This trip is a super way to dabble your toes into some of the greatness and splendor in Argentina's renown Southern Patagonia area. You get to see and have a taste of many things, from lakes and flamingoes to glaciers and mountains, to desert landscapes and archeology -- all in a few short days!
Walk Patagonia does a superb organizational job, supplying lunches and snacks, making sure stops are well-planned and timed, and arranging lodging that is comfortable.
One of the great things about this type of trip, which I experienced before this precise itinerary was put together, was the combination -- a true palette of surprises that just leaves you drooling for more.
For anyone considering the trip: Take waterproof gear and footwear! And a mix of items for both warm and cold weather. You can always layer and nobody will care if you wear the same thing just about everyday!
My goal is to return to Chalten for 4 or 5 days and then have the luxury of time to wait for the best weather to do long day treks. And now I know what to expect and where I want to return based on this trips smorgasbord of experiences.
What would you improve about this program?
Certainly Walk Patagonia is never responsible for the sometimes fickle weather in the area -- on our mid-autumn trip we had AMAZING weather with heart-stopping views -- but then a rainstorm moved in for our one-night backpack leaving us unable to do the final trek up to Laguna de los Tres -- the highlight I had been just waiting for. I only wish the team could have eyed the forecasts and perhaps moved things around a bit since backpacking in the rain and cold wasn't so pleasant.
In addition, we arrived at camp soaking wet with no real warmth in the group dome tent to dry anything, although the staff did the best they could to keep us distracted, entertained and fill our tummies with warm food.
In addition, in the Walk Patagonia team's efforts to make sure we got to see it all, it sometimes felt rushed -- not leaving any time to just walk around the town, enjoy a hotel's amenities, or shop for a few souvenirs or gifts and enjoy the local culture more leisurely.