Getting Here and Around

Air Travel

Flying is the best way to reach Patagonia from Buenos Aires (through which flights from most other parts of the country also pass). Always allow some buffer time when traveling to Patagonia: bad weather, heavy fog, and strikes can cause common delays on either side of the journey.

Aerolíneas Argentinas (www.aerolineas.com.ar) and LAN (www.lan.com) have regular, direct flights to Trelew, Comodoro Rivadavía, Río Gallegos, El Calafate, and Ushuaia from Buenos Aires.

LADE (Líneas Aéreas del Estado www.lade.com.ar) connects Trelew and Comodoro Rivadavía to other parts of Patagonia, including Bariloche, El Calafate, and Ushuaia. Andes Líneas Aéreas (www.andesonline.com) has direct flights between Buenos Aires and Puerto Madryn three times per week.

Bus Travel

Comfortable overnight sleeper buses connect Patagonia to Buenos Aires (and other major cities). However, as getting to even the closest city in Atlantic Patagonia, Puerto Madryn, takes 20 hours, most travelers feel it's worth the price to fly. All the same, buses are a major form of transportation between destinations up to about 600 km (370 miles) apart. Don Otto (www.donotto.com.ar) is a reliable carrier.

Car Travel

If you truly enjoy the call of the open road, there are few places that can rival the vast emptiness and jaw-dropping beauty of Patagonia. Be prepared for miles and miles of semi-desert steppes with no gas stations, towns, or even restrooms. Always carry plenty of water, snacks, a jack, and tire-changing tools, with at least one spare. Take extra care when driving on ripios (gravel roads): it's easy to flip small cars at speeds over 80 kph (55 mph). Fill your tank at every opportunity. If you're not driving, consider simply paying for a remis (car with driver) for day excursions.