FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: PATAGONIA, CHILE

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1 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS: PATAGONIA, CHILE Are all expenses included? Yes, all expenses are included, except: Flights from your home to Santiago Any Airport taxes Any visa fees Drinks/personal items in hotels Meals not mentioned on the itinerary (such as in Santiago) Gratuities What can I expect during my trip to Patagonia? Patagonia is a beautiful, wild and unpredictable part of our planet. It is best suited to lovers of the outdoors who are used to travelling in remote areas (and who have a keen sense of adventure and a flexible attitude). The rewards are plentiful and memorable. Your companion and guide is an experienced leader. All of our guides and those of our partners are Chilean and have worked in the area for a number of years. They are experienced, knowledgeable, safety conscious individuals who are passionate about what they do and who are very proud to share their wonderful country with visitors. With groups over a certain size, the guide will have an assistant and with camping groups of a certain size, he will also have a dedicated cook. All our trips are escorted throughout unless otherwise detailed on your itinerary. Our camping trips are fully supported with meals being prepared for you and luggage being carried by pack horses, vehicles or porters (unless stated otherwise on your itinerary). Our campsites are all chosen for their location and views. We try to avoid the high traffic areas and we are constantly striving to come up with new trip routes and ideas as new areas open up. Our philosophy is to offer locally run estancias and hotels where we can. Due to the risk of fires, campfires are strictly monitored. They are prohibited at sites where fixed fire areas are not available. We are in complete support of this policy. On non camping trips we select hotels, refugios and estancias based on their location, service and comfort. We are constantly monitoring these establishments to ensure our standards are met. Where this is not the case, we are prompt to act and alter our itinerary or trip recommendation. On camping trips guests typically set up their own tents although with our dedicated team who love to surprise our clients, tents are often put up in advance when circumstances and timing

2 allow. Let us know if you require any special support or assistance in regard to the putting up of tents and we will organize this. On camping and most lodge based trips, lunch items are laid out at breakfast and you make up your own sandwiches and lunch box for the trail. What are the roads like in Torres del Paine? The roads in Patagonia are varied. Most of the main routes are now paved but some are not and can be dusty and occasionally bumpy. In addition the distances between sites can be great. The road between Punta Arenas and Cerro Castillo is now fully paved. The new road between Puerto Natales and the Serrano River is not and this road if it is open shortens the journey time to that area considerably. In Argentina the road is paved between el Calafate and the Perito Moreno Glacier and on most of the main routes. What sort of weather can I expect in Patagonia? Torres del Paine has a milder and drier microclimate than the surrounding areas of Patagonia because of some unique geological features. The weather throughout Patagonia is however famously unpredictable and it is possible to experience four seasons in the course of a few hours! Average daily temperatures vary but in summer one can expect degrees Celsius with the occasional hot day of 25 degrees. Temperatures can drop to zero at night and high winds are common in the area. Although you can never be sure of how Paine will treat its guests, we ask that you are prepared (both mentally and physically) for unpredictable and sometimes challenging weather conditions and that you pack accordingly. Good waterproofs (top to toe) are essential when joining a camping or multi day hiking or riding trip. See extra notes under suitability on each itinerary or refer to the extensive notes below on climate in the various parts of Chile. What are the medical facilities like in Torres del Paine? Our trips take us into some pristine wilderness areas. You should be aware that the Torres del Paine National Park is about a 4 6 hour drive from the nearest trauma care facility in Punta Arenas (4 hours if you are able to exit on the new road from the Serrano sector of the Park). There is a small hospital in Puerto Natales (3 hours) with 24 hour medical assistance that can deal with minor injuries and illnesses. In the rare event of there being an accident or broken bone, you would have to be taken out of the Park by whatever means necessary to join transport for the long drive out. Helicopters are available for emergencies but these cannot fly during high winds. All our leaders carry first aid supplies for dealing with minor injuries and

3 incidents. If you have a medical condition or are taking any medication you should discuss this with us prior to travel. Please note that it is a condition of booking that you have in place a suitable travel insurance policy and that this includes emergency evacuation in the event of an accident and repatriation. For trips that take place during high season we have a group Air Evacuation policy available that is provided for our clients. If you are in doubt about the cover provided please ask. Is there a luggage limit on my trip? Please refer to any specific notes regarding your trip, for example the Circuit and W Hikes where stricter luggage limits are in place. During your trip your driver will transport what we consider is a reasonable amount of luggage in the support vehicle, pack horses, boats etc. We cannot be responsible for any extra costs due to excessive luggage or be held responsible for heavy or expensive photographic equipment. The Guide will make an assessment of the luggage during your trip briefing and if he/she feels there is an excessive amount, they will advise you and offer you alternatives (such as leaving some of it at our offices in Puerto Natales which we are very happy to do). On some multi day or camping trips (such as the Circuit and W hikes) the guide will provide waterproof expedition bags for repacking a small amount of clothing and personal effects. This enables your belongings to be packed comfortably, safely and drily onto the pack horses. If your trip includes porters, they will re pack your luggage into back packs for carrying. In these cases the rest of your luggage joins you later. I m a vegetarian, is that OK? We are happy to cater to vegetarians and those with food intolerances or allergies as long as we receive prior notice. If your trip involves stays in hotels or lodges, we will inform them of your requirements. On camping trips, we will inform the chef who will take this into account with the provisioning for the trip. Please note that Patagonia is a culture largely founded on the farming of sheep. Meat, especially lamb, is a staple for most people living in the area. On group camping trips and estancia stays it is very likely the group will get to enjoy a lamb or meat asado (BBQ) during their trip. This typically Patagonian preparation of lamb involves cooking the meat over an open fire.

