Seasons

Patagonia trekking season

When November – March November to March. November and March are the balance point; December to February is the peak.

Typical duration 7 days

Book 8–12 months ahead

Groups & MICE Neutral for MICE

The same season on both sides of the border, and a bed base that does not grow with demand.

What it is

The window in which the Patagonian circuits run in full: Torres del Paine on the Chilean side, El Calafate and Fitz Roy on the Argentine one, with Ushuaia as the far south. December, January and February are the warmest months and also the windiest and busiest. November and March deliver the same access with considerably fewer people, which is why an experienced agency pushes those two ends.

What to offer

Seven nights as the minimum sellable programme to do both sides without rushing: Torres del Paine and El Calafate chained overland, with Ushuaia as an extension rather than a compulsory part. Outside the window, Patagonian trekking should not be sold: from May, Torres del Paine allows trekking only with a licensed guide.

How it operates

The bed base inside and around the park is small and is the hardest thing to secure in the whole region. Wind is a real operational factor rather than a weather detail: it governs sailing and hiking schedules, and the client should know that before travelling. The crossing between Chile and Argentina is made overland and consumes half a day.

When to book

Eight to twelve months for the December-to-February peak, four to six for November and March. The refuges and in-park accommodation are the first bottleneck, ahead of flights.