Broad question: Is Patagonia worth it if you don't like hiking?
Replies: 12 - Last Post: Oct 7, 2012 10:00 PM Last Post By: trent84
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Broad question: Is Patagonia worth it if you don't like hiking?
So i've been researching going to Patagonia these last few days. I plan on being in South America for up to a year and I was looking at spending a month in the Patagonia region.A friend made a good point...he just said 'why?'.....I'm not much of an outdoorsy person. Sure, i'm fit and active but my idea of a good time isn't hiking & climbing. I own zero pieces of North Face clothing and a few months ago for all I knew Patagonia was a city. Now i'm looking at spending a month there.
So, my questions
- Is Patagonia a good place for people who are not particular hikers? I'd happily do a long hike, as long as I returned to a nice bed. I'd hate to do 3 solid days of hiking with camping inbetween just to see the best bits.....
- Is Patagonia a 'fun' region. Sure it's a huge, huge area but did it have good nightlife at the key spots? Good amount of young people? Did you want to hang around or was there tumbleweed rolling around?
I could just go there and see how it goes but it's such a large area that you can't judge the whole region on a few places.
3
Tony- poster 1 and 2 told it to you straight1 You don't sound like a camper/hiker so, in your case, forget about Patagonia.First of all, neither Chile or Argentina are very cheap- compared, let's say to Peru or Bolivia. You don;t say what you'll be doing in SA for up to a year- am assuming you'll be there as a tourist- if so, with limited funds and your preferences, look elsewhere for a "fun" time. The beaches of Brazil or Columbia are not so bad!
Quite honestly,you sound like a perfect candidate for Asia. You can live the lifestyle you want to live for a month or three in Thailand and Laos and Cambodia- no camping required, a trqveler's bargain in terms of food and accommodation, lots of backpackers to meet...
Or maybe a nice, easy hike or two- maybe even an overnighter!- will convince you that it isn't so bad after all.
Have fun in your travels.
4
I guess you might enjoy Bariloche, but otherwise Patagonia would be waste of your time and money.Just to warn you none of the places I went in SA were what you would call traditional party locations, like Phuket, Surfers or Cancun. Not to say there aren't great parties and an amazing vibe but it tends not to be so, well, obvious (in my opinion).
I agree with #3, SE Asia would suit your type of traveling more than SA.
Edited by: Tryfan
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Thanks for the input guys, i'll get around to Asia in 2014!I may give Patagonia a miss then. I'll just be a tourist in SA, visiting the main cities and sights and it looks like I got caught up in the 'you must visit Patagonia' buzz without really thinking!!
This does make life a bit easier.......I may still take a bus down to Pucon to at least see that area for a few days.
Edited by: Tony6699
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Don't bother with Pucon and Bariloche, both towns are boring and overpriced tourists traps. Pucon is still kind of nice, but Bariloche is pure kitsch IMO. All nice things are around those cities, some actually accessible by car without necessity of long hikes, but still it's all about scenery and outdoors.SEA would suit your needs better indeed, but Brazil is also amazing and fits perfectly - the only problem is the cost, Brazil is extremely expensive country (more expensive than eg Spain), so if you haven't happen to win on a lottery it's not really an option to spend months there.
Otherwise party scene is rather poor trough continent, there are interesting cities to visit with great architecture and great dining, but for party scene there is really nothing world class.
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It doesn't seem like it would be good for you. Though it does have some wonderful scenery.Is Patagonia a good place for people who are not particular hikers? I'd happily do a long hike, as long as I returned to a nice bed. I'd hate to do 3 solid days of hiking with camping inbetween just to see the best bits.....
Its mainly outdoors. There are hikes such as TDP where you can get a bed at a Refugio after a day of walking. El Chalten is a small town, where you can venture out for day hikes and return to urbanisation in the evening. Perito Moreno only needs an afternoon or morning and its a great glacier. So you can do those hikes and out doors stuff and return to a bed and cooked meals. I would suggest look at some photos and some blogs and see if its what you want to see.
Is Patagonia a 'fun' region. Sure it's a huge, huge area but did it have good nightlife at the key spots? Good amount of young people? Did you want to hang around or was there tumbleweed rolling around?
Nightlife, its expensive as all buggery. There are clubs and bars. But its not like the scene you get in Cusco or Buenos Aires where you have great parties all the time. You will get more of an 'older more mature' traveller here. It was definitely the tamest nights of my trip to South America.
8
I reckon you should go - just not for a month! 10 days of sightseeing would be sufficient - it's a truly spectacular (though expensive!) region.There are lots of memorable things to do without over exerting yourself. You can see the Perito Moreno Glacier, take a stunning boat trip to see icebergs on Lago Argentina, take a boat trip on the Beagle Channel, and do short hikes in the various national parks.
You will need to budget for flights between most places - or be happy to spend days at a time on buses.
10
It sounds like Brazil, particularly Rio, would be a more suitable SA destination for you.Edited by: chris1953
Edited by: chris1953
11
I wasn't really into hiking before I came to Patagonia but I changed my ways as you kind of need to hike to see the what the area has to offer. Much of it can be seen as day hikes.12
Hazz, I was exactly same. I never really did it, then got to Patagonia and love it now. If you have time, give it a go. If you get over it after a few days, you can purchase a flight and head off somewhere else (if money isn't an issue). Or if time isnt, bus.
