Independent Travellers

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.