How many hikes to do: Plan three to five multi-day or major day hikes in a two to four week trip, and no more. Argentina rewards depth over volume, because every serious trail area costs a travel day or two to reach. One Patagonian trek of 3 to 5 days, one or two shorter walks in the north-west or Mendoza area, and a handful of easy day routes fill a month comfortably. Beyond that, you spend more on buses than on trails, and fatigue starts to cost you good weather days.
Which kind to prioritize: If you want the most dramatic mountains and have the budget, Patagonia is worth the splurge. It has the best infrastructure, the best signage, and the most reliable trail conditions. If money is tight, the north-west gives you more for less: lodging and food are cheaper, crowds are thin, and the landscapes …
read more 👉 How many hikes to do: Plan three to five multi-day or major day hikes in a two to four week trip, and no more. Argentina rewards depth over volume, because every serious trail area costs a travel day or two to reach. One Patagonian trek of 3 to 5 days, one or two shorter walks in the north-west or Mendoza area, and a handful of easy day routes fill a month comfortably. Beyond that, you spend more on buses than on trails, and fatigue starts to cost you good weather days.
Which kind to prioritize: If you want the most dramatic mountains and have the budget, Patagonia is worth the splurge. It has the best infrastructure, the best signage, and the most reliable trail conditions. If money is tight, the north-west gives you more for less: lodging and food are cheaper, crowds are thin, and the landscapes of color-banded canyons and high desert are unlike anything else in South America. The trade-off is rougher logistics, fewer marked trails, and longer transfers. Mendoza and the central Andes suit travelers with limited time, since most routes start within a couple of hours of a city with hostels and restaurants. For a first big trek, pick Patagonia. For a second, go north. Skip any region that needs a long detour for a single short walk.
What it costs: Budget US$40 to 70 a day for independent backpacking outside Patagonia, covering a dorm bed or simple room, supermarket food, and local buses. In Patagonia, expect US$70 to 130 a day in summer, because lodging, groceries, and transfers all run higher. Park entry fees for foreigners in the major Patagonian parks run roughly US$20 to 45 per visit, and they change often, so check before you go. Campsites cost about US$5 to 25 a night, while refugio beds with meals can cost US$40 to 100 or more. A guide for a day route typically costs US$80 to 200 for a small group, and multi-day guided treks cost considerably more. Gear rental in gateway towns runs about US$5 to 15 a day for a tent, sleeping bag, or poles. Camping with your own gear and cooking for yourself is the best value, because it cuts the daily cost nearly in half compared with refugios. Guided hikes are worth the money only where the route is unmarked, glaciated, or requires permits. For marked national park trails, guides are not worth the time or cost.
Transport adds up. A domestic flight between regions often costs US$80 to 250, and long bus rides run US$30 to 90 depending on distance. Buses are cheaper but eat a day. If the trip is shorter than three weeks, one flight is usually the better use of your money than a second 20-hour bus.
Safety on the trail: The main hazards are weather, altitude, and isolation. In Patagonia, gusts can knock you off your feet on exposed ridges, and temperatures drop fast when rain turns to sleet. Carry a windproof shell, a warm layer, and a spare day of food. Check the park office forecast each morning and turn around when rangers advise it. In the north-west and the high Andes, altitude sickness is common above 3,000 meters. Spend at least two nights at moderate elevation before going higher, drink plenty of water, and descend if headaches or nausea worsen. Many trails there are not clearly marked and have no phone signal, so carry an offline map and tell your lodging where you are going.
Register at ranger stations where required. Many parks ask you to sign in and out, and some routes require registration or a guide. Water in the high Andes is generally fine to filter, but livestock graze in many valleys, so treat it. Fire rules are strict in Patagonia, and open fires are banned in most areas because of the wildfire risk, so bring a stove.
Cultural considerations: Argentines are friendly and relaxed about time, but dinner starts late, often after 9 pm, and shops close for a long midday break in smaller towns. Carry some cash in pesos for rural areas, since card machines are unreliable at remote lodges and campsites. Currency rules and exchange rates change often, so check them close to your departure. Greet people with a handshake or a single cheek kiss, and take the time to say hello at a refugio or homestay, since hosts value it. In indigenous communities of the north-west, ask before photographing people and respect any local access fees for land crossings. Pack out all trash, because few remote areas have collection.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.