Details

Trip Notes & Expectations

IMMIGRATION RECEIPT

When you go through Chilean arrival immigration you will receive a receipt with the initials PDI. This is your Tarjeta Unica Migratoria receipt. Do not lose it! You will need it in order to leave the country.

SANTIAGO AND BUENOS AIRES SAFETY

If you decide to spend time in either of these cities, you should be especially careful when wandering around on your own, particularly at night. Tourists are easy prey for individual pickpockets or groups of two or more people working as a team on the streets. Pay particular attention to anyone who “accidentally” spills anything on your clothes or belongings (mustard, etc.) and then apologizes and offers to help clean up. They will clean you out instead! Be safe and leave your passport, credit cards, travelers checks, and cash you won’t be using in the hotel’s safety deposit box. Most locals are honest and genuinely helpful and friendly, but be safe and enjoy these cities!

USD IN ARGENTINA

We recommend bringing USD in cash for the Argentinean portion of this tour as it is easier than using a credit card or withdrawing ARS from an ATM. USD currency is accepted in travel agencies for booking optional activities.

ACCOMMODATION

Our program fees are based on double-occupancy accommodation (see "Single Travelers" below if you do not have a travel companion and would be interested in a private room). The purpose of the accommodation is to provide a safe, well-located place for you to sleep. We use simple hotels to keep these trips as inexpensive as possible.

ACTIVITY LEVEL & PACE

This trip includes plenty of walking and some light hiking, and requires at least an average level of fitness. On the more active days, expect to walk quite a bit. Please make sure you have thoroughly read the itinerary and can handle the group activities. We recommend always carrying snacks with you. Meals can sometimes be far apart.

TRANSPORTATION

We use a mix of transportation that gets our guests from location to location safely. Sometimes you will have full days of transportation as our trips tend to cover a lot of ground. The transportation will often be an adventure in itself.

GROUP LEADER

All GEEO/G Adventures trips are led by a Chief Experience Officer (CEO), whose role is to take the hassle out of travel and help you get the most from your trip. They’ll share information about the places you visit, suggest activities and restaurants, and introduce you to our local friends. While not traditional guides, CEOs have broad knowledge of the region’s history, culture, and daily life. On some excursions, local guides are used for deeper insight—giving you the best of both worlds.

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PROGRAM DETAILS

Single Travelers

Traveling solo? You’re in good company—about half of our participants do the same. Shared room by default. The program fee covers one person in a twin room. We’ll pair you with a roommate of the same gender if you don’t have a travel companion. Want a private room? Most trips offer a “My Own Room” (single-supplement) upgrade. Check the price in the Extra Services section, then email travel@geeo.org to reserve it. You pay the single-supplement only if you request it.

Emergency Contacts

If you need urgent help during your trip, call the local G Adventures office first. If no one answers, leave a detailed message with your name and contact information so they can return your call as soon as possible. EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS: G Adventures Office Lima, Peru During office hours (Weekdays, 9-6pm Local Time): +51 1 241 1650 After hours Emergency number: +51 99 758 2712 (WhatsApp Available) If for any reason you are unable to reach the G Adventures local office, please call the numbers listed below to connect with their Sales team, who will happily assist you. Toll-free, North America only: 1 888 800 4100 Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000 Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000 Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618 Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307 Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999

Packing List

See our blog post of staff recommended gear to help you pack for your upcoming travels. You must be able to carry your own luggage—up stairs, on and off of transport, and during 15 to 20 minute walks. Bring one small or medium backpack or rolling bag (22-30lb) and one daypack for daily items. Space is limited on transportation, so oversized bags cannot travel. As you prepare your packing list, we recommend checking average weather conditions for your destination on a site like Weather Spark for the time of year you will be traveling. IMPORTANT: Aerolineas Argentinas allows 1 piece of luggage that weighs up to 15 kg on internal flights. For every extra kilo, the airline will charge $10 per kg at the time of check-in. *Laundry: Laundry facilities are offered by some of our hotels for a charge. There will be times when you may want to do your own laundry, so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.

Passports and Visas

Travelers are responsible for securing all required travel documents and meeting the entry requirements for every country on their itinerary, including applicable transit/layover countries. PASSPORT All travelers must have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your trip dates with enough blank pages for stamps. Need to apply or renew? Start here. ENTRY/VISA REQUIREMENTS Visa rules change frequently—always verify the latest requirements on the U.S. State Department Country Information Pages. Non-U.S. passport holders should verify requirements with your country's official government resources. Use the tool below to see entry requirements for your specific itinerary. Entry information below is provided by Sherpa, a third-party service and trusted G Adventures partner. You must search each of your destination countries separately; “Add connection” solely searches transit visa requirements. Additional fees apply if you choose to purchase any services through Sherpa.

