What to Pack for hiking in Patagonia
Discover essential gear for a Patagonia hike, from clothing layers to camping equipment, ensuring a safe adventure.
Essentials
- Multipurpose items : Every object you carry should have multi-use
- Layer Clothing: The ability to add or remove layers is crucial for regulating body temperature.
- Camping and Cooking Equipment: Lightweight camping gear, including a compact tent, sleeping bag rated for low temperatures, and a portable stove, is vital for multi-day hikes in Patagonia. Every 100g count.
- Footwear: Use sturdy, waterproof hiking boots to navigate rocky and uneven trails.
- Backpack: A good – well paded – backpack is very important for hiking comfortably.
- Cooking Supplies: Use a portable stove, lightweight cookware, and biodegradable soap for meal preparations.
- Even if your porter allows for 15 kilos, be sure to factor in an additional 2-3 kilos of food per person.
- Rehearse and weight all your gear before leaving, don’t carry more that 15% of your own weight. (If you don’t carry heavy photography gear, it should be fine)
- During the 5 day hike in Chalten, bring only the essentials. Only one set of clothes for 5 days, just one extra underwear and pair of socks.
- Merino Wool absorb better smells.
Clothing
Head
- Sun hat or cap
- Cold weather hat
- Neck Gaiter: Preferably in Merinos wool. Indispensable
- Sunglasses with 100% UV protection (category 3 or 4)
- Headlamp (ideally with a re-chargeable battery) and a red light
Torso/Core
- 1 hiking T-shirt
- 1 Base Layer / Longsleeve: Merino, Polypropylene, Capilene, Driclime (avoid cotton or cotton blends)
- 1 Second Layer / Soft-shell: Fleece (recommended: with hood, comfortable, insulating)
- 1 Third Layer / Insulating Jacket: Down jacket or synthetic insulation (If you are too warm this is the layer to remove)
- 1 Fourth Layer / Hard Shell: Windproof, waterproof, and breathable (Gore-Tex, Event, or similar)
Hands
- Thicker Gloves: Insulated gloves for colder conditions
- Thin Gloves or Mittens: Polypropylene or wool liners that you can wear under another pair of thicker gloves for additional warmth/
Lower Body
- Thicker Gloves: Insulated gloves for colder conditions
- Thin Gloves or Mittens: Polypropylene or wool liners that you can wear under another pair of thicker gloves for additional warmth/
Feets
- 2 pairs of Thin Socks: Liners (Polypropylene or Capilene)
- 1 pair of thick socks for hiking
- Hiking Footwear: Waterproof Gore-Tex or similar for daily trekking
Trekking Gear
- Backpack (60/65 liters for women / 70/75L for men) – with rain cover (comfortable and ergonomic for long treks) (1.9kg).
- Daypack (15/25 liters for daily hikes)
- Rain Cover: Ultralight Rain Cover to keep your pack dry (80g)
- Trekking poles: preferably two for better balance; (essential for steep ascents and descents. Should have rubber tips to protect the environment)
- Water Filtration: LifeStraw Go Filter Water Bottle (220g for the bottle + 620g of water when full)
- Ziploc for food: To put dried fruits and snacks in.
- Sitting Pad : On a une forte perte calorique en s’asseillant sur les pierres froides un petit coussin peux nous aider à profiter du paysage sans être génés par le froid.
- Whistle: for safety
- 1 Ziploc for hygiène + Kleenex : Si vous avez une urgence en nature, cela vous permet de garder le papier toilette et ne pas laisser de traces
- 1 Ziploc: for pocket trash (candys and energy bars)
Camping Gear / Night
As for the night, the key principle is: The better you sleep, the more you will enjoy and be energized for the day
- Tent: Lightweight and compact, suitable for cold and windy weather) 3 seasons is ok (1.1kg)
- Sleeping Bag: Down or synthetic, rated -5 to -15 °C / 15-20 °F (1.2kg)
- 2 Sleeping Mats or 1 inflatable mattress: Very important. Total R-Value 4-5 minimum. Good ground insulation is vital!! (115g)
- Pillow: As light as possible. (115g)
- Sleeping Bag Liner (thermal): Recommended for added warmth
- Spare Shoes (Optional): Crocs or lightweight shoes for camp use
- 1 pair of clean socks for the night
- Earplugs: Helpful for sleeping in windy nights
- Sleep mask: Optional
- Chamber Pot: Optional but potentially very useful. Venturing across the campsite at -5°C in the middle of the night to relieve yourself can quickly sap all the warmth from your sleeping bag, leaving you shivering and struggling to regain heat—sometimes for over an hour. Staying warm means staying rested, so consider this addition to save yourself from a chilly and restless night.
Hygiene & Health
- Hygiene Kit: Toothbrush, toothpaste, tiny soap piece, sunscreen
- Body Wipes: For tent “showers”
- Water Purification Tablets or Drops: For safe drinking water
- First Aid Kit: Ibuprofen, naproxen, immodium, KT tape, bandaids
- Altitude Sickness Meds: Acetazolamide, Dexamethasone, Nifedipine
- Toilet Kit: Toilet paper
- Hand sanitizer
Cooking Set
- Stove
- Cooking Set
- Multi-use Spoon
- Knife: Swiss knife, or opinel.
