Patagonia Overview

After nearly three weeks in southern Argentina and Chile, we have moved North out of Patagonia. Sitting comfortably in our hotel lobby in Mendoza, surfing the free wi-fi, I thought I might offer a bit of reflection upon our Patagonian experiences.

To sum up briefly, even with a Thesaurus in hand there are not enough superlatives to describe the Patagonian landscape. Rugged, austere, vast, windy, stunning - these are a few words that leap to mind. But Patagonia is also composed of very different landscapes. From the coastal town of Ushuaia to the landlocked lakes region, it is a place that's hard to sum up succinctly.

Nonetheless, I will offer a few highlights:

Ushuaia: We visited the town that heavily markets itself as the "southernmost city in the world" with my parents. Being tethered to a (just barely) four star hotel meant we saw Tierra del Fuego National Park from a train, bus and boardwalk. From all appearances it is an amazing place, perched out at the end of the world.

And while our time delayed in the Ushuaia airport on the way to El Calafate was a bit trying, I will have a tough time forgetting this image of my dad sleeping on the floor. Good times.







El Calafate: This place is famous for one reason, Perito Moreno Glacier. And rightfully so. The glacier is unlike any I've seen before or since.

Actively moving almost a meter a day, the glacier calves impressively every ten minutes or so. The ongoing cracks, splashes and waves make it a very dynamic place. The preponderance of rainbows and sunny day helped too.



Torres del Paine: I've covered this one already, but it's worth re-emphasizing this park as one of the most scenic and amazing places on earth. Huge peaks, remote location and comfortable backcountry refugios where beer is served - what more could you want?

Bariloche: The town itself is fairly touristy, but not without its own charms. First, there are more chocolate stores here than Starbucks in Seattle. And there is a legitimately tasty Mexican restaurant run by a family from Mexico City. We're always on the lookout for non-Argentinean food options after almost two months in country.

But its the surrounding areas that make Bariloche world famous. From the rambling pampas and babbling trout streams to massive peaks, it's definitely an impressive place.

In all, Patagonia was a place I left wanting to return, with more gear in hand. With my skis, rod and bike, I could spend a lifetime. Or at least a few months.