Field Notes from 50°S
Route guides, gear tests and dispatches from the bottom of the map. No affiliate noise — only what we carried and what came back.
Best Time to Visit Patagonia: Month by Month
When to visit Patagonia: a month-by-month guide to weather, crowds, prices and trail access across summer, autumn, winter and spring in the south.
Visiting the Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate
How to visit the Perito Moreno Glacier from El Calafate — the drive, the boardwalks, boat cruises and ice trekking, what to pack, and the best timing.
Puerto Natales: The Gateway to Torres del Paine
How to use Puerto Natales as your base for Torres del Paine: buses and transfers to the park, where to stay from lodges to campsites, gear, and permits.
El Calafate: The Gateway to Perito Moreno Glacier
How to use El Calafate as your base for the Perito Moreno Glacier: flights and buses, where to stay, glacier tours and boat trips, and day trips to El Chaltén.
The W Trek in Torres del Paine: Itinerary and Booking
A practical guide to the W Trek in Torres del Paine: what the three arms of the W are, a 4–5 day itinerary, how the refugio booking really works, and what to pack.
El Chaltén Town Guide: Getting There and Trailheads
A practical guide to El Chaltén, Argentina's trekking capital: how to get there from El Calafate, where to stay, and the free trails from town.
Torres del Paine Day Hikes: Best Short Walks
The best day hikes in Torres del Paine — Base Las Torres, French Valley and Grey Glacier — with realistic timings, park entry tips and what to pack.
Patagonia Shoulder Season: September and October
Why September and October are Patagonia's sweet spot: fewer crowds, lower prices and spring wildlife, plus how to handle the weather swings.
Fitz Roy to Laguna de los Tres: 2026 Trail Guide
How to hike Fitz Roy to Laguna de los Tres from El Chaltén in 2026 — trail logistics, gear, timing, difficulty and who should skip this Patagonia classic.
How to Get to Torres del Paine: Routes and Buses
How to reach Torres del Paine in Chilean Patagonia: flights to Punta Arenas, buses via Puerto Natales, park timing and transport options explained.
Renting a Car in Patagonia: Borders and Gravel
What really matters when you rent a car in Patagonia in 2026: the Chile–Argentina crossing permit, gravel roads, fuel gaps, age limits and one-way fees.
Crossing the Carretera Austral in Low Season
1,240 km of gravel, ferries and empty valleys: how to drive Chile's Ruta 7 when the crowds are gone, what it costs, and when the road is open.