Fatagonia is an expansive region bursting with bucket-list destinations like Mount Fitz Roy, Torres del Paine, and Perito Moreno Glacier. However, it’s so big that it’s hard to know where to start when booking your Patagonia trip. From the best hotels, tours, and destinations, there’s so much to consider — especially when factoring in Patagonia trip costs with your budget. As a remote destination with some of the world’s most extraordinary feats of nature, a trip like this isn’t suited to small budgets. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to save and cut your Patagonia trip costs where possible without compromising the experiences you hope to have. In this article we explore Patagonia trip costs in more depth and offer tips and advice on where to spend and where to save to plan the perfect trip for you. You can also dive deep into our top luxury Patagonia tours, and get the whole trip planned out.
How Can I Get the Best Patagonia Deals?
Book through a travel agent
Travel agents like Totally Latin America have excellent partnerships with Patagonia hotels and tour companies which allows them to provide better deals than the hotels and tour companies themselves can offer. It’s a win-win for all parties because the companies get to fill their spots with minimal effort on their part and customers get lower prices. Therefore, it’s better to book your preferred hotels and tours through an agent rather than directly with the hotels and tour companies themselves.
Book as far in advance as possible
Patagonia tours are limited and in high demand which drives prices, and so the further ahead of time you book your tours, the better. This is because the further away your preferred trip dates are, the less competition there will be for them. We recommend booking at least a year in advance to benefit from cheaper trip prices.
Consider traveling off-season
Patagonia trip costs fluctuate throughout the year because it’s a seasonal destination. Patagonia’s high season is from mid-September until the end of April, which is when the region is in spring and summer. Patagonia trip costs will be higher during these months because the days are longer and the weather is warmer, making for better hiking. The high season peaks in January and February, along with prices. Therefore, you’ll often find better deals and greater accommodation availability in the shoulder seasons (early spring and early fall) when there is less demand. Just bear in mind you might find that some hiking trails, tours, and hotels are already closed for the season so you will have fewer options.
Tips for Patagonia flight costs
To reach Patagonia, you’ll have to take a connecting flight to your destination from Santiago de Chile or Buenos Aires. While this is a necessary expense that adds to your total Patagonia trip costs, there are ways you can ensure you’re getting the best flight prices so that you can allocate more of your budget to tours and accommodation instead.
Fly from Buenos Aires
It is usually cheaper to fly from Buenos Aires because it’s closer to most Patagonia destinations which makes the flight time shorter. Moreover, many of the top Patagonia destinations including El Calafate, El Chalten, and Ushuaia are in Argentina, which means you’ll be charged regional flight prices rather than international flight prices. However, there are no flights from Buenos Aires to Punt Arenas (Torres del Paine), so you will have to fly from Santiago in this instance. Since this is a regional flight within Chile, it’s also very affordable.
Book as far in advance as possible
Patagonia flight prices become more expensive the closer to the date you book because airlines know travelers don’t have another transport option. Therefore, it’s beneficial to book your Patagonia flight as far in advance as possible to receive the most reasonable prices.
Book your flights as part of your trip package
To get the best prices on Patagonia flights, book them as part of your trip package with a travel agent. Totally Latin America is able to find the best flight prices and offers better deals when you book flights, accommodation, and tours together. It also allows travel agents like Totally Latin America to arrange airport/hotel transportation and coordinate your trip so that every travel day is completely seamless.
Tips on booking your Patagonia trip by destination
Tips on Visiting El Calafate and El Chalten
El Chalten is the hiking capital of Patagonia
If you’re looking for the best hiking trails in Patagonia, look no further than El Chalten. It’s the main base for exploring Los Glaciares National Park which features many of Patagonia’s most incredible points of interest including Mount Fitz Roy, Lago Argentina, and Perito Moreno Glacier. You can challenge yourself to difficult multi-day hikes like the Huemul Circuit, or take a slower pace with easier one-day hikes like the popular Laguna Los Tres or Laguna Torre.
You can do self-guided hikes
Many assume it’s only possible to hike through the national parks with an official guide because there are so many hiking tours available in the region. However, park visitors are actually free to do a self-guided hike through the park too. Since the trails are so well signposted, there is little chance of getting lost. By opting for a self-guided hike, you can lower your Patagonia trip cost or put the funds towards another special Patagonian experience.
