What to take on a trek through Patagonia? Here you will find a list of suggested equipment to take on your trip to Patagonia and some of my recommendations that you should consider before leaving.
In the extreme south of Chile you will find some of the best trekking circuits in the world! In this blog article, in addition to telling you what you need to take on a trek in Patagonia, we will see other important points that I want to share with you.
1. WHAT AREA DOES CHILEAN PATAGONIA INCLUDE?
The Chilean Patagonia extends from Puerto Montt in the Lakes region to Cape Horn in the region of Magallanes , more than 3,000 kilometers long from north to south, an area full of glaciers, fjords, high mountains and forests of many colors, which make it a unique destination.
The landscapes that Chilean Patagonia offers are undoubtedly a must for all lovers of nature, adventure and above all for lovers of trekking. Before knowing what to bring, we must be clear about the weather there .
2. WEATHER IN PATAGONIA
It is important to consider that Patagonia is characterized by having a changing climate, it can have wonderful sunny days, as well as strong winds, rain or snow, which if we are not sufficiently prepared could turn our trip into a bad experience. The further south we travel, the more likely there are days of rain and low temperatures, which is why you must be prepared to enjoy the adventure in any context and in this article I will tell you what is my list of the must-sees for a trek through Patagonia.
The best time to do a trekking in Patagonia is between the months of December to February , where bad weather is less likely, but not impossible, so as a law before doing any trekking , it is to check the weather and if you have doubts, check with local people who know mountaineering.
3. UNMISSABLE TREKKING CIRCUITS OF PATAGONIA:
- The «W» or the «O» in Torres del Paine National Park
- Las Horquetas Circuit in Cerro Castillo National Park
- Journey to Cochamó – Paso el León – Puelo
- Jeinimeni Route – Patagonia Park
- Tantauco Park Transversal Route
- Navarino teeth
- Yendegaia National Park
From this list, there are some that I have been able to know such as the “W” in Torres del Paine , the Las Horquetas Circuit , a section of the Yendegaia National Park in Tierra del Fuego and also the trekking to La Junta in Cochamo , all the others are Destinations that I am dying to know, hopefully in the near future and they are a must on my bucket list!
Most of them can be done on your own, while there are others like the last 2 that it is recommended to go with a guide or someone who knows the mountains, since they are in more extreme and isolated areas.
WHAT TEAM TO TAKE TO A TREKKING THROUGH PATAGONIA?
Before leaving I would like to make it clear that this is the equipment that for me, as a trekking lover, is essential and what I recommend in this blog is because I have had good results.
Trekking backpack: it can go between 50 and 80 liters or more, depending on your size, ability to carry weight and the duration of the expedition. Note: The load you are carrying should not exceed 20% of your body weight.
My backpack is a 65-liter Abisko brand Fjallraven , it is very comfortable, it can be adjusted well, it is resistant, has good support and ventilation in the area that goes to the back and has many different pockets and compartments to carry everything in order, it also brings a cover in case of rain. I take this one to the trekkings of more than one day and I carry the photographic equipment inside, in a Kanken Photo Insert accessory of the same brand.
- Trekking backpacks: Backpack for a photographic trekking for the day: In this case I take a backpack designed to combine photography and trekking, the Shimoda Action is the most comfortable I have had to carry all my equipment, it has a quick access closure, it is waterproof and adapts very well to the body. I have the 50-liter one, but the truth is, I think that the 30-liter one is enough for what I usually carry, Sony a7iii, Sony 100-400, Tamron 17-28 and 28-70, all this fits in the medium bucket of Shimoda and the Drone Mavic Air 2 I carry it in her bag on top.
- Sleeping bag: I carry a Marmot Trestles 15 sleeping bag . It is light (2 kg), made of synthetic material, it can be compressed very well and its minimum temperature is -9º which is equivalent to 15F. If you go to a place where snow can fall, if or if you must bring a bag for temperatures below zero at least -5 degrees.
- Mat: I prefer inflatable mats, I have a Salewa Mat Lite inflatable mat that weighs only 720 grams, is full body, easy to inflate, insulates well from the floor and is resistant. The first one I had was a Lippi but it didn’t last long, in Decathlone they also find cheaper alternatives!
- Trekking poles : Poles are essential in trekking to better distribute the weight of the backpack and help you on difficult paths. Mine are Black Diamond Trail Pro poles , they are adjustable and have external lever lock, which for me is the most practical. You can also find very resistant and cheaper ones in Decathlon.
- Tent: Depending on where you go if you will need a 3 or 4 season tent, mine is a 3 season Hannah and it is really good, it is the one that I have taken to all the trekkings and I really recommend it.
- Cooker
- Gas
- Pot with lid and strainer: I recommend Stanley’s Cooking Set
- Metal mug
- Bowl
- Fork, sharp knife and spoon, I prefer a wooden spoon.
- Headlamp and spare batteries
- Microfiber Towel
- Water bottle: I really like the Go bottle with Cercamivac from Stanley , it stores well the cold and boiled water if that is the case.
- Sunglasses: The ones I always carry with me are polarized Karün , I recommend the Outdoor or Sport collection.
- Sunscreen and lip
- Personal hygiene items , preferably natural, without chemicals that can contaminate the area and calculate what is necessary, do not take others.
- Ziploc bags to carry everything compressed, they also serve to carry the garbage without disturbing it during the trek.
- Dry Bag: Serves to protect valuables in the event of rain.
- First aid kit and some medicines in case of emergency, allergy, pain, everyone knows what can happen to them.
- External batteries
- Here are some of my Stanley favorites:
- Cooking on a trek
- Other things that I sometimes carry:
- Water Filter: I like the Sawyer water filter, in Patagonia you will usually find the cleanest water in the world but sometimes I still carry it.
