(CNN) – For itchy travelers to go on an adventure, reconnect with nature, or feel like the only humans miles and miles away, Patagonia is one of the last pristine places in the world. Earth.
This remote region covers hundreds of thousands of square kilometers in southern Argentina and Chile, stretches through ancient forests, extensive glaciers, deep fjords and the rugged mountains of the Andes.
Patagonia is home to diverse wildlife, such as cougars, penguins and parrots. There are kayaking, hiking, biking, climbing, rafting and snorkeling, even alongside sea lion cubs.
“This is a place for people who like adventure. You can feel the wind and feel the sea,” said Kevin Zaouali, one of the directors of CNN’s new original series “Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World “. “In Patagonia, you feel alone in this immense world of wildlife.”
These are some of the must-see places in the world:
Torres del Paine National Park is a paradise for nature lovers, hikers and climbers.
Ana Fernandez / AFP / Getty Images
Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Torres del Paine National Park is a jewel in the crown of Chile’s park system. It has miles of glaciers, turquoise lakes, granite peaks that rise to more than 9,400 feet, stunning waterfalls and rare wildlife.
“There are very few places in the world that are so virgin, so virgin,” said Camilo Rada, a scientist and mountaineer from Chile.
This park is one of the least populated regions in the world, where wildlife must be resilient to survive its extreme punishments and unpredictability. There are condoms, wild horses, nands, guanacs and cougars.
“This is one of the best places in the world to see these cougars. Everywhere they are afraid of people, but not here. They have no predators, no wolves or bears, so they are quite cold.” René Araneda, former guide and director of “Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World,” he told CNN. “Torres del Paine National Park is probably my favorite place in the world.”
It is estimated that the park and the surrounding area are home to hundreds of cougars.
Magellanic penguins are found on the beach at sunset in El Pedral, Argentina.
Kevin Zaouali
Valdés Peninsula and El Pedral, Argentina
More than 700 miles northeast of Torres del Paine on the Argentine coast, Valdés Peninsula is another paradise for wildlife lovers. At the UNESCO World Heritage Site, visitors can see killer whales, southern right whales, sea elephants, sea lions, Magellanic penguins and countless birds. Zaouali recommends taking a boat ride to see the southern right whales up close. These slow, peaceful giants got their name because they were formerly known as the “right ones” for hunting.
Killer whales, on the other hand, can be seen from the beaches of the Valdés Peninsula.
“It’s the best place in the world to see killer whales,” Zaouali said. “If you go, you’ll be in real contact with wildlife.”
Punta Norte, at the northern end of the peninsula, is one of the only places in the world where killer whales reach land to hunt seals and young sea lions. Only two killer whales know this ingenious hunting trick.
First, they swim sideways to hide their dorsal fins, then they go to the beach to eat, and finally they maneuver back into the sea. This happens in March and April, and the risky feat is amazing to watch.
In Punta Norte, killer whales reach land to hunt seals and sea lion cubs. To do so, they swim sideways to hide their dorsal fins, then run aground to attack their prey and finally maneuver back into the sea. The new original series “Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World” airs on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET.
In the Pedral, about 30 kilometers to the south, there is a growing colony of penguins.
“If you’re there, you’re alone in a huge colony of penguins. It’s the best place to stay if you want to experience Patagonia on a different level,” Zaouali told CNN, calling the site magical.
There are more than 12,000 Magellanic penguins, conservationist Popi Garcia said on CNN’s “Patagonia” series.
“One of the favorite penguins in this colony is called Clarita,” Garcia said, “we know he’s about 16. He was able to raise 14 chicks.”
September to April is the best time to see penguins when these migratory waddlers come to breed.
View of the Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina.
RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP / AFP via Getty Images
Les Glaceres National Park, Argentina
Located in the southwest of the province of Santa Cruz in the Argentine Andes, Los Glaciares National Park is defined by its many glaciers.
Zaouali compared the icy wonder to “The Wall” in “Game of Thrones.”
“It’s a huge show to watch,” Zaouali said. It is recommended to visit in spring and summer, when it is melting, to see and hear the huge pieces of the wall breaking in front of your eyes.
At over 11,000 feet, Mount Fitz Roy is the highest peak in the park. To enjoy stunning mountain views, hikers hike the 13-mile steep Fitz Roy walk.
Horse riding, kayaking, cycling and climbing also offer stunning panoramic views of the park.
