Expert: Cintia - 9/21/2004

Question
We are going to chile/argentina in december/january. Is it possible to camp on camp site throughout Chile and Argentina?. And we would like to hire a car. What car do we need in the area of Patagonia. Does it have to be a 4*4? They are of course much more expensive, so we would like to hire a 2 wheel drive. Can you camp in Patagonia as well, or is it better not regarding the weather? How many days do you need at least to see Torres del Paines; Morier Glacier, Tierre del Fuego?
If you have more tips. Please, say so. Thank you!


Answer
Dear Marieke,

Thank for your question.It is possible to camp throughout Chile and Argentina. You will find useful information on the Internet by just writing "camping XXXXX" and where it says XXXX write the name of the city you will visit. You will certainly need a car because in general, campsites are far away from the cities so you will need a means of transportation to move around and carry your equipment.
Another useful idea is to go to the tourist information office at each place you visit, so that you can be properly informed about the campings available, as sometimes the guidebooks may be out of date.

A 4 wheel drive is ideal,because many roads in the Patagonia are not asphalted, and may have lots of holes, loose gravel, etc. Of course, it also depends on the roads you take, but I believe a 4 wheel drive will save you a lot of trouble. 'To see Torres del Paine, the glaciers and Tierra del Fuego you need a minimum of around 6-8 days. Distances are long and I believe it is worth going slowly and enjoying each destination instead of rushing from one place to another.

I hope this information helps you with your trip planning.
Kind regards,

Cintia
Buenos Aires, Argentina