Paddle Patagonia

FAQs

Patagonia is a region located at the southern end of South America and is a territory shared by both Argentina and Chile. It includes the Argentine provinces of Neuquen, Rio Negro, Chubut and Santa Cruz as well as Tierra del Fuego. The Chilean portion includes the southern provinces of Valdivia, Llanquihue, Aisen and Magallanes as well as the Chilean portion of Tierra del Fuego. In total the region is over 1 million square kilometers.
Patagonia includes the Andean mountain range as well as huge plateaus that extend east of the Andes in a series of broad, flat steps extending to the Atlantic coast. The coastline is cliffed along its entire length and the landscape is cut by many rivers some of which have glacial origin in the Andes creating broad valleys and steep-walled canyons.

Argentina and Chile are rated the safest countries in Latin America for tourists. Of course when traveling anywhere you will want to take precautions against petty crime and keep an eye on your belongings, especially in big cities and bus stations.

Learning a few basics will help you communicate better but non-Spanish speakers can get by just fine and many people speak English. However be warned if you have learned Spanish in another country that Argentineans speak quickly and they use a slightly different dialect called “Castellano.” We are happy to give you a few lessons once you arrive!

Many of our trips begin and end in El Bolsón or San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina. Custom trips may have different starting points. Please inquire if you aren't sure!

Most people will fly into Buenos Aires, Argentina where you can then connect to Bariloche (BRC). Please note that there are 2 airports in Buenos Aires and you will most likely have to transfer between airports to connect to Bariloche. You may also look at flying into Santiago, Chile (SCL) and connect to Bariloche from there. See the “getting here” section of your trip itinerary for more details.

At the time of writing (January 2019) most nationalities did not need a visa to enter Argentina or Chile. Upon arrival you will likely be given a 90 day tourist stamp in your passport. However we cannot guarantee this information so please check with your local embassy to be sure before traveling!

The Argentinean Peso is the official currency of Argentina but due to economic issues in the country the peso is not a stable currency to purchase too far in advance.  We suggest traveling with USD and exchanging as you need. The bills must be in good condition and in denominations of $50 or $100 or you may have trouble exchanging them. If you choose to withdraw cash at an ATM, you may have significant withdrawal fees or possibly an unfavorable exchange rate but this varies between banks. Not all businesses will accept credit cards or US cash. You will need to find a “casa de cambio” to exchange your USD or Euros into pesos upon arrival. Your hotel in Buenos Aires or Bariloche can suggest the best place to exchange. On some of our trips, there is limited access to ATM machines. Please inquire in advance about what kind of spending money you may need.  As of Jan.2024 there is a complex variety of exchange rates in Argentina.  Write to us before you travel if you have specific currency questions and we will point you in the right direction.

Yes, absolutely! If you have some extra time in your travel plans, then taking the bus to Bariloche can be a good alternative. You can take a bus from Buenos Aires to Bariloche for $100-$200 USD each way. The buses in Argentina and Chile are modern, clean and comfortable (much better than greyhound in North America!) The trip is long (20+ hours) but very comfortable and a great way to see the magnificent landscapes of this country from your window! There are 3 kinds of seats to choose from that vary from just reclining to fully horizontal beds. The buses all have washrooms on board as well as attendants that serve complimentary beverages, snacks and hot meals. Contact us to find out more about which bus lines we recommend and how to book your tickets.

We recommend having appropriate medical and travel insurance for your trip to Patagonia. We also strongly recommend obtaining trip cancellation insurance that will protect your trip investment if you have to cancel for personal reasons. If you have insurance coverage from a credit card or an existing plan, please make sure that it will cover you for whitewater activities and remote wilderness and adventure travel. Please review our cancellation policy in regards to trip payments.

For whitewater canoeists and kayakers you should have experience paddling a variety of class III rapids for the class II-III trip and a variety of class IV rapids for the class III-IV trip. For kayakers, although we don’t expect a 100% bomb-proof roll, a solid roll in whitewater is recommended. Spending some time on your home river or local pool working on getting your roll perfected before you arrive in Patagonia can go a long way. If you are joining us on a non-paddler itinerary you do not need any whitewater experience as you will be joined by a guide in your raft or led by a guide in your inflatable kayak at all times.

All of our guides are English speaking professionals with years of experience guiding and instructing in Patagonia as well as other regions of the world. They are also fun people who are excited about sharing their passion for the region and the rivers with you! Visit the “About Us” page on our website for more information about some of our team.

All of the rivers we paddle are crystal clear and clean. Some rivers are glacier-fed and water temperatures will range from 10-18C°. See packing list for details on what to bring.

Argentina is famous for its red wine and beef barbecues, which are certainly a highlight for many but there is so much more! Unlike other Latin American countries, you will notice a very European influence in the meals that include fresh salads, pastas, grilled fish, baked goods and more. All of Paddle Patagonia meals are freshly made from local ingredients whenever possible and the food is not generally spicy or greasy. Being a vegetarian is no problem and we will do our best to cater to any other special dietary requests. Tap water is potable and there are no issues with drinking water throughout the country.

Our trips include a hand-picked selection of charming accommodations, each with its own character.  We have partnerships with various lodges, hosterias and family run hotels as well as some luxury options. When the itinerary is customized we can design your trip according to your budget and preferences.

Paddle Patagonia’s trips travel through several different mountain terrains and at anytime the weather can change often and quickly. In general, the early season (Nov-Dec) may see cooler mornings/evenings with hot days (20+ C°). As we get closer to Jan-Feb, the weather stabilizes into warmer summer-like conditions (25+ C°). Rain and wind storms can happen at any time and the sun in Patagonia can be quite intense so a good sunscreen is advised. 

Payment Schedule:

For multi-day and all-inclusive trips: 
A $500 deposit/person is required to confirm your trip. At least 50% of the balance is due 60 days prior to your trip departure date and the final balance is due 30 days before your trip departure date. 

However, whenever possible we appreciate and will accept the balance of payments made upon arrival in Argentina in USD cash. Otherwise we ask for the full payment 30 days in advance by cheque, wire or money order. Credit card payments are accepted with an additional surcharge, please inquire.

Paddle Patagonia Cancellation Policy

If you need to cancel your reservation with Paddle Patagonia, please send your request by email to info[at]paddlepatagonia.com.

For multi-day and all-inclusive trips:
If your cancelation email is received 90 days before your trip’s departure date we will keep a $200 cancellation fee per person. If the request is received between 30 and 90 days before your trip, the fee of $500 per person is non-refundable. If the request is received within 30 days of your trip there will be no refunds but transfers or credits may be possible, please inquire.  Instead of canceling a trip it may be possible to reschedule to a different date.  All transfer requests are subject to trip and space availability and are not guaranteed. There will be a minimum of $500 fee charged to anyone changing their trip date including to the following year.  We also cannot issue refunds for late arrivals or early departures due to travel delays, flight cancellations or personal illness or injury. If you are concerned about having to cancel your trip we strongly suggest purchasing cancellation insurance to protect your investment.  Also please note that emergency medical insurance is required for all adventure trips. (see the insurance FAQ for more details).

For day trips:
All payments made for day-trips are non-refundable. Rescheduling may be possible, please inquire.

There are no exceptions to these policies for any reason. We will endeavour to help you solve any travel issues that might occur during your trip but we cannot be held responsible for acts beyond our control such as natural disasters, flight schedule interruptions, strikes, theft, vandalism, government changes to rules and regulations and more.

Lastly, although we will endeavour to keep to the itinerary provided, all of our trips could be modified or delayed due to bad weather, road conditions, river levels, trail conditions, transportation problems, sickness, or other factors beyond our control.