Frequently Asked Questions
The thought of traveling can be a daunting experience for many, without ever leaving your own home. Where to go, am I fit enough to do the hike, who will the other hikers be? These are serious questions demanding prompt, accurate answers.
At Alpine Interface, let us be the interface between the idea of your journey of a lifetime and the reality. Our toll-free number, 1-800-368-5056, is your direct link to us. Call us and we should be able to answer all of your questions regarding one of our destinations. We also endeavor to answer all of your emails as quickly as possible, meaning straight away if during business hours.
Below you will find questions most asked by our guests. Our answers are honest and try to shed light on what an Alpine Interface journey is like.
- Do I need a visa to travel to Argentina/Chile?
- I have heard that US Citizens, Canadians and Australians have to pay an entrance fee when entering Chile, is this correct?
- What about vaccinations, do I need any?
- Why are national flights not included in the trip price?
- Is Patagonia safe to travel?
- How will I get to the start of my AI trip?
- What if my flights are very early in the morning, or late in the evening?
- How much money should I bring / exchange?
- What should I expect from the hotels in Patagonia?
- What should I expect regarding camping in Patagonia?
- What can I expect from the meals/food during my trip in Patagonia with AI?
- Is the drinking water in Patagonia safe?
- What will the weather be like in Patagonia?
1. Do I need a visa to travel to Argentina/Chile?
If you hold an American or Canadian passport, you do not need a visa to enter Argentina or Chile.
However, please be advised that your passport has to be valid for at least another 6 months.
If you are neither US American or Canadian, please check if you need a tourist visa for Argentina or Chile.
2. I have heard that US Citizens, Canadians and Australians have to pay an entrance fee when entering Chile, is this correct?
Yes, that is correct, but only if you enter Chile by air. When travelling over land (as we will do, when entering Chile from Argentina), you will not have to pay any entrance fees.
The Chilean government is asking for an entrance fee from residents of the above countries because Chileans have to get a visa to visit these countries, and the fees Chileans have to pay for this visa reflect the amount to be paid as an entrance fee.
3. What about vaccinations, do I need any?
No vaccinations are requested for travelling in Patagonia.
Hepatitis A is recommended, and obviously your Tetanus shots should be up to date (Tetanus shots have to be repeated every 10 years).
Otherwise it would depend if you visit any other parts of Argentina or Chile, to get more information, please visit www.cdc.gov/travel
4. Why are national flights not included in this trip?
There are several airlines that operate flights within Argentina, to name but two:
Aerolineas Argentina and LAN (main Chilean carrier).
The prices of flights within Argentina fluctate fairly heavily, and therefore it is too difficult to set a firm prices for these flights. An approximate price for both national flights (to El Calafate and back from Ushuaïa) is US $500, but can also be quite a bit higher.
Please also note that if you fly Aerlineas Argentina internationally, you will get a much cheaper price for the national flights.
Aerolineas Argentina flies several times to El Calafate and Ushuaïa per day, and the earlier you book the flights, the cheaper they are.
LAN has a better service than Aerolineas Argentina, and they have fairly competitive rates for national flights within Argentina.
We will be more than happy to help you with your national flights, and will book them for you if you wish. Please let us know.
5. Is Patagonia safe to travel?
Argentina and Chile are two of the safest countries in South America. We have not encountered any problems while travelling to Patagonia in the past. Obviously, a traveller/tourist should always be alert, and keep personal belongings close by.
For up to date information, please have a look at the website of the US State Department.
6. How will I get to the start of my AI trip?
We provide a private transfer when possible from airports we designate as meeting points. If we cannot pick you up with our own vehicle, we hire a transfer taxi to collect you and your luggage and they will drive you to our first night's hotel. In the event that you choose not to meet at a designated meeting point, we will give you the most up-to-date information on how to get to the start of your trip.
