Patagonia October 17 2025 tour.....Clothing
Hello everyone!
We are going on our first Tauck tour to Patagonia in October, 2025. Very excited!
Can someone confirm what to pack during that time of year?
Do I really need a heavy jacket, or can I get by with quick dry base layer, fleece, wind/rainproof jacket and pants, wool hat and gloves? Will be bringing waterproof hiking shoes. Type of pants? I'm 62 so I will not be seen in leggings lol. Assuming hiking pants but will we be going on truly hiking hikes?
Also....evening dinners...assuming it's very casual?
Any help would be greatly appreciated! tyty
Candace 
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I did this tour over Xmas/NY about 8 years ago. Expect rain and wind. In Oct, it will be considerably ccoler than when I was there. I was fine with a mid weight jacket. I didn't bring a winter jacket, nor any cold weather underlayers and I was fine. I'm sure British will chime in and tell you about her long johns, etc.
It all depends on your comfort level and tolerance to cool weather. I don't get cold easily. If you live in FL/AZ/SoCal, you may want to bring winter clothes.
Edited to add - it was a great trip!
I do get cold easily and live in So Cal. We also went in October. For the 2 days involving glaciers, I had on a thin base layer, a mid layer fleece, puffer jacket (not down) and rain shell/wind breaker with hat and gloves. I was still cold. I wished that I had brought a down layer. And it was snowing when we got to Puerto Natales.
Also, while this is mostly a "national park" trip and you don't need to dress for dinner, you might wish to have something other than hiking clothes for the first night, and the last night which is the the tango night.
We took this tour last November. We had all types of weather. We brought a base layer, long sleeve shirts, flannel shirts, sweaters and Eddie Bauer and Columbia hiking pants. We wore some or all of the items depending on the weather that day. Also had a puffer jacket, rain jacket and pants, beanies and waterproof gloves. Bring water proof hiking shoes with good grip. Forget umbrellas. The wind would just knock them out of your hands. We had very long days, mostly eating after 7:00, so except for the first night in Santiago and the last night in Buenos Aires, nobody dressed up and usually never changed from daytime clothing.
We liked the tour. Fast paced but the scenery is outstanding.
ok so a packable puffer jacket is also indeed needed.
I usually don't get cold if I'm moving about out in the cold. But nothing worse than being cold and wet. I have waterproof jacket and pants.
Logically best pants? quick dry pants? Recommendations?
We are normally carryon light packers .....but I have a feeling this trip may require a check-in bag along with the carryon.
I suppose I can take the attitude that leaves more room for souvenirs.
I would check the weather as it gets closer. The weather in Patagonia can change several times in the same day. I’d be prepared for cold, wind and rain at least a day or two.
We have been to Patagonia in both November and January. I definitely do not get cold easily but especially the first time I had to wear yes, my long johns, pants and waterproof pants on some days to cope with the wind. Hat and hoodie. At times it nearly blew me away. This past January it was not as cold but we did get rain, still lots of wind and very cold right by the glaciers we visited. Layers you can take on and off easily is the key.
Candace - if you have not already done so, I encourage you to read through the previous Patagonia posts - very helpful trip reports addressing weather, clothing, activities. We took this great tour in early March of this year. Fortunately we did not encounter the famous winds. We did need our layers. We wore hiking pants. I also had a pair of stretch hiking pants that I could wear alone or layer. Based upon previous posts, I anticipated that my husband and I would take two optional long hikes. So, we brought lined, water resistant hiking pants. We were glad to have them for those long, sometimes challenging hikes. I also brought waterproof hiking boots and shoes, and wore both. And, we did bring swimsuits, and used them.
We went in Feb 2025. People wore winter clothes. Lots of layers. The wind is very strong. The weather changes constantly. We wore rain pants once. Hiking poles were good to have. There are all levels of hikes available. Read the past forum posts on this topic.
