Two Months Backpacking Patagonia on a Student Budget: My Complete Itinerary and Costs

This post is an FYI of the basics involved in my trip backpacking patagonia, in case you want to plan a similar trip yourself. There is as much information on costs and simple logistics here as I can remember, although no doubt I've missed something so take it as an approximate. If you are looking to plan anything in the areas I visited and would like more detailed information, don't hesitate to message and I'll happily help in any way I can.

I travelled light, but by no means the lightest I could and there are many places here I could have cut more costs. I opted to spend more money on good food than I absolutely had to, though I mostly shopped at supermarkets/local grocers and self catered so rarely ate out. I also splashed out a couple of times on massage. I didn't do many 'touristy' things because I was there to explore the mountains and train, so that also helped keep costs low. My days were mostly eat/run/eat/sleep repeat, which means I got to explore many more of the national parks and trails than people normally would, and I could not recommend that more. The nature and wildlife in this part of the world lives up to all the hype, even more so when you venture into the less explored areas.

I started with a budget of $5000 that had to cover everything for the approx two months, and just managed to stay somewhat around that with the help of staying with the family of a dear friend in Santiago, getting a cheap flight on christmas day, and hitch-hiking when safe to do so to get to trails etc.

So here it is - All the basic info info. Hope it helps someone!

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South America Basic Itinerary + Costs

