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The limits of Patagonia are as fuzzy as the imaginations of many when they hear “Patagonia”. There are some core ideas that most people connect with “Patagonia” like vastness, wilderness and solitude but few have precise knowledge. So are the limits of this region.   <!--There is no doubt that Patagonia is part of the Southern Cone but opinions deviate where it exactly starts and ends. The northern limit of Patagonia on the Chilean side can be seen as south as the Estuarió de Reloncaví (latitude 41° 30’ South) or as north as the river Río Biobío (about latitude 37° South if taking the mouth at Concepcion as reference). That’s a difference of about 500 km. On the Argentine side the understanding of the limits can be equally different. Some take the Río Negro with the tributary Río Limay as the northern limit (about latitude 39° South) others the Río Barrancas and the Río Colorado (Latitude 36° South). Also the southern limit is fuzzy. Some consider Tierra del Fuego as part of Patagonia others not.  If you try to align Patagonia with the current administrative divisions of Chile and Argentina than the following provinces (Argentina) and regions (Chile) are typically considered to be Patagonia: In Argentina:* Neuquén* Río Negro* Chubut* Santa Cruz* Tierra del Fuego In Chile:* XIV. Region (Región de los Ríos with the provinces Valdivia and Ranco)* X. Region (Región de los Lagos with the provinces Chiloé, Llanquihue, Osorno and Palena)* XI. Region (Región de Aysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo with the provinces Aisén, Capitán Prat, Coihaique and General Carrera)* XII. Region (Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena with the provinces Magallanes, Tierra del Fuego, Última Esperanza and Antártica Chilena)  For more information to this subject read [https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patagonia#Generalidades the Spanish Wikipedia article to Patagonia].  -->This fuzzy limits make makes it impractical to state where the Greater Patagonian Trail actually gets into Patagonia. If taking the administrative limits and the Río Colorado with the tributary Río Barrancas than you gets in casting distance of Patagonia at the end of section GPT05 where you can view for the first time over the border into Argentina into the province Neuquén. But with a different understanding you enter Patagonia on section GPT13 where you ford the Río Biobío or on section GPT16 where you walk into the Chilean administrative region XIV (Región de los Ríos). You will doubtless step into reach Patagonia on section GPT22 where you reach arrive at the first Patagonian fjord: the Estuarió de Reloncaví. For more information to this subject read the [[#Remark to Limits of Patagonia|remarks to the limits of Patagonia in the Appendix.]]

In contrast when reaching "real Patagonia" get ready for frequent and enduring rain. Also don't expect to walk high up in the mountains as there are simply no continuously high mountain ranges. In Patagonia high mountains are rather like islands that rise out of a wild sea of dense tempered rain forest. These island-like mountains are separated by wide valleys that were carved by giant glaciers during past glacial periods. Therefore "real Patagonia" is best traveled by packraft. But more More to this later.