Patagonia Backpacking & Service for Adults
Backpack in the “Land of Fire and Ice” and immerse yourself in local culture at the edge of the world.
This unique expedition combines the thrill of backpacking in the Andes with the cross-cultural experience of working alongside indigenous communities on service projects. You and your crew will work together to navigate the diverse terrain of Nahuel Huapi, Argentina’s oldest national park, where you’ll hike past volcanic rocks, crystal-clear lakes, snowfields, and temperate forests. Along the way, you will practice essential outdoors skills such as orienteering, campcraft, safety techniques, backcountry cooking, and Leave No Trace Principles. Apart from days spent on the trail, you will have the opportunity to learn more about this breathtaking location and its people by engaging in meaningful service projects. You will gain insights into the rich cultural traditions of local communities, including their lifestyle, emphasis on family, and deep connection to the earth. Each day, you will face challenges and celebrate achievements, leaving with a sense of accomplishment and unforgettable memories.
UPCOMING COURSES
Course # NPA6-2431
Age 18 and up
Days 12
Cost $4,420
Dates 12/30/2024 - 1/10/2025
COURSE IS FULL
When a course has reached maximum capacity, meaning all spots and the three waitlist spots are occupied, a course will read “Course Is Full.” This means applications are no longer being accepted.
Course # NPA6-2531
Age 18 and up
Days 12
Cost $4,420
Dates 12/30/2025 - 1/10/2026
APPLY NOW
This means a course has several open spots and is actively processing applications.
APPLY NOW
This means a course has several open spots and is actively processing applications.
APPLY NOW – Almost Full
This means there are three or fewer currently available spots left on a course. To secure your spot click Apply Now to begin an application!
JOIN WAITLIST
Once a course has reached capacity, three waitlist positions become available. To join a course’s waitlist, click “Join Waitlist” to begin the application process. A $500 deposit is required. This $500 deposit includes a $150 non-refundable application fee and a $350 tuition payment. The $350 tuition payment is refundable only if you cancel your waitlist application or if an open position does not become available. If a position does become available, the applicant will be applied to the open position and the Application and Cancellation Policies of the Regional Outward Bound School will be followed, including forfeiture of the $500 deposit if you cancel 90 days or less prior to the course start date.
Waitlist applicants are encouraged to complete all required admissions documents while awaiting an open position. Positions may become available up to two weeks prior to the course start date. Applicants may only apply to one course. We recommend applying to a course with open positions instead of a course that is accepting waitlist applications. If you have questions, please call 866-467-7651 to speak with one of our Admissions Advisors.
CALL TO APPLY
This means a course is very close to its start date. Although it is unlikely to secure a spot this late, you can call the National Admissions office at 866-467-7651 to discuss your options.
COURSE IS FULL
When a course has reached maximum capacity, meaning all spots and the three waitlist spots are occupied, a course will read “Course Is Full.” This means applications are no longer being accepted.
CLOSED
As a course nears its start date, the availability status may read “Closed.” In this event, a course roster has been finalized and applications are no longer being accepted or processed.
As I sit under a clear, brilliantly starry sky on the final night of my course here in Patagonia, I am thankful that I was able to be a part of the greater Outward Bound tradition. In my two weeks of service and backpacking on the Patagonia steppes, I have learned many valuable lessons. I’ve learn how to work a camp stove, compress the gear in my pack and to help my crew navigate our way safely up numerous summits. More important, however, are the other life skills I have gained on this journey. I have learned to create an environment full of teamwork, mutual respect and trust.
Backpacking gives students a unique opportunity to travel further than many typically go. With everything they need—food, shelter, clothing, and gear—packed on their backs, students experience a profound sense of freedom. They can eat when hungry, set up camp when tired, and control their daily achievements. This minimalist mode of travel encourages teamwork, perseverance, and self-reliance.
In the breathtaking Nahuel Huapi National Park, students will embark on an alpine expedition with elevation changes ranging from 2,500 to 8,000 feet. Instructors will guide them through essential skills, including map and compass navigation, expedition planning, first aid, emergency procedures, weather forecasting, and Leave No Trace principles. Once students have practiced these skills, instructors will step back, allowing the crew to navigate the wilderness together and put their newfound abilities to the test.
Service is an integral part of every Outward Bound course, allowing students to experience a deeper relationship with the environment and local communities. Participants follow Leave No Trace ethics as service to the environment and do acts of service while leading and supporting fellow participants. Service projects for this course change to meet the needs of local community partners and may include such activities as building fences, painting homes, harvesting fruit, and building structures with local farmers. Participants can receive service learning hours for participating by notifying their Instructors prior to the beginning of the course.
Students participate in a reflection period called Solo during small pockets of time during the course. During this time, Instructors assign students their own individual spaces within a designated area. These sites are both secluded and within hearing distance of other group members and Instructors for safety. Students will be given all the necessary gear, food, water, and skills to enjoy this time alone. Solo is an excellent opportunity for students to relax, recharge, and reflect on their course after having long days of strenuous group activities. They also know the location of their Instructors should they need to contact them for any reason. Instructors will be monitoring students closely during this experience.
Patagonia, South America
In southern South America lies a land untouched, growing wild and rugged. As one of the least populated regions in the world, Patagonia is a semi-arid plateau that covers over 250,000 square miles in Argentina. This remote wilderness boasts dramatic landscapes and is famed for its adventures and adventurers. From its isolated mountain valleys and snow-clad volcanic peaks to its glaciers and waterfalls, Patagonia has few equals in lands of exploration. Students travel through San Carlos de Bariloche, known as Bariloche (population 108,205). Bariloche is situated in the foothills of the Andes on the southern shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake and surrounded by the Nahuel Huapi National Park. Established in 1934 to preserve local flora and fauna, it is the oldest national park in Argentina and the largest in the region, with an area of 2 million acres. These regions are the ancestral lands of the Mapuche and Tehuelche nations.
Course Stories
As I sit under a clear, brilliantly starry sky on the final night of my course here in Patagonia, I am thankful that I was able to be a part of the greater Outward Bound tradition. In my two weeks of service and backpacking on the Patagonia steppes, I have learned many valuable lessons. I’ve learn how to work a camp stove, compress the gear in my pack and to help my crew navigate our way safely up numerous summits. More important, however, are the other life skills I have gained on this journey. I have learned to create an environment full of teamwork, mutual respect and trust.
OTHER COURSES YOU MAY LIKE
Blue Ridge Mountains Backpacking & Roc...
Courses: 4 dates available Ages: 18+ , 18-25 , 30+ Length: 6 - 8 Days Cost: $2,325 - $2,790 Details & Dates
Ten Thousand Islands Sea Kayaking for ...
Courses: 6 dates available Ages: 18+ , 30+ Length: 6 Days Cost: $2,170 Details & Dates
Boundary Waters Dog Sledding & Cross C...
Courses: 12 dates available Ages: 18+ , 30+ Length: 8 Days Cost: $2,790 - $3,200 Details & Dates
Getting Started
If you are ready to enroll on a course click the enroll button next to the course you wish to select or you can enroll over the phone by speaking with one of our Admissions Advisors (toll-free) at 866-467-7651.
To secure your spot on a course you must submit an enrollment form and $500 deposit that is applied toward the total cost of the course and includes a $150 non-refundable enrollment processing fee.