EF Ultimate Break // Patagonia Adventure: Chile & Argentina // Full Guide + Discount
Before I get into it, I wanna add a quick hello!
My name is Alex! I've been traveling with EF Ultimate Break for several years now and have done a ton of their trips. I've heard nearly every question in the book about traveling with EF, and if I don't know the answer, I'll gladly find it for you!
I've been to over half of the US states and 20+ countries and counting. I love planning my own trips when I'm not traveling with EF, so I have lots of other resources here that you're more than welcome to pick through.
I'm a backpack die hard, coffee and craft beer lover, adventure seeker, and just here to see as much of this big beautiful world that I can!
Contents:
1. Packing Essentials
2. When to Visit
3. Santiago, Chile
4. Punta Arenas, Chile
5. Puerto Natales, Chile
6. El Calafate, Argentina
7. El Chalten, Argentina
8. Buenos Aires, Argentina
9. Accommodations List
10. FAQ Section
11. Other EF Guides & Resources
Packing Essentials:
First thing's first, carry on or checked luggage?
There are probably a few dozen different ways that you can pack for any trip. I am very set in my ways, but the true key to success is finding exactly what works best for you personally. What works for one person may not work well for another, and that's totally okay.
When going to Patagonia with EFUB, you're generally able to bring one checked luggage, one carry on, and one personal item. You can double check this info in the KBYG section listed in your account page for your trip. Bag weight will be airline specific. I will always recommend carry on plus personal item only - and I use backpacks over rollers almost exclusively. I'm fully aware that this totally isn't realistic for everyone, so I'll include some other tips as well! I would also add that this is the most difficult trip I've EVER had to pack for, as a person who does carry on only, but it's also one with SO many flights involved.
If you're checking a bag, I'd recommend you keep these notes in mind: Always always always bring a change of clothes (or two) in your carry on, as well as any true essentials (think: medications, chargers, your fave undies, etc). I will add that on 6/8 of my group trips, one or more persons have had their luggage lost/delayed. I've heard a lot of horror stories, however my own personal stats would show that it's fairly rare in relation to how many people are actually in each group. Sooo check at your own risk my friends! Be aware as well that you may have to lug your bag up flights on flights of stairs, over cobblestone and uneven ground, etc etc. Although, with EF, this is honestly pretty minimal. You'll take your luggage from the bus to the hotel back to the bus and so on from there. At the locations we stayed specifically for this trip, there were only elevators at two hotels.
Hiking Gear:
Since this is an adventurous trip filled with a ton of nature and hiking, you're probably wondering just *how much* hiking there really is, and what you'll need to bring with you, huh?
So let's start with specific hiking gear:
• You'll definitely want to bring hiking boots. Are trail runners okay? Personally, I would say yes and no. Yes, I think they'd be totally fine if you *frequently* hike and trail run in a mountainous area with said trail runners. However, if you're a bit newer to hiking or you're just used to wearing boots on your hikes, I would not recommend bringing only trail runners for this trip. And on that note, whatever boots or shoes you do bring for hiking: BREAK. THEM. IN.
Truly good hiking boots shouldn't even need to be broken in, however, you do not want to be stuck in a pair of boots that are hurting your feet.
• Trekking poles: Do not worry about bringing these. If you do insist, just a reminder that you'll have to check them. Our group was provided trekking poles by the guides. However, we actually almost all rented them for the "big hike" day in El Chalten anyway. Cost to rent ranged from about $1-14 per pair. And yes, that's quite the range haha. Here's a quick run down of why:
$14 pairs were rented at the places that the guides themselves suggested. Yes, I'm sure they partner with them for a profit. Don't go here.
$4-6 pairs (I got these personally) were found about 3/4 mile down the main street. Highly recommend going here.
$1-2 pairs were people who rented at the LAST minute possible and these were NON-adjustable poles, therefore, they were much cheaper options, and really the only option for them - or so we thought, as we were TOLD by the guides to rent poles, but then they provided them to the group on the day of the hike. Anyway, these non-adjustable ones did indeed work just fine, but you may be running the risk of not having any by waiting this long, so you do you there.
I'll go more into detail on the hiking guides later, but I'd simply suggest asking them on the day before the big hike if they will be provided.
• Cramp-ons aka micro spikes: Can be rented in El Chalten as well, unless you're... us lol. Fun lil story on that later in this guide. Stay tuned, but know that no, you do not need to bring these. And chances are, if you'd actually need them, the guide company will not be taking you the entire way anyway.
