Patagonia Adventure Expeditions (0 testimonials)

In business since 2003

Patagonia Adventure Expeditions was created on the banks of the Baker river in the tiny village of Puerto Bertrand. Jonathan Leidich, after climbing on the northern ice cap, decided he needed to find a way of staying here. With a recent history of river guiding in Colorado and the chance to study in Santiago, Jon decided a small rafting company doing half day trips on the Baker would be the ideal way to finance his summers in Patagonia. Jon teamed up with Andrés Pincheira, a young lawyer from Punta Arenas who put together the legal side of the company. A rapid but organic metamorphosis took place which led, 4 years later, to a more extensive infrastructure being necessary in order to provide the level of service and support that the complicated logistics of the companies new growth area – multi day expeditions- required. At this point, in 1999, Ian Farmer came on board. After directing Chile´s Centro de Educación al Aire Libre (CEAL outdoor education centre) for the previous 6 years, Ian had moved to Patagonia. Jon and Ian had previously coloborated on a number of expedition projects so the decission to work together and combine talents was easily taken.

The Coyhaique office was opened in 2000. It is from here that the companies are managed. All comunication goes through this office and expedition planning, logistical arrangements and ground operations of all expeditions are coordinated from here. In summer time we also offer a series of single day, guided activities in the surrounding hills and on local rivers and provide an extensive information service for adventurous travellers.

The majority of expedition groups go through our office in Puerto Bertrand en-route to the mountains and valleys surrounding the northern ice cap. This office serves as the focal centre for guiding, expedition preparation and the hub of group programs. Our house, with garden and excellent kitchen and food serve as a central meeting point and information centre for hikers, bikers and boaters as well as our expedition guests and a good part of the summer visitors to the town who arrive specifically to raft with us on the rio Baker.

It is from Puerto Bertrand that we are working most directly on our biggest project to date, the Aysen Glacier Trail. This incredible Hut to Hut trail begins in Puerto Bertrand where 40% of the local work force are currently involved in construction work on the trail.

Work on the trail began in 2003 when, with the help of PatagoniaAysen, a government sponsored devolpment program of CORFO, we completed the feasibility studies for the Aysen Glacier Trail. A year later we began the building work of cutting trail, developing hut sites and installing infrastructure. The aim is to provide the best hut to hut hiking circuit in Patagonia.
The partners of the company are:
Jonathan Leidich: Born and raised in Colorado, 30 years old, lives between Colorado and Patagonia.
Andrés Pincheira: Born and raised in Punta Arenas, 30 years old, lawyer practicing in Coyhaique.
Jim Leidich: Jon`s father, lives in New Mexico, now retired.
Ian Farmer: Originally from England, 39 years old and lives in Coyhaique.

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3 most popular Trips (out of 3 total)

Rio Baker float trip	Rio Baker float trip 8 Days • from $2,300* per person Provider: Patagonia Adventure Expeditions The rio Baker is at the centre of the plot - 1100 cubic meters (29700 cfs) per second of clean water, half of it coming from the huge General Carerra lake, the other half coming from glaciers fed by the northern Patagonian Ice Field. We gently float, at the natural pace of the river, until we spill out into the Pacific at Caleta Tortel. This is historically the most significant journey in the region, though seldom done any more. The… more	Offered November, December Exertion level: 3 Comfort accommodations Max group size: 12 people Must form your own group? Yes (custom departure). Price based on group size.
The 3 Jewels of Patagonia	The 3 Jewels of Patagonia 21 Days • from $5,000* per person Provider: Patagonia Adventure Expeditions For the ultimate experience of trekking in Patagonia this trip has to be the winner with the 3 key areas for wilderness adventure hiking in Patagonia put together in a seamless combination that makes the trip possible as one continues route.The penultimate stage of the journey and the 3rd "Jewel" is the crossing from Chile into Argentina and the transition from the northern ice cap to the southern below the awe inspiring towers of the Fitzroy area. more	Offered November, December Exertion level: 3 Comfort accommodations Max group size: 12 people Must form your own group? Yes (custom departure). Price based on group size.
Aysen Glacier Trail	Aysen Glacier Trail 10 Days • from $2,700* per person Provider: Patagonia Adventure Expeditions This is one of a few true adventure trips in Patagonia. The amazing camp locations, glacier crossings, well equipped camp sites and the opportunity to go hiking in Patagonia where so few people have been before you is a unique experience more	Offered November, December Exertion level: 3 Comfort accommodations Max group size: 12 people Must form your own group? No