What to Pack for The O Circuit and W Trek in Patagonia + Tips for Your Trip

[@Natugrafia]

Hi guys, very nice video! as a Chilean living abroad just wanted to add a note to the sausage and cheese snacks, in case anyone it thinking about bringing their favorite ones from their home country; this is not possible because the Chilean Agricultural Service is VERY strickt and bringing animal products (especially dairy and meats that might contain pork) is just not allowed, no matter if its sealed, with few exceptions. Altogether, save yourself trouble and don't attempt it unless you check it before hand and are 1000% sure (still, an agent unaware of exception products will likely confiscate it anyways). Trust me, they DO check and they DO confiscate everything that is not allowed, if you are not sure, always declare what you bring to clarify and that's the worst that could happen, if you don't, fines are quite high and they can get quite "unfriendly" =P.

[@nicoleandmico]

Great point! Thanks so muchnfor sharing with others watching the video. That's really helpful info!

[@mattzhun3949]

@@nicoleandmico Thank you for the video, very helpful! I am planning on bringing all of my own food as well, were the freeze dried meals declared/checked? I want to bring those as well but don't want any problems lol. Obviously it worked for you but wondering if you declared?

[@nicoleandmico]

Hey there we had no issues with pre-made dehydrated camping meals. We brought them into Argentina and Chile and had no issues. We didn't declare them and I don't remember anywhere on the customs forms asking to declare these kind of goods. Only fruits and what not were an issue (so we had to give up an apple we forgot about as we walked through the Chilean border haha)

[@mariflorez]

Thank you for this video. Canadians are the best at packing 😂. Keeping it so real with all those details and budget friendly tips!! This is very useful info. Glad to hear showers are hot and free! ❤

[@nicoleandmico]

Haha you’re welcome, glad it was helpful!!

[@travelclimb]

Thanks for Patagonia vids you guys made! We’re getting ready for it Feb 2023. Also thanks for all the answers in the Patagonia Facebook group. Super helpful!

[@nicoleandmico]

You're absolutely welcome! We loved hiking through the Patagonia and love helping other people discover this part of the world. We hope you have a great hike and feel free to reach out to us anytime if you have any questions 😊

[@destinylovelantern]

Ooh I love those backpacks!! Thanks for the recommendations 😁💜

[@nicoleandmico]

No problem! So glad to hear you found some useful info in the video. Happy hiking!

[@nicoleandmico]

Need a little Patagonia inspiration? You can find our full 75 mile Patagonia adventure here 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5C4o2qHhs6gpKs

[@kerk6428]

Thank you for the video! I enjoy your packing videos a lot! They are always so fun and informative to watch :)

[@nicoleandmico]

Thank you so much!! We really appreciate it 😊

[@isaacsouza1999]

Thanks for the video. This will help a lot me and my friends.

[@nicoleandmico]

Glad to hear it helped! Have an amazing time on your hike 😊

[@ramzib.1092]

You guys are awesome. Going to Patagonia in January. I have just ordered the Farpoint backpack on Amazon!

[@nicoleandmico]

That's awesome! We hope you love the backpack as much as we do. These packs are beasts! We can't believe how well they've help up despite what we out them through. Have an incredible time in Patagonia!

[@TuKMoLnanaman]

I find your (packing) video FULL of information!!! Although, I am wondering how you organized/plan the Permits and Camp Sites? did you plan it your selves or use professional services and WHO?

[@nicoleandmico]

Here's the full FREE packing list! nicoleandmico.com/our-packing-list/

[@jmaryg]

Hey guys! Great video, super helpful. The link to your packing list doesn't seem to work, is it not available any longer?

[@nicoleandmico]

Thanks for letting us know! We fixed the link but here it is again (most of the camping stuff is near the bottom, enjoy!) nicoleandmico.com/our-packing-list/

[@mateuskb1980]

Great video guys, Love it!

[@nicoleandmico]

Thanks so much! Hope you found it helpful!

[@katherinegill6015]

very detailed and comprehensive video, thank you 😊👍🏻

[@nicoleandmico]

Glad it was helpful!

[@rarksz]

thank you for the very useful information! did you guys have to check in your bags on the plane? or did it pass as carry on?

[@matt281075]

Haven't got to your time in Chile yet but I'm sure I will loving it you really do good videos👌👍

[@nicoleandmico]

Thanks so much! Hope you enjoy the Chile videos!