Thank you so much for all your comments so far. Yes I've been reading the past forum posts. All have been very helpful. Layer layer layer. I think I'm ready!
Candace, bring a merino buff. They are multi functional. In addition, look at bring a pair of weather resistant gloves and upsize x1 so you can put a thin merino liner underneath. I have a pair of 66North snaefell gloves that work great.
It’s not the cold that is the issue, it is the wind. Two layers of gloves is overkill in my humble opinion. I’ve been there twice including further south than Tauck goes.
There is a science to layering correctly. You need trapped body heat between layers to keep you warm. The wind is another element.
The 66 north gloves I referred to are simply a shell. The setup is essentially a merino bas layer and a weather resistant jacket for your hands.
When I was there (iver Xmas), for me, gloves were unnecessary.
Candace- I'm leaving in November - just starting to get my packing list in order. Yesterday I bought All Weather pants at LL Bean (we have a local store here in CT). They are lined and apparently water/wind proof.
If you can, please post about weather conditions when you return. Having a bit of a tussle with my husband about puffy coats - just not sure they're necessary! Thank you so much.😀
We went to Patagonia with Tauck in a November and we needed three layers on heads, bodies and legs for most of the time, mainly for wind and we did encounter snow one day. I recently posted photos of us like that. To be clear, we live in the North East US and cold doesn’t usually bother us much, I often walk in just a long T shirt at low temperatures. When we went a second time at a different time of year, it was a little less windy and cold.
I posted this photograph the other day, it’s dated November 23rd 2018. I’m wearing a hat over that hoodie and thick fingerless gloves I bought in Iceland. And I spot we had waterproof pants on too…for the wind.
Okay, British! You've convinced me! Puffy coat it is!
layers layers layers....I plan to have silk long johns, hiking pants, base turtleneck, sweater, fleece, windproof/waterproof jacket (with gloves, beanie, windproof/waterproof pants, buff when needed, which from the sound of it will be needed alot).
My dilemma is trying to pack everything in a carryon.
The luggage requirements are a little confusing. I've read a couple variations within Chile/Argentina and it's hard to know not knowing the exact airline we are taking within Chile/Argentina.
****I'm so excited I can't see straight
Tauck says one medium suitcase for whatever tour you take. Unless they say a normal sized carry on cannot be accommodated, then you are Ok. What do they say about your tour? It’s a while since we took the tour so I can’t remember specifics but we usually only take a backpack for carry on.
Candace - I assume that it is your preference to use carryon luggage only. My husband and I each brought one medium sized suitcase, which we checked, and we each had a backpack for carryon. The overhead space on the internal flights was tight, and some people were required to check roller carryon bags.
ah well.. we'll probably be bringing 2 carry-ons, 1 checked bag the size of a carryon ...and 2 personal items. Not going to go buy a larger suitcase.
If we need to check the all 3 bags on the internal flight, that's fine. Thank you for the heads up on the overhead space being tight on the internal flights.
I've never checked baggage on trips, as I'm normally a light packer. This trip is a little different for some reason.
We did this tour last year. Bring lots of older clothes and leave them along the way. I always plan to leave sneakers, sleep shirt, maybe bathing suit, an older shirt or two. The shopping for adventure clothes is pretty good there. We almost always go with carry-on only
In El Clafate, there was a North Face store, but not a Patagonia store. Imagine that!
We drove past the home of one of the people who founded one of those types of stores in Patagonia, can’t recall which one. I think he passed away in an accident. Does that ring any bells with anyone?
I just googled and think it was Douglas Tompkins, it was in Puerto Vallus. It looks as if he founded both those store brands.
Aha...love the idea of scattering my remains (of clothing) along the way.
lol
For anyone interested.....My husband DID find a rental place in Puerto Natales (7$ a day for a puffer jacket, plus they had backpacks, daypack rentals etc. etc.) and yes there are stores to buy what is needed....so I think we will have a few options if we get in a (cold) pinch.
But you won’t be going many places that have stores.