We've given each of our tours a comfort rating and a tour pace, walking or cycling grade to give you a general idea about the level of activity on each tour and the standard of accommodation you will be staying in at the end of your day's adventure.
Often you'll stay in different styles of accommodation during your tour; so we make an average rating across the entire tour. For more information on where you'll stay each night, please refer to the day by day tour itinerary.
The following excursions and/or activities are usually available and may be arranged locally. Estimated costs are provided below for guidance only, are on a per person basis unless shown otherwise, and may depend on the number of participants. Prices quoted are correct as of the date these trip notes were originally issued but may change at any time due to currency fluctuations.
Please note that there are airport taxes of approximately USD $30.
Accordingly, you should allow US$60 for tipping.
Local Costs
| |
UK |
Argentina |
Chile |
Patagonia |
| Tea/Coffee |
£1.50 |
$4.00 |
$2.50 |
|
| Soft Drink |
£1.50 |
$3.00 |
$2.00 |
|
| Bottled Water |
£1.50 |
$2.00 |
$2.00 |
|
| Bottle of Beer |
£3.50 |
$7.00 |
$7.00 |
|
| 2 Course Meal* |
£15.00 |
$25.00 |
$20.00 |
|
| 3 Course Meal** |
£20.00 |
$35.00 |
$30.00 |
|
| Bottle of Wine |
£14.50 |
$10.00 |
$10.00 |
|
| Breakfast |
£5.00 |
|
|
|
*Cheap local fare in a small cafe or restaurant.
**Typical food in a simple, reasonably comfortable mid-range restaurant.
Important Information
Travel Insurance
It is a condition of joining any of our tours that you must have valid travel insurance. It must indicate that you have cover for (at least) medical expenses and emergency repatriation in the event of illness or injury. We also strongly recommend your policy includes cancellation protection as all deposit paid are non-refundable.
If you require travel insurance for your tour, Explore Worldwide is an appointed representative of Campbell Irvine Limited, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services authority. Our travel insurance policy is specially tailored to the needs of the adventure traveller and will cover you for any included activity on any Explore trip. You can either purchase this at the time of booking or call us 0844 499 0901 after you have booked.
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Visa Requirements
Argentina: Visas are not required by UK, USA, NZ, AUS and Canadian citizens.
Chile: Visas are not required by UK, USA, NZ, AUS and Canadian citizens.
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All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant Embassy prior to departure.
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Please note: Please note that flights on the tour may transit through the USA. According to US law, passengers will have to disembark, collect luggage and clear immigration before re-boarding for the onward flight.
Holders of the UK, AUS, NZ, CAN and several EU country passports can enter the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) if they hold a machine readable passport. They must also be entering the country by sea or air on a carrier participating in the visa waiver scheme, holding a return/onward ticket. As well as being machine readable, if your passport was issued on or after 26 October 2005, it must contain both a digital photograph of the holder and also an integrated circuit chip that stores biographic information.
All passengers travelling to the USA under the Visa Waiver Programme must provide their details online no later than 72 hours prior to travel. British travellers who have not registered before their trip are likely to be detained and sent home. In addition to passport information, you must also supply the full address of your first night’s accommodation in the USA. This information can be obtained from your joining instructions which are sent out approximately 3 weeks before travel.
Anyone applying for ESTA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) to travel under the Visa Waiver system will be charged a fee of 14USD (9GBP).
For more information, and to apply online, please visit the following website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Once obtained, the application will be valid for a period of two years, or for the validity of your passport (whichever is shorter).
For more information about who is eligible for the VWP, or any other questions you may have regarding your eligibility, or machine readable passports, please contact your local consular office, or visit www.usembassy.org.uk
Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate.
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Argentina Although a visa is not required by Australian, American and Canadian passengers to enter Argentina there is a reciprocal payment to be made.
NB - if passengers arrive at EZE airport on/after Dec 29th 2012 the fee must be paid online. For passengers arriving (internationally) at AEP the fee must be paid online from now on. If passengers are arriving via a border crossing from the 7th January 2013 the fee must be paid online prior to entering the country. The receipt generated at the time of online payment must be printed and given to local migration authorities together with passport upon passengers arrival to Argentina.
These payments are as follows: Australian - US$100; Canadian - US$70; American US$131. The fee can be paid at http://www.migraciones.gov.ar/accesibleingles
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Vaccinations & Protection
Nothing compulsory, we recommend protection against malaria, typhoid, tetanus, diphtheria, polio and hepatitis A. Consult your travel clinic for latest advice on different prophylaxis available against malaria.
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The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at http://www.explore.co.uk/Travelhealth/ and from your local healthcare provider.
Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.