[@priyanthidissa]

Hey guys, awesome video and thank you for making this. One question. How did you guys make the bookings at the different camp sites? I’m having a mare with it

[@nicoleandmico]

Hey we booked directly with the companies. There are only two official companies that own the sites and we booked the respective sites at their home website, not using any agents. Let us know if that worked for you

[@gravitygolf]

I am trying to go this next week. Where did you book the campsites from?

[@samanthalin1740]

Love your video, so helpful!! Hi from Canada as well :D

[@nicoleandmico]

So glad you found it helpful and so happy to hear from another Canadian!!

[@michaelr1154]

Hey Nicole and Mico! Thanks so much for your video, we’ve been hunting for something just like this whilst preparing for the W in a future adventure. Love all the content you two make, full of smiles and super relaxed! Can’t wait to continue to watch your adventures, where after South America are you planning to go?

[@nicoleandmico]

So glad you enjoyed! We hope you have a wonderful time planning and packing for the trip - that by itself can be really enjoyable and exciting :) We are also glad you enjoy our videos! Right now we have moved on from South America and are now in India. It's a big change but one we are really excited about and can't wait to share it with you and others on our channel soon 😊

[@hedgeh0g7]

Very helpful video🎉

[@nicoleandmico]

Thank you! Enjoy your trek!

[@CloudySunshine101]

Great video!! Thank you!

[@nicoleandmico]

You are so welcome!

[@estherdebloois6640]

Thank you for the video, so helpfull! we're going to the O track this November and i'm looking for the Jetboil. Do you reccomend the smaller size you had or better one size up (difference between 0.8L and 1 L). We're with 2 persons and also planning on bringing the bags of dried meals

[@nicoleandmico]

So glad you found the video helpful! In our opinion the size we had was more than sufficient for a couple reasons. Firstly we rarely needed to use the capacity of the jetboil, i.e. we always had leftover hot water. Secondly if we did needed just a little more water, we would just fill the jetboil past the "max" line. This max line is actually quite a ways below the actual top lip of the jetboil. Of course you have to be careful but that's how we squeeze a little more water from a single boil. Secondly if you ever need a lot more water you can just boil another batch and because it's so quick, it's rarely an issue 😊 At least for us and what we choose to cook/make with the hot water the size we had was perfect! Plus it's smaller, lighter and easier to pack which is always a plus 👍

[@raychan5538]

This is great. Thank you guys! My family and I are headed to Ecocamp in TDP this Dec, so this was super helpful. How strong is the wind during the days? Also, how cold does it get during the days and evenings? Do you recommend bringing a thermos on the hike for those who run cold?

[@nicoleandmico]

That's awesome we're so excited for you guys! The wind was strong at some parts such as the pass between Seron and Dickson, and also John Garner right after Los Perror, however outside of those times, it wasn't too bad. Just constant, like a breeze that's always there. Something that's hard to escape from until you're either inside the refugios or in your tent. In terms of temperature when we went in March it was still pretty warm during the days and even nights. I think only one morning we woke up with frost on the ground but that's it. I imagine In December it will be hotter but I still wouldn't pack anything less than what we had in the video. Nicole is a person who runs cold and she didn't have any problems with the layering system she brought. I don't think anything more is required, especially because the hiking itself will keep you warm :) Good luck and let us know if you have any other questions!

[@CherylMorgan-o5s]

Thank you!

[@karenlee005]

Between YT and the Patagonia facebook group, you guys have been so helpful. Glad you made this vid! Curious, you briefly mentioned bug spray - did you need it? I’ll be there in January so a little warmer than when you guys were there.

[@nicoleandmico]

Hey there, thanks so much for letting us know you've found the information helpful. We have been racking our brains since reading your question trying to remember if we used the bug spray and we don't think we did! The wind was so strong that we didn't see a lot of bugs. Like you say, January may be more prone to bugs than March when we went, but we are pretty certain we didn't need the bud spray after all.

[@deejays93]

Hi! I’m planning a trip to do the O this Nov and your videos have been most helpful! Do you happen to know how to get from Las Torres (after the o) to Rio Serrano? I’m also trying to figure out how we get to the bus from RS to Puerto Natales. Thanks for your time!

