South America

Patagonia

Argentina/Chile

Best time: November to March (summer)

About Patagonia

A wild frontier of massive glaciers, turquoise lakes, and dramatic peaks at the end of the world, where families trek through pristine wilderness.

Patagonia is named after the 'Patagones' - the 'giants' Ferdinand Magellan's crew claimed to have encountered here in 1520 (likely tall Tehuelche indigenous people). This vast region at South America's southern tip covers 400,000 square miles of dramatic landscapes. The Andes Mountains run down Patagonia's spine, creating stunning peaks like Torres del Paine and Mount Fitz Roy. Massive ice fields left from the last Ice Age still cover vast areas - the Southern Patagonian Ice Field is the world's third-largest ice sheet! Families witness glaciers larger than cities, calving icebergs into turquoise lakes with thunderous cracks. Welsh settlers arrived in the 1800s, creating towns where Welsh tea houses still operate today! The region's isolation, extreme weather, and raw beauty create adventure in one of Earth's last true wildernesses. Patagonia teaches children about glaciers, extreme environments, and the power of wild nature!

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