This remote region covers hundreds of thousands of square miles of southern Argentina and Chile, spanning ancient forests, massive glaciers, deep fjords and the jagged mountains of the Andes. Patagonia is home to a variety of wildlife, including pumas, penguins and parrots. There’s kayaking, hiking, biking, climbing, rafting and snorkeling — even next to sea lions. “This is a place for people who like adventure. You can feel the wind and you can feel the sea,” said Kevin Zaouali, one of the directors of the new CNN original series “Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World “. “In Patagonia you feel alone in this vast world of wildlife.” Here are some of the must-see places at the end of 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 of Chile’s park system. It has mile-long glaciers, azure lakes, granite peaks rising over 9,400 feet, stunning waterfalls and rare wildlife. “There are very few places in the world that are so pristine, so unspoiled,” said Camilo Rada, a scientist and mountaineer from Chile. This park is one of the most sparsely populated areas in the world, where wildlife must be resilient to survive its punishing and unpredictable extremes. There are condors, wild horses, rhesus, guanacos and pumas. “This is one of the best places in the world to see these pumas. Everywhere else they’re afraid of people, but not here. They have no predators — no wolves or bears, so they’re pretty chilled,” René Araneda, former guide and director of “Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World,” told CNN. “Torres del Paine National Park is probably my favorite place in the world.” It is estimated that the park and surrounding area are home to hundreds of cougars. Magellanic penguins stand on the beach at sunset in El Pedral, Argentina. Kevin Zavali

Peninsula Valdés and El Pedral, Argentina

More than 700 miles northeast of Torres del Paine on the coast of Argentina, Península Valdés is another wildlife lover’s paradise. At the UNESCO World Heritage Site, visitors can see orcas, southern right whales, elephant seals, 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 once known as the “right ones” for hunting. Orcas, on the other hand, can be seen from the beaches of the Valdés Peninsula. “It’s the best place in the world to see orcas,” Zaouali said. “If you go, you’ll be in real contact with wildlife.” Punta Norte, at the northern tip of the peninsula, is one of the only places in the world where orcas come ashore to hunt unsuspecting seals and sea lions. Only two orca pods know this clever hunting trick. First, they swim to the side to hide their dorsal fins, then beach themselves to get their meal, and finally maneuver back out to sea. This happens in March and April, and the dangerous feat is amazing. At Punta Norte, killer whales come ashore to hunt seals and sea lions. To do this, they swim to the side to hide their dorsal fins, then beach themselves to attack their prey, and finally maneuver back into the sea. The new original series “Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World” airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET. At El Pedral, about 30 miles 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 spot magical. There are more than 12,000 Magellanic penguins, conservationist Poppy Garcia told CNN’s “Patagonia.” “One of the favorite penguins in this colony is called Clarita,” García said, “We know she’s about 16 years old. She was able to raise 14 chicks.” September to April is the best time to see penguins when these migratory waders come to breed. View of Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina. RONALDO SCHEMITT/AFP/AFP via Getty Images

Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina

Located in the southwest of Santa Cruz province in the Argentine Andes, Los Glaciares National Park is defined by its numerous glaciers.
Zawali compared the frozen wonder to ‘The Wall’ in ‘Game of Thrones’. “It’s a huge sight to see,” Zawali said. He recommends visiting in the spring and summer, when it melts, to see and hear the huge chunks of wall breaking before your eyes. At over 11,000 feet, Mount Fitz Roy is the highest peak in the park. For spectacular views of the mountain, hikers walk the steep 13-mile Fitz Roy Trail. Horseback riding, kayaking, biking, and rock climbing also offer awe-inspiring panoramic views of the park.

