Torres del Paine National Park
Torres del Paine National Park, with its iconic granite Towers, is one of Patagonia's most popular destinations: a paradise for hikers and outdoor adventure activities.
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How we can help you
- Trip and itinerary suggestions from our team of ex-guides and tour leaders to help you build your adventure
- If you already have a tour in mind we’ll help you book it at the same price as going direct and then you’ll have access to our Adventure Planner which is laden with information to prepare you for your trip.
- Just want to do self-guided hiking or self-drive road trip? We'll handle the logistics, so you can focus on kit and honing your map reading skills!
- Already have your eye on flights and accommodation? We'll help with the tours, and can leave the rest to you.
5 travel tips for independent travellers
1. Best places for independent travel
Much of Patagonia is remote and hard to reach, however Los Glaciares is one place that bucks the trend. Here you'll find the magnificent Perito Moreno glacier and the hiking/climbing town of El Chalten, both easily accessed by public transport. El Chalten is also unique in Patagonia for being a town right in the mountains, where you can walk onto the trails from your hotel front door. Accommodation options are plentiful, if a little rustic.
How we can help: We'll help you save some budget and design your itinerary to include a few days in El Chalten exploring independently. We'll be there to look after you when you need it for the more logistically complex parts of Patagonia.
2. Best place for self-guided hiking
Torres del Paine is logistically more complicated than El Chalten, but once you're there, the W Trek is an iconic hike that can be done completely independently. Trek at your own pace, choosing your own photo stops and snack breaks.
How we can help: Refugio accommodation en route needs to be booked well in advance through a complicated system of waiting lists and space distributions. We'll help you book your places and can organise your transport in and out of the park from the nearby town of Puerto Natales, so all you have to do is hike.
3. Best ways to travel in Patagonia
The buses in Chilean and Argentine Patagonia are relatively safe, frequent and reliable. If you fly into the southern airports of Punta Arenas (PUQ) or El Calafate (FTE) then you'll be able to access Patagonia's most famous sights without breaking the budget.
How we can help: Decided on a destination already? Ask us about getting between places by public transport, and how to make the most of the places along the way.
What our customers think of Independent Travellers
We are independent travelers and I'm used to booking everything myself, but when it came to Patagonia I got overwhelmed with all of the possibilities, so I would highly recommend Swoop to anyone!
Travelled: January 2016
Heidi -
We really valued Swoop's expertise, and the fact that you had been to the places we were going.
Travelled: December 2015
Greg & Michelle -
4. Best highways for self-drive road trips
Ruta 40 and the Carretera Austral: Patagonia's north-south highways take you down the spine of the Andes through verdant hills and glaciated mountains in the west and arid steppe in the east. A self-drive road trip allows independent travellers to fully explore Patagonia's wild and varied landscapes, and meet some of its characters too. We can help with the route selection, accommodation and car rental.
How we can help: Our specialists have spent decades exploring along the main roads, and a great deal of the smaller, less well-known roads besides. We can help book your car and accommodation and give you some great pointers of highlights, and some more hidden gems along your route too.
5. Best way to treat yourself
Independent travel needn't mean roughing it every night. If you'd like to treat yourself for one or two nights then Patagonia has some extraordinary lodges and eco-friendly camps. You'll get more 'bang for your buck' in the north of Patagonia than in Torres del Paine.
How we can help: Whether you're looking for a treat at the beginning or end, or all the nights in between too, we can help you book nights in some of the most sought after hotels in Patagonia. Some specialise in excursions such as hiking, fishing, horse riding, others are just wonderfully relaxing.
Aguas Arriba Lodge, El Chaltén
Top places to go in Patagonia
Los Glaciares National Park
Los Glaciares is Argentina’s greatest national park. It’s home to Perito Moreno glacier and the Fitz Roy Massif, offering visitors explore epic ice and world-class hiking.
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The Lake Districts of Chile and Argentina
With stunning blue lakes, Andean peaks and volcanoes, the Lake District is no doubt one of the most beautiful areas in Patagonia. Take advantage of the plentiful birding …
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Aysen
Remote, beautiful and with one of the most famous road-trip roads in the world, Aysen is a destination for those seeking the very best of Patagonia without the crowds.
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Peninsula Valdés
Peninsula Valdés offers some of the region's best wildlife watching, from southern right whales to sea lions and Magellanic penguins.
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Tierra del Fuego
Tierra del Fuego is Patagonia’s southernmost outpost – a place of epic mountain hikes, thick forests, wild glaciers, and seeing penguin colonies as condors wheel high above.
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Atacama Desert
Chile's Atacama Desert is one of the driest places on Earth, but it's extraordinary diversity of landscapes make it the ideal add-on to a Patagonia adventure.
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Iguazú Falls
Explore the earthshaking spectacle of the world's largest waterfall system, set among a teeming rainforest on Argentina's northern border with Brazil.
Discover MoreHow can Swoop Patagonia help you?
Specialist Trips
Our network of guides will ensure you have the local knowledge, technical expertise and equipment you need for that specialist adventure.
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A trip fully supported and tailored to your needs and dates. Great adventures by day and comfortable accommodation each night.
Discover MoreTrekking Holidays
Explore the different landscapes of the Patagonian Andes. Challenge your body and mind amongst some of the world's most dramatic peaks and glaciers.
Discover MoreGroup Tours
Join like-minded people on a 1-4 week journey across Patagonia, a cheaper way to see the most popular places in the region.
Discover MoreHow can Swoop Patagonia help you?
There are so many different ways to experience Patagonia. Swoop has helped over 5,000 people plan and arrange their trip to Patagonia and almost every itinerary has been different.
Discover MoreReady to plan your Patagonia adventure?
1. Listen
We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
2. Match
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
3. Reserve
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.