Photo Album: Pictures of Patagonia
My favourite picture on the hike up to Laguna de los Tres - moments after our engagament!
People who know us are probably sick of hearing us talk about our Patagonia holiday… but we’re not sorry. Those three weeks in November 2019 turned out to be full of milestones for us.
It was our first trip outside of Europe together as a couple, it was my 30th birthday and we came home engaged after Graeme popped the question on the hike up to Laguna de los Tres. Not to mention, just a few months later the world shut down and we wouldn’t step on a plane again for over 2 years. So can you really blame us for plastering our flat with photos, prints, and maps to remember the trip? We even dedicated one of the readings in our wedding service to the beauty of the place!
Safe to say, it’s a really special place for us. I’m sure in the future I will write at length about it in other blog posts but, for now, I want to share some photo highlights. I have so many pictures that some haven’t even made it to Instagram - shock! Click on any photo to see it in full screen.
El Calafate & Perito Moreno Glacier
Why visit Patagonia?
In all honesty, I’d known I wanted to visit Patagonia since I was around 16 years old and read Bruce Chatwin’s In Patagonia. His journey is evocative and mysterious, full of adventure, history, and hilarity, with the Patagonian landscape a central character…“Patagonia! She is a hard mistress. She casts her spell. An enchantress! She folds you in her arms and never lets go.” It was over a decade before I knew those words to be true.
Aside from being a gift to myself for my 30th birthday, Patagonia is on every outdoor enthusiast’s bucket list. From towering glaciers to epic hikes, pristine lakes, rugged mountains, and lush forests, there is jaw-dropping natural beauty at every turn. Not forgetting all the wildlife spotting: flamingoes, guanacos, pumas, and penguins to name a few.
El Chalten & Los Glaciares National Park
What is a good Patagonia travel itinerary?
We found public transport to be really good in the region, as long as you don’t mind putting in the hours; buses connect all the main points of interest and independent travellers can experience the pristine beauty of the natural surroundings without having to opt for guided tours every time. Of course, if you rent a car you have more flexibility, but you’ll still have to put up with long days on the road.
We flew into El Calafate, the jumping-off point for Perito Moreno Glacier, then went north to El Chalten. After a few days hiking Los Glaciares National Park, we went back on ourselves and headed south, across the border to Chile and Puerto Natales. From there, we embarked on day hikes in Torres del Paine National Park. We made our way back over the border into Argentina for a short stop in Punta Arenas before heading over to the archipelago of Tierra del Fuego. Our last stop was the city at the end of the world - Ushuaia - from where we explored the Beagle Channel, Lapataia Bay, and Tierra del Fuego National Park.
This trip took about 2 weeks to complete and it’s worth noting that we only covered the southernmost third of Patagonia - it is truly humungous!
Torres del Paine National Park
Is Patagonia the most beautiful place on Earth?
Well, I’m not qualified to answer that, but it certainly comes top of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been, even after 14 years of anticipation.
I think part of the beauty comes from how utterly barren and isolated it is, and how harsh the environment is.
Punta Arenas, Ushuaia & Tierra del Fuego National Park
Are you a fan of the Photo Album blog? I have so many pictures I want to share I would love to know if you like seeing them, tell me in the comments!
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