Cheapest & Most Expensive Times To Fly To Patagonia
Looking to travel to Patagonia? This guide shows when airfare is most expensive and when it’s cheapest—plus tips on how to save money when booking flights.
Most Expensive Times to Fly to Patagonia
The Most Expensive Times To Fly To Patagonia are tied to peak Southern Hemisphere summer, winter ski season, and major regional events.
- Summer High Season (December–February): Trekking and sightseeing peaks for El Calafate/El Chaltén, Torres del Paine (via Punta Arenas/Puerto Natales), Ushuaia, and Bariloche; fares surge through Buenos Aires (EZE/AEP) and Santiago (SCL) connectors.
- Christmas & New Year (late Dec–early Jan): Holiday travel layered onto summer demand lifts prices across all gateways.
- Easter / Holy Week (March–April): Popular for shoulder trekking; short airfare spikes.
- Winter Ski Season (July–August): Bariloche (BRC), San Martín de los Andes/Chapelco (CPC), and Ushuaia (USH) see premium fares.
- Major events (select weeks):
- Fiesta Nacional de la Nieve (late July/early Aug, Bariloche)
- Ultra Paine (early spring, Puerto Natales area)
- Patagonia Run (April, San Martín de los Andes)
These draw international crowds and fill hotels/routes.
Brief note: Ski hubs invert typical winter pricing—July–August is among the most expensive times to fly into BRC, CPC, and USH.
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Cheapest Times to Fly to Patagonia
The Cheapest Times To Fly To Patagonia come during true shoulder months and colder, windier periods outside event weeks.
- Late April–June: Post-Easter lull before ski season; great value for El Calafate (FTE) and Ushuaia (outside snow weeks).
- September–November (non-event weeks): Spring shoulder before peak summer treks; softer demand to PUQ/PNT, FTE, BRC.
- March (post–high summer, non-Easter weeks): Early shoulder as crowds thin.
- Early December (pre-holiday weeks): Short dip before Christmas/New Year.
Brief note: Outside ski towns, winter (June) often prices lower; but July–August turns expensive for airports serving major ski resorts.
Price Summary Table for Patagonia Flights
| Time Period | Cost | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Summer High Season (Dec–Feb) | 💲💲💲 Highest | Peak trekking/sightseeing demand |
| Christmas & New Year (late Dec–early Jan) | 💲💲💲 Highest | Holiday surge layered on summer |
| Winter Ski Season (Jul–Aug) | 💲💲 High | Bariloche, Chapelco, Ushuaia ski weeks |
| Easter / Holy Week (Mar–Apr) | 💲💲 High | Short religious-holiday spike |
| Fiesta de la Nieve (late Jul/early Aug) | 💲💲 Medium-High | Bariloche festival week |
| Ultra Paine / Patagonia Run (select wks) | 💲💲 Medium | Event-driven bumps |
| Late Apr – Jun | 💲 Lowest | Post-Easter shoulder |
| Sept – Nov (non-event weeks) | 💲 Low | Spring shoulder before summer |
| March (non-Easter weeks) | 💲 Low | Early shoulder after summer |
| Early Dec (pre-holiday) | 💲 Low | Brief dip before Xmas/New Year |
How To Save When Booking Flights To Patagonia
- Book 4–6 months ahead: Summer treks and July–Aug ski weeks sell out fast via Buenos Aires (EZE/AEP) and Santiago (SCL).
- Target shoulders: Best value in late Apr–Jun, Sept–Nov, March (non-Easter), and early Dec.
- Avoid peak weeks: Skip Dec–Feb, Easter, and Jul–Aug ski festivals if price is priority.
- Compare gateways: Price El Calafate (FTE), Ushuaia (USH), Bariloche (BRC), Chapelco/San Martín (CPC), Punta Arenas (PUQ), and Puerto Natales (PNT)—then connect regionally.
- Mix routings: Sometimes long-hauling to SCL is cheaper than EZE (or vice versa) plus a domestic hop.
- Fly mid-week: Tuesday–Wednesday departures often undercut weekends on long-haul + domestic combos.
- Sign up for airfare alerts: Jetsetter Alerts can send you any flight deals and mistake fares in real time so that you don't miss out on opportunities to book a cheap flight.