7. What if my flights are very early in the morning or late in the evening?
No matter what time your flight is in the morning or evening, we will try our best to get you to the airport on time. All the transfer companies we use have services to and from the airport at any hour of the day. If our mini-van is in the area, our driver will take you there himself.
8. How much money should I bring / exchange?
You will need spending money for private expenses such as souvenirs, camera gear, reading material, beverages, and two lunches and two dinners
(approx. $300 - $400 per person, less if you don't buy any souvenirs)
US Dollars are accepted everywhere, and traveller's cheques are also easy to exchange / pay with.
There are ATMs in the bigger cities for taking out cash.
9. What should I expect from the hostels in Patagonia?
As in any region, there are a variety of hotels and restaurants, some better than others.
At Alpine Interface, we try to provide the best standard at a reasonable price, without extremes. Our hotels and restaurants are chosen for many reason, but above all service.
We also avoid dormitory style accommodation whenever possible. Many hostels and inns will be booked solid during the high season (December to February), and sometimes single rooms are hard to come by, but we will try our best to book accommodation regarding your preferences. During our trip in Patagonia, we will also stay in a mountain refuge/lodge, and there is the possibility of one night in a dormitory.
Otherwise you will most likely be sharing a room with another member of the trip. We endeavor to put couples in King or Queen size beds when ever possible.
10. What can I expect regarding camping in Patagonia?
We will provide you with complete camping equipment:
- A three-man tent for double or single occupancy
- A mattress, a sleeping bag and a cotton sleeping bag liner
All camps have a kitchen tent, dining tent, tables, benches and/or chairs, and obviously all necessary kitchen ware.
We will be camping 7 nights during our Full Patagonia Adventure.
Four of them will be spent in a full camp with hot showers and toilets available.
One of the camps also has electricity.
Three nights we will be camping in rural areas, no showers are available, and the toilets will be latrine-style.
11: What can I expect from the meals / food during my trip in Patagonia with AI?
Argentina is very famous for its steak, which supposedly is the best in the world.
So in case you are not a vegetarian, steak it will be for our welcome dinner in Buenos Aires.
Patagonia has its own unique cuisine, with beef, lamp, boar, deer and trout regularly on the menu.
Vegetarians don't have to despair, since vegetarian food will available throughout the trip.
Breakfast:
Most breakfasts will be the standard fare such as tea/coffee, bread, butter, jam.
In our camps we also offer juices, fruits, joghurts and cereals.
Lunches:
Whilst on the go, we will prepare picnic lunches for everybody, and will do our best to show you a wide variety of different food that Patagonia has to offer, our lunches vary from day to day.
Generally, we include fruits, cereal bars, some sandwiches, some “tartas de verduras” (vegetable pies or “quiches”) and some “empanadas” (stuffed pastry, meat and/or vegetables).
Our guides always take some trail mix and cereals and dried fruit while hiking, and some snacks while travelling by bus.
Dinners:
Our dinners in the camps are home-cooked affairs, with a hearty variety for everyone.
In El Calafate you will have the possibility to choose one of several restaurants in town.
12. Is the drinking water in Patagonia safe?
We would normally recommend to drink only bottled water. Tab water in general is safe, but one can't be 100% sure. Water served while camping will be either bottled water or made safe to drink.
13. What will the weather be like in Patagonia?
The weather in Patagonia is very unpredictable.
The one constant factor when talking about the weather in Patagonia is the wind.
It will be windy pretty much every day, which can vary from a gentle breeze to gale force wind up to 50mph (80kmh) or more.
From December to February it's the summer season, temperatures are normally pretty mild during the day , colder during the night. Rain, sleet and snow are always a possibility, especially in the early and late shoulder seasons. (November and March/April).
Torres del Paine / Cerro Fitz Roy: The average temperature in the high summer season averages around 12ºC (50ºF).
Maximum temperature during the day is approx. 75ºF and a minimum of 35ºF (24 ºC /2 ºC).
