Physical Requirements
What to expect:
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Moderately Strenuous
Pacing
- 7 locations in 14 days (9 days in Argentina and 5 days in Chile) with one 1-night stay
- 1 internal flight in Chile and 1 internal flight in Argentina
- Several early mornings and almost 700 miles covered by mini bus
- Airport transfers in Santiago and Buenos Aires can take up to 1.5 hours
Physical requirements
- Not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids
- You must be able to walk 3 miles unassisted and participate in 6-8 hours of physical activities each day
- This trip takes you to remote places with no medical facilities nearby
- We reserve the right for Trip Experience Leaders to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group’s experience
Altitude
- 6 full days at altitudes above 7,000 feet (3 days in Chile and 3 days in Argentina)
- On Day 7, we reach a maximum altitude of 11,000 feet
- On Day 11, ten hours are spent at altitudes above 10,000 feet, reaching a maximum altitude of 15,800 feet. Our 24-passenger van is equipped with an oxygen tank for emergency purposes.
- We strongly recommend that you discuss precautions for altitude sickness with a healthcare professional before you travel on this trip. Proper preparation, including any medication recommended by your healthcare professional, is essential to traveling comfortably at these elevations.
Climate
- Daytime temperatures average 70-75° F in the Atacama Desert while nighttime or early morning temperatures are considerably cooler, between 35-50° F in the Andes. May-August are the coolest months, not only in the Andes but also in Buenos Aires and Santiago. March to April can be warmer, while September to December can be hot, with temperatures reaching close to 90F in certain locations (especially Buenos Aires and Santiago.)
Terrain & Transportation
- Travel on mountainous, unpaved roads for several hours; walking on rough, steep, slippery trails that do not have handrails
- Travel by 24-passenger coach
- Long bus rides of 4-8 hours on unpaved roads on several days, 1 internal flight in Chile of 2.5 hours, and 1 internal flight in Argentina of about 2 hours. Day 11 crossing from Argentina to Chile will take 11 hours with stops for visiting a local community and border crossing.
Flight Information
- Travel time will be 8-19 hours and will most likely have two connections
Accommodations & Facilities
- Hotel rooms are smaller than in the U.S. and offer simple amenities
- All accommodations feature private baths