Ultimate Guide: Best Transportation Methods to Reach Patagonia 🇦🇷

This note is a personal account of our journey to the charming town of El Chalten on the Argentine side of Patagonia, where we embarked on an unforgettable 🇦🇷 Patagonian hiking adventure.

🟠 First:

Patagonia is a vast plateau nestled at the southern end of the Andes, with Chile to the west and Argentina to the east. The majestic mountain range forms a natural boundary, making the border between the two countries somewhat indistinct in this region.

🟠 Therefore:

For those eager to explore the stunning landscapes of 🇦🇷 Argentina and 🇨🇱 Chile in Patagonia, there are two key towns that serve as ideal bases for your adventures:

🇦🇷 El Chalten on the Argentine side, and 🇨🇱 Puerto Natales on the Chilean side. Traveling between these two towns is exclusively by land, adding to the unique experience.

🟠 Note:

El Chalten, being a remote gem, does not have its own airport. To reach it, you must first fly from Buenos Aires to El Calafate, and then take a scenic 4-hour bus ride or drive to El Chalten. (See P3-4)

🟠 Personal Experience:

▪️ We started our journey with a flight from Buenos Aires to El Calafate.
▪️ From there, we used El Calafate as our base to explore the awe-inspiring Perito Moreno Glacier, the hiker’s paradise of El Chalten (the Argentine side base), and the vibrant Puerto Natales (the Chilean side base).

🟠 By travel time:

🇦🇷 El Calafate to 🇦🇷 Perito Moreno Glacier National Park: 1 hour
🇦🇷 El Calafate to 🇦🇷 El Chalten: 4 hours
🇦🇷 El Calafate to 🇨🇱 Puerto Natales: 7 hours (including customs crossing)

🟠 How to choose transportation in Patagonia:

▪️ In El Calafate, you have the option to rent a car🚗 or hop on a comfortable bus🚌.

▪️ All three routes mentioned above can be easily navigated by bus, which is incredibly convenient and highly recommended!

Additionally, long-distance buses in both Argentina and Chile are largely operated by a few major companies, such as Magra Taqsa and Bus Sur. This means prices are consistent, with only the schedules varying.

▪️ If you’re considering renting a car, after comparing several rental companies in the area, we found Rent A Car to be a more budget-friendly option. (P5)

Feel free to leave a comment if you have any other questions about traveling in Patagonia. [Smiling Face]