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Title image - BAI takes you to: Torres del Paine

Here is where you will find answers to some of your questions about this expedition. If you do not find what you need here, please contact us at info@bergadventures.com.

Choose the specific question to link to your answer

  1. How fit should I be for this trip?
  2. What elevations will we be at on this trip?
  3. What is the food like on the trip?
  4. What size of backpack do I need?
  5. What kind of weather should I be expecting?
  6. How much money do I need to bring?
  7. Does the price of the trip cover meals, land transfers, and accommodations?
  8. Should I book the flights myself or do you have a recommendation?
  9. Are there health concerns for travelling in Patagonia?
  10. What types of communication are available on the climb?
  11. What are the accommodations like?
1. How fit should I be for this trip? Back to Top
This trip is for energetic people who like to be active, have a spirit of adventure and a positive attitude. You should be in good health and physically fit. You will want to work on both cardiovascular training, and leg and core strength to prepare for this trip.
2. What elevations will we be at on this trip? Back to Top
Even though this is a trip featuring some of the wildest mountain scenery in the world, we are at low elevations throughout our travels in Patagonia. We will be at sea level some nights and the rest of the time we will be sleeping below 1,500 ft/455m. The highest point on the circuit trek is the John Gardner Pass at 4,100ft/1,250m. While this pass will be a challenge, it is not high enough to require altitude acclimatization.
3. What is the food like on the trip? Back to Top
During the trek, we will have a cook with us who will prepare a variety of healthy meals. We will use as many fresh products and whole ingredients as possible. All special dietary requirements such as vegetarian and gluten-free meals can be arranged, so please inform us if you have any food allergies or preferences.
4. What size of backpack do I need? Back to Top
You will want a medium-large sized rucksack (A 50-60L/3,000-3,700 cubic inches) that can hold all of your personal hiking gear. We will have porters who will carry group gear, but you will be responsible for your own personal gear. For those who wish, we can arrange personal porters for you at an additional charge. Packs that are slightly larger distribute the weight on your back better and are much easier to pack, especially with cold fingers!
5. What kind of weather should I be expecting? Back to Top
In Punta Arenas, where you will meet your guide, the climate is coastal, and you’ll be arriving during the southern hemisphere’s springtime. It can cool off in the evenings so bring a light jacket. When we head up into the mountains, the temperatures will drop substantially and the wind will pick up. While traveling, you may want to bring some comfortable clothes and also have a nice change of clothes for our evenings in the city.
During our hikes, it can get hot at midday when the sun shines strong at this altitude, but evening temperatures are often quite chilly. We’ll experience classic variable mountain weather, warm in direct sunlight, cool on cloudy days and at night. You will be adjusting your layers all day as you climb and hike in Patagonia.
6. How much money do I need to bring? Back to Top
Tipping in Chile is a strongly-established tradition and is expected but optional. Travelers frequently comment that they wish that they had brought more for tips. We recommend that you bring between US $200-$250 for the Berg Adventures staff including guides, porters and cook. You can generally budget to tip hotels, skycaps, shuttles, and restaurants at an average of 10 per cent.
7. Does the price of the trip cover meals, land transfers, and accommodations? Back to Top
Yes, all hotels for the scheduled trip, meals on the trek (as indicated on the itinerary), airport transfers, and shuttles within Chile are included. Not included, either in towns or on the climbs/treks, are bottled drinks (soft drinks, bottled water, and alcohol). See the itinerary for a complete list of included and excluded costs.
8. Should I book the flights myself or do you have a recommendation? Back to Top
We can book flights for you or you can book directly with the airlines or online. Our office will work with you to assure that your itinerary will work.
9. Are there health concerns for travelling in Patagonia? Back to Top
There are currently no specific immunization requirements for the areas we will be visiting. The water is very safe and clean in this region, so there is no need to bring purifiers of any kind.
10. What types of communication are available on the climb? Back to Top
Our primary means of emergency communication is satellite phone, which is always with us. Our sat phone will also be used to call-in daily reports which will be posted on our web site for friends, family, workmates, and schools at home to follow. You will have good opportunities for phone and internet in Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales. Your mobile phone should work well in Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales as well. Check with your service provider before leaving home however to ensure that you will get the best rates when using your phone abroad. International roaming charges for both voice and data will likely be very expensive.
In past years, Torres del Paine National Park has little or no cell phone reception and internet is limited. We will have a chance to use internet at a few of the lodges along the way and will keep our friends and families up-to-date through the dispatches on our website. If you will require more regular contact with the home or the office while you are away, we can discuss satellite phone options with you on an individual basis. We have an emergency phone number that is monitored 24 hours a day should your family need to reach you while you are traveling.
11. What are the accommodations like? Back to Top
In the cities such as Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas, Berg Adventures only uses first class hotels, as we do around the world on all of our expeditions. Within Torres del Paine National Park, while we’re on the Circuit Trek, our “refugios” (Patagonia’s mountain lodges) will continue to provide excellent service and comfortable accommodation. We will be camping on two nights of the trek and the rest of the time we will be in refugios. Some of these huts are dorm style and some will have private rooms. Whenever available, we will use private room accommodations with double occupancy. Should you wish to stay in your own private room when possible, a single-room supplement is available at an additional cost. Please contact our office for additional information about the single-room supplement.