4 What is the camping like? We use comfortable small dome tents (usually North Face and Marmot) which are roomy, comfortable and able to withstand the sometimes high winds in the area. Accommodation is usually based on twin share. Most campsites used on our trips offer hot showers, bathrooms, some form of shelter or indoor dining and fire pits. This is usually specified on your itinerary so make sure and ask if you are unsure. Some of the camping, for example when kayaking down river from Torres del Paine, will be true wilderness style camping with the only washing facilities being in a river or lake. In this case, the guide will provide instructions on bathroom etiquette. Guests typically set up their own tents (see notes above). Your sleeping bag should be 3 or 4 season and should be carried in an effective stuff sack. We can rent sleeping bags and mats to guests and you should indicate this at the time of booking. If you are renting a sleeping bag from us, we recommend you bring a sleeping bag inner (available in silk, cotton and fleece) for your comfort and hygiene. NOTE: if you like to sleep on a nice, thick, padded Thermorest mat, we strongly advise you to bring your own as they are hard to get locally and our supplies are limited. The same goes for sleeping bags we buy the best quality we can but if you especially feel the cold we would recommend you invest in a good bag which you bring with you. Please note that ear plugs are strongly recommended for light sleepers. On windy nights, the tent can get noisy (also recommended for refugio based trips). What sort of food can I expect on my camping trip? Meals are varied and wholesome and include fresh salmon and local fish, pasta, chicken, beef, lamb and some local Chilean meals. Fresh salad is served every night. Local wine is served with dinner and all meals are prepared for guests. Packed lunches are usually prepared at breakfast and are carried with you. These consist of sandwiches (e.g. tuna, cheese, ham, peanut butter, salami), fresh fruit, trail mix, chocolate, biscuits, snacks etc. You are normally responsible for looking after your lunch boxes. Breakfast is normally hot and cold cereals, toast, jams, marmalade, coffee, tea and juice. At times a cooked breakfast is served. Vegetarians can be well catered for and you should indicate your requirements at the time of booking (see notes above).

5 On trips in Torres del Paine a dining tent is carried for eating meals and cooking although sometimes we choose to eat in a camp shelter or around the campfire (weather and fire regulations permitting). Please note that inside dining is normally available at the following campsites: Laguna Verde, Rio Serrano, Laguna Azul and anywhere a refugio is also present such as: Pehoe, Dickson, Cuernos, Las Torres, Grey etc. Where possible, vehicle support is arranged. Supplies of bread, salad and fresh fruit are replenished. On arrival at the campsite, wine and canapes are served giving you ample time to relax while the evening meal is being prepared. All meals are included unless stated otherwise on your itinerary. Wine is also included (generous though necessarily limited supplies). Meals in Punta Arenas and lunches in Natales on transfer days are generally not included. A dedicated, professional cook is provided on groups of a certain size (varies according to the actual trip). We reserve the right to eat in the refugios with small groups of 2 3 clients and during the Circuit and W hikes where it is not always permitted to put up dining tents and provide a cook. What sort of food is served in the hotels? Meals are usually eaten in the hotel restaurant. Food usually consists of lamb, beef, chicken or salmon with fresh vegetables or salad accompanied by rice or potatoes. Wine and beer is available at an extra charge. Packed lunches will either be prepared by you at breakfast (on BlueGreen supported trips) or the hotel or refugio will provide you with a made up packed lunch. These usually consist of sandwiches (tuna, cheese, salami, ham, peanut butter etc), fresh fruit, nuts and snacks and biscuits/chocolate. The restaurants in the refugios offer a lively atmosphere and wholesome food. However, the quality can vary depending on the number of people in the refugio, the staff on duty, the date of the last food delivery, the weather and the functioning of the generator! Please make sure your expectations are managed in regard to this. Vegetarian options are also available. Breakfast in Chile is usually not a cooked meal and will include toast, coffee, cereal, ham/cheese, bread rolls and juice. In larger hotels and some estancias, eggs are sometimes prepared.

6 What is a refugio? A refugio is a type of mountain cabin that sleeps guests in bunk style accommodation. Usually made of wood they were built in the park for minimum environmental impact while ensuring guests had somewhere to sleep in remote areas. Horses or boats usually deliver supplies and they are generator powered between 7am and 11pm. Hot showers are usually available. Meals are served in the convivial dining area and packed lunches can be made up on request. Reservations are necessary during the high season. Most of them also offer camping and it is possible to eat in the refugio while using the campsites. We use a number of them on our trips. On the W, we tend to use Refugio Paine Grande, Refugio Los Cuernos (which offers private cabins), Refugio Las Torres, Refugio Grey and Refugio Chileno. On our riding trips and the Circuit Hike we use Refugio Dickson as it serves as a base from which to visit the beautiful Dickson Valley and Glacier. Refugio accommodation is in dormitories which sleep between 6 8 guests depending on the location. During the high season it is very difficult to secure private rooms although this is occasionally possible in special circumstances. You should also note that the dormitory rooms will be mixed with males and females. There are no segregated rooms in the majority of cases so if you are uncomfortable with this, please let us know and we will arrange camping or an alternative itinerary. We recommend packing ear plugs for refugio based trips. What is the hiking like? How fit do I need to be? The type of hiking depends on the specific itinerary but our trips usually include moderate to challenging hiking unless otherwise stated, for example our Lodge to Lodge hike offers moderate hikes with the option of more challenging hiking if required. The most challenging multi day hike in the area is the Circuit hike. On this trip, a two day hike over the Pass calls for greater fitness and stamina. In an attempt to minimize the luggage carried by porters over the pass on this trip we include meals in the refugio at Los Perros and Grey, please refer to the detailed itinerary for your particular trip and if you are joining the Circuit, you will be sent an information document with further details.