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Patagonia Packing List

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What needs to go on your Patagonia packing list? (And what luxuries should you sneak in if possible?)

Patagonia’s otherworldly gorgeousness and rugged mountain landscape encompass the southernmost tip of South America, whipping across Argentina and Chile. 

To say it’s glorious would be an understatement. 

Nature in its purest form, pristine environments, turquoise glacial lakes and snow-capped peaks all around will leave you wishing you’d bought a one-way ticket. 

(In which case, you needn’t worry too much about what your Patagonia packing list looks like, just gradually accumulate everything you need throughout the rest of your life there!)

But if you are like most people, and you’re planning to return home at the end of your life-changing Bucket List experience, you probably do want some sort of Patagonia packing list to ensure you have everything you need for the ride. 

Patagonia Trek
View to the lake and the rock towers inside Torres del paine national park, Patagonia chile

Well, here it is. 

Unpredictable weather and a melange of climates mean the list could extend pretty far, so we’ve split your Patagonia packing checklist into the essentials and the luxury items. Hint: if you’re not keen to carry too much with you, stick to the essentials. 

Patagonia packing: the essentials

Everyone has their own style of packing, but we reckon this list will do you perfectly for 13 days in Chile and Patagonia, giving you everything you need for city touring and all-weather hiking. 

Outerwear

  • Light, warm fleece
  • Wind- and water-resistant soft-shell jacket
  • Rain jacket (pack-a-mac style)
  • Waterproof trousers
  • Lightweight, windproof trousers that can be unzipped into shorts
  • Waterproof hiking boots
  • Warm hat
  • Baseball cap
  • Buff

Underwear and other clothing

  • 5 x tshirts
  • 2 quick-drying polo shirts
  • 13 pairs of underwear and wool socks (or fewer if you’re planning to wash them at a hotel)
  • 1 fleece jumper
  • 2 or 3 pairs of hiking trousers, ideally organic cotton
  • 1 pair of comfy evening trousers
  • 1 x long sleeve thermal vest and long johns 

Gear

  • Day pack with waterproof cover
  • Dry sack (13-20l)
  • Trekking poles
  • 1l water bottle
  • Sunglasses
  • Headtorch
  • Waterproof sunblock
  • Insect repellent
  • Universal power adaptor
  • Power banks
  • First Aid kit
  • Binoculars
  • Whistle
  • Earplugs
  • Deodorant
  • Quick-dry towel

Patagonia packing: the luxury items

Most people simply take their phone and a couple of spare powerbanks for taking photos of the beautiful Patagonian landscape, turning it off in between photo opportunities. 

It’s an admirable money-saver, and modern smart phone cameras are obviously pretty incredible these days. But if you want to get really serious about your photography and truly capture Patagonia in all its glory, here’s what you need…

  • (Digital) SLR camera
  • 2 or 3 memory cards
  • Extra batteries

There are plenty of other luxury, non-essential items you might be considering taking, but chances are you really won’t use any of them. So here’s our pick of the ones that you don’t really need, but which you definitely will use if you’re looking for an excuse to splash out…

  • Waterproof gaiters
  • Packing cubes to help you fit more into your bag
  • VPN (virtual private network to protect you from hackers in hotels)
  • Neck wallet (so you can keep all your essential documents and your phone secure and on your person)
  • Protein bars

Planning your trip and thought of some other things for your Patagonia packing list? Get in touch and tell us what they are – we’ll add them to the list (or let you know if you’re just not going to need them!).

And if you haven’t already checked out the itinerary for our insanely brilliant Patagonia Bucket List trek, click here to do so now!

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