Here is the packing list for the Huemul Circuit and the necessary items to get permission to go on the trail.
Introduction to the Huemul Circuit
The Huemul Circuit is a four days trek around the Huemul mountain and starts and ends in El Chalten. The trek allows magnificent views of the Southern Patagonian Icefield – the third largest on earth! If you want to read more about this trek, read the post here.
For further information on the food we ate during the four days check out this post about hiking foods.
For this trail it is necessary to prepare well and a packing list comes in handy. Therefore, I put all the gear in this list that me and my friend Philippe carried. If you find this information helpful, consider sharing it.

Packing list for the Huemul Circuit
– Backpack (Osprey Aether 65l)
Mandatory items:
– stove (Optimus Vega Gas Stove)
– 2 carbiners per person (1 steel carabiner per group)
– 1 Harness per person (Black Diamond Momentum Harness)
– 30m rope to retrieve the slider on the zipline (read this post and make 35m)
– 2 Straps to attach harness to carabiner
– Topographic map of the region
! All of these items can be rented in El Chalten, though pretty expensive and subject to availability !
Sleeping
– Sea to Summit Spark II Sleeping Bag
– Meru Inlay Sleeping Bag Silk
– Thermarest Neoair Xlite Sleeping Pad
Clothes includes what I wore on day 1
– long underwear by Odlo (top and bottom) 1
– Wind- and waterproof rainjacket 1
– Trouser that can be shortened 1
– footwear for the evenings (although crocs would have been more suitable to cross rivers I opted for flip flops)
– hat
– beanie
Food/Cooking
For a full list of food suitable for hiking and what we used click here
– stove (Optimus Vega Gas Stove)
– gas bottle (not allowed on airplanes!)
– MSR pot with lid
Additional items:
– Headlamp (instead of a handheld one)
– First-Aid Kit with stuff to fix blisters
– Toothbrush (Cut the brush and a few cm to hold onto it – that’s enough)
– Toothpaste grab a product sample at your dentist
– Contact lenses container (filled with plenty of Eye Solution so you can leave the bottle at home)
– Water Filter (the rangers say it is unnecessary but better be safe)
– Mobile phone with offline maps of the region
– Compass
– Emergency contacts
– Hiking Poles
Photography
– Camera (in a dry sac, unless it is waterproof)
– Batteries (I carried 6 and used 5)
Tips for the 4 Days Huemul Trek in El Chalten
This packing list provides information on some mandatory items to carry during your trek. However, there are as well items on this packing list which are not necessary as the camera equipment. As pointed out above this is my personal list and you can adapt it to your needs.
What came apparent after the Huemul trek is that less is more. Try to cut down as much weight as possible you will be able to enjoy the outdoor experience much more. Furthermore, it helps a lot to hike together with someone in order to spread the weight of item you both need: tent, cooking, but maybe not the sleeping bag.
Spread the word if you found this helpful and if you have any questions let me know in the comment section below.
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