Patagonia: Not a dream, a reality

Is Patagonia real, virtual, or mythical? Actually, it is the region of South America below Chile and Argentina. Its far most point, Ushuaia, is the tip of the world.

Magellan and Darwin

In 1520, Magellan explored South America and entered the South Sea via the straits later named after him. He named Patagonia after the Spanish word pata, meaning feet, as the natives wore large moccasins. The Pacific Ocean is so-called as it was pacifico (Spanish for calm) after his difficult journey. In 1831, Darwin came here on the Beagle and explored the region for five years. In Patagonia there is the Beagle Canal, the Cordillera Darwin and Fitz Roy Mountain.

You have to fly to Santiago, Chile or Buenos Aires, Argentina to get to Patagonia. We flew to Buenos Aires and then to Trelew, a city established by Welshmen who fled English oppression at the end of the 1700s. From Trelew, take the highway to Puerto Madryn and then explore Peninsula Waldes.

The island of the Little Prince

The Peninsula Waldes is home to seals, sea lions, elephant seals, whales, wild ostriches, Patagonia rabbits (maras), guanacos, llamas, alpacas and penguins. Bird Island to the north partially inspired Antoine de Sainte-Exupery's The Little Prince. Punto Tombo, two hours from Puerto Madryn, is a heaven for Magellan penguins.

The end of the earth

Fly from Trelew to Ushuaia to reach Tierro del Fuego. In Ushuaia, visit the Tierra del Fuego National Park and its museums. Tour Beagle Canal by sea bus, and see sea lions, cormorants and Jules Verne's lighthouse at the end of the world.Fly from Ushuaia to El Calafate. Visit the Perito Moreno Glacier in Glacier Park. Reach Chile's Torres del Paine National Park by a deserted road where you may see 'gauchos' (cowboy-shepherds). The park is home to the Torres and Cuernos of Paine (2600m high odd-shaped pieces of granite), 50-200m high valleys speckled with lakes, four large glaciers, and to 150 varieties of birds and 200 plant varieties.Southern Chile has hundreds of fjords, glacial lakes and islands. Two towns to visit are Puero Natales and Puerto Arenas on the Straits of Magellan. You can fly to Puerto Montt via Santiago and take a fjord tour by boat and visit San Rafael Glacier.

Patagonia Guide

Climate

Varies from north to south. Best at the end of November and February. Summer: 11 °C, Winter 4 °C.

Currency

The Argentine Peso. Official exchange rate 1 ARP=1 USD. Chilean Peso. Official exchange rate 1 USD=610 CLS or CH$. Dollars valid. Change money at "Casa de Cambio". Some credit cards accepted.

Visa

Turkish citizens do not need visas for either country.Phone Codes54 Argentina. 1 Buenos Aires. 56 Chile. 2 Santiago. Turkish GSM mobiles do not work in either country.

How to get there

Fly to Buenos Aires or Santiago via Frankfurt, London (Gatwick), Paris, Barcelona, Rome or Milan and then get a local flight.

Where to stay

Buenos Aires: Hotel Crown Plaza Panamericano: Carlos Pellegrini 551 Buenos Aires Tel: 00 54 11 43 485. Hotel Best Western Embassy Suites: Avenida Cordoba 860 Tel: 00 54 11 43221228. Santiago: Hotel Carrera: Teatinos 180, Santiago. Tel: 00 55 2 698 20 11 Hotel Plaza San Francisco: Avda. Bermardo O'Higgins 816 Santiaso. Tel: 00 56 2 639 38 32 Puerto Madryn: Hotel Peninsula de Valdes: Avda. Julia Roca 155 Tel: 00 54 2965 471292 Ushuaia: Hotel Del Glacier: Av. Luis Fernando Martial 2355 Tel: 00 54 2901 430640 El Calafate: Hotel Los Alamos: Gobernador Mayono 6 Bustillo Tel: 00 54 2902 491145 Torres Del Paine National Park: Hosteria Las Torres: Torres del Paine National Park S/N Tel: 00 56 61 411572. Hosteria Grey Hotel: Lautaro Navarro 1061 Tel: 00 56 61229512.

What to eat
Seafood and potato or corn-based dishes in Chile. Steak in Argentina. Empanada: Popular baked or fried pastry filled with mince (pino), cheese (queso), chicken, onions and sometimes hardboiled eggs. Sopa da Mariscos: Seafood soup. Centolla: King crab. Parrillada: Grilled meat, sometimes skewered, best with offal.

What to drink
Mate: Paraguay tea. Wine: Chilean wines. Pico Sour: Chile's national drink is brandy with lemon and sugar.