Swoop Patagonia Blog
Ever wondered what it feels like to trek through Patagonia’s wild, untamed beauty? Whether you’re a seasoned hiker seeking your next big adventure or a first-timer eager to explore, Patagonia’s vast wilderness is waiting for you. This guide will help you navigate Patagonia’s stunning hiking trails, with practical advice and inspiration tailored to all levels […]
... Read More
For generations, horses have been at the heart of Patagonian life. Even today, the image of the gaucho, the iconic cowboy of the southern steppe, is used as shorthand to sum the possibilities of adventure in this wilderness under a Patagonian sky that seems to stretch on forever. Imagine cantering through golden grasslands beneath snow-capped […]
... Read More
It’s a story as old as humanity itself: the conflict between farm and wilderness, between those raising livestock and predators looking for an easy lunch. Whether it’s ranchers and coyotes on the American plains, Maasai herders and lions, or shepherds versus wolves in the mountains of Europe, the question always remains: can people, livestock and […]
... Read More
The pumas of Torres del Paine have captured the world’s attention thanks to TV series like Dynasties and Pumas At The End of The World. To better understand the challenges in conserving these magnificent creatures we spoke to Mark Elbroch, the director of the puma program at Panthera, the global wildcat conservation organisation, about their […]
... Read More
Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park has the largest concentration of pumas anywhere on earth. For many people they’re as much of a draw as the towering granite peaks that give the park its name. Pumas are the most widely distributed large predators in the Americas. Their range covers large chunks of Canada and the […]
... Read More
Patagonia is a landscape of the imagination. It doesn’t fit quite neatly on the map or have any obvious borders, making it a perfect place for travel daydreamers – and writers. There are a host of great books out there about Patagonia and its parent nations, Argentina and Chile. To help you guide you through […]
... Read More
Northern Patagonia is one of the most beautiful parts of the region – more verdant than destinations like Torres del Paine or Los Glaciares, but with landscapes that are equally wild and dramatic: thick temperate rainforests, snow-capped volcanoes and lots and lots of water. Collectively known in English as Patagonia’s Lake District, the region is […]
... Read More
The story of how Chile’s greatest puma hunter became a puma protector, was one I’d heard countless times in Torres del Paine over the last couple of years. His skills were the stuff of legend, and even the most experienced puma trackers I met at lodges would smile and shake their heads in disbelief when […]
... Read More
When it comes to Patagonia’s wildlife, people often talk about the ‘Big 5’: the puma, condor, guanaco, huemul deer and Darwin’s rhea. They’re all great to see of course, but there’s a certain degree of terrestrial bias when it comes to the list: they’re species you can see inland in one of the region’s great […]
... Read More
If you’re a red wine drinker, the chances are high that you’ve enjoyed at least one bottle of Argentina’s most celebrated export at some time: its world-beating malbec wine. You can find a bottle in just about any supermarket that sells wine, but until now I didn’t know much about its story, so I headed […]
... Read More
Some destinations are places of the imagination as much as points on a map. The Pyramids, the Grand Canyon or Mount Everest – they’re the sort of places that inspire you to dream of travel, even before you really know exactly what you’re going to find there. Easter Island is definitely somewhere like that, an […]
... Read More
Shut your eyes and imagine Patagonia for a moment. What do you see? If you’re like most people, you’ll probably have a picture of some wild mountains. And if you added some animals, there might be condors soaring high above, while a puma stalks guanacos on the slopes below. If this sounds like a cliché, […]
... Read More
It’s been 25 years since I first travelled to Patagonia and had my heart captured by its amazing wild landscapes. When I founded Swoop 10 years later, the region was on the cusp of change, with increasing tourist numbers and many of the challenges that can bring to both the environment and local communities. I […]
... Read More
What’s the most iconic drink in Argentina and Chile? If you take a look at a wine rack, you might imagine a full-bodied Malbec from Mendoza, or a flinty Sauvignon Blanc from Chile’s central wine valleys. They’re both delicious of course – and internationally celebrated, but if you’re an Argentinian or a Chilean, you’ll be […]
... Read More
‘Eat locally and eat seasonally’ is what people say when they’re recommending healthy meals that have a low impact on the planet. It’s a great aspiration, but one that’s not always simple to stick to with a busy lifestyle. When the convenience of a supermarket or home delivery is there, sometimes it’s easier to eat […]
... Read More
For a number of years I have been travelling around Chile, documenting rural life and learning about my country’s many traditional cultures. This April, I went to Lonquimay in Araucanía, just north of my home in Pucón, to photograph the annual Fiesta del Piñón. This festival celebrates the harvest of the pehuen (or piñón in […]
... Read More
There are few things as completely Argentinian than the tango. It’s the dance that defines our national character, born out of the country’s immigrant experience in the first decades of the 20th Century. Sometimes it’s slow and sensual, and sometimes it snaps like a sharply turned heel. Either way, I love it. Most visitors to […]
... Read More
What do you do when your inflatable kayak gets a puncture while you’re crossing a lake strewn with icebergs, and you’re over a week’s overland travel from the nearest town? That was the challenge faced by explorer and environmentalist Charlie Tokeley on his expedition to Lago Greve, one of the largest, most remote and least […]
... Read More
We’ve long been in love with Patagonia’s extraordinary landscapes, but what keeps us coming back time after time are its people. The deep relationships that we’ve built with our friends and partners over the years in Chile and Argentina allow us to show travellers the very best of the region – and we always adore […]
... Read More
Torres del Paine National Park is home to some of Chile’s most iconic sights. Any hiker or trekker will be instantly familiar with views of the immense granite Towers that give the park its name, and the wild crags of the Cuernos that sit on top of the Paine Massif. Put together and they’re a […]
... Read More
