Patagonia Wellness Adventure

---

See scheduled trips for an exact cost. 

Regardless of group size, here's what's included in the price and what's not:

Trip Cost Includes: 

• Melissa's guiding fees & airfare. 
• Roundtrip transportation to and from the Puerto Natales airport and the hotel.
• Roundtrip transportation to and from Puerto Natales and Torres del Paine National Park.
• Hotel in Puerto Natales (2 nights). 
• Welcome Dinner in Puerto Natales
• All camp meals. 
• All activity permits, fees, and gear rentals. 
• Satellite coverage and tracking through Melissa's InReach device. 
• Dr. Jon’s Adventures gear (long sleeve hoodie, hat, Buff) 
• Full weather forecasts throughout the trip provided by our partner in the US.

Trip Cost Excludes: 

• Your roundtrip flights to/from Puerto Natales, Chile 
• Visa / passport 
• Travel insurance 
• Personal trekking gear  (we'll provide advice on what to purchase/bring)
• Laundry / snacks / alcohol 
• Tips for our guides, staff,  and trip leaders
  
   

 Acclimatization is a non-issue on this trip, as we will not ever be at an elevation that could cause issues with altitude sickness. You'll want to be reasonably fit to be able to hike 10-12 miles and kayak for several hours at an easy pace. 

How can you prepare and train ?  

• Contact us for training advice (which is included in the trip price). 
• Sign up for our customized daily Personal Adventure Training program. 
• Come to Colorado to train 1-on-1 with Dr. Jon in the Rocky Mountains.
• It'll be beneficial to do a consistent regimen of aerobic (running, hiking, cycling, etc.) and resistance (weight training, balance, core, etc.) training in the months leading up to this trip.

With the exception of snacks, all meals are covered in the cost. We'll be eating most of our meals at our camp and be packing bag lunches for days we are out on an activity during lunchtime. Keep an open mind and be willing to try new things.

Breakfast and dinner are held in the dining room, which is also where you fix your daily lunch boxes for excursions. In the mornings, load up on a scrumptious breakfast buffet before embarking on the day’s adventures and at the end of the day, return to a filling and delicious three-course meal of traditional Chilean and Patagonian dishes.

You will want to bring your own snacks and sports drink (in powdered form) to consume during our activities and to maintain your energy levels.  You'll may be burning more calories than your normally would at home, so those snacks are very important for maintaining your strength. 

We also bring an expedition water filter for the team, so bring your reusable bottles and we'll keep you filled up with treated water.  Not only does this save you from purchasing bottled water, but we also eliminate a lot of potential plastic waste!

Once you are registered, we will provide you with a list of gear needed for this trek.  It's best to buy everything you need several months in advance of your trip so you can test everything out.  

Remember, not all gear lists are perfect or comprehensive. Our gear list will have suggestions of the major items you will need. Part of the reason why there are so many gear options out there is that we all have slightly different anatomy.  What works for us may not work for you.  Go out on your own mini-expeditions and train in your gear to break it in and determine if it will work for you. If you get blisters at home in a pair of boots, you’ll get them on this trip too.

See below for the potential daily itinerary of our Patagonia Wellness Adventure. We will send you a specific itinerary once we've determined the best combination of activities for your group.

A security deposit of 25% of total trip payment is due 120 days prior to trip start date.  Final payment is due 90 days prior to the trip start date.  Payment can be made by check, credit card, Venmo, Zelle, or Paypal. 

Our cancellation policy is: 

• Full refund of your payments (minus 5% cancellation fee) if you cancel 90 or more days prior to your trip start date.
• Refund of everything you've paid except your security deposit if you cancel 45-89 days prior to trip start date.
• If you cancel less than 45 days we won't be able to refund anything because we've spent the money securing permits, porters, base camp logistics, etc.   We'll discuss offering you a credit on a future expedition or trip with us.  

While this trip is not inherently dangerous, you will be doing activities that carry the risk of injury like mountain biking and horseback riding. We will have first aid kits available on all activities and are trained in Wilderness First Aid.

Be prepared for and knowledgable about weather-related travel delays, traveler’s diarrhea, and any travel precautions from your government (U.S. CDC site is here). 

As on all our guided trips, we will constantly emphasize the following safety protocols:

1. Stay well-hydrated and caught up on calories. 
2. Go slow and keep the heart rate low. No need to rush, enjoy the beauty.
3. Bring adequate layers as the weather can change rapidly in the mountains.

Our launching point is from Puerto Natales, Chile. Punta Arenas is a port city in Southern Chilean Patagonia. 

It’s common to fly from the U.S. through Miami, then to Santiago, Chile, and then to Puerto Natales. December to February is summer and high tourist season in Patagonia, and roundtrip airfare from the U.S. can be between $1200 to $1800, depending on where you are flying from. 

We’ll have everyone fly in to Puerto Natales the day before the adventure begins and book rooms for everyone at a nice hotel in the city, where we’ll meet for a welcome dinner. The following morning, we’ll be transported by a private van or bus up to our base camp at EcoCamp Patagonia. Once in Argentina, all your transportation is prearranged and covered.  

Travel insurance is required for the trip and should include coverage for trip cancellation or delay, baggage loss, medical expenses, and evacuation .  There are many options in the marketplace.   We will help you select the right insurance for you as part of our inclusive pre-trip planning services.

For information on travel advisories and restrictions in Chile, go to the U.S. Embassy website.  In addition, we check in frequently with our staff in Chile on what's happening on the ground in the country and keep our members updated as their trip approaches.

A valid passport is required for entering Chile.