Heading into Patagonia we encountered four types of travellers

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1) The hitchhiker

2) The cyclist

3) The public transportation user

4) The car driver

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1) Hitchhiking is very common in Patagonia and although people sometimes have to wait for hours, still they tend to get where they want and usually get at their destination in reasonable time. However you have to be prepared to wait for a ride in fast changing weather so always have a good raincoat (not umbrella, completely useless in the Patagonian winds) at your disposal. The good thing about hitchhiking is that you do not need to worry on how to get into Patagonia because for people there is usually space on the ferry.

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2) Patagonian winds are strong and the roads South of Puyuhuapi are dirt roads. The weather can change from a beautiful sunny, friendly, spring day into a harsh tempestuous autumn day in five minutes, so be prepared! Cycling in that area is a challenge. The distances are long. We met a lot of cyclists that said that the road was hard especially because the wind somehow never seem to be a tailwind. However the scenery in Patagonia is so immensely beautiful that cycling through it seems a wonderful way to be part of this beautiful landscape. It is not a problem for the cyclist to get into Patagonia as there is usually space on the ferry.

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3) Buses ride and seem to cover the distances very well. In Chile a lot can be arranged through WhatsApp and online. But just heading to the bus terminal and getting your tickets there will probably be the easiest. With Bus-Sur you can buy your tickets online and when you are in need to change your tickets you can contact them through WhatsApp. Around Puerto Natales you might be able to do that in English for the other parts of Patagonia Spanish would be best. 

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4) For the car driver, we rented a 4x4 and where really happy we did, but that was because of the bad roads in Argentina. By going to Patagonia you either have to go by ferry or head into Argentina to head back to Chile. There are several border crossings and we went back to Chile through Futaleufú. The roads to get into Argentina and getting out were 4x4 material. For the rest of the roads we could have gotten by with a regular car, however it was summer and the roads were dry. Getting into or out Patagonia takes a little planning because you need to have a reserved space on the ferry. As they are usually full you need to plan that way ahead.  There are three ways to head into Patagonia by car.

1)The ferry from Puerto Montt.

2) The ferry from Isla Grande de Chiloe

3) Through Argentina.

Navimag, the Naviera Austral and Naviera Transal are ferry companies that operate in Patagonia.

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