What
to Expect Upon Arrival
1. General
Patagonia Information
2. Weather and
Climate
3. Money Matters
4. Food and Drink
5. Medical Attention
6. Cultural Questions
7. Smoking
8. Internet
9. Fast Facts
General
Patagonia Information
Nestled among the high volcanic
peaks of southern Chile, generally referred
to as Patagonia, lays a heavily forested
region known as the “Andean Corridor
of Lakes”. This vastly undeveloped
region of Chile is by far the most stunning
landscape you could ever imagine. Containing
hundreds of pristine glacial lakes and thousands
of kilometers of wild rivers, the heart
of which is the Futaleufu River, home of
the "Greatest Whitewater on Earth".
Patagonia:
Geographically speaking,
Patagonia is primarily located in Argentina
between the Andes and the Atlantic Ocean.
At the extreme southern end of Chile, however,
the border jogs eastward to reach the Atlantic
Ocean thus becoming part of Patagonia. Patagón
means "big feet," referring to
the Tehuelche Indians who, when first seen
by Fernando de Magallanes, in 1520, were
wearing raw leather footwear rapped around
their feet, which left big footprints where
they walked. Thus, Patagonia is the place
of the people with big feet. The regional
governments in both Chile and Argentina
are embracing the name Patagonia as a collective
name for this southern region. The idea
is to assist both countries in the development
of tourism within this sparsely populated
and rarely traveled area. For maps of this
region of the world, go to: Patagonia
Maps.
The Andes:
Formed by the collision of
tectonic plates over 70 million years ago,
the landscape of the Andes is more than
merely impressive. If laid across North
America, the mountain range would stretch
from Havana to Juneau Alaska, some 4,500
miles in length. Towering at heights of
up to 22,000 feet, these peaks are second
only in magnitude to the Himalayas. The
range's lofty spine creates a naturally
defined border that is shared by Chile and
Argentina along a 2,000-mile section. To
the north, the range is high and arid while
to the south - in the Andean Corridor of
Lakes - the peaks are less extreme (14,000
feet around the city of Temuco), glaciated,
and blessed with hundreds of pristine lakes
joined by wild rivers. This Andean Corridor
of Lakes lies both in Chile and Argentina
and is commonly referred to as the Lake
District-Chileno and Lake District-Argentino.
This region is a dramatic wonderland of
glaciers, native old growth forests, lakes,
rivers, fjords, volcanoes and sentinel mountains
making for a spectacular Patagonia travel
destination.
A brief look at the lay of the land and
the region's moisture patterns explains
why the world's best whitewater rafting,
kayaking and fly-fishing is found here.
This is a region of geological and climatic
extremes. If you were to take a cross sectional
slice of the continent and trace a vertical
line down the highest peak of the Andes,
you would note that on the Chilean side
the land descends quickly towards a central
valley then rises to a much smaller coastal
range, finally descending to the ocean.
On the Argentinean side, the land gently
plateaus off into an arid region known as
the Patagonia Steppe. Our Patagonia travel
and adventure trips run during the peak
of both Chile and Argentina's summer season.
December in Chile is the equivalent of June
in the U.S. and thus January like July and
so on, and so forth. So when you join us
for a winter getaway you’ll return
home tanned and happy!
Chile:
If the country were superimposed
on North America (as we did with the Andes
Mountains) it would stretch as a narrow
ribbon - averaging 110 miles in width -
from Mexico City to Juneau Alaska (2610
miles). Its total square mileage is slightly
larger than the state of Texas and the population
of 14 million is weighted with 45% living
in Santiago, the capital city. Chile achieved
independence in 1818 and now has a democratic
form of government under the very popular
president Ricardo Lagos. The area, in which
we raft, kayak and fly fish, is the Andean
Corridor of Lakes, which spans 800 miles
between the cities of Temuco and Coyhaique.
The most spectacular section of the Corridor
of Lakes is in the heart of Patagonia, the
Futaleufu River Valley.
Argentina:
Some 760 miles wider than
Chile at its widest point, Argentina is
some 500 miles shorter north to south. The
country's square mileage is three and a
half times that of Chile's and its population
is almost two and one third times larger
(33,533,256). Buenos Aires, the capital
city, is home to 9% of the population. Like
Chile, Argentina has a democratic form of
government. The current president is Nestor
Kirchner of the Peron party, at least for
this week. Some of our fly-fishing and kayak
safari trips venture into Argentina.
Weather
and Climate
The
summer in South America lasts from November
to March. Santiago and Buenos Aires are
usually extremely warm during these months.
In the city, daily temperatures range between
23° -32°C (70°-90°F). At
night they drop to around 15°C (60°F).
In Patagonia, the weather is much less predictable,
and can change quickly and drastically.
On a sunny day, daytime temperatures can
be very warm, ranging between 15°C-32°C
(60° -90°F). However, rain, high
winds and cold air can blow in swiftly,
even during the summer, making the temperatures
drop to 1°-5°C (30°-40°F).
Snow is even a possibility. We recommend
packing in preparation for these dramatic
extremes; to be sure you are comfortable
for your entire trip. Rest assured, the
weather can just as easily turn warm and
beautiful. Nighttime temperatures are usually
between 4°-10°C (40°-50°F)
depending on the
weather.
Money Matters
Due to the revaluation of
the Chilean peso and the rise of tourism,
costs have increased substantially in Chile
in the past few years. Therefore the country
is no longer as inexpensive as it once was.
Argentina, however, is still very much a
bargain for travelers.
The national currency is Chilean Pesos.
Peso notes come in denominations of 500,
1.000, 2.000, 5.000, 10.000 and 20.000.
