What to pack for Patagonia in December

Lows around 41°F. Goes under the shell when the wind picks up.

Wear one, dry one. Cotton stays wet all week here.

The layer you'll wear more than any other.

Wind at 25 km/h cuts through exposed skin on ridges.

Lows of 41°F numb fingers without insulation.

UV index of 9.3 burns skin fast, even at this latitude in summer.

Snow glare off peaks and glaciers strains eyes without dark lenses.

Eight rain days create standing water where insects breed.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Remote mountain terrain means help is hours away, not minutes.

This country runs on Type C or L. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Overhead bins on regional flights to the parks are tight.

Day hikes from base camps need separate gear from camp bags.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

Coastal wind cuts through a t-shirt fast.

Gusts sweep across open terrain and catch your face.

Wet feet on mountain trails lead to cold that won't leave.

UV hits 9.3 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.

Fifteen hours of daylight means long exposure to intense southern hemisphere sun.

Treat the clothes once and it lasts weeks.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

International travel through mountain parks increases bag loss risk.

Eight days on the road means repacking clothes twice.

Rain every few days keeps clothes damp without quick drying.

Lows around 41°F. One blanket that packs small covers the car, the campsite and the beach at sunset.

Wind noise on exposed ridges and in minibuses gets loud.

Mountain terrain at 853 m elevation demands foot support on steep grades.

Layering matters when the high is only 59°F and wind pushes chill deeper.

Altitude of 853 m and thin air leave lips cracked and burned.

Single-track roads through peaks trigger motion sickness on long drives.

Tap water is safe but shared facilities need extra care.

Sunburn and insect bites both hurt worse at altitude.

One outlet per guesthouse means charging happens in stages.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

Crossing into Chile requires documents ready at all checkpoints.

Shared guesthouses and hostels mean bag security matters.

Humidity of 65% plus mountain mist makes gear damp.

Long daylight hours mean sleeping in unfamiliar places every night.