Tag: aysen

Planning & Tips

Hiking in Patagonia: A Guide for First-Time and Experienced Hikers

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 […]

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Planning & Tips

The Ultimate Guide to Horse Riding in Patagonia

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 […]

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Epic Adventures

Patagonian tourism as a force for good

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 […]

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Aysen Stories & Inspiration

Love and horses: marrying into Chilean gaucho culture

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 […]

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Stories & Inspiration

Why Chilean Patagonia is as important as the Amazon rainforest

Patagonia is home to some of the most dramatic landscapes on the planet, from thick temperate rainforests and wild steppe to fjord-crinkled coastlines and the great glacier-clad spine of the Andes Mountains that run along its entire length.  These aren’t just beautiful wilderness areas, ripe for exploration by adventurous travellers. A recent study has shown […]

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Stories & Inspiration

The return of the nandu: a Patagonia rewilding success story

In March and April 2025, a cheerful scene has been playing out in Chacabuco Valley in the heart of Chile’s Aysen region. Dozens of baby birds, looking like stripy ducklings on stilts, peck happily in the dirt and grass, investigating their new home. They have been bred under the most careful supervision, and are getting […]

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Stories & Inspiration

Patagonia’s craft beer revolution

If you could bottle a country, what would it taste like? Ireland surely would taste of Guinness, Italy a shot of espresso, while a reassuring cup of tea would stand in for England. And Chile? Well, as the fourth biggest wine exporter in the world, the answer lies on the wine aisle of any supermarket. […]

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Aysen Epic Adventures

The Carretera Austral: the last great undiscovered road trip

A road trip is one of the great dreams of travel. It’s no wonder that time and again songwriters have returned to the idea of a car and a highway that stretches on forever as the ultimate promise of freedom. Bruce Springsteen practically built a career on the idea, and everyone knows that Route 66 […]

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