Spa the Condor, Argentina
After wintering in the north, pairs of digging parrots return to the same nest each spring. Some of its nests extend thirteen feet back to the cliffs. There are 37,000 active nests, conservationist Mauricio Failla said in the “Patagonia” series.
These green, yellow and blue birds are very sociable and vocal, which is why Failla loves to study them.
Other local attractions on the coast of the province of Río Negro include the sandy beaches and the lighthouse of Faro Río Negro.
There is kitesurfing, windsurfing and sand yachting, which is a wheeled vehicle with a sail that the wind drives through the sand.
The colorful houses on the water, known as stilts, in the town of Castro on the island of Chiloé, Chile.
Kike Calvo / Universal Images Group / Getty Images
Island of Chiloé, Chile
The island of Chiloé in Chile offers some of the best whale watching in the region. The beautiful surrounding fjords are a magnet for wildlife, like sea lions, dolphins and the largest animal I have ever lived with: the blue whales.
Summer is the best time to see endangered blue whales; is when they gather along the Pacific coast to eat krill. Nearly 200-ton whales will eat four tons of krill a day.
“Seeing a blue whale never gets boring. It’s always a thrill,” oceanographer Susannah Buchan told CNN. “It’s always amazing and emotional and quite a privilege.”
There are 700 migratory whales that come to this region every year from January to April.
Buchan recommends whale watchers visiting her in February. But she warns that it is a wide and dynamic feeding field, so sightings are not guaranteed. Sometimes you won’t see whales for a couple of weeks.
Two blue whales swimming in the Gulf of Corcovado in Chile.
Pond 5
A trip to the island of Chiloé is not complete without soaking in the culture. There is a large indigenous community, rooted in deep traditions. Fishing and tourism are the main industries for locals.
The island is famous for its picturesque stilts, wooden houses on stilts over the water. There are even hotels and restaurants with palaces that tourists can visit.
The area is also known for its delicious seafood. One of the traditional Chilean dishes is curanto, a meat and seafood feast that is cooked in a well on the ground and covered by a large leaf. It is a large common pot of clams, mussels, sausage, potatoes, chicken and pork.
Buchan advises transmitting Chilean salmon, which is not native to the region. There is no natural salmon in the southern hemisphere, so local salmon are raised. Overcrowding in corrals has caused diseases among salmon, he said, and large-scale escapes, damaging native fish communities and devastating the marine ecosystem.
Back on the mainland east of the island is Pumalín Park, the largest private nature reserve in Chile. The park belonged to North Face founder Douglas Tompkins, but was donated to the country of Chile. This park is free to visit. This lush, temperate rainforest with crystal clear rivers is an impressive area for outdoor lovers.
“You’re escaping civilization,” Araneda said of the Southern Highway adventurer.
Joel Arpaillange / Gamma-Rapho / Getty Images
Southern Highway, Chile
If you’re looking for a road trip through parts of Patagonia especially out of the ordinary, the Austral Highway route takes drivers over 700 miles of scenic miles from Puerto Montt in the southern Lake District to Villa O’Higgins in the d ‘Aysén. .
The road, sometimes unpaved and in need of ferries, passes through small remote villages and enormously diverse landscapes in what many consider the best road trip in Patagonia.
One of director Araneda’s favorite places for “Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World” in Patagonia is at the southern end of the route: the Aysén region. This wooded area, which includes several iconic parks such as Pumalín Park and Laguna San Rafael National Park, is considered a biodiversity hotspot and new species are still being discovered here.
“This is one of the most unexplored places in the world,” Araneda said. “It looks like a jungle, like Costa Rica, but in a cold environment with the ocean and the mountains.”
Puma tracker at the Estancia Cerro Guido in Chile.
Ben Goertzen
Rooms throughout Patagonia
For a unique experience, the ranches called estancia offer traditional accommodation throughout Patagonia.
Visitors can embrace the solitude of life like a gaucho, a native rider who personifies the spirit of the frontier.
For horse riding and fly fishing, the 100,000-acre Estancia Ranquilco in northwestern Patagonia offers hostel stays and horseback riding. Another option is Tipiliuke, located in the valley of the Chimehuín River in Argentina, northwestern Patagonia. There is fly fishing, horseback riding, hiking, yoga, golf, mountain biking, rafting, bird watching and even skiing in the nearby Chapelco ski area. The chef of the room is known for his pies.
The rooms offer the perfect opportunity to taste authentic cuisine. One of the …