Patagonia Itinerary Help - November/December
 

Hi

I am looking for some feedback on my Patagonia trip. Its in very rough outline, I have booked my accommodation for the W trek and my flight to Puerto Natales and flight home. But nothing else is booked so I am open to suggestions if there are other places people thing I should go.

I am thinking something like this
20/11/18 - fly into Puerto Natales
21/11/18 - 25/11/18 - W Trek
26/11/18-28/11/18 - El Calafante
28/11/18 - 1/11/18 - El Chalten
2/12/18 - fly to Barlioche
Stay in Bariloche and travel to Puerto Mott
8/12/18 - fly from Puerto Mott to Valparaiso (via Santiago and then a bus)
14/12/18 - fly home from Santiago

I am not too sure how long I want to spend in Bariloche/ Puerto Mott/ Valparaiso/Santiago

Does this look doable? Will it be too rushed? Should I drop El Chalten and spend more time around Bariloche/ Puerto Varas/ Puerto Montt?

Will 5 full days be enough to see a bit of Valparaiso and Santiago or should I just do one? or cut time from somewhere else?

The plans for around Bariloche, El Chalten and Puerto Montt is day hikes and going back to accommodation in town, as well as some time to relax.

I am into hiking/ outdoor activities. I like trying nice foods and wines and was thinking of doing a winery region tour while in Santiago or Valparaiso. I enjoy history and museums as well.

Thanks in advance

I haven't been to the Bariloche area, but if you're a hiker, I would not skip El Chalten. Yes, you're doing the W so you'll get lots of amazing mountain scenery. El Chalten is different, though, and, I think, well worth the time. Sorry I can't comment on Bariloche/Puerto Montt (need to go back!). Good luck!

Thanks Althom1122 I will make sure I go to EL Chalten. How many days do you recommend?

I had only a day around Puerto Montt with the company Bird Chile, who have an office in Puerto Varas.

Perhaps the info on their website would help you

https://www.birdschile.com/active-na...urs/day-tours/

Thanks mlgb will have a look

Hello! It looks like you've already made the trip - I'd love to hear how this itinerary worked and if you felt that you had enough time around the W trek and in Calafate/Chalten. Thanks @Nnlsbin

hi

I ended up doing 5 day W trek (with time in Puerto Natales before and after) I flew direct from Santiago to Puerto Natales, then caught a morning bus to El Calafate

Had 3 nights in El Calafate before going to El Chalten for 5 nights. I felt like it was enough time in each place. I was lucky enough to get good weather in all places.

Awesome - thanks so much for the feedback! How was the flight Santiago to Puerto Natales? I'm looking at that flight in Nov. - an overnight flight to Santiago, 3 hour layover, then catching the flight to Puerto Natales. Do you think that's enough time for the layover? I've heard mixed feedback on how on-time that flight usually is.

Hope it was an incredible trip! Any great hotel experiences along the way?

3 hours should be enough, I had about that and it was enough time for me. It was a great trip.

I really liked Nunataks in El Chalten

Nnlsbin - I'm leaving Feb. 8 for a 5-day W Trek with ChileTour Patagonia. Flying into Punta Arenas for 2 nights to do the penguin island tour and then taking the bus up to Puerto Natales where we spend the first night before beginning the trek the next day. What is that town like? Should we get an early bus to have time to walk around or stay in Punta Arena for the morning and early afternoon? It is a 3-hour bus trip. Also we kind of assume there are trekking supply type shops there, correct? We may need to pick up a water bottle or a couple of other items. "Souveniers!" Thanks also for any info on the trek. We've been training but this will be a challenge for my 61-year old knees.

I didnt spend much time in Puerto Natales, we got there in the afternoon and then left early the next day for the trek, and after our trek we just had an afternoon there before leaving for El Calafate the next day.

There were plenty of trekking shops to hire or buy anything you may need. Erratic Rock (a hiking store) does a free talk about Torres Del Paine and the W trek every day at 3pm, which was pretty good and you can hire stuff or buy stuff from them as well.

But the talk isnt essential, its well signposted and easy to figure out where to go.

And how was the trek??? Did you happen to use ChiliTours or do it yourself? Did you stay in refugios or camp?

I really enjoyed the trek, we were lucky with pretty good weather most of the days, we did East to West and it was quite windy. Stayed in refugios and there were pretty nice most of the time

Thanks. We are doing the same.

There is very little to do in Puerto Natales. I wound up with a whole extra day there waiting to board the boat up the coast, and aside from one small museum I spent most of my time drinking coffee.

Good to know. We'll just likely have a few hours before our trek briefing through ChileTours Patagonia, then maybe a few hours after the trek before we take the bus back to Punta Arenas. Worst comes to worst, I'm sure we can find a beer.

Funny, my DIL just bought me one for Christmas, but I just got it last weekend because we weren't able to see them on the holiday! I was hoping to maybe get a souvenir water bottle or something like that there. We will only have 3 hours there on the first day before our welcome briefing/dinner. Not sure if we'll have any time on the last day.