Money Exchange

Currency: The local currency in Chile is the Chilean peso (CLP), and the local currency in Argentina is the Argentine peso (ARS). For current exchange rates, visit www.xe.com. Please bear in mind that cost of living in the Southern Cone countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile) is much higher than the rest of South America and more comparable with Europe. Credit/Debit Cards: Credit cards (especially Visa and Mastercard) are accepted at many hotels, shops, and restaurants, but not everywhere. Some vendors may also charge an international transaction fee, so check with your bank before you travel. Cash: For small purchases, tipping, or places that don’t take cards, we recommend using ATMs to withdraw local currency while traveling. If you bring U.S. dollars to exchange, the bills must be new, unmarked, and in excellent condition—damaged or older notes are often rejected. A previous traveler told us, "Argentina is mad for US dollars. If I had known, I would have brought more cash and relied less on my credit/ATM and saved a little in fees." Emergency Funds: Bring at least $200 USD (or the equivalent in local currency) in cash for emergencies in case of ATM or card issues. Always carry more rather than less to avoid feeling short of funds while traveling. See the Estimated Trip Costs section at the bottom of this page for budgeting guidance. For more advice, see our post, Smart Travel Finances: Your Guide to Money, ATMs, Fees, and Safety Abroad

Tipping

Tipping is optional but appreciated and goes a long way for the people who look after you on the trip. If you are happy with the service, use these ballpark amounts and adjust as you see fit: - Service providers/Waiters: 10% of the bill. - Local guides and drivers: $5-10 USD per person per day (or about $50 total). - G Adventures tour leader (CEO): $20-25 USD per person per week. (We suggest pooling contributions in an envelope and presenting it as a group) Tipping Kitty: On some trips, your CEO may suggest a “tipping kitty” where everyone contributes at the start of the tour, and the CEO uses that pooled amount to tip service providers for the group as a whole (not including your CEO). If your CEO doesn’t mention it and you’d like to use a kitty, we recommend asking about it early in the trip. Your CEO will advise the suggested amount and preferred currency for the kitty.

Vaccinations

GEEO cannot provide any medical advice, so it is very important to consult your doctor or a travel clinic about which vaccinations you will need for your trip. We recommend contacting Passport Health, which has travel clinics located throughout the United States. You can also check the CDC's recommended vaccinations for your destination. Please take this seriously!

Flights

Wait for official trip confirmation via email from GEEO before booking your flights. Prices tend to be lowest 90–120 days out, but that window varies by route and year. Neither GEEO nor G Adventures bear responsibility for any flights purchased before the trip is confirmed. This program begins in Santiago, Chile, and ends in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Please double-check our itinerary for the date by which you must arrive in Santiago. You may want to arrive one or more days early in case you have flight disruptions. You can arrive at any time you choose, but try to make it in time for our 6:00 p.m. Welcome Meeting on Day 1. You can depart from Buenos Aires any time on the final day of the program.

Plugs and Converters

Chile and Argentina use Type C European-style outlets, and the voltage is 220V. To use your electronics safely, you’ll need to consider: 1. Adapter (plug shape) Adapts your U.S. plug to fit another type of socket. See our recommended all-in-one travel adapter in our Gear Recommendations post. 2. Converter / transformer (voltage) Steps the outlet voltage down to 120V for U.S. appliances that can’t handle higher voltage. How to know which you need: Look at the fine print on the plug or power brick. An “Input 100-240 V” means the device is dual-voltage and works worldwide with only an adapter—phones, laptops, and most camera chargers fall into this category. If the label shows “Input 120 V” (hair dryers, curling irons, some shavers), it could be damaged on high voltage. Pack both an adapter and a travel voltage converter. Converters are inexpensive and sold online or in the travel aisle of many stores.

Weather

This trip takes place during winter in the Southern Hemisphere. In Santiago and Buenos Aires, you can expect high temperatures around 60º F and lows around 40º F. In the Andes, the weather will be cooler, with highs around 50º F and lows around 30º F. This trip is great for those who like cold weather and want to escape the heat of July in the Northern Hemisphere. Plus, you will have the chance to go skiing!