[@elizabethb6693]

Hey guys, thanks for the comprehensive video! I was curious how heavy each of your bags were? My boyfriend and are doing the O trek this december :)

[@nicoleandmico]

Hey there! I wish we had been able to weigh our bags before we started so we could answer this question with certainty, but we gathered so much of our gear while we were already in South America that we couldn't weigh our bags. Our best guess is that Mico's pack was between 40-45 lbs to begin with and mine was around 35lbs including food and water. A LOT of that was food weight because we packed every meal and snack for the 10 days we hiked, so if you are going for less time or are buying some food along the way you can definitely start with less!

[@elizabethb6693]

@@nicoleandmico Thanks so much for your reply! That gives me a great idea of what I should be carrying too. Very keen for our trip after your video :)

[@nicoleandmico]

Happy to help! Have an incredible trip! It's an amazing place 🤩

[@camillamondini5377]

Hey guys! Thanks so much for the video, super helpful, finally someone that says everything people need to know! I'm going with my boyfriend in November to do the O-trek but after we are going to travel around South America for 9 months so we had to buy a tent that was adaptable for every season, where u guys ever scared for the strong wind in your Hubba Hubba? We opted for a Nemo dagger Osmo but we still bit worried about the strong winds, are the camping or refugios a bit wind protected? Thanks a lot! :)

[@nicoleandmico]

Hey there! Thanks for the compliment and how exciting that you have 9 months in South America coming up! We never had issues with wind in our tent. For the most part the areas to pitch tents are either tucked in the trees or there is some cover from a nearby mountain. Some of the campgrounds also had wind barriers which were really great for the more exposed spots. Overall we had no issues though!

[@camillamondini5377]

@@nicoleandmico uuuf that's a big relief! Thanks a lot, guys! Enjoy life 🌞

[@nicoleandmico]

You too!! ☺️

[@gabbydelima-fb5vh]

Your videos are super helpful! You both are wonderful! How did send some luggage back home from South America? Did you use an airline or another company?

[@nicoleandmico]

We were in Peru and just used the local international mail service. It's the cheapest but also the slowest when compared to companies like DHL but for us it worked out perfectly fine. Glad you enjoyed and don't hesitate to ask any questions!

[@eduardoseino8856]

Great video. I’m planning to go on March. How much should I expect to pay for a trip like this without any guide or park accommodations?

[@nicoleandmico]

Glad you enjoyed! Gosh it's really tough to put a number on that since we had all our gear and many of the meals purchased in Canada before we left. It really depends on how many days you spend out there. You can save on costs by buying some food and snacks at the local markets in Puerto Natales too! Besides that, the only real costs were accommodations. We didn't hire a guide and don't think it's necessary, the trails are very well marked 😊

[@annasilvestri73]

Great video! What time of the year did you do the o trek? We will do the w trek in November

[@nicoleandmico]

We went in mid March and were there for 10 days. It was pretty much shoulder season at this point so not too busy yet not too cold. Enjoy your trip! 😊

[@henrysmith180]

The backpacks...are they carry-on size or do they have to be checked?

[@nicoleandmico]

Hey there the backpacks have to be checked in as they are 50 and 55 liters. In our experience the max carry we've seen people get away with would be 40 to 45 liters. Anything bigger and they really clamp down.

[@luzortegagarces6582]

Hi! Thanks for your vid’s! Wich backpack is better for carry on? Thanks! Saludos desde Mexico!

[@nicoleandmico]

Hey there! The backpacks in this video are a bit too big for carry on because they are 50L and 55L. We would suggest not going above 40L for carry on in terms of size, and then weight can be tricky too. We traveled with these 38L backpacks for the first year of our travels tinyurl.com/2p9aczah Thanks for joining us from Mexico!

[@njdhockey7]

Awesome video again. You two are great. Would you recommend hiking insurance? Bit of a loaded question, but I priced out a few options and am on the fence.

[@nicoleandmico]

Great question! We SafetyWing for insure us when we travel (it provides both travel insurance and health insurance). The basic coverage through SafetyWing covers hiking below 4500m (nearly 15,000 ft if my memory is correct) and the highest you will go on the O trek is around 1200m/4000ft. We do recommend getting insurance for hiking in Patagonia just to be safe, especially if you needed any kind of emergency help way back in the mountains! You are welcome to use our referral link for SafetyWing to take a look at their products, or just google them of course 😊 tinyurl.com/2p87ewbr

[@amyhrenyk70]

Great video, thanks for sharing. Did you rent a Jet Boil down there or were you able to pack yours down in your luggage?

