Weather in Patagonia is wildly unpredictable. Bluebird skies can shift to snow squalls in minutes. As you explore Torres del Paine, gale-force winds exceeding 80 km/h often force trail closures or make crossings dangerous. You have to be prepared for anything and know, for example, that:

• Snowstorms can occur even in summer
• Ferries to Paine’s Grey Glacier or across Lago Pehoé are frequently canceled
• Flights to Punta Arenas or El Calafate are vulnerable to wind delays

Trip Delay Reimbursement ensures you’re covered if trail access is halted or flights are canceled unexpectedly, while a good trip cancellation (or ‘trip can’) policy can cover up to 100% of your cost.

Note too that Cancel For Any Reason, or “CFAR”, coverage allows you to cancel for a multitude of personal reasons. (But also note that CFAR is an early purchase benefit, so it must be purchased within a specified time frame immediately following initial tour payment.)

Wind-related closures have impacted the Mirador Base Las Torres hike and ferries across Lago Grey. These delays can result in missing pre-paid refugio nights or guided glacier hikes. Insurance can help you recover these expenses.

By the way, refugio translates to ‘refuge’ in English. While they were once simple mountain huts, they’re now more like guesthouses. Rustic, to be sure, but warm, comfortable places where you can relax after a long day of high-altitude trekking in these gorgeous mountains.

Common injuries include:

• Sprained ankles on rocky switchbacks
• Hypothermia on wet or snowy trails
• Dehydration in high-exposure areas

In the O Circuit or on the way to Cerro Torre, help can be hours away. Your route out to safety and medical support may involve:

• Trek out with ranger assistance
• Boat or horse extraction – or even helicopter rescue
• Airlift to doctors Punta Arenas or Río Gallegos

Even relatively minor injuries can escalate in cold, isolated terrain and become life-threatening.

Patagonia is generally safe, but be aware that theft can occur:

• Shared refugios like Paine Grande or Cuernos are not immune to gear loss
• Luggage thefts have been reported in El Calafate bus terminals
• Border crossings increase the chance of forgotten or misplaced items

Pro tip: Always lock your gear when staying in hostels or shared mountain lodges. Some trekkers use small lockers or secure zip ties to deter possible thieves. As always, be aware of your surroundings, including fellow hikers.

Traveling in Patagonia involves tight coordination:

• Buses between Puerto Natales and Torres often sell out or run late
• Strikes or weather may cause last-minute flight changes
• Closed passes can delay multi-day treks

In 2023, a regional airline strike forced hundreds of travelers to reroute via long-distance buses and delayed departures by several days. Having Trip Delay Reimbursement can be the difference between financial strain and smooth rescheduling.

Look for Trip Delay Reimbursement in your policy details to recover nonrefundable expenses (permits, lodging, guides) and make sure it covers cancellation too, just in case.

Not all policies cover remote area extraction or include field rescue. Patagonia demands this level of support.

• Insurances that include rescue coordination and emergency evacuation are best for high-altitude trekking or O Circuit hikers.
• Your route to safety may involve transit to Punta Arenas (Chile), Río Gallegos (Argentina), or even Santiago.

Before you get injured, sick or have some other medical emergency, ensure your plan includes both medical insurance with evacuation and coverage for search-and-rescue (SAR) operations if you’re unable to self-rescue. Having professional SAR teams out there looking for a hiker gets expensive, fast. You don’t want to have to suddenly face that bill while recovering in Santiago.

You’ve got to be protected against gear loss, as a lost pair of boots or backpack can derail your long-planned and perhaps once-in-a-lifetime tour. After all, baggage can be mishandled or lost between Argentina and Chile, theft does occur in refugios and transport hubs and sometimes stuff (in this case, key stuff) can just get lost.

Some additional advice: high-value items like camera gear, trekking poles, or down jackets should be specifically insured if they exceed general per-item limits. Double-check the fine print of your policy to ensure that it covers your specific needs.

You need protection for:

• Weather closures (e.g., Valle del Francés trail blocked)
• Canceled buses from El Chaltén or Puerto Natales
• Missed connections due to storms or volcanic ash

Look for:

• Trip Delay Reimbursement
• Coverage for non-refundable permits and refugio bookings

Delays in Torres del Paine often cascade, as nightly stops are pre-booked in designated camps or shelters. Cancellation protection ensures you’re not stuck absorbing these costs.

Many policies exclude “adventure sports” like:

• Trekking above 3,000 meters
• Ice hiking on Perito Moreno Glacier
• Sea kayaking in Lago Grey

Adventure inclusions should also cover rescue-related expenses on glaciers or kayaking excursions, especially where fast-flowing rivers or ice crevasses are present.

Patagonia’s weather can swing 30°F (15°C) in a few hours. When it comes to your clothing, think technical layers, not bulk. Make sure you have:

• Moisture-wicking base layers
• Insulating mid-layers
• Protective outer layers that are abrasion-resistant and water- and windproof

• Warm hat or beanie
• Buff/neck gaiter (blocks sun, wind, dust)
• Sun hat with brim
• Lightweight gloves (plus insulated gloves in shoulder seasons)
• Gaiters (optional — good for mud, snow, scree)

• Broken-in waterproof hiking boots (high ankle support recommended)
• Camp shoes (Crocs or sandals for refugios)
• 3–4 pairs wool or synthetic hiking socks
• Liner socks (optional — help prevent blisters)

Note that the O Circuit includes river crossings and mud, so waterproof boots are essential.

• 65–75L backpack (multi-day hikes)
• 20–30L daypack (for base hikes like Laguna Capri)
• Rain cover for packs (A smart investment as rainstorms are frequent and fast)
• Dry bags or garbage bags for internal waterproofing
• Trekking poles (lightweight and collapsible)
• Headlamp with extra batteries
• Sunglasses (polarized, UV-blocking)
• Water bottles (2L total capacity) or hydration bladder
• Water filter or tablets (some camps don’t treat water)
• Multi-tool or knife
• Lightweight towel
• Small ziplock bags (for organizing & waste)
• Trekking map or downloaded offline trail maps

• Sleeping bag (rated to 0°C or lower, even in summer)
• Sleeping pad (if camping without refugios)
• Earplugs (for refugios or wind)
• Lightweight pillow or stuff sack filled with clothes

• Toothbrush, paste, biodegradable soap
• Quick-dry towel
• Wet wipes
• Sunscreen (SPF 50+) and lip balm with SPF
• Bug spray (flies are common near lakes)
• First aid kit 

• Passport + copies (in ziplock)
• Park entry permits + printed bookings
• Travel insurance details (printed + digital copy)
• Power bank (outlets are limited in refugios)
• Charging cables
• Adapters (Chile and Argentina use different plugs)
• Camera or GoPro
• Offline apps, such as those from Maps.me, Windy, iOverlander

• Lightweight book or e-reader
• Journal + pen
• Small lock (for lockers at refugios)
• Duct tape (gear fixes)
• Zip ties
• Packable tote (for laundry or town use)

“Pro tip: when hiking a glacier or any snowfield, don’t forget to apply sunscreen on the underside of your nose. Most people don’t ever do this because they’ve never had to apply sunscreen in that specific spot. But these expansive fields of white crystal ice reflect the sun back up toward the trekker and mean that normally shaded areas, such as the underside of your nose, are getting hammered with UV radiation.”