- Mug Thermos : This is purely optional, I generaly use my cooking set as recipient, but if you like a good hot coffee, this will enrich you experience
Typical Daily Menu
- Breakfast: Coffee, Soup, Hot milk with oat with milk and Nuts
- Lunch: Sandwiches with ham, cheese, chorizo, etc…
- Snacks during the day: 2 Energy bars, 1 or 2 Chocolates Bars and Nuts Cocktail for quick energy boosts
- Dinner: 2 pack of Chineese noodles.
Gear & Tech
- 1 smartphone for photos, GPS navigation, E-Books, etc…
- 1 or 2 Power Bank 20.000 Ma: If you heavily use your phone for photography + Ebook / Movies at night then take 2 Powerbanks
- 1 Watch to record your steps and tracks(Optionnal)
- Charging Cables
- Notebook and Pen (Optionnal)
- Offline map: I recommand Alpine Quest
- Deck of Cards or E-Book: For entertainment during downtime
- Cash: Not necessary in Chaltén, but useful in Chilean side
Photographer Packing list
This section is specifically for photographers, from amateurs to professionals. If photography isn’t your passion, feel free to skip ahead—but consider giving it a second thought. Our main activities will revolve around seeking out stunning locations and capturing the best light. Patagonia is one of the most photogenic places in the world, offering a unique opportunity to elevate your skills. Imagine the joy of reviewing your breathtaking photos back home and the pride of sharing them with friends.
Smartphone Photographers
- Good Smartphone Camera
- Phone Holder: plastic or metal
- One Tripod or Monopod (Be aware that light and cheap tripods don’t resist well to wind)
Enthousiasts and Professionals
- 1 Camera Full frame or APS-C
- Sturdy Tripod ( Don’t forget that there is a lot of wind in Patagonia)
- Camera with one or 2 lenses (24-70mm, 16-35mm, 24-105mm, 100-400mm)
- Spare batteries
- ND Filter for long exposure shots
- Action Camera for B-Roll and filming
- Battery charger that work with USB
- Drone are forbidden in the park.
- Rain cover for your camera
Keep in mind that photography equipment can add significant extra weight to your backpack, ranging from 4 to 8 kilos, especially for professional gear!
Renting Gear
Buying lightweight and technical gear for hilking is expensive, Before getting to Peru & Patagonia I spent almost just for the gear 2000€. So consider investing in high quality only if you will re-use it in multiple trips. Otherwise see if some friends can lend you some gear or consider renting on site.
Here is the 2024 gear list from the shops in El Chaltén. Please note that they do not reserve gear in advance; equipment can only be rented on-site, starting the day before your trek.
Frequently Asked Questions
Credit and debit card acceptance in the Argentine Puna is extremely limited. Due to the region's remote location and unreliable internet connectivity, most local businesses, including small guesthouses, restaurants, and shops, operate exclusively on a cash basis. While some larger hotels or fuel stations in primary hubs like San Antonio de los Cobres may accept cards, these systems often fail due to poor signal.
ATMs are very scarce in the Puna and frequently run out of cash or suffer from technical malfunctions. It is essential to carry a significant amount of Argentine Pesos in cash before departing for the region. Travelers should withdraw all necessary funds in major cities like Salta or San Salvador de Jujuy to ensure they can cover all expenses, as relying on electronic payments or finding functional banking services in the high-altitude desert is highly unreliable.
Yes, carrying extra fuel is absolutely essential for motorcycling through this remote region of the Puna. Distances between reliable service stations are vast, and high altitudes significantly increase fuel consumption. While Purmamarca and Antofagasta de la Sierra have official stations, they frequently experience shortages and may be out of stock for days. In Tolar Grande and El Peñón, fuel is often only available through informal private sellers, while Antofalla typically has no refueling facilities available.
It is strongly recommended to carry at least 10 to 15 liters of additional fuel in approved containers. This provides a vital safety margin for the challenging terrain or potential station closures. Relying on local availability is extremely risky in such an isolated environment where help is
Yes, there are lodging options inside Iguazu National Park. The Gran Meliá Iguazú is a luxury hotel located within the park, offering direct access to the falls. Additionally, the Sheraton Iguazú Resort & Spa is situated near the park's entrance, providing convenient access to the natural attractions. Both hotels cater to tourists seeking proximity to the falls while offering amenities like guided tours and scenic views. Camping or budget accommodations are not available within the park itself, but nearby Puerto Iguazú offers various lodging alternatives.
The walking distance from Iguazu Village to the main waterfalls in Iguazu National Park is approximately 1.5 kilometers (0.93 miles), taking around 20-30 minutes depending on walking speed. The route includes well-maintained trails and scenic paths leading to the iconic Devil's Throat and other viewpoints. Shuttle buses are also available for those who prefer not to walk the entire distance.
The best way to travel from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls is by plane, with flights taking about 1.5-2 hours to Puerto Iguazú Airport (IGR), located near the falls. Airlines like Aerolíneas Argentinas and Flybondi offer regular flights. Alternatively, buses take around 18-20 hours but are cheaper, with companies like Via Bariloche providing overnight services. Renting a car is another option, but the 1,300 km drive takes roughly 15-16 hours. Flying is the fastest and most convenient, while buses are budget-friendly.
