Patagonia Travel Photo Collection

From the first contact in Ushuaia, Argentina, to the drop-off in Punta Arenas some nine days later we were safely guided through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world and provided some of the finest in service we had ever had.

What a beautiful time and trip we had in Patagonia!

An exhilarating and amazing trip of a lifetime to Ushuaia, El Calafate and Perito Moreno Glacier, Torres del Paines in Chile, and Iguazu Falls.

Taste of Argentina Tour + El Calafate - During the week we spent together Guadalupe was the quintessential tour guide, showing me the lovely towns of Salta, Cachi and Cafayate. She was a wealth of information, well-read, and tons of fun. Amazingly, it had turned out to be a private tour because no one else had signed up and to top it off, our personable and charming driver, Kiko, turned out to be a real gem.

I’ve spent years pouring through my share of Outside Magazines and National Geographics; watched hours of Discovery Channel Programs and marveled at the beauty of nature; heard the tales of many of my well-travelled friends as they detailed their harrowing and exciting adventures. But with all of this, at 30 years old, I had never been outside of the United States. Yes, you heard that right. While I would have given my left arm to be able to say I was an adventurer, the most I had ventured from home was across the U.S. At least that was the case a year ago, when (for my 30th birthday) my boyfriend Jay surprised me with the trip of a lifetime – halfway around the world in South America. He had heard about Adventure Life through a few friends (and a few reads of Outside Magazine himself) and booked the trip without my knowing. Flash forward to March 2010 when, after months of planning, Jay and I board a flight bound for Santiago with an itinerary set to take us to the end of the world and back – and offer us experiences we wouldn’t soon forget. I had no idea what was in store but was soon to find out…

It is February school vacation week, and most of our friends have been indulging in pedicures and manicures for trips to the Caribbean and Florida. Though we are not glamorous, we are happy, happy, happy because we are going to tour Patagonia today.

This was our first trip with Adventure Life. I think it won’t be the last! We wanted to go to Cape Horn, to visit the famous Torres del Paine park of Patagonia, and the Argentine glaciers. Adventure Life let us do it all in 2 weeks.

If you are looking for things to do in Ushuaia while you await the next part of your trip, the Martial Glacier is a good option. It is about 7km outside of downtown Ushuaia. The view from the mountains outside the town are wonderful and make this trek worth taking. There are some great photo opportunities as well.

Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego lies just north of Ushuaia and is Argentina\'s first coastal national park. We spent a day exploring the trails and relaxing. We wandered along the coastal path, taking in all the wildlife. It was about a 3 1/2 hour hike that took us through the forests. We finished the walk at Lake Roca in time for lunch. What a wonderful day! I\'ve never seen so many different kinds of trees!

We trekked through the diverse landscape on our way to the towers - Las Torres del Paine. Amid snow and mist, it was a wonderful feeling seeing those grand statues towering above us - made by nature\'s hand. There\'s no room for the timid here! What an amazing trek!