LEAVE NO TRACE
Leave No Trace: 7 Rules for Wild Patagonia
“Take only memories. Leave only tire tracks.”
In Patagonia, nature is still raw, vast, and untamed. Glaciers groan, rivers roar, and trails wind through millenary forests where the wind whispers ancient secrets. But with great beauty comes great responsibility — and it’s up to us to keep this land as wild as we found it.
Whether you’re camping beside a turquoise river, hiking through lenga forests, or riding into the mist, these 7 Leave No Trace principles are your code of honor:
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
• Patagonia’s weather is unpredictable and distances can be long.
• Pack smart. Know your route. Carry extra food and gear.
“In Patagonia, the wind doesn’t care if you forgot your tent stakes.”
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
• Stick to trails, gravel, rock, or previously used campsites.
• Avoid trampling moss, peat, or delicate highland terrain — they take centuries to recover.
3. Pack It In, Pack It Out
• Trash bins are rare in the wild. Take everything back with you — yes, even your orange peel.
• Use a dedicated trash dry bag and carry your waste until you reach a proper disposal site.
4. Leave What You Find
• Don’t pick native flowers, move rocks, or carve your name on lenga trees.
• That twisted root or condor feather belongs to the story of this land — not your backpack.
5. Minimize Campfire Impact
• Fire is sacred — and dangerous.
• Use a stove whenever possible. If you must light a fire, do it only in authorized areas and extinguish it completely with water.
6. Respect Wildlife
• Don’t feed the foxes. Don’t chase the pudús(small deer). Don’t leave crumbs for the birds.
• Wildlife should stay wild — for their safety, and yours.
Feeding animals can lead to injury, illness, or make them dependent on humans to survive.
7. Be Respectful of Others
• In Patagonia, silence is part of the magic.
• Keep noise low, share campsites respectfully, and yield the trail when needed. Everyone’s here for the same reason — to feel something real.