The Southern Cone, meaning Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, is easier to travel than much of South America. It has good roads, reliable buses and well-developed tourism, and the highlights fall into three groups: big cities, wine country and Patagonia. Distances are large, so choose carefully.
The main destinations
Buenos Aires. Argentina’s capital is a city for walking, eating and staying out late. Neighborhoods worth exploring include Recoleta, with its cemetery and museums, San Telmo, known for its Sunday antiques market and tango bars, and Palermo, which is full of parks, cafes and restaurants. Evening is the main time for dining, and dinner often starts after 9 p.m. A steakhouse (parrilla) meal and a tango show are classic experiences. Plan three or four nights. Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay is a day trip by ferry.
Santiago. Chile’s capital sits between the Andes and the coastal range. Take the funicular or cable car up Cerro San Cristóbal for views, and walk around the historic center, the Bellavista neighborhood and Lastarria. On clear days, the Andes are an impressive backdrop, but air quality can be poor in winter. Day trips include the Maipo and Casablanca wine valleys, and Valparaíso and Viña del Mar on the coast, about 1.5 hours away by bus.
Mendoza. This Argentine wine capital is known for Malbec, set against views of the Andes. Wineries are concentrated in Luján de Cuyo and the Uco Valley, and many offer tastings by appointment. You can cycle between some estates in Maipú. Beyond wine, Mendoza is a base for hiking and rafting near Potrerillos and for Aconcagua viewpoints. Allow three nights.
Patagonia. The three main bases are El Calafate in Argentina, for the Perito Moreno Glacier, El Chaltén, a small village at the foot of Mount Fitz Roy with some of the best day hikes in Patagonia, and Puerto Natales in Chile, the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park. Ushuaia, at the tip of Argentine Tierra del Fuego, is a base for Beagle Channel cruises and Antarctic departures. Getting to Patagonia requires a flight, and flights can be delayed by wind.
Two itineraries
1. Cities and wine (8–12 days): Buenos Aires → Mendoza → Santiago.
- Spend 3–4 nights in Buenos Aires.
- Fly to Mendoza (about 2 hours) and stay 3 nights.
- Cross to Santiago, either by a flight of about 1 hour or by bus over the Andes. The bus takes roughly 7–8 hours, and the pass can close in winter or because of heavy snow, so keep your timing flexible.
- Spend 3 nights in Santiago, with a day trip to the coast or the wine valleys.
2. Patagonia focus (7–10 days): El Calafate → El Chaltén → Puerto Natales.
- Fly into El Calafate, and visit the Perito Moreno Glacier.
- Take a bus to El Chaltén (about 3 hours), and spend two or three days hiking. The Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Torre trails are the best known.
- Return to El Calafate and cross into Chile by bus to Puerto Natales, which takes around 5 to 6 hours including the border.
- Spend three days in Torres del Paine, either on the W Trek or on day trips.
- Fly home from Punta Arenas or Puerto Natales, or from El Calafate if you backtrack.
Planning advice
- Season. Patagonia is best from November to March, and January and February are the busiest. Wine regions are good from March to May and from September to November. Cities are comfortable in spring and autumn.
- Buffer days. Wind and storms can cancel flights, ferries and trail access. Leave at least one spare day, particularly before an international flight.
- Book ahead. Refugios and campsites in Torres del Paine, which must be reserved in advance, can sell out months ahead. Mendoza’s top winery lunches and Buenos Aires tango shows also benefit from reservations.
- Don’t over-pack. A week in Patagonia and a week in the cities is plenty. If time is short, choose one or the other.
- Money. Argentina has had multiple exchange rates and shifting rules, so check current advice on how to pay and where to exchange money before you go. Chile is more straightforward and card-friendly.
The short version
If you like cities and food, go for Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Santiago. If you want landscapes, spend your time in Patagonia. With at least ten days, you can do a version of both, as long as you accept one flight and a few buffer days.
For more, see the must-see guide, the best time to go and the South America travel guide.