Date	Place	Travel	Accommodation	Activities	Costs
09/11	Travel	1:25pm Flight Melbourne to Santiago then 4pm Flight Santiago to Puerto Montt (Latam Airlines)	AirBnB	-	Flights: $1800.10 Return Melb - Santiago. $70 Santiago to Puerto Montt. Chile Entry Tax: $175 Accomodation: $27 Food: $25
10/11	Puerto Montt		AirBnB	Easy run in Puerto Varas	Accomodation: $27 Food: $20 Sim Card: $3 Phone Credit: $5
11/11	Puerto Montt		AirBnB	Drive to Petrohue, Run, Visit Saltos del Petrohue	Accomodation: $27 Waterfall: $20 Food: $30
12/11	Puerto Montt		AirBnB	Fartlek Session Puerto Montt, Visit Puerto Varas	Accomodation: $27 Food: $30
13/11	Villa La Angostura	8:15am Bus from Puerto Montt to Villa La Angostura, arrive 3:15pm (Company: Andesmar Chile)	Cabanas La Alemancita, Puerto Manzano	Travel/Easy Run	Bus: $35 Accomodation: 0 Food: $45 Sim Card: $3 Phone Credit: $3
14/11	Villa La Angostura		Cabanas La Alemancita, Puerto Manzano	Course Check Opening Ceremony	Accomodation: 0 Food: 0
15/11	Villa La Angostura		Cabanas La Alemancita, Puerto Manzano	World Mountain Running Champs	Accomodation: 0 Food: $12
16/11	Villa La Angostura		Cabanas La Alemancita, Puerto Manzano	World Mountain Running Champs	Accomodation: 0 Food: 0
17/11	Puerto Montt	11:15am Bus from Villa La Angostura to Puerto Montt, arrive 5:15pm (Company: Andesmar Chile)	Puerto Montt AirBnB - Address: Tres de Junio, Puerto Montt, Región de los Lagos, Chile	Easy Run	Bus: $35 Accomodation: $24 Food: $15
18/11	Puerto Natales	8:15am Flight Puerto Montt to Punta Arenas, arriving 11am (Company:SKY Airlines) 12:30pm Bus Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales, arriving 3:45pm (Company: Bus Sur)	Cabanas Patagonia InSitu, Puerto Natales	Travel Gear Hire/Food Shop (sleeping mat, stove, gas)	Flight: $165 Bus: $18 Accomodation: $36 Food: $50 Gear Rental: $40
19/11	Torres del Paine	7am Bus Puerto Natales to Torres Del Paine (Company: Bus Sur)	Torre Central Camping	Hike Torre Central - Towers and Return (20km)	Bus: $17 Shuttle: $7 Park Entry: $45 Camping: $68
20/11	Torres del Paine		Paine Grande Camping	Hike Torre Central - Paine Grande (27km)	Camping: $16
21/11	Torres del Paine		Paine Grande Camping	Hike Paine Grande - Mirador Britanico and return (26km)	Camping: $16 Food: $10
22/11	Puerto Natales	6:30pm Ferry from Paine Grande to Pudeto 7pm Bus Pudeto to Puerto Natales (Company: Bus Sur)	Puerto Natales Cabin (AirBnB)	Hike Paine Grande - Glacier Grey and Return (25km)	Accomodation:$36 Ferry: $40 Bus: $17
23/11	Puerto Natales		Puerto Natales AirBnB - Address: I. Carrera Pinto, Puerto Natales, Natales, Chile	Souvenir Shopping, easy run	Accomodation: $25 Food: $50
24/11	El Calafate	7:30 am Bus Puerto Natales to El Calafate, arriving 2pm (Company: COOTRA)	Hostel Kooch: José Pantin 58, El Calafate, Santa Cruz, Argentina	Easy run around Lago Argentina	Bus: $35 Accomodation: $15 Food: $30 Phone Credit: $6
25/11	El Calafate		Hostel Kooch: José Pantin 58, El Calafate, Santa Cruz, Argentina	Day Tour: Perito Moreno Mini Trekking (Company: Hielo Aventura)	Tour: $240 Accomodation: $15 Food: 0
26/11	El Chalten	8am Bus El Calafte to El Chalten, arriving 11am (Company: Chalten Travel)	Lo de Trivi: Av. San martin 675 9301 El Chalten Argentina (Booking.com)	Travel, Easy run around El Chalten	Bus: $27 Accomodation: $25 Food: $40
27/11	El Chalten		Lo de Trivi	Run to Loma del Pliegue Tombado (20km)	Accomodation: $25 Food: $15
28/11	El Chalten		Lo de Trivi	Run/Hike to Laguna de los Tres and Cerro Madsen (25.5)	Accomodation: $25 Food: $15
29/11	El Chalten		Lo de Trivi	Run in Los Huemules Reserve to Laguna Del Diablo (19km)	Accomodation: $25 Food: $10
30/11	El Chalten		Lo de Trivi	Loop run Cerro Torre to Laguna de Los Tres to El Pillar and back to El Chalten (50km)	Accomodation: $25 Food: $10
01/12	El Chalten		Lo de Trivi	Mountain Bike Hire 4 hrs Run in Los Huemules to Rio Electrico (13.5km)	Accomodation: $25 Food: $20 Mountain Bike Hire: $30
02/12	El Chalten		Lo de Trivi	Morning Road 6x1km Session, Afternoon jog/hike to Loma de la Pizarras)	Accomodation: $25 Food: $10
03/12	El Chalten		Lo de Trivi	Run around El Chalten (13.5km), Massage/spa afternoon	Accomodation: $25 Food: $25 Massage: $90
04/12	El Chalten		Lo de Trivi	Run to Laguna Toro (35km)	Accomodation: $25 Food: $30
05/12	El Chalten		Lo de Trivi	Easy run on low trails around El Chalten (28km)	Accomodation: $25 Food: $20
06/12	El Calafate	11am Bus El Chalten to El Calafate, arriving 2pm (Company: Chalten Travel)	Hostel Kooch: José Pantin 58, El Calafate, Santa Cruz, Argentina	Fast Road session Travel Easy run around Lago Argentina	Bus: $27 Accomodation: $15 Food: $10
07/12	Punta Arenas	7:30 am Bus El Calafte to Puerto Natales, Arriving 1pm (Company: COOTRA) 3pm Bus Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas, arriving 6:45pm	Punta Arenas AirBnB - Address: Costanera del Rio Sur 153, Punta Arenas, Región de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena, Chile	Travel Day - Easy run around Punta Arenas	Bus: $35 Accomodation: $30 Food: $20
08/12	Pucon	8:50am Flight Punta Arenas to Puerto Montt, Arriving 11am (Company: SKY Airline) Shuttle Puerto Montt Airport to Bus station 3pm Bus Puerto Montt to Temuco, Arriving 7:25pm 7:30pm Bus Temuco to Pucon, Arriving 9:15pm	Chilli Kiwi Hostel (single room)	Travel Day	Flight: $70 Bus: $20 Accomodation: $37 Food: $20
09/12	Pucon		Chilli Kiwi Hostel (single room)	Flat Trail session around Pucon +afternoon easy run	Accomodation: $37 Food: $5 Phone Credit: $5
10/12	Pucon		Chilli Kiwi Hostel (single room)	Run in Huerquehue National Park, Cerro Sebastian + Four Lakes (30km)	Accomodation: $37 Food: $10
11/12	Pucon		Chilli Kiwi Hostel (single room)	Run to El Salto Del Claro (20km)	Accomodation: $37 Food: $15
12/12	Pucon		Chilli Kiwi Hostel (single room)	Run in Santuario El Cani following El Cani 50km Race Course	Accomodation: $37 Food: $10 Hydrospeed: $65
13/12	Pucon	9:45pm Bus Pucon to Santiago, depart on highway outside San Fernando (Company: Turbus - must ask driver for early departure) Walk to San Fernando Bus Terminal Next Available Bus from San Fernando to Pichilemu (Company: Buses Nilahue)	Sleep on Bus	Lake swim, massage at Massages Pucon	Bus: $45 Food: $20 Massage: $60
14/12	Pichilemu		lilafken Apartments: Millaco 1172 3220417 Pichilemu Chile (Booking.com)	Rest Day - stayed arround accom	Accomodation: $26 Food: $20
15/12	Pichilemu		lilafken Apartments	Easy run, Beach Day	Accomodation: $26 Food: $10
16/12	Pichilemu		lilafken Apartments	Easy run, Beach Day	Accomodation: $26 Food: $10
17/12	Santiago	11:30 Bus Pichilemu to Santiago, arriving 2:30pm (Company: Trans Santin)	Family Stay	Road sprint session, Travel	Bus: $12 Food: $15 Transport Card: $10
18/12	Santiago		Family Stay	Easy run around Parque Bicentenario	Food: $25
19/12	Santiago		Family Stay	Mountain Run from San Carlos to Cerro Provincia, Cerro Ramon and then Parque Mahuida (31km)	Food: $20
20/12	Santiago		Family Stay	Pool Day	Food: $25
21/12	Santiago		Family Stay	Double easy run, Visit Publitos Los Dominicos	Food: $30
22/12	Santiago		Family Stay	Run around Parque Metropolitano to Cerro San Cristobal (23km)	Food: $10
23/12	Santiago		Family Stay	16km Easy run to Parque Juan Pablo	Food: $15
24/12	Santiago		Airport	16km Easy Run around Provincia/Las Condes	Food: 0
25/12	Fly Home	1:50am Flight Santiafo to Melbourne, arrives 26/12 4:45am (Company: Latam Airlines)	Flight
Thursday 26 Dec	Arrive Home			Total Spend:	Flights: $2100 Buses: $350 Other Transport: $60 Accomodation: $850 ($25 per night paid for) Food: $800 ($17 per day) Souvenirs/Gifts: $200 Other: $750
					TOTAL: $5110