• Hiking day pack/hydration pack: Perhaps not a necessity, but I would highly recommend one!
• GOOD SOCKS. This may sound too simple, but good socks for hiking truly matter so much. I often get blisters on EF trips due to the increase in daily walking for me, and this trip I tried toe socks for the first time since high school (I was the weird kid ok I get it lol), and they were life changing!!! It helped prevent the regular toe blister that I'd normally get every single time. If you're not on board with toe socks, no worries at all. I have plenty of other wool and wool blend options that I regularly use and still recommend.
You can find all of my hiking recommendations HERE:
What do I need to bring specific to these countries?
• Adapter: I recommend a good universal adapter wherever possible, and it is indeed possible here. I have one recommended that is a tried and true for me on my Amazon Essentials list, linked below! My husband has the same one, and they have yet to fail us ever!
I had read before this trip on the EF Travelers Facebook page that a special adapter is needed for Chile, and this is absolutely NOT true. Chile, like much of Italy, can use either a Type C or Type L plug (the standard two prong Europe plug in universal adapters will work, in other words). I did take both to be safe, but it was entirely unnecessary, as my universal plug worked the entire time.
Additionally, you may want to bring a converter if you're using any higher wattage item, such as a hair straightener or curler. Note that my adapter listed is not a converter.
• CASH: If you have the option to exchange early (for instance, Wells Fargo and other large banks can have other currencies sent straight to you or your bank location), I'd recommend getting around $200 USD in Argentinean pesos. This is also the minimum amount my bank requires for exchange. Chances are that you won't need *that* much cash, however, you can also use a large portion of this to tip your TD and any other guides/drivers. In Chile, we exchanged only about $20 between the two of us. We went to a spot that our TD recommended for this one (they can physically take you there). We didn't plan on exchanging any, but some is needed if you want to take public transportation in Santiago. It was only about $2 per person for the duration (for where we went), but that's when and where we specifically needed cash.
In Argentina, most places did take card, but there were a few that did not. Splitting bills was also a massive issue nearly everywhere we went on this trip. One restaurant even gave us, literally, 12 free shots if we agreed to pay on one tab. So on that note, y'all PLEASE pay your friends and don't forget to ADD IN the tip or other fees when you're estimating. The worst thing ever is getting stuck with the bill AND every service charge and tips when your new friends only send the exact amount for their meal.
• Outerwear: Overall: layers layers layers! I now understand why the brand of Patagonia clothing is made the way it is. Have you ever noticed that the brand is very light wear and it kinda is meant to be layered up and you're meant to buy multiple items? Well, it's definitely not JUST a sales tactic. It's also because they ARE meant to be layered with other clothing. During the Fitz Roy hike, I went from light hiking tee to my warmer fleece to my rain jacket and every combination of the three, PLUS an undershirt for warmth as well (and I run hot, just FYI). I'd recommend one light waterproof jacket as an outer layer any time of year for this trip (heavy emphasis on waterproof - NOT water "resistant." I learned the hard way long ago that these are not the same). This is honestly a bit of a difficult trip to pack for! Going from hot and toasty Santiago, down to the crazy weather of Patagonia, and back up to warm/hot Buenos Aires is SUCH a change! Also, wearing so much of this for hiking can and does make it difficult to rewear items as I normally would. I ended up doing a few pieces of sink laundry because of this. Weather can vary drastically, so I have the weather linked below for each city to view specifics. As always, please google the weather in your desired destination before packing. "Cold" and "hot" are pretty subjective when it comes down to it. I like to search "weather in ________ by month" as a quick way to see average temperatures.
General Packing:
There are so many different ways to pack, and you truly need to find what works best for you. These are the two main ways I utilize the most -- and rather than doing one over the other, I honestly try to incorporate both methods.
Using a capsule wardrobe is packing within the same rough color scheme with items that can be easily exchanged with one another. Mix & Match style, if you will. Be sure to consider patterns and prints when using this packing method as well.
What I've been doing more as of lately is packing for each specific day, along with throwing in an extra outfit or two for good measure. To pack like this, it's necessary to check the weather for each destination as close to departure as you can (especially on a trip like this, where the weather is quite unpredictable). This method is a bit extra and extremely Type A of me, but hey, A is for Alex right?
What I usually do to combine both methods is pick out the outfits I know that I *for sure* want to bring and wear on a specific day. Then, during the leftover days, or days where I don't have a plan, I'll pack to go off of my must have items and match other items to those.
