At the southern end of the Andes lies one of the planet’s most spectacular landscapes. Patagonia is a world filled with rugged mountain ranges, ancient glaciers, stunning fjords and some of the most majestic lakes imaginable.
For adventurers and photographers alike, its beauty and remoteness brings an appeal that can’t be ignored. If you’re in need of filling up your portfolio, being inspired creatively or just love to take gorgeous photos, here are 7 reasons why your next trip should be to Patagonia.
Jagged Mountains
The mountains of Patagonia are unlike anywhere else in the world. The result of violent tectonic plates colliding, the jagged peaks rose up in haphazard fashion, creating a stark and beautiful landscape.
The striking views are a pure joy to photograph, especially when the notoriously unpredictable weather is cooperating.
Patagonia sits at a relatively low altitude, with most travellers rarely rising above 2000m. This means altitude sickness isn’t a serious concern, which is important.
Autumn Colours
Without a doubt the best time to visit Patagonia is in the Autumn, from the end of March until mid-May, when the foliage starts to turn brilliant shades of orange, red, purple and yellow.
Photographing Patagonia in the Fall adds a captivating style to all your images, and gives the place contrast even if the weather is bad. Try to plan your trip in these months.
Spectacular Waterfalls
One thing Patagonia doesn’t lack is water. Large snowfall in the winter and heavy rain throughout the summer means the place is alive with lakes, rivers, creaks and waterfalls.
You can find picturesque and quiet cascades just a short walk from the town of El Chalten, or hike out to the largest waterfall in Patagonia, Salto Grande in Torres del Paine National Park.
Our Recommendation – Bring an ND filter to capture some long exposure shots of the water.
Phenomenal Glaciers
There’s few places in the world that you can get such easy access to remarkable and ancient glaciers quite like Patagonia.
By far the most visited glacier is the enormous Perito Moreno outside of El Calafate in Argentina. Over 5km wide and 30km long, you can witness huge chunks of ice calve off almost every hour, making for spectacular viewing.
If you want get even more off the beaten path and visit some glaciers that few people get the chance to see, jump on a glacier cruise through the Chilean Fjords.
Glistening Lakes
It would be just about impossible to count the number of lakes that cover the Patagonian landscape. From small ponds to sprawling lagoons, you will hardly go more than a few hours without stumbling across another glorious pool.
Some of the most famous lakes for photographing are the ones that can be found at the bases of Mount Fitz Roy in Argentina, and Los Torres in Chile, but there’s no end to the huge collection of water you can photograph. Check out some amazing spots around Puerto Natales for some other lesser-photographed spots, and Bariloche in northwest Patagonia is known for its iconic ‘Route of the 7 Lakes’ road trip.
The Isolation
Patagonia is a remote location, and you can’t help but feel like you’re at the end of the earth when you’re travelling there.
Wide open spaces are found everywhere, punctuated by steep crags and endless skies. Even though it is one of the more popular trekking destinations in the world, it’s remarkably easy to find yourself completely alone in nature.
Spend a couple of nights hiking and camping to truly capture the essence of remoteness that you can experience in Patagonia.
The Night Sky
If you’re into astrophotography, Patagonia is a real joy. The clear skies and low levels of light pollution means that there is usually a good chance capturing the Milky Way.
There’s something peacefully enjoyable about photographing the stars, and when they are as bright as what you find around Torres del Paine and El Chalten you will be forgiven for spending hours standing out in nature admiring the sky.
Our Recommendation – Bring a sturdy tripod.
