Travel Planing

Most of our trips begin in Coyhaique, a town often referred to as the capital of Patagonia. Coyhaique has a population of about 40,000 and is the center of agriculture, education, and government administration for what is known as the 11th region of Chile (also called Aisen). Coyhaique lies about 1200 miles south of Santiago at close to the same latitudes as Portland Oregon and Bozeman Montana. There is a feeling here of the early days of Montana or of a Colorado mountain town. In summer adventurers are arriving here from all over the world. It is a fun and exciting place to be!

What to expect in patagonia

Arrival and Departure In Coyhaique — A Salvaje Corazon guide will both meet you on arrival and take you there on departure. The trip from the airport is about 45 minutes

Money — Coyhaique, the base of our operations and your arrival destination has many banks and cash machines. We recommend credit cards or cash as opposed to Travelers Checks.

Accomodations — The lodging facilities that we use are the finest the region has to offer. This means that most of the time you will find the accomodations comparable with three star facilities in the United States and Europe. Good showers with plenty of hot water, clean, warm, and comfortable rooms, and friendly staff are the norm. There are a few locations that we visit where conditions are a little more spartan, but this is usually made up for by the friendly and helpful staff.

Communications — Almost all of our providers have telephones and there are many internet access providers in Coyhaique. We travel with a satellite phone for your safety and convenience.

Laundry — When we stay at a lodge for more than one night it is usually possible to have your clothes cleaned.

Water — The water in Patagonia is probably about as good as it gets in today's world including the United States. You can literally drink out of any river and lake without fear! Tap water is normally delicious and safe to drink. For your convenience we provide bottled water on our road trips.

Food — No worries about eating fruit, vegies, and salads here! The food you will be served on our trips is absolutely delicious and safe. Please let us know on your trip application if you have any special dietary requirements or concerns.

Road and Travel Conditions — While the distances between our destinations arenxt long, the main roads, while of excellent design, are unsurfaced and prone to have potholes and washboard on various sections. The ride can be rough and tiring at times so we stop from time to time to stretch our legs. The longest driving day we are likely to have is about eight hours allowing for stops but is usually much less. There are no rest stops along the road aside from towns spaced up to three hours apart , so a trip to the bushes is often the only possibility when nature calls. Salvaje Corazon trips travel with a backup vehicle and satellite phone at all times to ensure your saftey and to minimize down time in case of unexpected road conditions or a breakdown.

Medical Treatment — there are minimum medical facilities in the areas we visit with the exception of Coyhaique which has a new hospital and reasonable expertise available.The closest world class medical facilities are in Santiago which offers expertise and treatment second to none. You should consider purchasing travel insurance to inexpensively protect yourself from any eventually.

Weather — No doubt you have heard about the wild, wet and windy weather that Patagonia is famous for. While the reputation is justly deserved in places such as the Fitzroy and Torres del Paine region, the overall weather patterns in the region of Aisen tends to be drier, less windy, and usually short lived. It is highly unlikely that you will not experience some good days in any given week and more than likely that most of them will be great!

Preparedness: Throughout the year it is possible to experience all four seasons within a few hours! You should bring: Rain Jacket, rain Pants, stout waterproof hiking boots, hat, polypro underwear, gloves, warm jacket such as polarfleece, several spare pairs of socks, and sunglasses. We provide tents and cooking gear for backcountry trips. You should bring your own sleeping bag and pad.