Trekking in Patagonia Planning
Chile & ArgentinaPaperwork
Please return the requested paperwork as soon as possible.
- Application
- Flight itinerary
- Passport Copy
Trip Insurance & Evacuation Coverage
We strongly recommend purchasing trip insurance. Even with the best planning, unexpected circumstances — such as an injury or family emergency — may prevent you from joining your trip.
Trip Insurance Info (opens in new tab)Meet Times & Transport
Flight reservations should be made as soon as possible. Please note that trip dates are inclusive of travel time from your home country. A day-to-day itinerary can be found with your confirmation letter. Email a copy of your flight itinerary before booking so we may review departure and arrival dates.
Trekkers arrive on day 2 of the listed expedition dates and depart on the second-to-last day.
If you would like the assistance of a travel agency, we can recommend our friends at Exito Travel.
Some of the airlines have been very stingy on pack weight, some not allowing for a 2nd bag at an additional cost. If your airline enforces a strict 50lbs total weight, you should be ready to have your boots and another heavy item transferred to your carry on.
Flying to El Calafate, Argentina
Please be aware that you might have to change the airport in Buenos Aires in order to take your flight to El Calafate. International flights mainly arrive to EZE (Aeropuerto de Ezeiza/Aeropuerto Internacional Ministro Pistarini) and national flights mainly leave from AEP (Aeroparque Jorge Newbery).
We are happy to accommodate other flights. For those arriving early or departing after the scheduled itinerary, we are happy to make hotel and transport arrangements. Please contact our office in advance of your departure if you would like us to make additional reservations for you at an additional cost.
Arrival: Your confirmation letter will have the exact arrival date for your expedition. This trip requires that you arrive in El Calafate on Day 2 of your expedition.
Departure: Please consult your specific itinerary for departure date. You may leave from Punta Arenas any time on Day 13 of your itinerary. Alpine Ascents can make pick up, hotel and transport arrangements to meet individual itineraries.
Meeting: Your guide or an Alpine Ascents representative will meet you at the airport and transport you to your hotel in El Calafate. Please ensure we have a copy of your arrival schedule.
Missed Flights: If you miss your flight, please leave a message for Gordon Janow, Director of Programs at: 206-419-0097 (texting is ok) or email [email protected]. Please inform us of your new arrival information as soon as possible.
Visas & Passports
US citizens do not require a visa but must arrive with a valid US passport that does not expire for at least 6 months from date of entry for most countries. Note you are responsible to determine entry requirements for your nationality. Alpine Ascents is happy to work closely with all climbers to determine visa/entry requirements. US citizens can consult the US State department website
All visitors entering as tourists need a passport that is valid for at least six months after arrival. You are legally required to have your passport and embarkation card/visa on you all times. Copies are not an officially acceptable form of ID if not notarized but we recommend bringing photocopies as a backup.
Citizens of Australia and Canada entering Argentina must pay a reciprocity fee online at either:
https://www.migraciones.gov.ar/accesibleingles/
or https://www.provinciapagos.com.ar/dnm/
Please bear in mind that you must bring a printed copy of the Reciprocity Fee Proof of Payment and keep it with your passport to present at the Migration Offices.
Hotels
For climbers who prefer single room accommodations, these arrangements can be made for an additional fee. Be aware that private rooms are available at hotels during our trip, but not on the mountain.
For climbers choosing double room accommodations every effort will be made to pair you with another climber. A Single Room Supplement Fee will apply if a match cannot be made or there is a last minute cancellation. This will help keep our overall program pricing down since unlike other companies we do not charge more for smaller groups.
In Calafate
Hotel Kosten Aike – Days 2, 7
Gdor. Moyano 1243
9405 El Calafate – Argentina
+54 (02902) 49-2424
https://www.kostenaike.com.ar
In El Chalten
Don Los Cerros Boutique Hotel & Spa – Days 3-6
San Martin 260, El Chalten
+54 11 5236-9092
https://www.hoteldonloscerrosdelchalten.com
In Torres del Paine National Park
EcoCamp Patagonia – Days 8, 10-11
Torres del Paine National Park – Chile
+56 2 2923 5950
https://www.ecocamp.travel
Paine Grande Hut – Day 9
https://www.verticepatagonia.com/es/alojamientos/refugios/paine-grande
We will be staying in the dormitories (sleeping bags will be provided).
In Punta Arenas
Hotel Dreams del Estrecho – Day 12
O’Higgins 1235, Punta Arenas, Chile
+56 44 8909220
https://hoteldreamsdelestrecho.redhotelera.cl
For those traveling alone and requesting double room accommodations, every effort will be made to pair you with another climber. A Single Room Supplement Fee will apply if a match cannot be made. This will help keep our overall program pricing down since unlike other companies we do not charge more for smaller groups.
Gear List
Please refer to your Gear List:
Trekking In Patagonia Gear List (opens in new tab)
You are required to bring every item on this list as described, so be as precise as possible when packing. We are happy to work closely with you on finding the proper gear.
Because we are staying in hotels, it is nice to have a couple changes of casual clothes. A couple of pairs of pants and a few shirts are sufficient.
If you plan to rent gear, your rental form must be submitted at least a month prior to expedition start date. Please call our office or e-mail [email protected] with any questions.
