Get Ready

Money, tipping, climate, WiFi access, travel insurance—the following information aims to help you prepare for our Modern Adventure in Chile.

For information about packing lists and what gear to bring, see our Gear & Packing recommendations.

COVID-19

Modern Adventure, in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), requires that all guests be fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine and provide proof of documentation before joining any trip.

The CDC defines fully vaccinated as 14 days after receiving:

  • a single dose of an accepted 1-dose vaccine

  • the second dose of an accepted 2-dose vaccine

  • The full series of an active (not placebo) COVID-19 vaccine in the US-based AstraZeneca or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trials

  • The second dose of any “mix and match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines (administered at least 17 days apart)

We strongly recommend that guests who are eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster shot do so in preparation for their travel. Destinations and their local laws may have different requirements and definitions of what constitutes full vaccination. Guests who have not received a booster dose may be prevented from traveling to certain destinations.

In addition, it may be a requirement to provide a negative COVID-19 test result prior to your departure and your return to your home country. Information will be provided in guest communications leading up to your trip. By booking a Modern Adventure you are agreeing to these terms and to providing proof of vaccination.

For more information about our COVID policies, please click here.

Medications

If you are on prescription medication, you should ask your doctor for a letter detailing your condition and prescribed drugs. This prevents possible issues at customs and helps the local doctor if you need to buy medication while traveling. If you wear prescription glasses or contact lenses, we recommend you bring an extra pair and a copy of the prescription in case of emergency.

Climate

Temperatures vary greatly depending on elevation, but you can expect temperatures ranging between the low 40s at night, reaching into the upper-60s in the afternoons.

On the trek, expect and plan for anything and everything: sunshine, wind, rain and even snow, often in the same day!

Internet & Connectivity

Chile’s remote wilderness is a magnificent and inspirational destination, and we value completely disconnecting from civilization. For much of our time in Chile, cell phones and WiFi will not work. The exceptions are at the beginning and end of our trip, when we may have limited WiFi access in our lodges and guest houses.

We recommend using Wi-Fi supported apps such as WhatsApp, FaceTime or Skype as an alternative to making calls from your mobile phone. For US travelers, many phone providers have temporary international travel plans. Check with your provider for options.

We discourage guests from bringing their own satellite phones or similar devices, and we definitely discourage active and regular connection with the outside world.

Health & Safety

We always recommend that you consult with your doctor to make any personal health decisions prior to travel. For this adventure our expedition guides will have a medical kit and rescue supplies available, but we always recommend that you carry a personal first-aid kit and any personal medication. We make safety a priority on all our adventures, however, incidents and injuries that require evacuation do occur from time to time.

Since this adventure takes place in very remote wilderness locations, it can be difficult and expensive to plan evacuations. It is each guest’s responsibility to be covered by medical, travel and evacuation insurance, or be prepared to cover the cost yourself, for expenses related to an emergency medical evacuation.

Physical Conditioning

Conditioning should start no later than 2 months prior to our trip departure. Pre-trip physical conditioning is important to creating a fun and positive trip for yourself and the group as a whole. Your regimen should include walking or hiking in the boots you intend to wear with your loaded 60-liter backpack (see Gear & Packing for more details).

Electricity

In Chile electricity is supplied at 220 volts with C (two round pins) and L (three round pins) sockets, both of which are different from North America (which operates at 120V, A and B type sockets). For guests traveling from the US, you will need a power-plug adapter as well as a voltage converter before plugging in appliances and electrical devices.

Money & Tipping

The local currency is the Chilean peso, worth roughly 785 pesos to $1 US dollar. Unlike many other countries in South America, the US dollar is not widely accepted. There are ATMs in Coyhaique to access your bank back home. Some restaurants and shops accept credit cards; however Chile is still a cash-centric country, and you will want some peso notes handy.

We curate your Modern Adventure to ensure all experiences are immersive and included in your trip price. We recommend bringing enough money with you for a few meals on your own, as well as any souvenirs or local arts and crafts you might like to bring back.

If you're eating out on your own, tipping 10% in restaurants is standard, and most will automatically add 10% to la cuenta (the bill). No tip is expected for small purchases such as coffee or a beverage, although it's common enough to leave the change.

Please note that tipping our local and Modern Adventure guides is at your discretion; to show your appreciation for good service, we recommend 5%-10% of the trip cost per person for your Modern Adventure Trip Leader. For local guides, it is $10-15 per person per day. For drivers and porters, we recommend about $5 USD per day

Luggage

We recommend guest bring backpacks (up to 60 liters) for carrying personal gear when hiking (see Gear & Packing). Group gear will be carried by our porters, so you will be responsible for carrying only your personal items. Keep this in mind as you pack, lighter is almost always better.

If you chose to pack and check your backpack, make sure all the straps are cinched and buckled. Baggage conveyors have been known to eat these straps!

Please pack essentials, such as toiletries, medication, shorts, etc., in your carry-on, in case your luggage doesn't make it on the flight with you.

Passports & Visas

U.S. citizens staying for less than 90 days do not require a visa to enter Chile. The passport must have at validity for the entirety of your stay to be allowed entry. For citizens of other countries, please check with the Chilean Embassy or Consulate for information and requirements.

Travel Insurance

Since much of this adventure takes place in remote mountainous locations, it can be difficult and expensive to plan evacuations. It is each guest’s responsibility to be covered by emergency medical and evacuation insurance, or to be prepared to cover the cost yourself, for expenses related to an emergency medical evacuation. Global Rescue provides evacuation and field-rescue services and is a good option to consider.

We also highly recommend purchasing conventional travel insurance. Travel insurance allows you to seek reimbursement for your trip costs if your trip plans change for unforeseeable reasons. It typically also covers theft, loss or damage of items while traveling.

For best coverage, always insure the full trip cost within two weeks of your initial trip deposit and note that most 'Cancel For Any Reason' policies must be purchased on the date of your initial deposit.

While Modern Adventure does not recommend any policy specifically, we encourage you to compare benefits and options, a few of which are listed below. We recommend that any plan you select includes trip cancellation and trip interruption coverage, at minimum.