First of all, to us, Patagonia doesn't belong to any other country, since it is so unique, with its peoples, flora and fauna so closely intertwined.

That said... Patagonia comprises the southern sections of Chile and Argentina, and covers an area of roughly 1.1 million square kilometers, or the size of either France, Germany and the U.K., or of Texas and California combined. Although not an independent land, it is larger than most countries, and much of its history, culture and indigenous roots tie the vast landscapes together.

There is really no agreed-upon northern "border" of Patagonia, especially on the Chilean side, where most agree it includes up through the Lakes Region. The Colorado River in Argentina is the most commonly accepted northern border in Argentina. From there, Patagonia reaches all the way south to Cape Horn, the southernmost tip of South America off the coast of Tierra del Fuego.

For most travelers who have never visited these southern latitudes, it might appear that everything south of Mexico is all the same, especially down here at the end of the continent, right?

Chile and Argentina are two distinct countries with different cultures and pasts, with a very marked sense of patriotism on both sides of the border. Chileans and Argentineans are very proud of their countries, which makes visiting both an extra treat. Come visit us and see the differences for yourself!

Wangulen Odyssey is based outside of Puerto Varas, in the beautiful Lakes Region of Chile, across the Andes Mountains from Bariloche, Argentina.

Geography - Chile is a long, narrow country in southwest South America, bordered on the north by Peru and the dry Atacama desert, on the west by the Pacific Ocean, on the east by the towering Andes Mountains, and on the south by Chilean Antartica. Easter Island, the easternmost outpost of Polynesia, is also part of Chile, giving the country a presence in three continents. Continental Chile, between 18 and 56 degrees south latitude, is 4,300 kilometers long (2,666 miles), but if you include Chilean Antartica, the southern city of Punta Arenas would be the midpoint of the country.

Population - 16.6 million (which is about the size of the city of Buenos Aires!)

Industries - Copper, salmon, wood, fruit, wine and tourism.

Political division - Chile is separated into 15 regions, each with political representation, but with a national police force and system of laws.

Government - Chile has 3 branches of government, similar to that in the U.S., with an Executive Branch headed by the current democratically elected president, Michele Bachelet, a Bicameral Legislature with a House of Representatives and Senate, and a Judicial Branch, headed by the 21-member Supreme Court.

Tipping is similar to that in the U.S., meaning:

•  bellhops at hotels (when they carry your luggage to your room) usually receive the equivalent of $1-2 per bag,
•  waiters usually expect no more than 10% of the bill, and
•  tour guides usually receive $5 to $10 for a full day tour, or 10-15% of the tour price.

Tipping is discretionary, and you shouldn't stress about it, but usually even a small amount is greatly appreciated.

Credit Cards

•  Chile - accepted in most establishments. Only in very remote locations and places such as handcraft markets will it be difficult.
•  Argentina - only accepted in a few, large establishments. Credit card fees are high in Argentina, making it prohibitive for many small vendors.

Cash

•  Chile - US Dollars are not widely accepted. Chilean pesos (currently about US$1=Ch$440) are accepted everywhere.
•  Argentina - US Dollars are accepted in most places, with the Argentinean peso (currently about US$=Ar$3) accepted everywhere.

ATMs

•  Chile - widely available 24 hours a day at banks and other locations. Dispense local currency at current day rate, which is very handy.
•  Argentina - same as Chile.

Traveler's Checks

•  Since they aren't widely accepted, most people find it easier to pay with credit cards where possible and use an ATM for small cash withdrawals.

Internet / Email - Both Chile and Argentina are modern destinations with quick and reliable communications systems. If your hotel doesn't have internet access, there will most likely be numerous internet cafes within walking distance. Many hotels also offer free WiFi, if you travel with a notebook.

Phone calls - Calling home is not near as expensive as you might think. Instead of calling from the hotel, try a Calling Center (Centro de Llamadas) which are cheaper, and in most of them you can track the expense of your call while you are talking, just in case you have limited change! And since there are probably 2 cell phones per person down here, you can even bring along your cell phone since most places will have a signal.

Snail mail - Most travelers like to send postcards to family and friends the old fashioned way. Each destination will have a post office, or even better, you can leave the postcards at the front desk of the hotel and as long as they are already stamped, they will send them for you.

Yes... No... well, Maybe.

The tap water throughout Chile and Argentina is safe. However, if your stomach is sensitive to changes in food and drink, we would highly recommend drinking bottled water, which is readily available. If you don't like carbonated water, be sure to request "agua sin gas, por favor".

For those with sensitive stomachs, we would also recommend going easy on the fresh vegetables because of the irrigation (such as lettuce) and being careful with shellfish.