Given the region’s vastness and the remoteness of many of its most scenic roads and destinations, road-tripping is the best way to explore Patagonia, particularly if you want to journey off the beaten track. While the main roads between towns are mostly paved, and even Chile’s Carretera Austral and Argentina’s Ruta 40 are no longer more pothole than road, you may still have to contend with challenging driving conditions: occasional landslides, muddy sections or a bumpy “washboard”.  Things to know before you go While a 4WD is not essential, a vehicle with high clearance is preferable – and essential on minor side routes. The best time to drive around is…