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When we think of a holiday, we generally list down the popular places to explore. However, opting for offbeat places can sometimes actually bring in some unforgettable experiences. What are such hidden gems and lesser-known places to explore?

That trip will be the one I made to Patagonia

As I embark on my sixth annual migration down to Patagonia for the (northern hemisphere) winter. I feel confident in being able to advise on the must-sees for anyones first trip to Patagonia but also in helping with packing. I feel a little but like goldilocks, I have had years that I packed too little, and years that I packed (way) too much… and finally feel as though I have it just right this time. This trip is ten days long and will include a partially supported 5 day W-Trek in Chilean Patagonia as well as two sunrise hikes, and one bonus day, in Argentinian Patagonia.
Patagonia the must sees : in ten days

When hiking at home I will always advocate for going off the beaten path, digging deeper, finding something new and exciting that maybe the tourists (and the of social media) have not yet found. And this is becuase - after a lifetime of living in the Canadian Rockies I felt strongly that… the places that are touristy are touristy for a reason. But I knew there was more. And if you are one of the few lucky enough to call Patagonia home. Check out the blog below of how to find some new and exciting places.

But if you are, like me, the many who fly thousands of miles south to experience the raw beauty of Patagonia. Listen up. because, like Moraine Lake and Yosemite Valley… the W Trek, Laguna Torre and Laguna De Los Tres are popular for very good reason. And if you are heading to Patagonia I do think you need to prioritize them on your list.

So let’s start in Chile. I have written extensive blogs about the W Trek and its longer sibling, the O-Circuit from my time hiking them in 2021. The two blogs below go into great detail. About how to choose a route, a style of backpacking and some tips and tricks along the way.

This trip I opt’d for the W-Trek, in part becuase I was hosting my first ever group trip. And so I was faced with the challenge of offering the best of the best in a limited time frame. And also because the O-Circuit can only competed in one direction and if you read the above blogs, you will know that it ends up putting you the wrong way on the W. So

I wanted to experience the W, in its full beauty.

The W-Trek has three main accommodation options: fully supported, self-supported…. and somewhere in the middle. Your packing will largely depend on which of these options you choose. We went for the grey area - the somewhere in the middle. We would hike with our day packs, sleep in pre-set up tents along the way and eat in the huts. It is a very common offering on a lot of thru hikes is what I have learned. The tents are equipped with sleeping bags and a (very thin) foam sleeping pad. So I will be packing my own sleeping pad, camp pillow (if you know, you know) and a sleeping bag liner for hygienic reasons.

Take a drive

In addition to these hikes there are also some truly beautiful viewpoints in the National Park - a dozen that I found and have outlined previously. I would recommend either renting a car or organizing a private tour of the park and stopping by some of these viewpoints along the way. We did this as a full morning on our way to start with W-Trek.

Argentinian Patagonia

The crossing from Chile to Argentina can be done a few ways. The cheapest by bus and the most comfortable/fastest by private transfer. You will need to look into making your way from Puerto Natales to El Chaltén via El Calafate to visit both sides of the region.

When there, there are two must-do hikes. And they are both quite long, and both very weather dependant. They are Called Laguna Torres (yes, Torres as in the famous peaks in the movie the Alpinist - if you have not watched it I highly recommend) and Laguna de los Tres.

They can be done in a circuit with two nights of camping. I have outlined this in a blog from my very first trip to Pataognia that you can find here (please excuse the datedness of this - I was new). But recently I have preferred doing them each as day hikes. This does mean an earlier start time and overall more distance and elevation. But it also allows for a warm bed every night and with the ever changing weather of Patagonia is gives more flexibility for changing plans. Laguna Torre

Trailhead: Marked trailhead as Calle Riquelme (follow Avenida José Antonia Rojo up the black metal staircase and turn left)

One of the most popular hikes in El Chaltén, the trail to Laguna Torre meanders alongside Río Fitz Roy, offering incredible, all-day views of the Torre Massif. This is the perfect pairing to Laguna de los Tres, allowing you to capture views of the adjacent river valley and granite spires that so often remain hidden behind the towering Cerro Fitz Roy.

