Argentina: Hikes & Estancias of Patagonia

While Patagonia's mountains are not exceptionally high, they are steep and rugged. Challenges on the typical trail include loose rocks, very steep ascents and descents, and mud. There are also a few sections with scree and exposure, but they are not typical. All participants must be experienced mountain hikers who have good balance and are confident on their feet in a variety of conditions. Hiking poles are strongly recommended.

We recommend you make a special effort to get in good physical condition for this trip. The better condition you are in, the more you will enjoy your experience. We suggest you begin training several months before departure. Start gradually by doing hikes, running, using a Stairmaster, or riding bikes. The object is to improve your overall aerobic capacity and get your hiking muscles limbered up. Even a brisk 30-45 minute walk every other day over moderately steep terrain can do wonders for your conditioning, and it's a great way to break in your hiking boots.

We time our trips for Patagonia's ideal hiking weather, which is from late November through early March, when we can enjoy the mildest temperatures and 16 hours of daylight. November (spring) is blessed with wildflowers and March (fall) offers the start of spectacular fall foliage. With its deep southern latitude, you might expect Patagonia's weather to be more "polar" than it really is. In fact, the austral summer temperatures are relatively moderate. During Patagonia's summer months (November through March in the Southern Hemisphere), the thermometer rarely drops below 40°F and will usually reach into the high 60s and even low 70s during the day. Nevertheless, the weather is radically changeable. Rain, sleet, and snow can occur at any time -- perhaps just a few hours before or after sunny skies and 70° temperatures.

The enormous, unbroken stretches of ocean to the west and south of the tip of South America leave the Patagonian Andes exposed to strong and persistent winds. Winds circling the globe between latitudes of 40°S and 60°S have little obstruction when they reach the tip of South America. Experiencing these winds is almost inevitable on any Patagonian journey. For most part, you can expect winds of 9 to 13 miles per hour, but they can occasionally gust much higher, quickly "cooling down" an otherwise pleasant day.

There's a saying that in Patagonia that you can experience all four seasons in one day, so be prepared for quickly changing weather. The best defense is proper clothing, and our Pre-Departure Booklet has a detailed list of recommendations for layering. An insulating base layer (top and bottom) beneath your hiking clothes will keep you warm and comfortable. Capilene, fleece, and other synthetic fabrics are excellent choices, as are lightweight wool layers by companies like Patagonia, Icebreaker, and SmartWool.

Our spectacularly located estancias and lodges are a highlight of the trip, and we often have these entire lodges to ourselves. Please remember, though, that rooms in these unique places are not always of uniform or international size. Our Trip Leaders try their best to assign rooms in a fair way so that all participants experience an equal advantage throughout the trip as a whole. In addition, please note that many hotels and lodges in Patagonia have twin-bedded rooms. Very few have "matrimonial" rooms (rooms with a double bed). While we can request a double-bedded room for you if you ask us well in advance, we cannot guarantee it. Single rooms in Patagonian lodges tend to come in small sizes in exchange for the privacy they afford.

There are some long driving days on this trip, and although we have a very comfortable vehicle, everyone should be prepared for stretches of bumpy road conditions.