Best time to visit Patagonia

Spring starts to arrive in Patagonia in October, as the budding trees and flowers signal the end of the long cold winter, and lengthening days invite travellers to head into the great wilderness.

Patagonia's most popular hiking destinations such as Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares are a delight to explore at this time. The nights and mornings are still chilly but as the snows retreat to the high passes you have the pleasure of getting ahead of the summer crowds.

The spring melt and warmer days also reopen the hiking trails in the Lake District in Chile and Argentina, with the snow on top of the region's many volcanoes making this one of the most stunning times of the year to visit.

In Aysen, the Pacific weather systems can bring snowfall as late as October and it's not until November that spring really gets going. The Carretera Austral become accessible once more, and on the coast the Chilean Fjords start to come into their own.

In Atlantic Patagonia, southern right whales arrive in the waters off Peninsula Valdes making this a great time for whale watching, along with the Magellanic penguins who come ashore to start breeding after a winter spent on the open sea.

The penguins are also arriving at their rookeries in Tierra del Fuego. Being in the far south, spring is late to arrive here, though when it does the carpets of spring flowers in the national parks make it a notably pretty time to visit, also enjoyed by those heading south from Ushuaia for the new Antarctic season.

For Patagonia's gateway cities, Spring is one of the loveliest seasons to visit Buenos Aires as the city erupts with jacaranda tree blossom, while Santiago starts to heat up after the winter cool.

The Austral Summer is Patagonia's high season for visitors. The days are long with up to 18 hours of daylight available to squeeze the most out of your trip and as a rule these are the warmest and driest months of the year, though it's also the windiest time to visit.

For Torres del Paine and Los Glaciers summer is the busiest time for hikers, with high season prices for accommodation. Refugios book out well in advance, but summer temperatures make this the perfect time for camping. Getting off the beaten track can be the best option in summer with some less visited options, including the mountains and rivers of Aysen.

In the Lake District, summer means adventure activities. The rivers are in full spate for whitewater rafting, while the warm days are perfect for mountain biking and kayaking as well as hiking through the forests. January in Bariloche is particularly popular with locals, including students who come from across the country for graduation celebrations.

For wildlife, the Chilean Fjords offer great opportunities for whale watching in the Chilean Fjords, including the possibility of seeing migrating blue whales near Chiloé. Southern right whales start to leave Peninsula Valdes around December, but there are penguin chicks here and elsewhere across the region, along with plenty of sealion and elephant seal pups.

Tierra del Fuego enjoys its best weather in the summer, with better chances of clear skies and thinner crowds in January after the peak local season for local tourists in December.

Buenos Aires positively steams in summer, while outdoor tango raises the temperature even more. Santiago is equally hot but much less humid: this is the season when locals try to leave the city to head to the beach.

Autumn is one of the best times of year to visit Patagonia. You'll find warm days with mostly clear skies and less wind, and better yet the whole region is dressed with spectacular reds and golds as the trees take on their fall colours.

If you ask local hikers, many will tell you this is their favourite time to visit Torres del Paine or Los Glaciares. The crowds have died down and the changing leaves set the valleys ablaze in dramatic contrast to the grey granite mountains and blue glaciers.

As the days shorten there's a nip of frost in the evenings and a bit of rain and even snow in the mountains, especially in higher regions like Aysen where the beech and lenga trees are at their most beautiful.

The Lake District is also dressed for autumn and trails become quieter as the crowds thin out. Especially on the Chilean side, autumn is also one of the wettest times of the year.

It's mostly dry in Tierra del Fuego, making this a great time to hit the hiking trails, with the occasional dusting of snow offering a gorgeous contrast to the autumn colours. Services like the cruises to Cape Horn start to shut for the season. 

Cruises in the Chilean Fjords also start to wind down in spring but there is still plenty of wildlife to be seen elsewhere. Peninsula Valdes becomes the home of one of nature's most incredible sights, with orcas beaching themselves to hunt the seal pups that are starting to take to the waters.

In Buenos Aires, slightly cooler temperatures make it a perfect time to explore the museums and cafe culture. Even Santiago cools down, with cold winds tempering warm days – a great time to visit the vineyards to taste the new season's wine. 

Winter is Patagonia's close season. Many national parks, hotels and transport connections shut down completely to wait until spring, but there are still options out there for adventurous travellers.

Torres del Paine remains open in winter, with reduced accommodation options. Although many trails shut completely, the W Trek remains accessible throughout winter for those hiking with a guide. In contrast, Los Glaciares National Park does not offer winter trekking options.

Aysen is also effectively shut for the winter, along with the Carreteta Austral. Those looking for winter adventure in Chile at this time head instead to the Atacama Desert with its canyon hikes, salt pans and old adobe towns.

In contrast, the Lake District wears its winter colours with great excitement at the arrival of winter sport season. The Swiss-German architecture of the region is at its alpine prettiest in the snow, with hot chocolate and aprés-ski everywhere. Bariloche in particular is famed for its ski resorts.

From August, the migrating southern right whales return with their calves to the waters of Peninsula Valdes, and in September male elephant seals fight on the beaches to claim space for their harems.

In Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia is busy for its winter solstice festival in June, but apart from a little skiing, the region is very quiet for visitors.

Buenos Aires is at its coolest in winter, though for sports enthusiasts it's a great time to try to see a match at Boca Juniors or River Plate, Argentina's two biggest football clubs. Santiago has cold nights and warm days; this is a time for locals to head to the ski resorts.