Category: Planning & Tips

Torres del Paine National Park in Chile is one of Patagonia’s great banner destinations, and its breathtaking granite towers offer up one of the region’s most iconic views. There are many ways to experience the park, its mountains and glaciers, but the classic way is to hike the multi-day W Trek,  At Swoop Patagonia, many […]

What happens when a place once overlooked by the world starts to be discovered by tourism?  That was the question I was asking when I recently travelled through the Aysen region of Chile.Those that have visited Aysen talk about it with a glint in their eye, like they’re letting you in on the world’s best […]

There are certain buzzwords that come up time and again when people start talking about Aysen in Chile: wilderness, untouched, epic and raw.  These are all great ways of describing the landscapes you can encounter in this little-visited part of Patagonia, but one thing they don’t capture is just how diverse this region is. Aysen […]

One question we often get asked at Swoop Patagonia by travellers heading to the Argentine Lake District is where to stay? There are two main options available: in the regional capital of Bariloche on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi, or its smaller counterpart to the north, San Martin de los Andes (usually shortened to […]

If you asked me to describe Patagonia’s weather in one word it would be quite simple — unpredictable. Any experienced local guide would say the same, and might add, “You can experience all four seasons in one day here”, which couldn’t be more true. Although it’s typical for travellers to expect a comprehensive forecast for […]

Refugio is the Spanish word for shelter, and this is exactly what they are to me. A place where hikers from across the globe can meet, share their experiences, eat together and find protection from bad weather. After a long day of hiking, giving your all and carrying a heavy pack, it’s always nice to […]

Having worked for many years as a guide in Patagonia during which I visited Torres del Paine more than a hundred times, I thought I was well versed in the different hotel options within and around the national park. But my recent trip back to the area with Swoop was a great eye-opener and a […]

When it comes to exploring the Lake Districts of Chile and Argentina, people often think of them as discrete places. You choose to visit one or the other and base yourself in Bariloche or Puerto Varas accordingly. It’s actually easy to include both on your Patagonia trip by road or by cross-border trek, but it […]