I had an amazing time in Patagonia but there are a few things I wish I knew before traveling to Patagonia.
From money and packing to planning the itinerary, I have you covered in this Patagonia Travel Guide!
Important things you need to know when planning the Patagonia trip
Book tours and plan your activities first, then book hotel and flights
It is of course always good to check flights and understand the situation of potential arrival and departure dates but I highly encourage you to book tours and plan your days first. I always tend to book flights and hotels first because prices always change and know I can always work around the days I have, but Patagonia is a bit different. So much practical logistics planning is involved. I highly recommend you plan your route first. See how many days you will need for each location and more importantly how many 'travel days' you will need, so how many days you will spend just by changing the location.
I decided to base myself in El Calafate and do all tours from there but now once I have done that, next time I would allocate an extra day to travel and stay in Puerto Natales for a night just so I get a full day at Torres del Paine National Park. That is my case, but there are many ways how you can plan your route and you might end up needing an extra day or two.
By basing myself in El Calafate I managed to squeeze in a lot in 3 days. Here is my 'Patagonia 3 Day Travel Itinerary'.
Be prepared for any type of weather in Patagonia
Pack for everything! The weather can change drastically during the day and in different parts you will experience different weather. Always pack a bag with an extra jumper, gloves, and hat, and at the same time dress in layers so you can always take something off. Truly you have to be at your best outfit planning and packing game.
On the first day, we were very lucky and got a fantastic sunny warm day, which allowed us to pretty much hike in our T-shirts. This apparently doesn't happen too often. Then on the second day, I experienced the craziest wind ever. Felt like 100m per second. So a good quality wind-resistant jacket was extremely important.
Also, if you are planning a lot of hiking then hiking boots will be very useful. I think most hikes you can do with normal sports shoes but I had my hiking boots and I was very happy about that. I traveled in summer (Dec-Feb) so I did not encounter snow on any trials, but if you are traveling during the winter season (Jun-Aug) then there might be snow on some trails.
So from personal experience, must-haves in Patagonia are:
wind and rain-resistant jacket
ideally, you have an extra raincoat if it starts to rain heavy
hiking boots or sports shoes appropriate for long hikes
hat and gloves
mosquito repellent
sunscreen
I didn't expect to have mosquitos there as I thought it would be too cold for them, but turns out they are everywhere! Definitely a mosquito repellant and also when the sun does come out, it is very strong, so I would recommend having sunscreen with you too. I personally can't hike in the sun without sunglasses so that was a must for me too.
Definitely top up your water reserves because the National Parks are extremely protected and there are very minimal places where to buy water. Of course, you can drink the river water but just to be prepared, I recommend stocking up on water.
To better understand the different weather changes, check out my Patagonia Video ⬇️
Park Regulations
As I mentioned before all the National Parks in the area have very strict rules. You won't find any little snacks and water stops. You won't even find bins, as you need to take all your garbage out of the park yourself. The National Parks are truly trying to preserve the area as much as possible. There are even areas where you can't walk. All these things might be common sense for seasoned hikers and national park visitors but from all the places I have been to, Patagonia truly has the strictest rules. Logically, big fines will given if you break any of the rules.
Main things to remember:
Everything you bring into the parks has to be taken out by you. No littering is obvious, but literly nothing can be left at the park. Yes, even if you go on a 'toilet break', any tissue has to be collected and taken with you. Basically follow Leave No Trace principles.
Pay attention to signs, and do not walk where not permitted. In some places, it will look like an absolutely normal path to take but watch out for signs and do not use routes that are marked as 'no entry'.
Make sure you purchase the necessary entrance ticket. All parks require an entry ticket. For most parks, you can do that in advance online.
Physical Preparedness
If you've chosen to explore Patagonia's hiking trails, be well-prepared. Many hikes here are quite challenging, whether due to their long distances leading to remote viewpoints or the steep, rugged terrain. I strongly recommend engaging in some pre-trip training to build your endurance and strength, ensuring you can fully enjoy the breathtaking landscapes without overexerting yourself.
Consider getting travel insurance for your peace of mind.
Money and Pricing
While you do need a little bit of cash with you on this trip, do not stress too much about cash. I would say the maximum you need to take out or exchange is around 50 USD. Everyone in the shops, tours, and even parks accepts cards. During my 3 days in Patagonia, plus 2 travel days to get there, I used cash only twice and both were for a local taxi.
Currently, Argentina is in a difficult economic period so changing money to Argentinian pesos is a bit difficult. Places like El Calafate and El Chalten are quite touristic so most people there will accept USD. The economic instability also contributes to really high prices. I have now traveled to most South American countries and currently, Argentina is the most expensive country of all of them. Unfortunately, doesn't look like the situation will improve soon. The prices are going up month by month. On the Chile side on the other hand all is smooth and easy. You can exchange the money without issue and prices are reasonable. Of course, it is a tourist area, so prices are a bit higher than the rest of Chile, but not as outrageous as in Argentina.
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