El Condor Spa, Argentina

After wintering north, pairs of burrowing parrots return to the same nest each spring. Some of their nests extend ten meters back into the cliffs. There are 37,000 active nests, ecologist Mauricio Failla told the “Patagonia” series. These green, yellow and blue birds are very social and vocal, so Failla loves studying them. Other local attractions on the coast of Río Negro province include the sandy beaches and the Faro Río Negro lighthouse. There is kite surfing, windsurfing and sand yachting, which is a wheeled vehicle with a sail that is moved on the sand by the wind. The colorful houses on the water, known as palafitos, in the town of Castro on the island of Chiloé, Chile. Kike Calvo/Universal Images Team/Getty Images

Chiloe Island, Chile

Chile’s Chiloé Island offers some of the best whale watching in the area. The beautiful surrounding fjords are a magnet for wildlife, including sea lions, dolphins and the largest animal that has ever lived: blue whales. Summer is the best time to see endangered blue whales. is when they congregate along the Pacific coast to feast on krill. The almost 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 a complete privilege.” There are 700 migrating whales that come to this area every year from January to April. Buchan recommends whale watchers visit in February. But he warns that it’s a huge and dynamic feeding ground, so sightings aren’t guaranteed. Sometimes he doesn’t see whales for a few weeks. Two blue whales swimming in Corcovado Bay in Chile. Lake 5 A trip to Chiloé Island is not complete without enjoying the culture. There is a large indigenous community, rooted in deep traditions. Fishing and tourism are top industries for the locals. The island is famous for the picturesque palafitos, the wooden houses on stilts over the water. There are even layered hotels and restaurants that tourists can visit. The area is also known for its delicious seafood. One of Chile’s traditional dishes is curanto, a feast of meat and seafood cooked in a pit in the ground and covered with a large sheet. It’s a big shared pot of clams, mussels, sausage, fries, chicken and pork. Buchan advises passing on Chilean salmon, which is not native to the region. There is no natural salmon in the southern hemisphere, so local salmon is farmed. Overcrowding in the pens has led to disease among the salmon, he said, and to large escapes, harming native fish communities and destroying the marine ecosystem. Back on the mainland to the east of the island is Pumalín Park, Chile’s largest private nature reserve. The park was once owned by North Face founder Douglas Tompkins but was donated to the country of Chile. This park is free to visit. This lush and temperate rainforest with crystal clear rivers is a stunning area for outdoor enthusiasts. “You’re escaping civilization,” Araneda said of the adventurous Carretera Austral route. Joël Arpaillange/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

South National Highway, Chile

If you’re looking for a road trip to some particularly exotic parts of Patagonia, the Carretera Austral route takes drivers on more than 700 scenic miles from Puerto Montt in the Lakes region south to Villa O’Higgins in the Aysén region. The road, occasionally unpaved and requiring a ferry, passes through small remote villages and vastly diverse landscapes on what many consider Patagonia’s best road trip. One of “Patagonia: Life on the Edge of the World” director Araneda’s favorite places in Patagonia is at the southern end of the route — in the Aysén region. This forested area — which includes several iconic parks such as Pumalín Park and Laguna San Rafael National Park — is considered a biodiversity hotspot, and new species continue to be discovered here. “This is one of the most unexplored places in the world,” Araneda said. “It’s like a jungle, like Costa Rica, but in a cold environment with ocean and mountains.” Puma tracker at Estancia Cerro Guido in Chile. Ben Goergen

Estancias throughout Patagonia

For a unique experience, ranches called estancias offer traditional accommodations throughout Patagonia. Visitors can embrace the solitude of life as a gaucho, a knight who personifies the spirit of the frontier. For horseback riding and horse-fishing, the 100,000-acre Estancia Ranquilco in northwest Patagonia offers lodge accommodations and backcountry horseback riding. Another option is Tipiliuke, located in Argentina’s Chimehuín River Valley in northwestern Patagonia. There is fly fishing, horseback riding, hiking, yoga, golf, mountain biking, rafting, bird watching and even skiing at nearby Chapelco Ski Resort. The chef at the estancia is known for her empanadas. Estancias offer the perfect opportunity to try authentic cuisine. One of…