Hello FM members, I’m planning a trip to Patagonia — covering both the Argentina and Chile sides — and was wondering if anyone has used local guiding services in either park. I’d really appreciate any recommendations or insights. Thank you!
Let me piggyback on your question by asking: How necessary is it to engage guides to photograph in Patagonia? (We typically avoid organized tours when we travel.)
I’ve been to Patagonia, both Chile and Argentina, on three occasions. My first two excursions were organized via Explora (explora.com.) They have lodges in Torres del Paine and El Chalten which are some of the most desirable areas to visit. The lodges are very nice. They have multiple daily guided tours which greatly facilitate visiting areas which are challenging to experience on your own. They know the best areas to visit and the tours are tailored to an individual’s scenic goals, hiking ability, and desired duration of tours. The individual tours had a small number of participants which was also preferred. Stunning scenery. The lodges are situated in very scenic areas. They are one of the best excursion companies in South America and we have also used them to visit Easter Island, Atacama, and Bolivia, as well. You will experience multiple photography opportunities on their trips. Walking outside the lodge in Torres del Paine will present you with stunning views.
I encourage you to visit their website to obtain more details and images.
I would also recommend a day trip to the Moreno Glacier with a hike on the glacier itself for an additional unique experience.
You will definitely enjoy Patagonia.
Enjoy your travels.
gdanmitchell wrote:
Let me piggyback on your question by asking: How necessary is it to engage guides to photograph in Patagonia? (We typically avoid organized tours when we travel.)
Thanks Dan, so typically we never go on organized tours. We like to travel on our own, which provides flexibility. In this case I would like to hike up to Fitz Roy for sunrise. Hence, camping at nearby campground is necessary. I have never camped in my life and I don’t have the strength to carry all camping equipment. I know that there are guided hiking which includes pitching tent and food during camping. So that’s the type of guiding services is what I am looking for. Hope that makes sense. Thanks 🙏
aryaah wrote:
I’ve been to Patagonia, both Chile and Argentina, on three occasions. My first two excursions were organized via Explora (explora.com.) They have lodges in Torres del Paine and El Chalten which are some of the most desirable areas to visit. The lodges are very nice. They have multiple daily guided tours which greatly facilitate visiting areas which are challenging to experience on your own. They know the best areas to visit and the tours are tailored to an individual’s scenic goals, hiking ability, and desired duration of tours. The individual tours had a small number of participants which was also preferred. Stunning scenery. The lodges are situated in very scenic areas. They are one of the best excursion companies in South America and we have also used them to visit Easter Island, Atacama, and Bolivia, as well. You will experience multiple photography opportunities on their trips. Walking outside the lodge in Torres del Paine will present you with stunning views.
I encourage you to visit their website to obtain more details and images.
I would also recommend a day trip to the Moreno Glacier with a hike on the glacier itself for an additional unique experience.
You will definitely enjoy Patagonia.
Enjoy your travels. ...Show more →
Thanks @aryaah , I just checked their website and definitely looks interesting and it’s like all inclusive package. Thanks for the suggestion.
The weather in the Patagonia region is very capricious/unpredictable and can vary greatly within a short period of time. Sunny, cloudy, extreme wind, warm, cold, rain, and snowstorm conditions can be present all within a short period of time. I have had the experience of hiking through all these situations, so being prepared from the standpoint of clothing and transport-shelter-lodging is important. Photographic opportunities can either be hindered or enhanced due to the weather.
aryaah wrote:
The weather in the Patagonia region is very capricious/unpredictable and can vary greatly within a short period of time. Sunny, cloudy, extreme wind, warm, cold, rain, and snowstorm conditions can be present all within a short period of time. I have had the experience of hiking through all these situations, so being prepared from the standpoint of clothing and transport-shelter-lodging is important. Photographic opportunities can either be hindered or enhanced due to the weather.
Thanks @aryaah, totally agree about the weather. I did do some research and everyone mentioned the same thing as you did. Thanks
keepclicking wrote:
Thanks Dan, so typically we never go on organized tours. We like to travel on our own, which provides flexibility. In this case I would like to hike up to Fitz Roy for sunrise. Hence, camping at nearby campground is necessary. I have never camped in my life and I don’t have the strength to carry all camping equipment. I know that there are guided hiking which includes pitching tent and food during camping. So that’s the type of guiding services is what I am looking for. Hope that makes sense. Thanks 🙏
That’s good to know.
And I need to be a little more clear about my “no tours” comment. It is a bit of an exaggeration, now that think about it. While we don’t sign up for those traditional tours that handle all of your lodging and take you from place to place on their schedule, while we are traveling independently we do sometimes let services organize walking trips for us — set up the accommodations, etc. — and then we walk independently. So I would not be averse to something like you describe. Besides, I can’t imagine flying to South America will all of my camping gear and photography equipment!
