Patagonia Pre-Planning
When I start out I know very little about Chile and Patagonia. I need to get a general understanding of the geography, landscape and available travel options before I figure out what there is to do and how we go about doing it. I’m going to list some general resources which I find here.
Key areas
- Puerto Natales – gateway to Patagonia, a three hour flight from Santiago.
- Torres del Paine (TdP). Popular area, accessible from Puerto Natales. W and Q (full circuit) treks. Refugios available.
- Fitz Roy – Parque National Los Glaciares and El Calafate. Supposed to be nice hiking area, fewer Refugios so more camping required. You can fly from El Calafate back to Santiago but it’s an expensive flight on Aerolineas Argentinas.
- Isla Navarino. You need to take a flight on a specialist airline to get here. It reads like there’s fewer people than in TdP area but the scenery is not quite so outstanding. It doesn’t seem to be worth the time and expense on this trip so I’ll ruling this out.
Travel
http://busespacheco.com
http://www.turismozaahj.co.cl
http://www.busesgomez.com
Books
Trekking in the Patagonian Andes.
Blogs
Excellent blog article here about a group of guys who trek TdP circuit and Fitz Roy: link. He has a plan prepared before travel. A review of the plan on return and an equipment list.
This is another good blog covering a trip to Chilean Patagonia. The couple trek the W route in a westerly direction.
Without Baggage. gnomedia.com.
Another blog.
Very thorough blog.
Magazines
This Black Sheep magazine looks like an excellent resource. I can’t find an issue more recent than March 2010.
Other Resources
http://www.torres-del-paine.org
www.besthike.com
Description of full circuit
Santiago
NYTimes article
Accommodation
This Bed and Breakfast looks like a good choice at a good price. I read some good reviews. They seem to have availability.
Puerto Natales
This is the gateway to southern Patagonia. There are flights to/from Santiago on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with Sky Airline. The cost is $100 – $160 each way with around $55 tax.
Accommodation
The Erratic Rock hostel looks like a very good choice in Puerto Natales. They have private rooms for those concerned with privacy. They have three hostels/hotels in total as they have expanded to meet demand. There are seminars at 3pm every day covering hiking in Patagonia and they seem to have a wealth of information available. They also rent equipment if needed, the prices look very reasonable at 500 Chilean Pesos to the US Dollar. Although I’m not sure how comfortable I feel about borrowing a used sleeping bag.
Casa Cecelia has been recommended. It’s suggested that they are very helpful in helping to plan trips.
Gear
This equipment list is basic but could be useful, also other material on the site. Another equipment list.
Erratic Rock gear list and rental prices.
Tents
A few tents recommended by Rene
Stoves
Food
It sounds like you’re much better off getting food and gear in Puerto Natales than TdP, prices are lower and quality higher.
Don Bosco and Abu Gosch are both on the main streets of Baquedano and Bulnes respectively.
The Dried Fruit Guy – Baquedano 443, Puerto Natales.
It is possible to buy basic groceries at some of the campgrounds (‘Camping Pehoe’, ‘Camping Grey’). Prices are quite a bit higher than outside of the park, but not outrageous. Bread rolls seemed to be in short supply in all of the stores and a good timing was needed to buy them. You can also complement you diet with abundant calafate berries found in many parts of the park.
Gear
- comfortable mountain boots
- sun glasses
- high protection sun screen
- long trousers and shorts
- waterproof jacket
- thick socks
- woolen vest or sweater – some prefer lightweight, easily washed and dried synthetic fabrics
- waterproof tent and sleeping bag
- water bottle
- back pack
- stove
- lantern
- medical kit
- food – you can buy some within the park, but it will be more expensive
- maps
Maps


Torres del Paine Park
http://www.rutaspatagonia.com – kayak trips in Lago Grey.
Circuit
- Campamento Serón – has a store, campground and showers. You can buy prepared food for breakfast and dinner according to the fslodges.com.
- Campamento Lago Paine (Coiron) – just a free campground – can be windy, we don’t plan to camp here.
- Dixon, Grey and Los Perros are managed by verticepatagonia.cl/ingles
- Refugio Lago Dickson – food, showers, camping, lodging if desired
- Campamento Los Perros – food, cold showers, camping, lodging
- Campamento Paso – free camping, a three sided shelter for cooking
- Campamento Los Guardas – free camping – we don’t plan to stay here. Campamento Los Guardas is a nice tiny campground. The toilet is unusable. Be sure to check out the views of Glaciar Grey from below the campground.
- Refugio Grey – food, hot showers, campground, lodging if desired
- Refugio Lago Pehoé – food, showers, campground, lodging – we will skip and go to next entry
- Campamento Italiano – free campground. Campamento Italiano is just too busy and too cramped right along the trail. On the plus side are the views of Glacier Frances from Rio Frances just below the camp.
- Los Cuernos – food, showers, campground, lodging
- Hosteria Los Torres – food, showers, campground, lodging
Campamento Torres is a nice campground in a forest below the Torres lookout. Most people do not bother to carry their gear up there, which makes it even better for those who do.
Campamento Britanico is quite like Campamento Torres. I recommend it.
Camping Pehoe near NW end of the lake is a fee campground. It is big and busy. It is near a lake, but in a wind exposed location. There is a small store and a ‘hosteria’ next to the campground.
Campamento Las Carretas is a small campground overlooking Rio Grey with a gross toilet; aside from the river, the only accessible water is provided by a tiny stream.
Prices correct as of 1 November 2010. Full board camping / bed where available.
| Campamento Serón | book | $15pp |
| Refugio Dickson | book | $59pp / $86pp |
| Camping Los Perros | book | $12pp |
| Refugio Grey | book | $59pp / $86pp |
| Refugio Paine Grande | book | $65pp / $98pp |
| Refugio Los Cuernos | book | $69pp / $100pp |
| Cabañas Los Cuernos | book | $135pp |
| Refugio Chileno | book | $66pp / $100pp |
| Refugio Torre Central | book | $66pp / $105pp |
| Refugio Torre Norte | book | $100pp |
Nice!
Debbie
18 Oct 10 at 7:06 am
Hi! Torres del Paine national park in Chile has incredible landscapes and 242.242 ha surface. It’s a Biosphere Reserve so you can enjoy of native flora and fauna, besides of the best places for hiking, trekking, high mountain tours, climbing, show trekking, kayak, rafting, flora and fauna contemplation, photography. Here you can find more useful info about
Torres del Paine tours . Regards!
Camila
19 Dec 10 at 4:56 pm