisters, maps, knife, First-aid kit, GPS device, flashlight or headlamp, multifunctional watch, mini water filter system, camera, sanitation trowel, towel, hand sanitizer, insects repellent, pain removal cream, sun protection cream.
- Clothing and footwear: Here, we will provide some basic clothing and footwear list. You may make changes as per the weather. Denim jacket, Insulated jacket, Puffy Jackets, Furlong sleeves, tee-shirts, long underwear, shoes as per terrain, sandals, quick-dry socks, long sleeve shirts, rain wears, three-quarters, shorts, Gloves, etc.
3. Optional gears: Some are unnecessary items, but you may carry along with you if you want.
- Backpack and bags: Drybag, Foldable backpack
- Accessories: Rope, Books or any reading materials, Trekking pole, Audio player, headphone, Satellite phone, Binoculars, whistle, water purification tablets, Compressible pillow, Hand balm, Travel Alarm Clock.
- Clothing: Muffler, hat, Cap, Sunglasses, Headbands, hand bands, Musk
- Candies, Chocolates
Final Words
All we have provided here are the very basic headings. You may talk to your experienced teammates, who have already gone there in Patagonia for hiking and camping.
Now, we hope that how far you have been informed through this article, will make you completely ready inside to go. So, without wasting any time, plan now with your pals and go for Patagonia Hiking and Camping. All the best wishes to you.
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