Try to carry small bills with you, as it
can be difficult to get change for bills
larger than 10.000.
We recommend exchanging cash as soon as
you arrive to the international airport,
as it is most convenient. In more remote
towns, it is more difficult to find banks
and ATMs. Bank hours in smaller towns are
usually from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. However, if
you are traveling through Argentina, we
recommend only taking out the amount of
Argentine pesos that you expect to use on
your way to/from Futaleufu. The Futaleufu
bank and local businesses will not exchange
Argentine pesos for Chilean pesos.
Futaleufu was recently equipped with its
first ATM machine. This ATM is only compatible
with MasterCard or Cirrus. Therefore, you
will not be able to take out cash if you
only have Visa. US Dollars (only –
not Argentine Pesos) can be exchanged at
the bank in town for Chilean Pesos (open
9 a.m.- 2p.m.). Several stores and restaurants,
including ExChile, do accept Visa, MasterCard
and American Express. Travelers’ checks
are not recommended.
US Dollars – Foreign Currency
US dollars, Argentine pesos
and all other foreign currencies are not
accepted at businesses in Futaleufú,
except at the bank for conversion. Beware:
The bank will not exchange bills with even
minor tears or markings.
Sample Futaleufú Prices
Coffee at café: 1.200
pesos (~$2.50)
Bottle of wine: 2.000 pesos (~$4.00)
Piece of fruit: 200 pesos ($.40)
Pastry: 250 pesos ($.50)
General Tipping
Although it is at your discretion,
it is customary to tip ~10% in restaurants
where you are served a meal, not just a
quick coffee or snack. Taxi drivers do not
expect tips, but you may round off the fare
for convenience.
Depending on your trip and route, please
take this information into consideration
when planning payment.
Guide Tipping
Expediciones Chile believes
that tips should be given to guides and
support staff to reward exceptional service.
Tips are not an obligation. If you feel
that your team was successful in making
your trip safe and enjoyable, a tip is hugely
appreciated. Due to the remoteness of the
region and the short season, your tip makes
a significant impact. On average, our guests
tip from 5-10% of their trip cost. It is
advised to give the entire tip to the trip
leader so that he or she can distribute
it to the staff. Guides receive 60-65% and
the support staff receives 40-35% of the
allocated tip money.
In Torres del Paine, tips
are handled somewhat differently. Trip members
contribute toward a group tip to be shared
among the drivers, assistants, cooks and
additional staff. For that purpose there
is a “tip box” at the EcoCamp
Torres. We suggest a range of $6-$12 USD
per day, depending on the level of satisfaction.
Trip members usually tip the trip guide.
Typically, individual trip members tip the
trip guide $6 to $15 per day, depending
on the level of satisfaction.
Tips are best paid in USD or in Chilean
pesos (traveler’s checks are more
difficult for the trekking staff to exchange).
Currency in small denominations ($5, $10,
$20) is useful for distributing the tips
among the entire staff.
Food and
Drink
Chilean cuisine consists
of many local specialties, which include
humitas (seasoned spiced grated corn wrapped
in husks and boiled); empanadas (savory
steaming hot meat pies); and cazuela (beef
or chicken and vegetable stew). Seafood
in Santiago, Puerto Montt and Chaiten, Chile
is abundant and rich. Steak is a savory
must in Argentina.
Chile and Argentina are also famous for
their many excellent brands of wine, including
Antigua Reserva, Undurraga, Cordillera del
Diablo, Cousino Macul and Concha y Toro,
which are exported worldwide.
The water in Futaleufu and at our camps
is potable. Until you arrive in Futaleufu,
we recommend that you drink bottled water
and soft drinks and eat only well-cooked
food. All of our food is safe and hygienically
prepared by an experienced staff. Over the
past twenty years we have never had a problem
with food or water.
Medical Attention
Please be aware that hospital
facilities for serious medical complications
may, depending on where you are, be far
away. Doctors may not always be available
and evacuations can be prolonged, difficult
and expensive. There is a small local hospital
in the town of Futaleufu but more serious
cases may require medical evacuation to
a larger hospital.
At this time no immunizations are required
to enter Chile or Argentina. However it
is recommended that you be immunized for:
Tetanus, Hepatitis A and Typhoid. Check
with the CDC for any updates.
Our activities require a lot more physical
preparation than most vacations. Most days
involve hiking, kayaking, paddling or biking.
We advise that you be in good health and
physical condition to enjoy your experience
and prevent injury.
Cultural
Questions
It is important to remember
that you are traveling to a foreign country
where you are a visitor. You should be willing
to adapt to the culture and customs of the
local people. Although English is fast becoming
an international language, it should not
be assumed that everyone will understand
or speak it. Should you have difficulty
communicating, please ask our guides for
assistance. The comforts that you may be
accustomed to might not be available to
you. Patience and respect are crucial for
a successful trip and enriching experience.
Smoking
We request that clients do
not smoke in vehicles, at meals or in group
situations. We ask our guides, drivers and
staff to follow the same consideration.
It is absolutely forbidden to smoke inside
domes and/or tents.
Internet
Wifi internet is available
in the lodge in the case you travel with
a laptop or wireless cell phone. There is
also an Internet cafe available in the town
of Futaleufu, but their service is limited.
Fax machines, telephones and Internet access
are available in Punta Arenas and Puerto
Natales. In Torres del Paine you will find
a satellite public telephone at the mountain
hut close to the EcoCamp Torres.
Fast Facts
Population of Futaleufu: 1,200
Language: Spanish
Time Zone: GMT/UTC –4
Country Dialing Code: +56
Weights & Measures:
Metric
Electric Outlet:
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