People generally take too much “stuff” with them rather than too little. Study each item before you pack it. Eliminate redundant items, extra changes of clothing, and other “nice to have” luxuries. You will benefit from traveling light because of the costs of excess baggage and because of the frequent loading and unloading of vehicles. Traveling light may be your key to success. Take everything on the required equipment list and little else. Generally airlines allow two 50 lb. bags. Please contact us with questions regarding gear.
Gear Lexicon
If you’re confused by items and/or language on the Gear List, we encourage you to refer to our Gear Guide for explanations on layering systems, differences between boots, etc.
Gear Guide (opens in new tab)
Other Resources
Below are articles written by veteran Alpine Ascents guides that you may find helpful in preparing and packing for your expedition.
Medications & Prescriptions for Mountain Climbing
Not on the Gear List, but in our Backpacks
Packing Tips
People generally take too much “stuff” rather than too little. Study each item before you pack it. Eliminate redundant items, extra changes of clothing, and excessive “nice to have” luxuries. You will benefit from traveling light because of the costs of excess baggage and because of the frequent loading and unloading of bags. Remember to review your airline’s weight limits and pack accordingly. Traveling light may be your key to summit success. Take everything on the required equipment list and little else.
Organizing Luggage
Stage 1 – Travel to Argentina
Pack everything (except for a few items mentioned below) into your large duffels and check it in with your airline. We recommend packing your empty trekking pack inside one of these duffels.
Pack your small duffel as your carry-on, and remember any usual comfort items for international air travel. Staying relaxed prior to your expedition will contribute to your enjoyment of the trek!
Stage 2 – Trip Prep in El Calafate
It’s nice to have a small selection of town clothes with you, suitable for touring the city, going out to dinner, etc. While in El Calafate, we complete a thorough gear check and reorganize our luggage. Here’s how we pack:
- Small duffel – anything not coming into the mountains, like your town clothes. You’ll check this in with your hotel and it will be stored until you return.
- Trekking duffel – 1 large duffel of the gear you need at night while on the trek.
- Trekking pack – the gear you will carry on your back while trekking.
Stage 3 – Trekking
While trekking, you will have access to all your gear except the small duffel of items left at our hotel in El Calafate. Your guides will advise on what gear to pack each day for the rest of the trip.
Food
We are all aware of the potential monotony of expedition food and Alpine Ascents makes every effort to have meals on the trek as enjoyable as possible. We take great care in our meal choices while understanding the importance of enjoying your food and staying healthy. If there is a special outdoor snack you prefer, it is better to bring it from home.
Please be aware that snacks entering Chile must be declared at customs. The Chilean authorities might check if they are in their original packaging and hermetically sealed. For more information on this please check: https://www.sag.gob.cel (only available in Spanish)
Expenses
Please review the Costs Include/ Do Not Include portion of the website. For those requesting a Single Room Supplement, single accommodations are available. Please contact our office to discuss the cost.
During the Alpine Ascents Patagonia trek, some meals are not included in the price. You should budget about US$20 for each meal and US$35 for the farewell dinner (including one nonalcoholic drink). Credit cards are fine. Alcoholic drinks and bottled drinks are not included. Please bring
some extra cash if you plan on having drinks. If you wish to shop for souvenirs and gifts, you should bring some extra cash or your credit card for this purpose.
Currency
With regards to personal expenses, please note that you will have to change American dollars to Argentine Pesos. You can do this upon arrival at the exchange houses, banks or at our hotel. Please make sure that you bring dollar bills in perfect condition, otherwise they will not be accepted. When exchanging money, request the change in small denominations as change for larger notes is scarce outside big cities. Cash in conjunction with Credit Cards is usually the best option (Visa, MasterCard and American Express are widely accepted in hotels, good restaurants, shopping malls and supermarkets). You can also use your Credit Cards to get cash advances (Argentine Pesos only) at several ATMs. Traveler checks in American dollars are not always accepted at hotels, businesses and restaurants. Try to exchange money for Argentine Pesos soon after arrival in Argentina.
Tipping
Tipping has long been part of tradition in Patagonia. Guides are permitted to accept and greatly appreciate tips. Tipping for local guides averages $200 per person/total. You may opt to give more or less without a problem. 7-10% of trip cost per guide team is a very general guideline
On the Mountain
Physiology Of Mountaineering
Dehydration, hypothermia, frostbite, and altitude illness are all important health conditions to be aware of while climbing. Please read our overview of these physical factors:
Physiology Of Mountaineering (opens in new tab)
Health Tips
You may want to consult your physician for advice on treatments for gastrointestinal upsets that you may encounter on your trip. In the past, climbers have relied on antibiotics such as Ciprofloxacin. Your doctor may recommend medications such as Lomotil or Imodium to stop diarrhea, and Compazine to prevent nausea.
Leave No Trace
Alpine Ascents International practices Leave No Trace principles on all expeditions. We believe that given the proper information most people will do all they can to help protect and maintain the environment. Before your climb, please become familiar with Leave No Trace:
7 Principles of Leave No Trace
As guides, we spend time teaching the environmentally appropriate Leave No Trace principles and practices. There is nothing more rewarding than working hard to get high into the mountains, reaching a pristine campsite, witnessing incredible views, and having the feeling that no one has been there before.
Conversely, there is nothing more disheartening than working hard to climb a mountain, reaching a site and encountering trash, food waste, and toilet paper. Please read the seven LNT principles, and call the office if you have any questions about what you can do to plan ahead.
