Talk to me about Patagonia (place not clothes

We’ve booked a trip to Patagonia , El Chalten and Northern Argentina (Salta area) in March next year.

Most stuff is being organised for us , but I’d be interested in people experiences of the W Trek (what to take – i.e. do I really need proper hiking boots), hikes in El Chalten and general food recommendations along with tips on must see parts of Santiago and Buenos Aires (we’re only in cities for over night stops at the beginning and end of the trip.

Also any advice for travelling light and luggage recommendations gratefully received, especially after lugging heavy unwieldy bags around Italy this August!

My experience is limited to Torres del Paine area but one packing tip I haven’t seen elsewhere is – strong gloves, like gardening gloves. The place is covered by pointy vegetation and sometimes you need to pull yourself up slopes 🙂

Food in that area was largely king crab, so not really useful for you ?

Fabulous area; I’d love to go back!

I did the W trek 12yrs ago. All doable in trainers back then, no gardening gloves required either. This was last week of April though, not August.

In Santiago was walked up the mountain and went on the fenicula. I’m busy this weekend but I’ll car an eye over the photos and see where else we went in Santiago (we spent most of our time in Chile but went to Val Paraiso, the Lakes and Vinyards!)

It’s the only place in the world outside Wales where Welsh is spoken as a native language.

where Welsh is spoken as a native language.

I know, but as a  native of Wales who doesn’t speak Welsh, it would be a bit embarrassing to meet a Patagonian who could.

Me and the wife will be going in Feb, so if you don’t mind waiting I can try to remember to update this thread then! Until then, following with interest

Not any help on walking boots etc, but this is my sister’s write up of a trip to Patagonia that looks absolutely amazing. https://www.trailfinders.com/blogs/just-back-from%E2%80%A6-the-patagonian-fjords

She works for this travel agent, but I think she paid for this trip herself. First time I’ve ever thought a cruise sounded good! Definitely no matching T-shirts needed 🙂

Went to Torres del Paine in 2017. It was incredibly beautiful. We were there in April and it was unbelievably windy, so be prepared for that! The area round the W trek was the busiest place we saw so worth visiting some other bits too.

The wildlife was cool – condors circling overhead (I nearly hit one in the car), loads of guanaco, maybe bring binoculars if that’s your thing.

I wouldn’t have wanted to be in TdP in trainers tbh, there wasn’t a paved road for miles and it could be a bit muddy.

We really loved Puerto Natales down the road – had a few days there and it’s kind of like a Betws y Coed at the end of the world. It was rapidly gentrifying but also an amazing place to mooch around.

In Santiago the funicular up the hill is worth it, and our favourite area was Bella Vista which is just at the bottom of it – a fun and colourful area, a bit studenty.

as a  native of Wales who doesn’t speak Welsh, it would be a bit embarrassing to meet a Patagonian who could.

On a separate visit in 2005, we met a local who said her grandparents spoke it, but not too many of her generation could speak it. It was quite odd going to a ‘welsh tea room’ and having fruitcake while a stereo in the corner played hymns!

I know, but as a  native of Wales who doesn’t speak Welsh, it would be a bit embarrassing to meet a Patagonian who could.

My late partner was born over a pub on the King’s Road, Chelsea, and she could speak Welsh! She kept trying to teach me, bless her.

Her family moved to Barmouth when she was 8 or so, so she had to learn it, up to ‘O’-Level. Letting the side down, you are! ?

Thanks for the responses to far. Funicular sound like a good idea!

Letting the side down, you are! ?

I was abducted* and forced to grow up in Gloucestershire, the lack of Welsh language (or trace of an accent) is a self defense mechanism.

*Moved

I wouldn’t have wanted to be in TdP in trainers tbh, there wasn’t a paved road for miles and it could be a bit muddy.

Of course there’s no paved roads, you wouldn’t want there to be.  But plenty of it was just tracks, with the odd bit of rocks.  Definitely doesn’t require proper hiking boots and could be done in walking trainers unless the weathers really bad.  If the OP wants a link to our photos from the W trek drop me a dm and I’ll send the link so you can see the terrain.

From the photos we spent most of our couple of days in Santiago climbing San Cristobal and then in Bella Vista (eating at PatioBellaVista) and just mooching about the streets and other parks.

The Museum of Truth and Human Rights in Santiago covers the Pinochet years and the investigations that followed – it’s worth a visit but is a sobering experience.

Funicular sound like a good idea!

Me and MrsD didn’t know there was a funicular until we had already walked to the top.  So don’t do it that way round!

Puerto Natales down the road – had a few days there and it’s kind of like a Betws y Coed at the end of the world

Oh no. Did the Sons of Sendero Luminosa burn down the holiday house?

Pardon?

I am doing PN somewhat of a disservice there. But still. It was very interesting

In Trevelín last weekend, met tour group in Nain Maggi tea room and Welsh speaking local guide. There appears to have been a revival in the language recently

My limited Welsh and Spanish got stretched. Great fun.

In Santiago I would recommend the pre Colombian museum. Bar life: Bella Vista and Lastarria