Getting Oriented

Getting Oriented

Most of southern Patagonia is windswept desert steppe, inhabited by rabbits, sheep, guanacos, and a few hardy human beings. The population centers—and attractions—are either along the coast or in a narrow strip of barely fertile land that runs north to south along the base of the Andes mountain range, where massive glaciers spill into large turquoise lakes. Southern Patagonia has seen a dramatic increase in tourism in recent years, which means that prices are high and you should have little trouble communicating in English or finding basic services, especially in popular destinations like El Calafate.