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Know before you go
We strongly recommend that you check your government’s travel advisory for up-to-date information and advice about your destination: safety and security, entry requirements, health, local laws and customs, including advice re: the legality of and local attitudes towards same-sex relationships. For UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Advice follow the link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/
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Preparing for your tour
Walking Grades and Fitness
To enjoy any trek it is essential to be in shape before you arrive. It is not wise to regard a trek as a means of getting into shape or losing excess weight. Start a programme of conditioning well before departure – in fact as soon as you book – and be aware that short walks on the flat do little to prepare you for the gradients of the Andes. Running, hill walking and other more active sports are suitable.
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You should note that we will not reach altitudes over 1300 metres on this trek. However, some days we walk for up to 12 hours, and the terrain can be quite rough and irregular.
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Altitude: On Trek
Gradient Chart
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Climate
Although we operate at the best time of year, Patagonian Chile can be wet and windy, while Calafate on the other side of the Andes is usually drier. The region has a typical cool, temperate climate, rather similar to the British Isles, but more windy and very changeable. Close to the mountains, with their permanent ice-cap, it can be cold, particularly at night.
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Seasonal weather patterns can be unpredictable. For up-to-date information on the weather worldwide please visit www.bbc.co.uk/weather.
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Packing for your tour
To assist with packing for your tour, we have detailed some of the essential items you should take with you.
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Luggage
Unfortunately it does occasionally happen that luggage does not always reach its destination on the same flight as its owner, or possibly it may be damaged in transit. If you are unlucky enough for this to occur, it is important that you file a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) with the airline before leaving the airport. This is essential when you come to make a claim either against the airline or from your travel insurance company
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Trek Kit Bag
For an exclusively designed Explore Trek Bag, follow the relevant link at www.nomadtravel.co.uk/explore
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Luggage: On Trek
Left Luggage Please note that it is possible to leave luggage at the hotel in Buenos Aires and in Calafate while on the trek.
Trek Kit Bag Your trek luggage including sleeping bag will be carried in dry bags by porters. In Calafate you will be provided with bags to transport your belongings for the trek to Torres del Paine. You can leave anything else behind at the hotel in Calafate in main luggage. If you want to use your own soft bag/holdall to take belongings to Paine this is fine. However, the weight of this bag will be included in your weight allowance. The weight limit for horses is 15kg, however, the limit for porters is 7.5kg. So please be aware that if you decide to pack 15kg for the horses, you’ll need to carry 7.5kg yourself on top of your daypack between days 4 and 9 when we use porters. Advice on how to pack will be given at the trek briefing. (Using drybags from local agent. If you wish to bring your own dry bag it should be about 3-5 litres). Note that this tour is fully supported by horses and porters.
Small Rucksack/Daypack During the course of a trekking day, you do not have access to your Trek Kit Bag. In any mountain region the weather can change rapidly and you must be equipped for this eventuality. Your daypack should, therefore, be large enough to carry the following: Waterproofs, sweater, long trousers (if walking in shorts), warm hat and gloves, gaiters, sun hat, sun cream, water bottle (at least 1litre bottle), tissues and your packed lunch. Most people normally find that this adds up to about 6kg and they need about 30-40 litre capacity. It is usually more comfortable to carry a slightly larger pack which is not full than to carry a small pack which is over full or with ‘bits’ tied on the outside. A shoulder bag is simply not a practical alternative. Camera equipment can be heavy so think carefully when deciding what to take. Other optional items in a daypack might be a diary or a book to read at lunch time. Your rucksack should also have a waterproof cover.
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Clothing
A warm sweater or fleece, good waterproof and windproof jacket and waterproof trousers are essential, as weather conditions can change suddenly while walking. Gaiters are advisable as the snow can be heavy in parts. Warm waterproof gloves, hat and thermal underclothes are also recommended. A torch is useful in case of powercuts/ emergencies.
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Clothing & Footwear: On Trek
Walking Boots Probably the trickiest part of all. We strongly recommend walking in good boots. Trainers, tennis shoes etc simply do not give the ankle support afforded by a decent pair of boots. Many people now trek in the lighter weight Goretex or leather boots sold under the brand names ‘Karrimor’, ‘Berghaus’ or similar and these are usually satisfactory. They have the advantage that they take little breaking in. The slightly heavier traditional leather walking boots are also good. Avoid the types often found in high street shoe shops which are simply cheap trainers with a higher canvas side sewn on – they give little support and will probably not last the trek. Above all your boots must be well broken–in, comfortable and suitable for muddy, wet terrain. We do not recommend borrowing or renting boots. It is a good idea to wear your boots on international flights– should your luggage be delayed, your well broken–in boots are the one thing which will be irreplaceable.
Trainers or Trekking sandals Useful around camp, in towns and when travelling.
Thermal underwear Comfortable around camp and much more practical (and warmer) to sleep in than pyjamas.
Socks It is best to wear a pair of liner socks under a pair of fairly thick loop stitch socks. This helps to protect your feet against blisters. Avoid nylon socks, they are abrasive, don’t breathe well and can cause blisters.