If you are staying on the "front side of the back country" in Argentina you do not need a guide at all. The trails are wide, well marked, and heavily traveled. It is impossible to get lost without trying really, really hard. If, on the other hand, you want to go on the Patagonian icefield you probably need a guide to keep you safe unless you are very experienced in that type of environment.
On the Chilean side TdP is mostly a driving affair, with the notable exception of the hike to the towers. But that is also extremely well traveled and easy to follow. If you plan to get on the W you better plan a year ahead of time because the slots sell out. You can actually rent tents and buy hot meals at the refugios which tells you that you don't need a guide there either.
The only possible reason for hiring a guide is to efficiently explore photogenic spots somewhat off the well trodden path, and not inves the time to "discover" them yourlself. But even that is of dubious value of you stay on the "front of the back country". By now almost all major compositions have been shot hundreds and thousands of time. All that is required to find them is to load images in Google Lens and then ask pointed questions if the AI about the potential location of each. Most of the time that will get you within a hundred yards or so.
I have also been to Explora in Patagonia in Chile (and elsewhere). They are terrific. Expensive but great lodging, guides, excursions, etc. We're going again to Explora but this time to the Argentina side.
Many people do Laguna de Los Tres and Cerro Torre as single day trips. From a photography point this is sub optimal. A common loop is to leave Chalten in the morning, hike to Camp Poincenot and shoot along the way and around the camp. Sleep at Camp Poincenot, hike to Laguna de Los Tres for sunrise, then hike to Camp Agostini and shoot along the way. Sleep at Camp Agostini shoot Cerro Torre at sunset and sunrise, then hike back to Chalten.
That of course assumes that the weather collaborates. It would be wise to allocate 2-3 days at each campground to allow for weather events and exploration. Some of the images of Fitz Roy that have become popular lately appear to be from a) the meadow around -49.28291, -72.95085 b) on the south side of Rio Fitz Roy from the general area of Loma del Pliegue Tumbado. The latter is a day+ of exploration by itself.
Tyler Lekki has some more unusual images from the area (he is the guy who shot the winter acent of Cerro Torre a few months ago). He does not lead group tours but he will do private tours, not sure what the cost is. He is on IG and Twitter.
Besides the usual loop there are interesting images along Rie de las Vueltas, both before and after Chalten. A popular one is Canon del Rio de Las Vueltas but the views are not as good, as a popular gorge further downstream. On the many overcast days you are likely to face Cascada Chorillo del Salto is an option, and if you are up for a bit of a hike so is the "hidden" Fitzroy waterfall (which is 50 yards off the main trail and bypassed by many). On overcast days the lenga forrest deserves your full attention, especially if you manage to intercept good fall color. The hike to Laguna El Diablo is through a forrest and well worth it under such circumstances. Mirrador de los Condores is an OK spot that is an easy hike out of Chalten, but these days unless you have a multi day unlimited pass it is not worth the $45/pp to go there. There are interesting views of Fitroy with a lake in front of it from Lago Viedma, to find them you will need to draw a line from Fitzroy and rotate it around to see where it is tangential to the edge of the lake. The location is a good distance down RP23 because the Fitzroy is blocked by its foothils from the area around the Bahia Tunel.
Perito Moreno is a tourist trap that IMO is not very photogenic. Every time I have been there the calving rate has been very low, and the face is so long that it takes a ton of luck to capture someting. A lake tour that approaches the glacier is OK as an experience. I have done the one from the south side, but the one from Lago Argentino (north side) looked better. There are also kayaking trips from that side.
There is no reason to use El Calafate as anything more than a sleepover point. Car rental is mandatory and pretty easy out of FTE. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT, use Budget or Avis. Hertz is more expensive but given the incredible hassle you are likely to experience renting from Budget or Avis, it is well worth it --- especially if you plan on driving the rental car into Chile and/or back.
Explora is beautiful in both TdP and Chalten but $$$$$$. Every time I have been to either place I am out and about all day so spending that much money on accommodation is not for me. I don't need their guides, nor do I do massages and saunas. Last time I was there with my wife we stayed at Kaulem Hotel Boutique, which was reasonably priced and very pleasant.
