A Beginner's Guide to Argentinian Patagonia
A vast and remote region in South America that 402,000 square miles across Argentina and Chile, Patagonia is naturally divided by the Andes, though most of it — about 90% — is Argentinian.
Five provinces (Neuquén, Río Negro, Chubut, Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego) make up Argentinian Patagonia, one of the country’s more popular destinations for wildlife such as the southern right whale and condor, and extreme outdoor pursuits such as skiing and glacier trekking.
Ready to plan your first trip to Argentinian Patagonia? Here's everything you need to know.
When to Go to Argentinian Patagonia
While hotel, activities and restaurant prices are elevated for local tourists, the Argentinian peso remains weak against the dollar at 43 to 1 following a 2018 devaluation, so it’s still a great value. Summer (January to March) and winter (June to August) are peak seasons.
Given that the most southerly point of Argentinian Patagonia is 620 miles from Antarctica, expect the unexpected on the weather front. While the mercury in Tierra del Fuego rarely rises above 60 degrees — where you can also experience four seasons in just a few hours — the Lake District enjoys a sunny summer with average 68 degree days. But always be prepared with extra layers.
Getting Around Argentinian Patagonia
As Argentinian Patagonia is much larger than its Chilean counterpart, at least 12 days are recommended to get a feel for the area. Or, you can fly into one region and enjoy it with a two-night stay. Long-distance buses that are very comfortable and designed for trips of 24 hours or more are a great way to travel between these small southern cities. Otherwise, you can rent a car or fly. There is no rail network.
Accommodation suits all budgets, from well-equipped campsites to five-star hotels. Budget-conscious travelers should check out Cabo Raso in Chubut and Hotel Tirol in Bariloche. For a more luxurious experience, consider staying at Océano Patagonia in Valdés, Correntoso — a participating member of Small Luxury Hotels where you can earn and redeem World of Hyatt points in the Lakes District — or Arakur Ushuaia, a member of Leading Hotels of the World, which has its own loyalty program called the Leaders Club.
The Difference Between Argentinian and Chilean Patagonia
With a bout 90% — or 361,800 square miles — of Patagonia belonging to Argentina, the eastern side of the region offers a wide array of activities, such as mountaineering, kayaking, snow sports and fly fishing. Isolated small towns and ranches dot this enormous landmass between the Atlantic and Southern Oceans and the Andes; the reason outlaw Butch Cassidy pitched up in this remote region. From north to south, this is what to do in Argentinian Patagonia.
What to Do in the Lake District, Río Negro and Neuquén
Dramatic-looking Ruta de los Siete Lagos is picturesque with its crystalline waters and snow-capped peaks, so consider renting a car to appreciate the Seven Lakes Road. Fly into San Carlos de Bariloche to sample the craft beer route — part of the legendary 3,227-mile Ruta 40, which spans the length of Argentina — at pubs such as Microcervecería Patagonia, then work off the pints on a López Bay hike; Cerro Catedral ski resort opens between June and September.
Drive north to Villa La Angostura’s two lakes, Correntoso and Espejo, where fly fishermen go crazy for trout. Stay at the luxurious Correntoso for doorstep casting and dine at Tinto Bistro — owned by Martin Zorreguieta, brother of Queen Máxima of the Netherlands — in town. Finish the Siete Lagos circuit enjoying Lake Lacar near San Martín de los Andes, gateway to Lanín National Park and Cerro Chapelco ski resort.
The Lake District packs out during July, Argentina and Chile’s winter holiday season; for quieter moments, try late August for powder, and December for spring weather and watersports such as kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.
What to Do in the Valdés Peninsula and Chubut
Ringside whale-watching seats are the main draw at Valdés Peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Atlantic coast, and boats depart daily between June and November from Puerto Pirámides to spot the southern right. Known for their white callosities and so-called sailing technique (playfully raising fins in the air), this whale comes here to mate and calve. Wildlife fans can also observe seals, sea lions and orcas, while ostrich-like rhea and guanaco (a relative of the llama) roam the terrain.
Nearby are Welsh-founded settlements Puerto Madryn and Trelew. The latter is a small-town outpost harboring Hotel Touring Club, today a café, where you can see the room where Butch Cassidy holed up, and the MEF Paleontology Museum, which houses 17,000 fossils and remains of titanosaur, the world’s largest dinosaur. Argentina’s most-populated penguin colony, Punta Tombo, is also nearby, as is Gaiman, where the Welsh character remains strong and there are an array of teahouses.
Argentinians flock here for summer vacation in January and February, when average temperatures reach 80 degrees; visitors numbers also peak in July during whale-watching season.
What to Do in Los Glaciares National Park, Santa Cruz
Watch it, snap it, patiently await for a rupture to fall, kayak near it, even scale it — there’s little doubt that the vast, electric-blue Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park is breathtaking.
Many glaciers are retreating due to climate change, but Perito Moreno keeps advancing, its light-blue 240-foot-high face and three-mile-wide behind slowly feeding Lago Argentino. If a selfie with this frozen behemoth onboard a catamaran isn’t enough, consider taking an icy hike on top of it (crampons provided). The glacier has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981 and is located near El Calafate.
Other glacial showstoppers in the national park include Spegazzini, Upsala and Viedma. Take a boat excursion to enjoy all four, disembarking at Onelli Bay for a short hike through the forest and a different perspective.
Summer (January to March) is peak season with average temperatures reaching 64 degrees. Daylight can last 17 hours. Spring and autumn mean cooler weather, but fewer selfie sticks.
What to Do in Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego
Flying over snowy, meringue-like peaks and down the Beagle Channel to arrive at Ushuaia — a 3.5-hour flight from Buenos Aires — is thrilling. This is, after all, the most southerly city on the planet, where four seasons in one day are the norm and you’re at the whim of Mother Nature. Nestled on the shores of the legendary strait, whose icy waters were traversed by the nomadic Yaghan indigenous people 10,000 years before Charles Darwin, modern-day Ushuaia (pronounced: Oohs-why-ah) offers wilderness and nature with a touch of contemporary trading outpost.
This is actually the end of the world, so the weather is usually chilly. Visiting in summer (January to March) is peak season and brings top day temperatures of 60 degrees, making it ideal for hiking in Tierra del Fuego national park and spotting guanaco and sheldgeese. To glimpse maritime fauna such as sea lions, imperial cormorants, dolphins and pygmy right whales, circumnavigate the red-and-white Les Eclaireurs lighthouse in the Beagle Channel. Between October and April, a visit to Isla Martillo provides plenty of wobbly, flightless comedy, when Magellanic and King penguins turn this island into a colony.
For an unforgettable sea-to-plate dining experience, book into Puerto Pirata, a tiny four-table eatery a 90-minute drive from Ushuaia, where you sail out into the Beagle Channel with fishermen to haul in centolla (king crab) before it’s prepared fresh just for you. Other great restaurants back in town include Kalma and Chez Manu for fine dining and Volver for seafood.
Ushuaia is a jumping off point for cruise ships on South America tours, but it’s also the jump-on point for ships navigating Cape Horn (September to April) and Antarctica expeditions, (November to February).
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.