Leave from the trailhead on the hill above town, ascending steeply at first and then navigating gently up and down on a well-worn trail. Enjoy your first view of the Torre Valley after just an hour of hiking, then continue down through lenga forests and beside the raging Río Fitz Roy. The trail remains rather flat throughout this section, until the last mile brings you up to Campo de Agostini and the shores of Laguna Torre. Here you’ll find up-close views of the Torre Massif, icebergs floating in the glacial lake, and perhaps even climbers crossing a Tyrolean traverse on the way to the Torre Valley.

It’s a tough choice, but if you only have one day to hike in El Chaltén, Laguna de los Tres probably should be at the top of your list. Be sure to choose a day with clear skies and low winds, however, as this trail ascends a high and exposed slope to the base of Cerro Fitz Roy (and it’s best to start early). Leave from the trailhead at the north end of Avenida San Martín, ascending quickly into a forest with views of Río de los Vueltas to your right (the same trail as for Laguna Capri). After about two miles, a sign will show two options—head left to hike beside Laguna Capri, or right to ascend a trail for Mirador Fitz Roy. Both options are similar distances and converge in a few more miles, just before Campo Poincenot. Continue through both Campo Poincenot and Campo Río Blanco to the base of a scree slope. Here begins the crux of the hike: ascend this very steep and challenging hillside for over 1,200 feet to Laguna de los Tres. Once at the lake, take a deep breath, put on some layers, and enjoy up close views of Fitz Roy, Glaciar de los Tres, and the stunningly blue waters. You can walk along the lakeshore or head to the left about half a mile for spectacular panoramic views over Lago Sucia in the adjacent valley.

Packing for thru hikes is an art that I have spent years trying to no avail to perfect. See my Haute Route expense for reference.. The goal is to have everything you need, nothing you do not… and maintain the lightest pack possible. Choosing items that serve multiple functions. This is compounded with international travel (you can not pop into an REI if you forget something) and the fact that everything needs to be checked onto an airplane. These are the items that I brought with me for this trip:

Daypack

Hiking Boots
Camp Slippers (or sandals)
Baselayer Shirt
Fleece Midlayer
Insulated Jacket
Rain Jacket
Shorts
Leggings
Hiking Pants
Rain Pants
Socks
Gloves
Toque and Hat
Sleeping Pad
Camp Pillow
Sleeping Bag Liner
Headlamp
Closed Foam Seat Pad
Water-bottle + coffee cup
Electrolytes + coffee
Snacks
Camera gear
Toiletries
Travel Duffel Bag
Ten Essentials

