Can you Work Remotely from the Patagonia?
Patagonia is probably not your first pick when considering a place to work from. Stretching across the southernmost tips of Argentina and Chile, this a land of extremes — picturesque landscapes, welcoming people, and extremely unreliable internet connections.
And while that last point may lead most nomads to cross it from their list, “the land of giants” offers the ultimate backdrop for the nomads looking to blend intensely focused work with wanderlust. This guide aims to navigate you through planning your journey, ensuring safety, and optimizing your remote work routine in a way most other places probably wouldn’t dare mention.
Getting Started: The Essential Preparations for Patagonia
Given this location’s remoteness. A thorough preparation phase is crucial when planning your solo journey and remote work adventure in Patagonia.
This rugged and remote region requires more than just a packing list and a laptop. Here's what you need to consider to ensure a smooth visit to one of the world's most breathtaking landscapes.
Best Times to Visit: The ideal period for visiting Patagonia is during the Southern Hemisphere's summer months, from November to early March. This time offers milder weather, crucial for outdoor adventures and finding comfortable places to work.
Weather Preparedness: Patagonia is famous for its unpredictable weather, which can change dramatically within a single day. Packing for all conditions and being prepared for sudden changes is a non-negotiable.
Are there any Safety Concerns?
This remote corner of South America is among the friendliest and most welcoming in the world. The Gauchos and other locals have a reputation for hospitality, and you’ll likely be in capable hands if you book a tour or trip down there. Nonetheless, there are some precautions to be taken:
Stay Connected: While Patagonia is generally safe for travelers, its remote nature means you should always have a way to communicate in emergencies. Consider renting a satellite phone or purchasing a local SIM card for areas with cellular service.
Inform Others of Your Itinerary: Always let someone know your plans, especially if you're venturing into the wilderness for hikes or camping. This is crucial for solo female travelers.
Visa Requirements: Check the visa requirements for both Argentina and Chile, depending on where you plan to enter Patagonia. Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your intended stay.
Health Insurance: Pick a travel insurance policy that covers medical emergencies and evacuation. Remote areas in Patagonia may have limited medical facilities, and having insurance is a safety net you should pay attention to.
Other Considerations
Language Basics: Spanish is the primary language in both Argentine and Chilean Patagonia. Knowing basic Spanish phrases can significantly enhance your experience and ease daily interactions. Knowing the essentials will be a lifesaver, especially when wandering off into the more remote parts of the region.
Internet Access: As we’ve mentioned a couple of times already. Understanding that high-speed internet will be scarce comes with the package when visiting this natural paradise. Larger towns like Puerto Natales (Chile) and El Calafate (Argentina) offer the best chances for connectivity, so plan your work schedule around these hubs.
Navigating Patagonia: Exploration and Connectivity Essentials
Once you’ve come to terms with the fact that you’ll probably have to reprioritize the way you work, all that’s left is to book that ticket to Argentina or Chile. If it’s your first time visiting, we recommend you spend just a couple of days getting acquainted with the surroundings and testing the waters for a longer stay.
Getting there
Patagonia is vast, stretching across two countries. If you’re coming from Argentina, you'll find access to iconic sites like the Perito Moreno Glacier near El Calafate and the trekkers' paradise of El Chaltén. Renting a car allows you to explore at your own pace, which is ideal for visiting remote areas with limited public transport. Be prepared for potentially long drives across scenic but isolated routes.
On the other hand, if you’re arriving via Chile, you’ll find the renowned Torres del Paine National Park, with its dramatic mountain peaks and turquoise lakes. Expect to rely on public buses and shuttle services in the more rugged terrain of Torres del Paine and other parts of Chilean Patagonia. These require advance booking, especially during the peak season.
Deciding which of these routes you’ll take will depend a lot on the nature of your work, the experiences you seek, and especially your connectivity needs. We recommend taking the Argentinian route if you’re planning on stopping regularly for the odd Zoom call or working session. Be warned, though, the connection will only get shoddier the deeper south you go.
Accommodation Tips
Both countries offer remote lodges and camping options within national parks for those seeking immersion in nature. While these provide unparalleled access to hiking trails, Wi-Fi is rare or non-existent.
In larger towns and some tourist accommodations, Wi-Fi is available but may only sometimes be fast or reliable. Planning bandwidth-intensive tasks for when you have secure connections is strongly advised. Towns like Puerto Natales in Chile and El Calafate in Argentina offer a range of accommodations, from hostels to hotels. Some of these towns have begun to cater to the growing digital nomad community with coworking spaces. But we wouldn’t count on them to do the heavy lifting work-wise.
Balancing Exploration with Work
Now, onto the real meat of this guide. In a nutshell, we consider Patagonia the perfect destination for experienced nomads looking for a new kind of challenge. Being there and thinking of internet connections is honestly a waste of what this scenic region has to offer.
So instead, we look at it from the lens of “How can you learn to prioritize and delegate work in a way that maximizes your enjoyment when being chronically online isn’t an option?”. This exercise isn’t for the faint of heart, but believe us when we tell you you’ll never look back once you get immersed cold turkey.
With limited connectivity, working remotely from Patagonia requires a flexible schedule. You’ll need to align your work needs with the realities of your environment—save tasks requiring heavy internet use for days when you're in town and plan offline tasks for when you're out exploring.
Staying There as a Remote Worker: Embracing Patagonia's Connectivity Challenge
"Why work there if the internet sucks?" It's a valid concern, but the twist is: that’s precisely the point. Patagonia's limited connectivity presents a unique opportunity for you to redefine your relationship with work and come out a more fulfilled human being.
Patagonia challenges you to rethink this notion in a world where being constantly online is often equated with being productive. Here, the scarcity of high-speed internet forces you to plan your work meticulously, distinguishing between what truly requires your immediate attention and what can wait.
With fewer distractions, you can focus on tasks that demand your full concentration—writing, coding, designing, or strategizing. This is your chance to tackle those big projects you've been putting off.
Here are some tips if you want to give this exercise a dry run before committing:
Download whichever necessary documents in advance.
Learn to use offline tools for productivity.
Adjust your work rhythm to the environment.
Update your clients and upload work during specific windows of connectivity.
Download anything needed for the next few days during these windows.
Why should you choose Patagonia as a remote work destination? Because it offers something unparalleled—the chance to recalibrate your work-life balance, immerse yourself in some of the world's most breathtaking landscapes, and prove to yourself that you can thrive even in the most remote corners of the globe.
You Need to log off the Laptop Every Once in a While
We intentionally picked this location because we’re tired of the same old Nomad stereotypes. All work and no play make for a dull remote worker, so it’s extremely important that you challenge yourself every once in a while to visit destinations where your location independence is put to the test.
What’s the point of being able to live anywhere if you’re still shackled to the yoke of wife connectivity? Choosing Patagonia as a remote work destination isn't about finding the best cafe with Wi-Fi or the coziest coworking space. It's about challenging yourself to adapt, find productivity in limitations, and rediscover your work's essence without the constant buzz of the online world.
So, we hope to see you there where the nights are long and the Mate never runs dry.