Waterproofs Breathable waterproofs not only protect against the rain but also stop you from overheating. They ‘breathe’ and avoid condensation which you will experience from nylon waterproofs, and are worth the extra investment. Make sure your jacket is also windproof as the Patagonian wind can be cold and relentless.
Gaiters are also worth bringing, especially in November and December but due to unpredictability of weather any time of year could be neccessary.
Thick sweater/fleece jacket A thick sweater or fleece jacket is necessary as nights can be cold. Make sure that your waterproof jacket is loose enough to wear over your sweater or fleece.
Shorts Shorts can be very comfortable to walk in but you must carry long trousers with you in case you get either sunburned or cold!
Gloves & Hat Especially useful around camp in the morning and in the evening. Worth bringing two pairs - one fleecey for warmth and one pair that is waterproof and windproof.
T-Shirts We recommend that T-Shirts and other clothing generally be made from polypropylene or other breathable fabrics: They dry faster and keep you warm even when they are wet. Cotton T-shirts should not be used for strenuous walking.
Sunhat/Sunglasses/Suncream/block and Lipsalve A sunhat and sunglasses are imperative as is a high factor suncream as Patagonia is very near the ozone layer hole. A combination sunblock/lipsalve is ideal for facial protection.
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Equipment Provided: On Trek
The following equipment list is provided by Explore once you are on the trek:
- 2-person tents
- Sleeping mats
- All cooking and kitchen gear and dining facilities are permanently fixed at our night stops
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Personal Equipment: On Trek
Plastic Bags If you pack bits and pieces in plastic bags inside your kit bag they will stay dry in case of rain and it will be easier for you to sort through in camp. Remember, the less you have to unpack in the evening, the less you have to repack each morning! A bin liner to pack inside your daypack is also a good idea.
Sleeping Bag A good quality four season sleeping bag is recommended for this trip. This may be down or synthetic, but it must be 4-season (temperature –10°C to –5°C). A cotton liner helps to keep your bag clean.
Trekking poles Trekking poles are recommended.
Water Bottle The camp staff will provide plenty of water each day with which to fill your own bottle. You need to drink lots of water when trekking, so 1 litre is the minimum size suitable, and it is as well to have two. Metal ‘sigg’-type bottles also have the advantage of doubling up as a hot water bottle at night.
Mosquito Repellent There can sometimes be mosquitoes at dusk so bring repellent and/or long sleeves.
Torch/Batteries/Bulb A small torch is essential for finding things in your tent, going to the ‘toilet’ in the night etc. Often a head torch is the most practical option as it allows you to have both hands free. Bring spare batteries with you!
Toiletries Try to keep heavy cosmetics etc to a minimum. Essentials are toothbrush/paste, biological -soap (so not to pollute the natural water reserves) and a small towel. ‘Wet Wipes’ are great for a quick clean up in your tent, so bring a pack of those (non-perfumed to avoid rashes). Strong consideration should be given to environmentally sensitive products.
Penknife A small penknife can come in very handy if you have one.
Personal First Aid Kit On each trek a first aid kit is carried but you should have your own blister kit, supply of plasters, aspirin and all personal medication.
Travel Washing Line Useful for hanging up wet clothes in refugio dorms; campsites and refugios make little, if no provision for drying clothes.
A Waterproof Cover for Rucksacks Can be useful to offer extra protection for your bags against rain.
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Personal First Aid Kit
For an exclusively designed Explore Medical Kit, visit www.nomadtravel.co.uk/explore
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Need help on Clothing or Equipment?
Then we suggest you contact Nomad Travel, our equipment partner, who specialise in kitting people out for adventurous travel. You receive a special 10% discount in-store or online. Visit one of their stores, phone 0845 260 0044, or visit their website www.nomadtravel.co.uk/explore for further information.
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General Information
Country info
A=Argentina C=Chile
Area: (A) 2,780,400 sq.km. (C) 756,626 sq.km.
Population: (A) 36,260,130. (C) 14,419,000.
Government: Republic.
Language: Spanish.
Religion: Mainly Roman Catholic.
Currency: (A) Peso. (C) Chilean Peso.
Local Time: (A) GMT -3. (C) GMT-3. (variable).
Electricity: 220v AC 50Hz.
Banks: (A) 0900-1500 Mon-Fri. (C) 0900-1400 Mon-Fri.
Shops: (A) 0900-1900 Mon-Fri. (C) 1000-2000 Mon-Fri; 1000-1400 Sat.
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Electric Supply & Plugs
For comprehensive information regarding voltages and plug types in use in the countries visited, follow the relevant link at http://www.explore.co.uk/Traveladvice/
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Maps & Books
Books: ‘South America’s National Parks’ by William Leitch (The Mountaineers); ‘In Patagonia’ by Bruce Chatwin.
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Toll Free USA - 1 800 715 1746 
Toll Free Canada – 1 888 216 3401
This is the North American website