Alex's Full Packing List:
Once again, I packed for almost the entirety of this trip in only a carry on, and I did a couple pieces of sink laundry (which included a couple pairs of underwear, socks, and a quick dry shirt). Even though this was a 12 day trip, about 3 of those are the first and last travel days. So, I wore my initial plane outfit and packed for a total of 10 more days. Of those outfits, most travelers like to wear something nicer for the Welcome Mixer and the Farewell Dinner. "Nice" in this case is totally up to you! Truly, whatever you're comfortable in will be just fine. If this means a full sequin dress, go for it. If this means jeans and a nice top, that's absolutely okay too!
Reminder that I make these guides for EVERYONE. I pack for me, I cannot tell you how to pack. I'll always include any necessities for a specific trip, but I think we're all old enough to decide which shorts to pack, no??? Please for the sake of everyone, do some basic climate research before packing your suitcase for any trip.
Since some people don't think generic lists are helpful (tbh, they're not because everyone packs DIFFERENTLY, but whatever), here's *exactly* what I packed for this trip. For *me.* As a plus size granola girlie who usually dresses pretty androgynously and/or for comfort.
• Airport outfit day one: viral joggers from Target, aka my new travel day staple. Never going anywhere without these babies again. Target t-shirt that I then used as a pajama shirt for the duration of the trip. Hiking boots and my fave quarter length Bomba socks.
• Packed 15+ underwear and 8 sports bras. Judge me idc, extra undies because this is a SWEATY trip, and enough bras to rewear on light days.
• Bottoms: 3 pairs of leggings, 3 pairs REI hiking pants, 1 pair REI legging/hiking pant, 1 light dress, and 1 pair of shorts that double as swim bottoms if necessary, 2 pairs biker shorts (for regular wear and also for underneath my joggers), and 1 pair sleep shorts
• Tops: 2 REI hiking button ups, 1 dri-fit tee, 1 light dress (mentioned above), 2 dri-fit long sleeve tees, and 4 regular tees
• Outerwear: 1 athletic cropped hoodie (super light), 1 Patagonia fleece, and 1 rain jacket
• Footwear: hiking boots (worn on plane) and Tevas (sandals - packed), 9 pairs socks (mix of wool, blend, toe socks, etc... all comfy to hike in and long enough to wear with boots)
• Other clothing: Didn't pack and ended up purchasing in El Chalten - a buff!!! Seriously such a lifesaver. I forgot to pack my beanie, and couldn't really find a cute one. So last minute, four of us decided to get matching buffs, and now we all have a bonus souvenir too! Note: I overheat easy, so looking back I would choose a buff over a beanie EVERY TIME. If you get cold easily, on the other hand, I'd suggest a beanie.
• Toiletries: Not going to list every single thing out here, y'all know what items you use regularly and what you skip when you hike. Pack what you need, I'm not here to judge lol.
Every hotel of course had the basics of shampoo, soap, etc. I believe all but maybe one or two hotels included conditioner as well. All had hair dryers.
A few toiletries that I would note to bring specifically for this trip: blister patches/bandaids, lotion (any footcare really, as you do NOT want to be uncomfortable on a hiking trip especially), Tylenol (or whichever pain reliever you're used to using), possibly altitude sickness patches if that's something you often have trouble with - though no one one my trip had any issues as far as I know.
Okay guys, I think you should be all set as far as packing goes! Please reach out with any questions about this section. I've never listed out my own pack in detail like this before, so I'd love to know if it's helpful.
When to Visit:
This isn't something I would normally make note of on my EF Ultimate Break guides, but this is something worth noting.
First, remember that because Patagonia is in the Southern Hemisphere, their seasons are opposite ours. Therefore, Oct-Nov is their springtime and Mar-Apr is their autumn.
• Oct-Nov: I've had multiple friends note that Laguna de Los Tres was still frozen over this time of year. I'm not saying don't go at this time, but if you're wanting to see Fitz Roy in all her glory, this is an important note.
• Dec-Feb: Probably the "safest" (weather-wise) time to go, but also the busiest. Patagonian weather is still very unpredictable regardless, so again, don't forget to do your own research prior.
• Mar-Apr: Of course I'm biased, but this is definitely when I would recommend going. It is definitely more risky in terms of weather and unpredictability during this time of year, but I'm telling you, when you see the fall foliage, it'll all be worth it. During the Fitz Roy hike, we experienced all four seasons in a matter of hours! However, like their springtime, it's very possible that your big hike day may not turn out quite as planned.
If I haven't convinced you on visiting in autumn, check out my photos I got here:
Santiago, Chile:
The home for unique & authentic travel