Daypack

Mountain Hardwear Scrambler 25 - this is my go-to mountaineering pack, I pair it with the REI Co-op Packmod Hipbelt Pocket for easy snack access. it is lightweight, highly water resistant and packs down to almost nothing for easy international transport.
A new addition to my gear close the REI Co-op Traverse 32 Pack is the day version of my favourite overnight bag. It is so comfortable, comes with a rain fly (Patagonia must) and is the perfect size for the middle ground between a large daypack and small overnight. Which is exactly what this is.
CamelBak Cloud Walker 18 - for the ultra light hiker! a small bag with integrated water system. Just enough for your pyjamas, lunch and a change of clothes.
Danner Mountain 600 - my go to hiking boots. These are heavier than some (still lighter than others), fully waterproof, supportive and honestly - they look cute on the trail.
Danner Trail 2650 - great hiking shoe with the sole of a hiking boot without the extra bulk. I have worn these on many multi day trips.
Salomon Speedcross 6 - the benefit of a higher pack means that something like a great trail shoe is an option.
HOKA Challenger 7 - another great fast and light shoe option that I love.
Camp Slippers (or sandals)
Teva ReEmber Slip-Ons - worth the weight in your bag to have something cozy to slip into at the huts.
Teva Original Universal Sandals - these are great for camp sandals (with socks) and also for timor river crossings.
Chaco Z/Cloud 2 Sandals - slightly heaver but still great sandals, the toe straps make them more secure in water.
Baselayer Shirt
Note that I do not wear merino base layers (I am allergic to most wool) so although merino is an amazing product I can not test it and therefore can not personally recommend any products.
REI Co-op Active Pursuits Ribbed Tank Top - my favourite tank top. it is thicker and more structured than a lot of tanks. it feels more secure.
REI Co-op Midweight Long-Sleeve Base Layer Top - a nice heavier weight baselayer top at a great price point.
Arc'teryx Rho Zip-Neck Base Layer Top - I wear this hiking and skiing. It is a very comfortable, lighter weight breathable baselayer top - there are also matching bottoms. I wear this set as pyjamas when camping almost all of the time.
Fleece Midlayer
Patagonia Retro Pile Marsupial Fleece Pullover - I own this in a half dozen colours and it is my all time go to mid layer. It is cozy and warm and looks great.
REI Co-op Trailmade Fleece Jacket - a great budget friendly fleece.
Insulated Jacket
Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Hoodie - I half joke that there is no other jacket to wear under Fitz Roy but in all honesty this is the best down jacket I have ever owned.
Patagonia Down Sweater - a nicer, light weight, down layer option.
Fjallraven Expedition Pack Down Hoodie - this down doubles as an outer (not waterproof) jacket with its durable outer layer.
Rain Jacket
Arc'teryx Beta LT Jacket - a higher price point but worth every penny jacket. If taken care of correctly this is the only down jacket you will ever need again.
Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket - a durable water proof jacket that packs into its own pocket for easy packing.
REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket a really great rain jacket at a more approachable price point.
Shorts
Vuori Clementine 2.0 Shorts - with built in panties these are a great, breathable lightweight trail short.
On Sprinter Shorts - the only biker/running short you will ever need. with plenty of pockets for snacks.
Patagonia Barely Baggies Shorts the most compfortable, light weight, rip resistant shorts ever. They also come in a longer (standard) length that you can find here.
Leggings +Hiking Pants
Vuori Clean Elevation Leggings - a great pair of buttery soft leggings that are breathable, sweat wicking and fast drying. I fly, hike and sleep in these.
Outdoor Voices SuperForm Contour Leggings _ like these a lot, they are comfortable an soft but do not offer a waist drawstring and I did have some issues with these slipping down after extended use.
REI Co-op Swiftland 7/8 Running Tights - super comfortable, these stay up all day long, have great pockets and offer the perfect compression level. Highly recommend.
Fjallraven Abisko Trekking Tights Pro - a great more rugged tight option… if youre anything like me and end up falling a little more than you would like when hiking.
REI Co-op Trailmade Pants - my go to hiking pants at a very affordable price point.
Rain Pants
Arc'teryx Beta AR Rain Pants - the best rain pants that I have ever seen. An investment piece but they are lightweight and breathable and fully waterproof.
REI Co-op Rainier Full-Zip Rain Pants - a great pair of rain pants that comes in a variety of different body shapes and styles.
Socks
There are so many great hiking socks, my personal go to’s are Smartwool, Darn Tough and Icebreaker - always match your socks to your boot or shoe height, there are very few things worse than too short socks.
Gloves, hate and toque
REI Co-op Liner Gloves 2.0 - always bring a backup pair of gloves. As someone who has had wet and/or lost gloves too many times to count.
Arc'teryx Mallow Toque Hat - really any toque will work. Just something thats comfortable and will keep you warm.
Patagonia P-6 Label Trad Cap - do not bring a hat you LOVE to Pataognia. The wind has claimed too many of my hats to count.
Sleeping Pad
NEMO Quasar 3D Insulated Air Sleeping Pad - go for the wide width. This is by far the most comfortable sleeping pad that I have ever used.
NEMO Tensor Ultralight Sleeping Pad - this is what I use on my mountaineering trips and any time I am at all concerned about weight or space in my backpack.
Camp Pillow
NEMO Fillo Pillow - this is the first backpacking pillow ever and I still use it often to this day. it does not pack super well but is very comfortable.
For the past several years I have used the Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow - it packs down to fit inside of a camp coffee cup - and sometimes I will wrap it in a down or fleece jacket for extra softness but even without it is perfect.
Exped Mega Pillow - a new addition to my gear closet I have been using this for car camping lately and, as its intended use is backpacking, I think it would be great too!
Sleeping Bag Liner
For when you need a little more warmth - the Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Sleeping Bag Liner adds ten degrees of warmth.
For sharing sleeping bags - the Cocoon COOLMAX Mummy Liner is a thin, no heat adding, hygienic liner. You never know when rented gear has been cleaned.
Headlamp
I use the Petzl Tikka - and bring a fully charged spare battery with me.
Black Diamond Spot 400 - this is my backup headlamp. It is super small and works great. I have needed it on more occasions than I would like to admit.
Closed Foam Seat Pad
Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat Pad