There are incredible tours available
El Chalten and El Calafate aren’t just about hiking, there are many exciting and unique tours and excursions on offer that will make your trip even more memorable. You can go overlanding across the national parks, horseback riding through the Patagonian steppes, and join boat tours around Lago Argentina to get up close to calving glaciers. Meanwhile, thrill-seekers can get their adrenaline pumping on mountain biking and whitewater rafting tours.
El Calafate is a little cheaper
If location isn’t your top priority when booking your Argentinian Patagonia trip, then opt for the more affordable El Calafate over El Chalten. The latter might be closer to the region’s main points of interest, but El Calafate offers a wider and more affordable selection of accommodation. If your heart is set on staying in El Chalten, however, be sure to book your accommodation well in advance to benefit from better prices and more choice.
Stay HERE for the ultimate Patagonian experience
If you’d prefer to prioritize location and luxury over price on your once-in-a-lifetime Patagonia trip, choose to stay at EOLO- Patagonia’s Spirit. This ultra-luxe Relais & Chateaux retreat set on its own 10,000-acre estate between Los Glaciares and El Calafate provides you with your own private slice of Patagonia. From the floor-to-ceiling windows in every room to the regional gourmet cuisine, and tailored tours, EOLO ensures you receive the most enriching Patagonian experience possible.
Tips on Visiting Torres del Paine
Accommodation prices are higher inside the national park
There is accommodation available both inside and outside Torres del Paine National Park ranging from £300-600 USD pp per night depending on location. Understandably, you’ll pay more to stay in accommodation inside the park because not only do you get easier access to the points of interest, but you’ll also get a quieter, more relaxed stay with epic bedroom views. While those looking to reduce their Patagonia trip costs might prefer to stay outside the park, those prioritizing experience over price will find what they’re looking for inside.
Consider an all-inclusive hotel
Torres del Paine has some excellent all-inclusive hotel options that include transport, meals, excursions, and guides in one simple price. These include Explora Patagonia, Hotel Lago Grey, and Hotel Salto Chico. You can expect to pay around $1000 USD pp per night for these options which seems high at first, but it’s actually very cost-effective if you’re planning on doing a few tours during your stay in Torres del Paine. For the best deals on all-inclusives, book through a travel agent like Totally Latin America.
Find cheaper accommodation in Puerto Natales
Those looking to save on their Patagonia trip costs with more cost-effective accommodation might prefer to stay in Puerto Natales when visiting Torres del Paine. Here, accommodation prices can range between $150-$500 USD pp ner night. While the port city is about two hours away from the park entrance, it has ideal transport links and offers a wonderful window into Chilean culture.
Stay at THIS hotel for the ‘O’ and ‘W’ treks
If you’re visiting Torres del Paine with the main interest of hiking the world-famous ‘O’ and ‘W’ treks, consider staying at Hotel Las Torres which is located at the start of the trails. It combines luxury accommodation and camping with outstanding hiking tours to provide an unforgettable national park experience.
Tips on Visiting Tierra del Fuego
Stay in Ushuaia
When visiting Tierra del Fuego, an archipelago split between the southern tips of Argentina and Chile, stay in Ushuaia. It’s not one of Argentina’s most affordable cities, but it is home to the region’s best tours and accommodation, making it more convenient than the Chilean alternative. Plus, as the ‘City at the End of the World’, Ushuaia is a top Patagonian point of interest in itself.
Summer is the best season to go
Located at the southern tip of Patagonia, Tierra del Fuego experiences long and harsh winters and so its tourism window is smaller than most other parks in the region. While you can enjoy a rewarding experience in this area from late spring to early fall, summer is the best time to go. Not only does it promise better weather, but it also promises more hiking trails and better wildlife spotting.
Enquire about our Patagonia Trip Costs and Deals
To book your own once-in-a-lifetime Patagonia trip, or find out more about what you can expect when you’re there and what you get for your money, speak to us by calling toll free on 1 855 217 9045 (USA/Canada) or by filling in our online contact form.
