Chile Trekking Packing List
Packing Lists: Tours | Trekking
Packing Advice
- *** Printable Hut to Hut Trek Packing List >>
- In your day pack, take along water, snacks, sunglasses, camera, binoculars, rain gear, and warm clothes at a minimum.
- Wrap clothing in waterproof plastic bags.
- As with all hiking and camping adventures, you will want to dress in layers — to be able to take an outer layer off when you get too warm…and put a layer on when you get chilled.
- Bring double extra sets of batteries as cold weather shortens their life.
- Bring money for tips along with you.
A useful and rather humorous video on packing for Patagonia from EcoCamp:
Clothing
You want your inner layer to be wicking — no cotton. The next layer should be insulating and warm, and the top layer should be waterproof but breathable. You will need 1 set of clothes for hiking during the day, 1 set for lounging in the evening, and another for sleeping. Layers are important as temperatures vary greatly.
Your clothing should be lightweight, breathable, hand-washable, and quick-drying, preferably moisture-wicking and non-cotton.
- Long hiking pants
- Short-sleeved shirts
- Long-sleeved shirts
- Undergarments
- Sweater, jacket, windbreaker
- Rain jacket
- Waterproof shell pants
- Sun hat with brim and chin strap
- Bandana (for dust, washing, etc.)
Cold Weather Clothing
- Down jacket or parka (for temperatures below freezing plus wind)
- Fleece jacket
- Long underwear / thermal tops and bottoms
- Mittens and/or gloves (waterproof, one thin pair, one thick pair)
- Cold weather hat
- Balaclava, neck gaiter, buff
Other Trekking
- Water bottle and Camelbak (labeled)
- Trekking poles (put in checked luggage)
- Energy bars and candy (also nice to share with other climbers, guides, and porters)
Footwear
Be sure to break in your shoes before the hike!
- Hiking boots, preferably warm, waterproof, and with ankle-support — not too light and not too heavy
- Tennis shoes, sandals for lounging in the evening
- Socks – Long, hiking socks + thin socks for evenings (multiple pairs)
- Gaiters (for mud and scree)
Baggage
- Large duffel bag or backpack with rain cover for multi-day hikes (35-50 liters)
- Day pack and rain cover if just day hiking (20-35 liters)
- Waterproof/plastic bags, dry bags for organizing gear, dirty clothing, trash (ziplocs and garbage bags work)
- Packing cube, compression bag, stuff sacks, toiletry bag
- For a multi-day hike, bring a small packable day pack for days where you do not need to carry your full pack.
See Chile Tour Packing List for
- Electronics
- Toiletries
- First Aid
- Documents
- Other
- Packing for the Flight
O-Trek Porters
Porter service for the O-Trek is included in the trip price. During the trek, your belongings will be divided into three portions.
- One portion you will carry yourself in your day pack consisting of your lunch, water, camera, sun cream and the clothing you will layer on and off during the day.
- The second portion is your sleeping bag and sleeping pad (you need to bring these with you to Torres del Paine) which will be carried for you throughout the trip.
- The third portion is the change of clean clothes and other items you will need at night in the campsites – these will be carried for you in waterproof duffel bags as follows:
On day 1, we will provide you with two small 15-liter duffel bags. You are allowed to pack up to 5 kgs (11 lbs) in each duffel bag for the porters to transfer.
- In the first bag, you will put clothes needed for the following nights: 2 (Dickson), 3 (Los Perros), 4 (Grey) and 5 (Pehoe).
- Upon arrival at Pehoe, you will be given the second bag in which you can put clothes and any items needed for night 5 (Pehoe) and day 6 (Cuernos)
When returning to Camp Torre Central on day 7, the rest of your luggage will be waiting for you.