Thanks Boyan, appreciate your detailed information and helps tremendously. So here is my plan so far, fly into PNT rent a car and get to Torre Del Pine national park and stay at Hostería Pehoé for 3 nights. Return back to PNT stay one night in PNT and take a bus to El Calafate, pick up rental car at FTE and spend 5 nights in El Chalten. I did read about nightmare crossing borders, so bus was the best choice. Was not looking for a guide for hikes but mostly someone to help with setting up tents and do the Laguna de Los Tres and Cerro Torre loop. I have researched all the obvious spots and google AI has been quite an amazing tool as it can find me the spot within few meters. Then I mark them on Google earth pro version. I have most locations marked with GPS coordinates. I am not a long hiker and only way I could do Fitz Roy hike for sunrise is camping which I have never done in my life
Also, since you have been to Chile side of Patagonia, what are your thoughts on staying in Rio Serrano? on map it shows I would be 20KM away from Hostería Pehoé. They have extremely good all inclusive package.
Thanks for your input
Monoloco67 wrote:
I have also been to Explora in Patagonia in Chile (and elsewhere). They are terrific. Expensive but great lodging, guides, excursions, etc. We're going again to Explora but this time to the Argentina side.
Thank you, I did look at Explora and definitely looks amazing. Not finalized yet but that option is open.
keepclicking wrote:
Also, since you have been to Chile side of Patagonia, what are your thoughts on staying in Rio Serrano? on map it shows I would be 20KM away from Hostería Pehoé. They have extremely good all inclusive package.
Thanks for your input
I prefer to rough it whenever possible, in TdP I stayed at a campground not far away from Hostería Pehoé. If you have never set up a tent you probably are right to seek some help. The sites at Camp Poincenot are on hard ground and you usually have to tie off the tent to rocks and branches, which may be frustrating if you have never done it.
Hotel Rio Serrano is well within driving range, you will just have to leave earlier to catch sunrise. TdP is very spread out. For example, Laguna Amarga where this image was taken is on the other side of the park. Don't plan on driving too fast, last time I was out there (~2016) a lot of the road was gravel and I tore a a tire on the dinky Toyota Corolla I was driving.
First of all anytime you go some where in which you have never been before it best to have a guide. The time you spend finding the right locations with the right light takes up too much time.
If you don't want a group then hire a guide for one on one.
This guide service has all of what you mentioned and more-Danny Middleton
Patagonia Specialist
Working hours: Chile 8am-5pm
US/Canada: 1-888-970-4571 (toll free)
UK/International: 0117 244 4227
Australia: 1800 936 033
Extension number:
270
keepclicking wrote:
Hello FM members, I’m planning a trip to Patagonia — covering both the Argentina and Chile sides — and was wondering if anyone has used local guiding services in either park. I’d really appreciate any recommendations or insights. Thank you!
I'm a little late to the show as I mostly hang out in the Landscapes forum. Did you travel already? I'm going next April and would love to hear how it went. I'm going with another family photographer and on our own (I am originally from a neighboring country so at least language and culture are not an issue).
2613pch wrote:
First of all anytime you go some where in which you have never been before it best to have a guide. The time you spend finding the right locations with the right light takes up too much time.
If you don't want a group then hire a guide for one on one.
This guide service has all of what you mentioned and more-Danny Middleton
Patagonia Specialist
Working hours: Chile 8am-5pm
US/Canada: 1-888-970-4571 (toll free)
UK/International: 0117 244 4227
Australia: 1800 936 033
Extension number:
270
Thanks for you information. The phone number is for Swoop Patagonia. They were very knowledgeable and can pretty much arrange all your needs. Thanks for sharing.
zuru wrote:
I'm a little late to the show as I mostly hang out in the Landscapes forum. Did you travel already? I'm going next April and would love to hear how it went. I'm going with another family photographer and on our own (I am originally from a neighboring country so at least language and culture are not an issue).
Igal
Igal, I have not traveled yet but have my tickets and hotel done for TdP in Chile for April 2026. Flying into Peurto Natales and renting a car from Stixt. Have not booked anything in Argentina side yet. Will update this post when I do.
I appreciate everyone’s guidance and advice. Thanks
You are a brave man. Renting from Sixt is an iffy proposition in most countries on a good day, but in Argentina and Chile it is downright an adventure. You can expect poor customer service and the car to be inspected with a microscope and nit-picked for every little ding. Make sure to either buy their insurance or get something that will cover you. The roads in TdP used to be loose gravel so you can expect some rock chips on the paint and possibly on the windshield.
I am enrolled in the AMEX Premium Car Rental Protection plan. For under $20 PER RENTAL you are covered for most things. I have had to file claims 3-4x in my life, and they have always paid promptly and hassle free. Most rental companies charge 2x that PER DAY.
I suggest you consider switching to Hertz. Will be more expensive but far less hassles. Not sure if that is the case in Chile, but in El Calafate anything other than Hertz is just not worth the risk, not to mention the shitty customer service.
I’ve been to the Calafate/El Chalten area twice, in April and May. I’d be happy to share my hotel, activity and guide choices. Please feel free to PM me.
