Travel Planning Essentials

We welcome visitors to journey to Patagonia National Park and experience the wild, stunning landscapes of Patagonia. Our focus remains the completion of construction for Patagonia National Park, so we ask our visitors to be as self-sufficient as possible. The park is located in a remote and challenging environment. Be prepared for your adventure—read up and plan carefully before you embark!

We ask visitors to obey the following rules:

  • Plan ahead and prepare—bring all supplies you will need for your trip to the park.
  • Travel and camp on durable surfaces—stick to trails andestablished campsites.
  • Dispose of waste properly--in waste receptacles at campsites and at the park headquarters, and use park bathrooms. Do NOT litter!
  • Leave what you find—please don’t take flowers, bones, artifacts, or anything else you might find.
  • NO campfires in the park! This is a dry area with a high risk of wildfire.
  • Respect wildlife.
  • Be considerate of other visitors—keep noise to a minimum, especially at night. Do not play loud music at the campground or in other public spaces in the park.

Maps: You can download the maps pack for the future Patagonia National Park here.


Weather at the park

At a latitude of 47º South, the future Patagonia National Park experiences warm summers and cold winters, long hours of daylight in the summer, and variable weather.

Average Temperatures:

  • Summer (January—March): highs are in the 70s ºF (21/27 ºC) during the day, dropping to about 50ºF (10ºC) at night. Higher elevations will be experience a slightly cooler climate, and frosts can occur at night. Expect high winds—bring a sturdy tent if camping!
  • Spring and Fall (November-December, April—May): daytime temperatures tend to be in the 50s and 60s ºF, dropping to the 30s and 40s ºF at night. Be prepared for rapid changes in temperature.
  • Winter (June—October): Highs are in the 30s ºF (0ºC) during the day, dropping to lows averaging 0ºF (-18ºC). High winds and severe winter storms are common.
    NOTE: THE PARK IS NOT OPEN IN THE WINTER. The main access road—the Carretera Austral—is very treacherous, and conditions throughout the park can be extreme.

Precipitation:

  • Summer is the dry season. Most precipitation falls during the winter months (June—September); January and February are the least rainy months. Snowfall is moderate in the winter at lower elevations, but continues throughout the year at higher elevations; many mountains remain snow-covered year-round. In the Chacabuco Valley, the westernmost areas close to the Carretera Austral receive more rain than those close to the Argentine border.


Logistics for traveling in Chile

Travel documents:

You need your passport to enter Chile. Citizens of the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and most EU countries do not need to secure a visa before they arrive. The Chilean government charges a ‘reciprocity fee’ from US, Canadian, and Australian citizens, in response to fees these countries impose on Chileans. As of July 2012, this fee is US$140 for U.S. citizens and is valid for the life of the passport.

Currency and ATMs:

Chilean Peso. Approximate exchange rate: 1 USD = 494 Chilean pesos (July 2012). You can find ATMs in the Santiago and Balmaceda airports, as well as in the town of Coyhaique. There is a bank in Cochrane, a 30 minute drive from the park.

Health:

You should not need any special vaccinations to visit Patagonia. Although certain seasons can be fairly buggy, malaria is not a risk. Tap water at the park, and in most places in Patagonia, is safe to drink.

Sunscreen, and proper sun protection (hat, sunglasses, long-sleeve shirts) are crucial, as the sun is very strong in this area.

The nearest clinic to the park is located in Cochrane, 40 minutes from the park. Cochrane has a pharmacy as well, but with somewhat limited options.

Miscellaneous:

  • Chile’s Country Telephone Code: +56
  • Each city region has a code; Aysen’s is 67.
  • To connect with a mobile phone from overseas, dial 56 + 9 + 8 digit number.
  • Electric Current: 220 volts
  • Electrical Plugs: Two rounded plug jacks
  • Time Zone: One time zone throughout the country: GMT -5, with Daylight Savings Time in the opposite season from the Northern Hemisphere. So from October—April, Chile is one hour later than Eastern Standard Time, and four hours later than Pacific Standard Time.


Suggested Equipment List

For any visitor:

  • Hiking boots
  • Rain jacket
  • Rain pants
  • Down or synthetic insulation jacket
  • Wool or synthetic base layers
  • Sunscreen, sun hat, and sun glasses
  • Warm hat
  • Headlamp
  • Insect repellant, particularly during summer
  • First aid kit
  • Map & compass Matches/ lighter
  • Water bottle
  • Binoculars
  • Camera
  • Food—opportunities to purchase food in the park are very limited

For visitors planning to camp in the park:

  • Sturdy tent, build to withstand wind
  • Sleeping bag and pad
  • Cook stove and fuel—no fires allowed at the park, and nowhere to buy fuel


Frequently Asked Questions

Click here to access the FAQs