Many of our customers visit Patagonia to enjoy the extensive variety of hiking trails in Torres del Paine, Los Glaciares, Tierra del Fuego and further north towards the Lake District. They will often ask us “why should I use a guide?”. It’s fair to say that most of the walks are well marked in the national parks, and maps are easy to come by; so, what is the point of hiring a guide?
Primarily a guide is there to lead you on your trip and assist you in anyway they can, to ensure you have the best possible experience. They are local experts and are passionate about helping you. When out on the trails, having the luxury of following in someone’s footsteps allows you to fully immerse yourself in your surroundings. There’s peace of mind that you aren’t going to get lost, and you don’t constantly have to be on the lookout for the next way-marker.
However, simply leading a group along a trail is only a very small part of a guide’s job. There are a host of other benefits to using a guide:
- In-depth knowledge of local fauna and flora, history and heritage
- Health and safety back up
- Transport support (this is particularly helpful if using public transport)
- Accommodation support (they will help you get checked in quickly, and usually prioritised at meal times)
- Recommendations for restaurants, cafes, photo opportunities
But don’t just take our word for it – our customers constantly want to share with us how having a guide on their trip really enhanced their experiences:
“Probably the best part of our trek was our trekking guide, Nicholas. He was a perfect fit for our group of 5 with superb social skills, direction, knowledge-base and flexibility” (Ted, November 2015)
“My guide for the Huemul Circuit, Pablo, was incredible. He was professional, knowledgeable, and helpful in every way. That trek would’ve been much less enjoyable without him guiding us along. Similarly, Julieta, my guide for the Torres del Paine Full Circuit trek made that experience greatly enjoyable. She did so many little things, like having her friends make brownies and granola bars for us, that really made the adventure special” (Patrick, April 2015)
“The trip was a big joy not least because of our very professional and pleasant guide! Whenever we had questions about things we saw he was able to give us an answer. Whenever we needed a break or wanted to spend some more time at a certain spot, he would understand and make that happen. He was very caring and always gave us the information we needed about what was going to happen the day. He had a good sense of humour on top of it all, which made the trip special as well” (Jenny, September 2015)
“I had never hiked with a guide until I started to work for Swoop and quite honestly the idea did not appeal. I usually enjoy planning, route finding and independence. However I had not appreciated the enjoyment of being taken care of, so that you simply need to look around and move your legs. I saw birds that I simply wouldn’t have spotted alone and came away with a deeper understanding of the area through which I travelled which on previous trips I had only gleaned by poring over guide books.” (Harriet, Swoop Trekking, Mountaineering and Cyclying Specialist)
However if you’re an experienced traveller and prefer to travel independently, then self-guided trips may be more suited to you. We can still help arrange all the nitty gritty details such as booking accommodation, transfers/public transport and meals, but you won’t have a guide there to shepherd you.
Here are some of the benefits of a self-guided trip:
- Freedom and flexibility to work to your own time schedule
- Hike at your own pace
- Enjoy the seclusion and privacy of travelling without a group
- Lengthen or shorten your day on your own terms
Many of our customers choose to hike independently and then take a guide for a couple of days to really get off the beaten track. Joining a guided kayaking trip or horseriding trip can be a really exciting way to finish your Patagonian adventure!
Whichever option you choose, you can be safe in the knowledge that the people of Patagonia are very helpful; you will find that a friendly face is never far away. Whether you choose a guide or not is ultimately down to your travelling style and personal preference.
