Northern Patagonia Holidays

Need to know about Northern Patagonia

Bariloche is the best holiday base for exploration of the national parks and stunning scenery of this region, and as such is one of the more tourist-orientated centres in Argentina, but accept that and you'll enjoy it nonetheless. Further north, in Neuquén province, the landscape around the town of San Martin de los Andes is more rugged and this is home to gauchos, estancias, superb riding and fly fishing on the Chimehuín River, among others.

Who are Northern Patagonia holidays best for?

Even travellers with a passing interest in nature will find it difficult not to be swept away by the immensity and grand scale of the scenery in Northern Patagonia. Mountains, valleys and sparkling lakes abound and there are incredible views at every turn. In spring and summer, greenery takes over and hikers, climbers and nature enthusiasts descend, packing their itineraries with walks to panoramic viewpoints, fishing excursions and forest horse rides. In winter, snow-drenched peaks attract skiers and snowboarders to revel in the powdery paradise. For culture fiends, watching an authentic gaucho riding a criollo horse among sheep on the plains offers a wild ride and an excellent insight into life here. Northern Patagonia holidays are for anyone thirsty for escapism and a major dose of wild, unabashed nature.

What can you find in Northern Patagonia that you won’t find anywhere else?

Northern Patagonia holidays are full to the brim with the sort of nature you only see on TV. Cape Horn, a rocky headland in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago, sits where the Pacific and Atlantic oceans meet, off the southern tip of South America. Surrounded by treacherous seas and stormy winds, it’s a famously dangerous point on the map and there’s a wild, magical atmosphere to be found here. Hundreds of thousands of penguins that can also be seen waddling on land then diving adeptly into freezing waters. The Los Glaciares National Park, in the heart of Andean Patagonia, is another otherworldly destination worth ticking off the must-see list, with its collection of astounding glaciers and jagged landscapes. The wild wonders are practically stacked on top of each other here; from the breathtaking summit of Monte Fitz Roy to the whales and elephant seals that mingle in the sea of the Peninsula Valdès, the stunning natural world in all its glory is a Northern Patagonia holiday’s calling card.