Patagonian Highlights

Discover the spectacular wilderness of southern Chile and Argentina

Rugged, snow-capped mountains stand amid the wild south of Argentina and Chile, fringed by huge icy lakes and windswept grasslands. In the distance, shy guanacos roam and a few hardy gauchos tend their many sheep. We discover the sheer-sided peak of Mount Fitzroy and the immense Perito Moreno Glacier, from which ice chunks often tumble into the water. Our journey culminates in Ushuaia – the southernmost city in the world. Renowned for expansive landscapes and outdoor activities, Patagonia never fails to astound.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible. We stay at a family owned Hosteria in Chalten – Hosteria Don Atilio. Our hosts are happy to share their culture.
• Driving from Natale to Ushuaia we always stop for lunch at Morro Chico a small family owned restaurant. On the same journey to Ushuaia we always make a stop at Panaderia La Union in Tolhuin, a historic family owned bakery.
• Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• By travelling in a small group we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for re–usable bottles.
• The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves and archaeological sites generates income which is used for upkeep and development of these important sites.
• We visit national parks on this trip: Los Glaciares in Calafate, Park Torres del Paine in Chile, and Park Tierra del Fuego in Ushuaia. Fees collected fund conservation initiatives.
•  There is the option for guests to visit a penguin reserve in Ushuaia in the protected area of Isla Martillo.  Fees paid go towards funding conservation initiatives.
• Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices regarding working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
• With our partners, Rewilding Apennines, we rewild 100 square meters (1,075 sqft) of land per passenger who travels with us.
• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here, including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: we do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: please bring a re–usable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is graded Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.

On this itinerary, we feature two classic Patagonia treks, one in Los Glaciares National Park (Day 3) and one in Torres del Paine National Park (Day 8). Both are full-day treks that have a section of steep and rocky terrain, which make both treks graded as “challenging”.  We recommend you have reasonably good fitness levels to maximise your enjoyment of the two classic trek opportunities in Los Glaciares and Torres del Paine National Park. On each of those days, we also offer a shorter trek option for guests that take in each parks scenic beauty but at a more moderate pace. The highest point comes on the hike to the Towers of Paine, at the lookout point 2,907ft (886m) above sea level.  Please note, all the walks/hikes are non-compulsory.

There are two internal flights included, normally with Aerolineas Argentinas. The flight times can be erratic and there can be last-minute schedule changes. Depending on flight availability, there may be a supplement to pay.

In addition to the two included flights, we have some long drives to enjoy the sweeping views of Patagonia. The longest drives are when we cross the border from El Calafate to Torres del Paine and when travelling south from Cerro Sombrero to Ushuaia.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as not suitable for full wheelchair users, but it may be suitable for other persons of reduced mobility. Please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Vaccinations and Health

Argentina

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, typhoid, and yellow fever (strongly recommended if you intend to visit the Iguazu Falls due to a recent outbreak in the Misiones province). Please check all vaccination recommendations with your doctor or travel clinic.

Bilharzia is known to occur in some lakes or rivers in Argentina; follow advice from your guide or leader locally before venturing for a swim.

Dengue and zika, both mosquito‐borne viral diseases, are known risks in Argentina. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available; therefore, the best form of prevention is to take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Chile

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid.

Dengue fever, a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes, is a known risk in places visited. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available, so we recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites.

Visa

Argentina

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Argentina. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/argentina
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/argentina
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/argentina/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Argentina.html

Please note, if you are crossing the border into Argentina from Chile on your trip, we will need to know your profession to provide when entering Argentina.

Chile

Travellers from the UK, US and EU normally do not need a visa to enter Chile. Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/americas/chile
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/chile
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/chile/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Chile.html

Please note, a PDI tourist card will be given to you by migration at Santiago airport, upon arrival to Chile, and asked for upon departure from Chile (please retain this important slip of paper). The PDI certifies that you are a visitor and must be given back to migration upon departure from Chile.

Food & Drink

All breakfasts, two lunches and three dinners are included.

Hotel breakfasts are normally buffet-style and are included. The accommodation will arrange packed lunches for trekking days. There is a variety of good-quality food in local restaurants and cafes, usually for relatively low prices (although the refuge we stay in for the standard itinerary in Torres del Paine is the exception as facilities here are limited). Vegetarians are catered for throughout the trip, but please advise us before you travel so we can make arrangements on your behalf.

Weather

We schedule our Patagonia trips between October and April to take advantage of the longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures. During these months, the temperatures in Buenos Aires reach a maximum of 30C (86F); in El Calafate/Torres del Paine/Punta Arenas around 15C (59F); and in the extreme south, Tierra del Fuego, 14C (57F). These are the daytime maximums, and the average temperatures are likely to be a little lower than this.

In Patagonia, the nights can drop to freezing point, but often remain just above. Patagonian summers tend to be dry although rain cannot be ruled out, particularly in the mountainous regions along the Chile-Argentina border where you might experience all four seasons in one day!  Patagonia is renowned for being windy…and sometimes very windy (dress accordingly and watch your step).

In Patagonia, the changing weather is part of the adventure; however, in extreme wind/weather conditions our Tour Leader may modify the days itinerary in favour of passengers safety.