I personally bring a 32 oz Nalgene bottle for water and a 16oz Nalgene bottle for my morning greens and then electrolytes throughout the day

Bladders are great. I just don’t like cleaning the tubing which is why I use them a lot less than some people. And also, when it gets cold the lines tend to freeze. But they are a great option if neither of those limitations bother you. They are easier access than bottles which can result in a higher water consumption. REI Co-Op Graphic Camp Mug - although I maybe should be bringing a sealed mug with me. I like having the handle and open top for morning coffee and as much as I would like to drink coffee along the trail.
Saltstick - these tablets are great. I like the orange and watermen flavours.
Nuun - the tried and true for so many outdoors people. I carry these everywhere with me.
Verve Instant coffee packets - there are a lot of options when it comes to backcountry coffee. If you would like to make your own I wrote a blog about my three favourite methods below. But as far as instants go - I am a huge fan of Verve.
Camp coffee Three Ways
Snacks

Pataognia is known for a lot of things… but snacks are not one of those things. When weighing out my bags for this trip I realized that 15/50 of my checked pounds came from my snacks. There is nowhere to find North American food in Patagonia so I always advise people to bring a backpacking meal in case of emergency (I have also eaten these on the plane or in airports during long travel days when I either arrive too early/late for restaurants to be open or on flights with limited food selections).

And then for the hikes, all of your snacks. This trip I packed enough protein bars, meat snacks, fruit leathers and tail mix for the seven days on the trail and a few extras for travel days.

At REI you also save 10% when you buy 8 or more backpacking meals, or when you buy 10 or more snacks.

And if you are new to dehydrated meals, I know it can be a little intimidating (or seemingly gross) so I have done the leg work and tested hundreds of different meals and curated a list of the top ten… so that you won’t be disappointed in the backcountry. You can check them out vis the button below.
The best backpacking meals

Camera gear

Fujifilm XT-5 with the XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR Lens
Peak Design Capture Camera Clip
Peak Design Travel Tripod
Garmin fenix 7S Sapphire Solar Multisport GPS Watch
Toiletries
Shampoo and Conditioner in these bottles (for the huts)
Travel Towel
Medicine (Advil, Aleve, muscle relaxants) in these containers
Wipes - remember these (as well as TP) have to be packed out with you
Ursa Major Face Wipes
Deodorant
Toothbrush + Toothpaste
Mineral Sunscreen
Dry Shampoo
Travel Duffel Bag

I personally use the Patagonia Black Hole - I have an older 90L and a newer 100L. I pack all of my gear in here for travel (my first trip to Patagonia an airline destroyed my backpack and I have sworn by this ever since) and then while I am hiking I leave it with the guiding company for safe keeping.

Kelsey is less worried about weight and brought the REI Co-op Big Haul Recycled Rolling Duffel - 34" with a 109L capacity. The wheels and hard ends add a tiny bit of weight but do make airport travel a lot easier.

Some of these are redundant with things I specifically outlined but are a good rule of thumb to have with you. If you are going on a guided trip the guide will likely provide a lot of these items but they are the things you will want to ensure someone has… just in case. I will also add in things like extra blister bandaids any time I am out on a trail without immediate access to supplies.