Spring Semester in Patagonia

Spend 80 days exploring rarely-visited wilderness in Patagonia—from towering peaks and massive glaciers to fjords and temperate rainforests. You’ll travel by sea and on foot, growing as a leader while developing outdoor skills. 

Your semester begins with a 3-day Wilderness First Aid certification at the NOLS base in southern Chile, covering essential wilderness medicine through fast-paced, hands-on training.

Course sections vary by semester and may include mountaineering (28-31 days, 60-100 miles), sea kayaking (28-31 days, 150-200 nautical miles), backpacking (20 days, 50-100 miles), or rock climbing (17 days). In the mountaineering section, you’ll learn glacier travel, rope handling, ice axe use, and crevasse rescue while navigating rarely-visited terrain. Backpacking takes you through raw wilderness, following rancher paths or traveling off-trail entirely. Rock climbing progresses from basic movement to multi-pitch routes. Sea kayaking explores Chile’s southern coast—island chains and fjords battered by ocean gales—where you’ll learn to read the weather and ocean.

The January 23rd session of this semester has Wilderness First Aid, mountaineering, and sea kayaking sections. 

The January 30th session of this semester has Wilderness First Aid, sea kayaking, backpacking, and rock climbing sections. 

Photo credit: Isaura Martinez

Weather in Patagonia shifts dramatically. Expect strong winds and heavy rain, but also calm, sunny days with stunning vistas.

The course culminates in an 8-9 day independent student expedition, where you and four to six other students plan your route, organize rations, and navigate with minimal instructor support. 

Your group will become a close team as you tackle challenges together in one of the world’s wildest landscapes. You’ll visit with local pobladores (ranchers), practice Spanish, and learn about rural Chilean culture. If you’re seeking an experience that will challenge you and deepen your connection to the natural world, this is the course for you.

Photo credit: Viviana Callahan

Photo credit: Diego Allolio