[@nicoleandmico]

We brought our own jetboil and had it in our check-in bag. We bought the fuel here though as it wasn't allowed on the plane. Lots of places to buy fuel from either in Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas.

[@amyhrenyk70]

@@nicoleandmico amazing, thank you! I have always read mixed things about carrying stoves/jet boils on planes… I too am coming from Canada so it’s nice to see your perspectives!

[@ilovund]

Hi! Great videos, very helpful! I have some questions, maybe you guys would know: When you left the camps for the smaller hikes in the W-trek, did you in any way lock your stuff/tent in the camp? How safe is it to leave your things in camps - both in these treks and in general in South America? Is it possible to securely store luggage in Puerto Natales? Im trying to figure out the logistics and which backpack(s) is the most suitable for a backpacking trip in South America, where we might do everything from several hikes to beach days.

[@ilovund]

And do the fairpoint/fairview trek backpacks have the possibility to lock the zippers with a pad lock? I already have the Fairview which has this function, and it's pretty neat when sleeping in hostels, and travelling with buses, trains, airplanes etc.

[@nicoleandmico]

Hey there we left our extra gear at Puerto Natales with our hotel. Pretty much every hotel offers this luggage storage service but just double check before you book. On the trail if we ever needed to leave our things we just left it with the campsite reception. They often times have a bag storage place that they look after. For the hike to Brittanico mirador you can leave your bag at campsite Italiano. This is pretty much what everyone does. Overall we had no problems with our luggage. Enjoy your time there!

[@nicoleandmico]

Yes our backpacks have small metal holes at the zippers to enable you to lock them. Very handy!

[@matt281075]

Excellent

[@LyfeInMacro]

Hey im goin to Patagonia in march and bringing the jetboil. Where did you get the gas tank for the jet boil when you landed in Chile?? Cause i am not trying to sneak one over on the plane obviously lol.

[@nicoleandmico]

I can’t quite remember but I think we bought some at one of the many hiking gear shops around Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales. I think we brought too much though because at each Refugio on the trail, there were always “leftover” tanks that were free to use haha. We were so scared of running out but it turns out it was quite easy to restock if we really needed too. Enjoy the hike!

[@kyleboulanger7835]

How’d you charge camera batteries at the refugios? Do you need a special charger to convert voltage, or do most battery chargers have that built in already?

[@nicoleandmico]

There were outlets at many Refugios and we didn’t need any special voltage converters. Just the right plug for the socket 😊

[@pauluminski2672]

Hi guys! I am confused when you say send our stuff ? Did you guys send your gears in Chile from Canada ?

[@AustenSummers]

Any ultralight hiker watching this is probably having a seizure lmao 🤣

[@nicoleandmico]

Definitely 😅

[@AnnabelElliott]

Hi Nicole and Mico - thanks so much for this, it's been so helpful. I'm considering getting the jetboil as a stove (we have booked some meals along the way to lighten the load a bit) and was wondering where you can buy the fuel for it? We're doing our prep day in puerto natales the day before we start the hike (though will be in el chalten and calafate beforehand), can you buy fuel there?

[@nicoleandmico]

Glad you enjoyed the video! We bought fuel in Punta Arenas but you can easily find it anywhere, especially in El Calafate El Chalten and Puerto Natales. If you have the option, I suggest getting geared up in Punta Arenas as they had the most outdoor supply stores with good stock. Puerto Natales is a smaller town so they don't have as much, including dehydrated food options if you plan to get these types of meals for the trek. Hope this helps!

[@AnnabelElliott]

@@nicoleandmico Good to know, thank you!

[@nicoleandmico]

No problem!

[@junlee2275]

Hi, N & M you guys stayed extra day at Refugio Paines and camp Fraces, Here is Question, did you arrange extra day when you make reservation or just ask extra day at camp site host? U guys are Gr8888....!!!!

[@nicoleandmico]

Hey there! We stayed at Hostel Los Cormoranes but honestly, we would not recommend it! We got a private room but it was still not good. We booked really last minute so we didn't have good options, so we would recommend booking further in advance!

[@mdotmonarch]

GRACIAS

[@nicoleandmico]

You’re welcome! ☺️ de nada

[@Littlemoon38]

Hey guys! You said that mice were a problem and that you needed to pack any scented items carefully at night. What does that look like exactly? Nothing is totally scent proof, won’t they just bite through the backpacks to get to the food? Were some sites worse than others? Thanks!

