Frequently Asked Questions

Click "Book / Inquire" on any experience or guide profile. Fill in your travel dates, group size, and any specific requests. Our operations team receives the inquiry first, qualifies it, and replies within 24 hours before guide assignment.

Chile Adventure Guides charges no additional booking fees to travelers. The price shown on each experience is what you pay directly to the guide. Some experiences may have additional park entrance fees (e.g. Torres del Paine National Park) which are noted in the experience description.

Yes. Every guide can build a custom itinerary for your group. Simply send an inquiry describing what you have in mind — your dates, group size, fitness level, and goals. Our operations team will communicate with the guide and get back to you as soon as possible.

For peak season (December–March in Patagonia), we recommend booking 2–3 months in advance. Popular guides fill up quickly. For shoulder season, 4–6 weeks is usually sufficient.

Every guide must submit their official certification documents (UIAGM, SERNATUR, ACMG, WFR or equivalent), references, and a portfolio of past experiences. Our guide relations team reviews each application personally. No guide is listed without verified credentials.

For mountaineering and high-altitude routes: UIAGM (International Mountain Guide Association) or ACMG. For general trekking and nature guides: SERNATUR (Chilean National Tourism Service). For wildlife guides: SERNATUR + specific certifications. WFR (Wilderness First Responder) is held by most of our guides as a safety standard.

All guides speak Spanish and English. Several also speak German, French, Italian, and Portuguese. Each guide's languages are listed on their profile page.

Yes. You can send a message through the inquiry form before committing to anything. We encourage you to ask questions about your specific fitness level, equipment needs, and expectations.

Every experience has a clearly labeled difficulty level (Easy, Moderate, Challenging, Expert) along with a description of the terrain, elevation gain, and daily walking hours. When in doubt, describe your fitness level in your inquiry and your guide will advise honestly.

Safety equipment requirements vary by activity. For mountaineering, guides provide helmets, harnesses, crampons and ice axes. For trekking, first aid kits and emergency communication devices (satellite phone or PLB) are standard. Equipment details are listed in each experience description.

All our guides are trained in wilderness emergency response (WFR or equivalent). They carry communication devices and have evacuation protocols for all routes. In extreme weather, guides will always prioritize safety over completing an itinerary.

Yes, strongly recommended. Look for a policy that covers adventure activities, emergency evacuation, and trip cancellation. Many standard travel insurance policies exclude mountaineering and climbing — read the fine print.

Cancellation policies are set by each individual guide and displayed clearly on their profile and experience pages. Typical policies range from full refund if cancelled 30+ days in advance, to partial refund at 15–29 days, to no refund under 14 days. Always check before booking.

If a guide cancels due to weather or safety conditions outside their control, they will offer you a reschedule (if you have flexibility) or a full refund. Guides in Patagonia are experienced with weather variability and will communicate as early as possible.

Rescheduling is subject to guide availability and is handled directly with your guide. We recommend contacting them as early as possible if your plans change.

Each experience includes a recommended gear list. For most Patagonia trekking: waterproof jacket and pants, warm mid-layer, trekking poles, waterproof hiking boots, sun protection, and a daypack. Your guide will send you a detailed list after booking.

Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas have several gear rental shops. Your guide can recommend specific ones and advise on what to rent vs. bring from home.

For day hikes: regular cardio and walking on varied terrain for 6–8 weeks prior. For multi-day circuits or mountaineering: structured training with elevation gain, loaded pack walks, and ideally some prior high-altitude experience. Your guide will share specific recommendations after learning about your current fitness level.