Patagonia Travel Guide: Top Things to See and Do
Shafik Meghji in Patagonia - photo credit Shafik Meghji
Ep 155 w/ Shafik Meghji - A Deep Dive Into Argentinian and Chilean Patagonia in South America
My 155th guest episode on the Winging It Travel Podcast is with Shafik Meghji, a returning guest and award-winning journalist, travel writer, author, editor, broadcaster, and photographer.
Shafik first appeared on the podcast in 2023 to discuss Bolivia, a place both of us hold dear to our hearts.
It was such a good conversation that we agreed to do another on Patagonia, so here we are.
Shafik is based in South London but has traveled extensively in South America for the last twenty years, writing guidebooks and articles for the region, which you can read on his website.
He also lived in Buenas Aires for a year in the early days, so he understands the vibes of places in South America and is an expert.
Shafik has traveled extensively to Patagonia in Chile and Argentina, so we decided to dive deep into the area and add Cordoba from Argentina, too, as this is a place where he has been on assignment this year.
For some reason, Argentina’s second city is not on the radar of most travelers, so I was eager to hear more.
Let’s dive into some topics of the conversation.
No, really. You should book those flights to Patagonia like Shafik mentioned in Episode 155! If you scan the QR code below or click the QR, a link will open a new tab on Skyscanner!
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Visiting Iguazu Falls in 2014 with my friend Lewis
How can you visit Patagonia on a budget?
Patagonia, on both sides, is notoriously expensive in general, especially compared to their own countries.
Argentina is a strange country when it comes to budget.
Things like local steak, hostels, buses, hostel prices, and wine are super cheap.
However, internal flights, tours, Patagonia tours, and permits can be expensive.
The official exchange rate of the US dollar compared to the unofficial rate on the street confuses us all. Always take cash!
How do you travel to Patagonia cheaply?
Shafik shared a few tips from both sides, and the main two things are time and traveling independently by local transport.
For example, in Chile, you can take a boat to Patagonia from Santiago or other cities/towns further south. This boat is much cheaper than flying, and it passes through fjords and stunning scenery before reaching the area. However, it will take more time than flying.
As Shafik tells us, Patagonia is roughly 1 million square miles, so it is a massive place with little towns and villages dotted around everywhere.
However, the buses in Argentina and Chile are fantastic!
They offer different classes, but you are always guaranteed a great seat, legroom, bingo games, and a snack on board. I loved traveling by bus in Argentina.
You will need time to navigate Patagonia, as public transport takes time due to the distances and the vastness of the settlements.
Another extra tip, if you are looking to tag in Antarctica, is to base yourself in Ushuaia for some time.
Towards the end of the season, cruise companies look to fill up the last remaining seats with money off. Hang your horses! This isn’t budget travel, but this method could save you a few thousand dollars as this trip is not cheap and shouldn’t be!
For more budget tips from Shafik, check out the episode!
Which parts are worth adding to your list to visit?
Shafik talks us through some of the areas you must visit when in the region, and one that piqued my interest was the Welsh Patagonia area.
Over 150 years ago, a group of Welsh people worried about their culture dying out left the British Isles and headed for Argentina to establish a new life and preserve their heritage.
Sometimes, it is so shameful to be English.
There is a thriving community where residents speak Welsh and Spanish. There are Welsh road names, Welsh place names, and cafes where you can get afternoon tea in British style. How cool is this?
Punta Arenas looks incredible along the Strait of Magellan.
To follow on, if you can get a boat on the Chilean side and make your way there, the views and scenery will be incredible. I can’t even imagine it!
Naturally, we talked about Torres del Paine National Park, as this area is a must, but we also discussed overtourism in this region, and to avoid the crowds, you would need to travel in the off-season.
Ushuaia is a place that most people visit, and despite losing its status as the southernmost city in the world (controversially) to Puerto Williams in Chile, it has to be on your list.
From the conversation, I noted that there are so many places to visit in Patagonia that it can be overwhelming to decide where to go.
I advise grabbing a notepad and pen to write down all of Shafik's recommendations. If you have any questions, send them to him through his website or LinkedIn.
We share some love for train travel, which you can do in Patagonia too.
When I hiked Machu Picchu in Peru, I heard we would get a train back to Cusco, and I couldn’t quite believe it.
After four days of grueling hiking, we sat at our buffet and shared stories from the journey with our fellow hikers.
Then we made our way to the train station, and there she was, an old train waiting for us to board, and I had the time of my life. I sat there with my new friends, coffee in hand, my bag above me, and talked about our hike while staring out of the window, admiring the views of the Sacred Valley.
I was emotional. I really pushed myself on that hike. I saw Machu Picchu on a clear, sunny day, shared my lunch with an alpaca, and admired the views. Now, I can sit on this slow train for three hours and reminisce about our experience, and I will probably never see these guys again.
I was right. I haven’t seen them again, but I have had the odd communication on social media.
This brings me back to the topic: how awesome is train travel?
Shafik shares with us the train ride you can take, the End of the World Train to Ushuaia. This is a must for me!
Convicts built this route during the penal colony days, and it is now a mostly tourist activity, but I am not sure you can beat it when you have stunning scenery outside.
Where is the best place you have ridden a train?
One of my recent favorites was the Alps Train from Switzerland to Italy in 2023, which was spectacular!
I haven’t dedicated an episode to train travel, but I feel I may need to.
Not to worry, though. Shafik has agreed to come on for a third time, and I will add train travel to that discussion, too.
I love remembering travel experiences, it gives me the shiver.
Tune into this week’s episode for some excellent tips on how to travel Patagonia but also some fantastic wanderlust to get you inspired on your next trip!
Torres del Paine - photo credit Shafik Meghji
Check out my latest YouTube episode hiking the Garibaldi Lake Trail.
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Who is Shafik Meghji?
I’m an award-winning journalist, travel writer, author, editor, photographer and broadcaster with more than 15 years of experience working for newspapers, magazines, publishers, tech firms, charities and NGOs, including the BBC, Wanderlust, the Guardian, Google, DK, Rough Guides, Lonely Planet, Time Out, National Geographic Traveller, the Evening Standard, Private Eye, the Runnymede Trust and Amnesty International. I was shortlisted for Travel Journalist of the Year at the British Journalism Awards in 2022 and 2023.
I've worked on all seven continents, co-authoring more than 60 guidebooks, travel and history books, and anthologies, specialising in Latin America and South Asia and with a focus on responsible travel, food, history, culture and human rights. Published in March 2022, my debut book Crossed Off the Map: Travels in Bolivia was shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year, the British Guild of Travel Writers Narrative Travel Book of the Year and the Great Outdoors Book of the Year. I'm currently writing my second book, on Britain's forgotten connections with South America, which will be published by Hurst in 2025.
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