One of the most underrated experiences in Patagonia is the driving! The roads all offer mind-blowing views, and in particular, the road transporting you between the southern El Calafate up to El Chalten is truly spectacular. We rate it as possibly the most picturesque driving we have ever experienced, ranking it right up there with locations like Lofoten islands, Madeira, Jungfrau and more!
Imagine a long straight road, a bright blue glacial lake to your left, mountains to your right, and at your front the iconic ‘Patagonia logo’ of Fitz Roy and surrounding mountains. The pictures below barely do it justice! But don’t just take our word for it, part of the drive is the iconic Ruta 40, considered the ‘spine of Argentina’ and one of the most picturesque roads in the world! This road traverses much of Patagonia and is an experience not to be missed, especially for those who love a good road trip! When heading from El Calafate to El Chalten, you will turn off onto the Ruta 23, an equally spectacular route, particularly as you approach the El Chalten town.
We think hiring a car over a tour/bus is worth it purely for the experience of driving along this road. This was one of the highlights of our visit to Patagonia and we highly recommend! Having a car allows you to make use of the multiple stops along the way, including La Leona (historic rest stop/hotel/café) and the amazing view points. We even found that pulling the car onto the side of the road garnered some of the best views!
Part of the experience is the wildlife spotting! Keep you eyes peeled for wild animals on your road trip. We spotted the iconic guanaco (similar to a llama), an armadillo, rhea birds (similar to emus/ostrich), horses roaming the paddocks, and don’t forget the fearsome yet majestic condors flying overhead.
While we only covered part of these iconic routes, the views were exceptional, and we highly recommend this as part of your Patagonian itinerary!
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