Patagonia View Itineraries

Yes Patagonia is a very safe part of South America. Hygiene standards are high in Patagonia and even though it is an area that is remote with much untamed wilderness, it is still a safe place as long as you take the right precautions and make the right preparations, especially if trekking.  

You could spend anything from a few days to a few weeks on your Patagonia travels, depending on whether you plan to explore both the Chilean and Argentinian sides including the Lake District, central Patagonia and the South Patagonia Ice Fields, or just focus on one experience such as Torres del Paine National Park. Chimu Adventures offers itineraries to suit every time frame.

Although no specific vaccinations are required for Patagonia travel and no proof of any vaccination is required to enter Chile or Argentina, we recommend that you visit your doctor or a traveller’s medical centre for current information specific to those places that you will be travelling through.

As a general guide we recommend the following:

·         Yellow Fever - especially if also travelling to Easter Island from an infected area or also travelling through northern Argentina

·         Measles, mumps, rubella (MMR)

·         Hepatitis - Both A and B (twinrix)

·         Typhoid

·         Diphtheria

·         Cholera

·         Rabies

·         Tetanus

Depending on your travel itinerary you may be required to produce proof of Yellow Fever vaccination when returning to Australia from parts of Argentina.

What you need to pack will depend on the Patagonia tour that you are taking and the activities that you plan to include, as well as the time of year you are travelling. Except for winter sports, most people travel to Patagonia during the summer months (November to March). Even during these months, there can be extreme variations in climate. Days can range from sunny with temperatures in the 20’s (°C), to rain, hail and even snow and so you need to be prepared for all possibilities. Night temperatures often drop down to around 4-5°C.

When trekking, temperatures at the highest elevations can be as low as -5°C at night. Generally trek temperatures are 4-8°C at night and 15-20°C during the day. Wind is one of the constant factors in Patagonia and can manifest itself in the form of a constant breeze or a strong gale.

If you are on a hotel or lodge based tour then items such as sleeping bags are not necessary. If your tour involves trekking where you will be staying in refugios or camping, then you will need to pack a good quality sleeping bag and clothes suitable for the possible climatic variations.

For a more detailed packing list, please refer to our Patagonia Information Sheet

To get to Patagonia from Australia, most travellers would fly via Santiago, then board a connecting flight to their destination airport.

Patagonia is shared by Chile and Argentina. On the Chilean side of Patagonia, the unit of currency in Chile is the Chilean Peso (CLP). On the Argentinean side, the unit of currency is the Argentinean Peso (ARS). 

Spanish is the official language of both Chile and Argentina, so it helps to know a little bit. However, in the major tourist areas, you can almost always find English-speaking assistance. Your local Chimu guides will also be fluent in English. 

The level of fitness needed will depend on the Patagonia tour that you choose to take in terms of places to be visited and the types of activities to be included in your itinerary. Patagonia offers great opportunities for outdoor activities that range from hiking and trekking to rock climbing, skiing, white water rafting, horse riding and ice climbing. The majority of the best treks are to be found in the National Parks and the Chilean Lake District where the trails range from easy to difficult.