[@nicoleandmico]

Yeah we had a mouse bite into my pack to get some open snacks/food that I (Mico) had so definitely my bad! We think if you seal all food/scented items in a bag (like a ziplock) then you’ll be okay. The worst sites for this are definitely Seron and Dickson because they are more in a field setting than the other sites. Good luck!

[@krystalbenn5364]

Hello! You recommend bringing food from the US to the W trek. Do you have advice for traveling internationally with food on a carry on? Are there restrictions for dried food? Obviously no liquids. Thanks!

[@krystalbenn5364]

And now I just read the comment below me so that answers it. :)

[@nicoleandmico]

So glad you found the answers in the comments 🤗 Have an incredible time on the W! We are craving another visit to Patagonia

[@catherinepotato7389]

how did you guys go about getting your permits and reservations for being in the park and arranging spots at the camp grounds?

[@nicoleandmico]

For the park permit there is a Chilean government website where you purchase a pass depending on hoe long you're in the park. For the reservations, we booked directly with Vertice and Fantastico Sur; those are the two major refugio operators. Booking direct with them will be cheaper than any other 3rd party online. Hope this helps!

[@vidhyaseshadri787]

What’s the link to the hiking poles, what brand and model #.. thank you

[@nicoleandmico]

Hey there, we are so sorry the link wasn't available in the description! The hiking poles we got were from a random store in Chile, but this link will bring you to a very similar hiking pole that can be bought online: amzn.to/3BzZp1f Thank you for leaving a comment and bringing it to our attention that the link was missing from the description! We have updated it now to show the correct link 😀

[@vickioconnell9043]

I’m planning to go to Patagonia in March and hike, and looking at getting the Patagonia torrentshell raincoat, what size do you have in the coat? (I live in the Caribbean so I can’t try anything on, so what I buy has to fit)

[@nicoleandmico]

Hi Vicki, my (Nicole) raincoat is a size small. I hope that helps a bit and you have an amazing time in Patagonia!!!

[@AmandaDBall]

Hi I thought each Refugio has boiling water available? Is that correct for the w trek? Why do you need the stove if they offer that?(if you only need the boiling water)

[@nicoleandmico]

We only saw Chileno with hot water which they offer because they don't allow stoves there. The water they provided was also not hot enough for dehydrated food, more so for coffee or tea. Nowhere else did we see anyone providing boiling water and mostly everyone brought their own cooking system unless they paid for meals. You can verify with the refugios directly but I don't think they provide hot water like that. Hope this helps!

[@AmandaDBall]

@@nicoleandmico thank you!!

[@AmandaDBall]

@@nicoleandmico so they do not provide burners and stoves correct?

[@nicoleandmico]

Correct they don't provide that equipment and you should bring your own if you intend to cook your own food. Let me know if you have any questions!

[@oxtail1000]

Hi! Did you say you brought your own hiking poles? I heard TSA will hold them.

[@nicoleandmico]

Hey there! We bought the poles in Chile actually, but we had friends of ours bring them back to Canada by packing them in their check in bags. As long as they are kept in check in luggage you shouldn't have a problem flying with them. The ends are considered a sharp object so they aren't allowed to be carried on to flight, but check in is good!

[@oxtail1000]

Thank you! That’s helpful.

[@nicoleandmico]

No problem!

[@jessfern1694]

Do you think you could (hand)wash clothes on the trail? I'm curious to see if you could get away with having two sets of socks etc. on trail

[@nicoleandmico]

Yeah for sure! We hand washed our hiking pants and socks and underwear one day. We used our wilderness wash which doubles as a dish and laundry soap. You just have to choose a day when you expect to be at camp early so everything has time to dry

[@nicoleandmico]

Oh and we also brought our small laundry lines to hang everything up! The laundry line was also good for airing out our clothes in the evenings so they didn't get too gross after multiple days of wear

[@electricPuha1]

What water resistancy rating was anyone's tent who's done the trek?

[@nicoleandmico]

We’re not exactly sure what ours was but if you search our tent (msr hubba hubba)you can find all the details of the ratings!

[@katherinegill6015]

❤

[@Ifonly-notus]

Over 55? Ain’t gonna pack like a youngster.

[@nicoleandmico]

Regardless of what you pack we hope you have a great hike!