Patagonia - how to start planning a trip
 

I'm going to visit a friend in Santiago and thought I'd take a side trip to Patagonia. I have no idea how to start. Should I use a tour company or can I make the arrangements myself? I would like to sleep indoors and do a lot of moderate hiking, and go to a few different spots (suggestions appreciated). I like comfort but don't need luxury.

Firstly you need to understand that Patagonia is a vast region which extends through both southern Chile and Argentina. The time of year you would visit is important as not everything is open in winter. It is also a relatively costly destination as it will involve a flight south and lodging (aside from shared accommodation) is not cheap. So, starting with the most important bit, what time of year?

First if you haven't already, look at some guide books, read some Trip Reports on Fodors or TA to get an idea of where you want to go. How much time do you have and what time of year? As said above, transportation costs can be high as the distances are so great. It can be easily planned by yourself, but if you're more comfortable with a travel agent that is certainly easy to do.

I will go in december or January. I will probably have about 8 - 10 days. Any advice as to where to go will be appreciated. I like wildlife, dramatic scenery, and moderate hikes.

I recommend the region around Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas, which is the part of Chile where the Central Valley ends and the Lakes District begins. The landscape around here is indeed dramatic - think lakes, volcanoes, waterfalls - with tons of opportunities for hiking and ideal weather in December/January. Chiloe Island is a short bus + ferry ride away. You could also do a quick hop over to Bariloche in Argentina via the Lakes Crossing.

Further south, there is the famous Torres del Paine National Park where you could arrange short and long hikes with Puerto Natales as your base town. Other sites are the Grey Glacier and various lakes. Travel time from/to Santiago would be longer.