Traveling from Santiago to the wide region of Patagonia (which spans millions of square kilometers) can be done in several ways, and travel time varies depending on where you're going. Patagonia is a majestic area, stretching from Chile to Argentina with places such as Torres del Paine, Ushuaia, and Bariloche—just to mention a few. This 7-day itinerary is great for trekking and exploring the region.
Here are some of the most popular places in Patagonia, traveled from Santiago.
To Torres del Paine
Torres del Paine is one of Patagonia's highlights which is convenient because it's close to Puerto Natales which is another major attraction.
To travel here from Santiago you can expect an 8-hour journey, traveled best by plane. Your first stop will be in Punta Arenas—a 3-hour plane ride from Santiago's International Airport (SCL) When you reach Punta Arenas you can either rent a car, get a private transfer, or take the bus. This part of the trip takes approximately 4-6 hours. If you instead choose to take the bus then the best route for this is traveling via Puerto Montt, Puerto Natales, and Punta Arenas. In this case, you can expect up to two days of travel so get a comfortable seat on the bus. The bus stops right outside Torres del Paine's park entrance.
For more specific details on traveling between Santiago and Torres del Paine in Patagonia, take a look at this article.
To Ushuaia
Ushuaia - the southernmost city in the entire orld makes its presence here. The best way to get to Ushuaia in Argentina from Santiago is by plane which will take you around 7-10 hours. A direct flight takes 6.5 hours but often you'll have to transfer in Buenos Aires and this takes up to 10 hours. There is the possibility to travel by bus but then you can expect up to two days of travel. The best thing is to choose the route via Osorno and Punta Arenas with a total of two bus transfers.
You'll find more options for this route here.
To Bariloche
The journey between Santiago and Bariloche in Argentina takes around seven hours, including transfer to and from the airports. You'll take the flight from Santiago International Airport and will land at the San Carlos de Bariloche Airport (BRC) within five hours.
Once you land in Bariloche you can expect a 30-minute journey to the city and you will have arrived in Patagonia. There are buses available a couple of times per day to take you into the city. For more comfort, book a transfer to wait for you upon arrival.
To El Calafate
El Calafate is the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park and Perito Moreno in Argentina. The best way to get to El Calafate from Santiago is by plane which is a 7-hour journey. Expect six hours on the plane and then 20 minutes by bus or car to the city.
Patagonia has a lot to offer and there are endless tours to take and sights to experience. You can find many of those here.
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