Patagonia for the honeymoon of a lifetime
Torres del Paine, glacier treks and eco-lodges you'll never want to leave.
For couples who'd rather spend a honeymoon hiking beneath granite spires than lying on a beach, Patagonia offers scenery unlike almost anywhere else on earth — jagged peaks that seem to change colour by the hour, turquoise glacial lakes, and a genuine, unfiltered sense of being somewhere remote and untamed. It's not a honeymoon for couples chasing relaxation in the conventional sense, but for those wanting a trip that feels like a real shared achievement, few destinations compare.
Where to go
Torres del Paine National Park in Chile is the centrepiece for most itineraries, and the classic 'W trek' — four to five days covering the park's three main valleys — is the most popular route for honeymooners who want serious hiking without committing to a full circuit expedition. The trek rewards fitness but doesn't demand technical climbing experience, and the payoff, particularly the view up towards the towers themselves on a clear morning, is one of the most photographed views in South America for good reason.
- Days 1–2: Puerto Natales, acclimatising and stocking supplies before heading into the park
- Days 3–7: The W trek through Torres del Paine, staying in refugios or eco-domes along the route
- Days 8–10: El Chaltén, across the border in Argentina, for views of the striking granite spire of Mount Fitz Roy
- Days 11–13: Perito Moreno Glacier, including a boat trip that brings you close to the towering blue ice face
Eco-lodges worth the splurge
EcoCamp Patagonia's geodesic domes inside Torres del Paine run around £380 to £550 per night including meals and guided excursions, and are considerably more comfortable than the basic refugios along the trail, with proper beds and heating against Patagonia's notoriously fierce and unpredictable wind. For a honeymoon, a few nights in this kind of accommodation makes an enormous difference to how rested you'll feel for the more demanding trekking days either side.
Glacier treks and timing
Ice trekking on Perito Moreno, with crampons supplied by the guiding company, runs around £150 to £220 per person for a half-day excursion, and is one of the few glacier walks in the world genuinely accessible without a long approach hike — a real highlight for couples who want to stand on a glacier rather than simply view one from a boat. Patagonia's summer season runs from November to March, and travelling within that window is essential for both weather and access, since many trails and refugios close outside it.
Budgeting
Expect to allow roughly £5,500 to £7,500 per couple for two weeks including flights from the UK, which typically route via Madrid or São Paulo depending on season and airline. Wind is a genuine and constant factor even in the height of summer, so proper waterproof and windproof layers are non-negotiable regardless of what the forecast suggests — Patagonia has a habit of producing four seasons of weather within a single afternoon, and being caught without the right kit turns a spectacular day into a miserable one very quickly.