Chile & Argentina, South America
Patagonia in March
The connoisseur's month: red and gold lenga forests, softer light, thinner trails. Services begin trimming hours in the final weeks.
The straight answer
March is one of the best months of the year to visit Patagonia. The connoisseur's month: red and gold lenga forests, softer light, thinner trails. Services begin trimming hours in the final weeks.
- Weather
- Early fall, highs near 55F (13C), winds easing, first frosts late month
- Crowds
- 3 of 5
- Prices
- 4 of 5
What March is like in Patagonia
March is early fall and the connoisseur's month. Highs are near 55F (13C), winds ease, and the first frosts arrive late in the month. The lenga forests begin turning red and gold, the light gets softer, and the trails thin out. Services start trimming hours in the final weeks, but most things are still open.
It suits photographers, experienced trekkers, and homeschool families who can travel while schools are in session. Book refugios early, since the first half of the month is still busy. If you want the full summer buzz, go in January; if you want spring flowers, try November.
Make the most of March
What is especially good about Patagonia this month.
Fall color in the lenga forests
From late March, the beech forests around Fitz Roy and Torres del Paine turn red and gold. It is a favorite time for photographers.
Calmer winds
Winds usually ease compared with summer, which makes high viewpoints more comfortable.
Last weeks of penguin season
Penguin colonies are still active into March, so you can still see them on coastal trips.
What to pack for March
- Warm layers for frosty mornings
- A waterproof, windproof jacket
- Gloves and a warm hat
- Hiking boots and poles
- A camera with spare batteries
Our timing tip
Aim for the second half of March for fall color, but confirm refugio and bus schedules, which begin trimming late in the month.
Book Patagonia for March.
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- Hotels for March
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in PatagoniaOpens a hotel search for Patagonia in March, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in PatagoniaWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in PatagoniaTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Patagonia for March. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
What's on in March
Penguin season on the coasts
Roughly September through March or early April
Magellanic penguin colonies at Punta Tombo and on Beagle Channel and Magdalena Island trips fill with birds for the southern breeding season.
Fall color in the lenga forests
Late March through April
The southern beech forests around Fitz Roy and Torres del Paine turn red and gold, the photographers' favorite weeks of the year.
Things to do in Patagonia
Torres del Paine's W Trek
Four to five days past the park's greatest hits, sleeping in refugios or camps. Beds for the summer season sell out many months ahead; book before flights.
The base of the towers day hike
The park's signature single day: a long, steep out-and-back to the granite towers above their glacial lake. Start at dawn for calmer wind and light.
Perito Moreno Glacier
Boardwalks face the calving wall a short drive from El Calafate, open year-round. Give it hours, not minutes; the ice performs on its own schedule.
El Chalten and the Fitz Roy trails
Argentina's trekking capital, where world-class day hikes like Laguna de los Tres leave from town, no permits or fees required. Largely closes down in winter.
An estancia stay
Sheep-ranch lodges on the steppe add horses, asado, and Patagonian silence to a trekking itinerary, and several operate as destinations in their own right.
Puma watching
Guided trips in the Torres del Paine area track wild pumas at respectful range, with winter and shoulder seasons often the best sighting windows through specialist outfitters.
Beat the crowds
- Choose November or March over the December-January peak: same open infrastructure, gentler winds in March, and a real drop in trail traffic and prices.
- Book the sleeping bottlenecks first: W and O circuit refugios and campsites, and El Calafate and El Chalten hotels for peak weeks, sell out far ahead, while day-by-day plans can stay flexible around them.
- Start marquee day hikes at first light: Patagonia's long summer days are calmer and clearer in the morning, and the tower and Fitz Roy viewpoints crowd up from late morning.
- Walk the W east to west, or tackle the towers on your first day rather than the classic last day, and you will run opposite the main flow of trekkers.
Know before you go
- Winter, roughly May through September, closes much of tourist Patagonia: most refugios and campgrounds on the trekking circuits shut, many hotels and restaurants in El Chalten and around the parks go dark, and bus and ferry schedules shrink drastically.
- Torres del Paine National Park stays open year-round, but winter changes the rules: daylight is short, trails can be icy, and overnight trekking in the low season requires going with a certified guide. Perito Moreno Glacier receives visitors in every month.
- Even in summer, wind is the daily gatekeeper: boats to glacier faces, passes on the O circuit, and exposed viewpoints can close at short notice when gusts spike. Build slack days into any itinerary that matters.
- Reservations are effectively the summer permit system: on the Torres del Paine circuits you must have confirmed refugio or campsite bookings to trek, and peak-season beds disappear roughly half a year out.
Patagonia in March, quick answers
Is March a good time to visit Patagonia?
March is one of the best months of the year to visit Patagonia. The connoisseur's month: red and gold lenga forests, softer light, thinner trails. Services begin trimming hours in the final weeks.
What is the weather like in Patagonia in March?
Early fall, highs near 55F (13C), winds easing, first frosts late month.
Is Patagonia crowded in March?
Crowds in Patagonia are moderate in March; timed bookings still help at the biggest sights.
What is happening in Patagonia in March?
Penguin season on the coasts (roughly september through march or early april); Fall color in the lenga forests (late march through april).
Keep planning Patagonia.
The months either side, and the best one if this is not it.
- 01Patagonia in FebruaryThe month before: High summer, highs near 60F (16C), winds still strongBest
- 02Patagonia in AprilThe month after: Deep fall, highs near 48F (9C), shortening days, snow up highQuiet value
- 03Patagonia in NovemberThe next best month: Late spring, highs near 55F (13C), building winds, long daysBest
Also at their best in March
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