The 5 most magical places in Patagonia, Argentina

There are beautiful places and there are magical places. Here’s a list on towns, cabins, hosterías and B&B:s that have good vibes in Argentina.

1. Epuyén, Chubut, Patagonia

I got off the bus and had no idea what to expect. I remember driving past this town 40 km from El Bolsón a couple of weeks earlier, on my way to Cholila, looking at the newly built petrol station thinking; this looks like a shit hole. But I ended up returning and this time  thanks to Ricci, who introduced me to some tasty alfajores, helped me find wi-fi when I needed it the most, and showed me his friend’s hostel in town, I ended up spending a week Epuyén, swimming in rivers and contemplating life looking out over Lake Epuyén. Plenty of artesanía and hippies around.

2. Cabo Raso, Chubut, Patagonia

Patagonian step, the Atlantic Ocean and staying in buses are just a few things on offer at Cabo Raso in Chubut, Patagonia. It’s remote by most people’s (or at least European) standards – 3hr south of Trelew and about 2hr north of Camarones on the Patagonian coast in Chubut. It’s only accessible by car, but watching the photos from this once abandoned coastal village makes me wanna go back right now.

3. Estancia Rio Mitre, El Calafate, Santa Cruz, Patagonia

You are very likely to get this place to yourself, except during lunch time when the daily bus load of tourists on their way to Perito Moreno makes a pit stop at Estancia Río Mitre. Never mind the 12 o’clock crowd – the rest of the day you get the best bits to yourself; like sleeping in a bunk bed under a thick duvet watching the stars outside through the rectangular shaped window or gallop on the dried out lake with the Patagonian wind in your face, only to come back and eat lamb from the asado and drink red wine. The owners are super friendly and laid back.

4. Refugio Melingo, San Martín de Los Andes, Neuquén, Patagonia

Melanie runs Refugio Melingo in San Martín de Los Andes as neatly and organised as you would expect from a German. Sitting in the living room looking out over the lush valley in San Martín is pure bliss and the zen factor is high.

5. Butch Cassidy’s Cabin, Cholila, Chubut, Patagonia

What do you think it’s like living as a fugitive for almost your whole life? One of the questions I tried to answer visiting the cabin of Butch Cassidy. There’s nothing really around, but picturing one of the most notorious bank robbers in the 20^th century and feeling the presence of him and the Sundance Kid is eerie and fascinating at the same time.