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Notes About Travel In Patagonia | Patagonia Vacations

PREVIEW OUR PATAGONIA VACATION ITINERARIES

Patagonia is a beautiful, wild and unpredictable part of our planet

Patagonia is a beautiful, wild and unpredictable part of our planet. For lovers of the outdoors who are used to coping with the challenges of traveling in remote areas (and who have a keen sense of adventure and a flexible attitude) the rewards are plentiful and memorable. Their companion and guide is an experienced Southern Explorations leader. Most of our guides are Chilean and have worked in the area for a number of years. They are experienced, knowledgeable, safety conscious individuals who are passionate about what they do and who are very proud to share their wonderful country with visitors.

All our Patagonia trips are escorted throughout. Our Patagonia camping trips are fully supported with meals being prepared for guests and luggage being carried by pack horses or vehicles (the one exception to this is whilst crossing the Pass on the Circuit). Our campsites are all chosen for their location and crowd factor. We try to avoid the high traffic areas. Because of the recent fire in the Park, campfires are strictly monitored. They are prohibited at sites where fixed fire areas are not available. We are in complete support of this policy. On non-camping trips we select hotels, Refugios and estancias based on their location, service and comfort. We are constantly monitoring these establishments to ensure our standards are met. Where this is not the case, we are prompt to act and alter our itinerary or trip recommendation.

On camping and most lodge based trips, lunch items are laid out at breakfast and clients make up their own sandwiches and lunch box for the trail.

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Challenges while traveling in Patagonia:
1. The roads in Patagonia are mostly unpaved and some are dusty and bumpy. In addition the distances between sites can be great. Few of the roads in the Park are paved though the road between Punta Arenas and Cerro Castillo is just about finished. The new road between Puerto Natales and the Serrano River is due to open before the end of 2006 but this has suffered a number of delays so cannot be counted on.
2. The weather in Patagonia can be notoriously unkind - wet, cloudy and closed-in (a pain for visibility). It can also be extremely windy (and by this I mean grown men can be knocked over!). Luckily it doesn't tend to stay wet for too long but clients need to be prepared for the conditions both physically and mentally.
3. Patagonia itineraries need to be flexible. Occasionally they will have to be adjusted to maintain the safety of the group. This is especially important when participating in the circuit (due to weather on the pass) or any water based activity. It is also important to note that if rivers are too high to cross (either in a vehicle or on horseback) then this will affect the itinerary.

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