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==Logistical Considerations==
===Importation of Food===
Chile is very cautious when it comes to importing food, plants and animals. To minimize the risk of introducing pests or invasive plants and animals such imports are highly regulated and controlled. Therefore individuals are strictly banned to bring fresh fruits, vegetables, raw milk or meat products to Chile. Only processed sterile food can be imported in concealed packing’s, in example all heat treated or canned items in closed containers. Thorough checks are made on the border by the SAG (Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero)on the airport and the border checkpoints from neighbouring countries.
Example of strictly banned items:
Theoretically the same rules apply when crossing into Argentina but controls are often much more relaxed and you do not need to sign a declaration.
===Food Supply===
There are no proper shops along the first seven sections of the trail. The first regular food store on the trail comes after 600 km at the finish of section 7. But there is a road with public transportation at the end of each section that gives you the opportunity to take a bus and to travel to the next village or town to resupply. A true through-hike would require the setup of food depots on strategic points along the route.
On this trail, in particular on the first seven sections you will meet herdsman on the summer pastures with their annimals mainly cattle, sheep, goats and horses. Depending on the altutude and the snow melt they migrate up between October and January and return home in April or May. These herdsman, locally called "Puestero", live in imporvised permanent shelters, called "Puesto". They bring large quantities of food with their horses and mules up in the mountains. You may ask them for food, in particular for flour and bread or whatever they are willing to sell. If you are desperate for meet they may sell you a goat or a sheep but be aware, the smallest quantity for sale is typically half an annimal. To communicate with the locals you need to be speak Spanish.
On section 5 to 10 you will cross the Araucania region with plenty of impressive Araucaria trees. What we liked on this trees were not just the imposing figure of these living fossiles, but the nutritious fruits rich in carbohydrates. The indigious Pehuenche people teached us how to harvest and prepare this food. You can gather these Araucaria "piñioes" between February and April.
The product range in smaller villages and towns is limited. In particular dehydrated trekking food may not be offered at all. If you prefer to have some special stuff that you find only in Santiago or that you bring with you from overseas you have the following option: You pack a box with food and other gear in Santiago and send the box with one of the mayor bus companies to a town where you plan a resupply stop. To send the box you do not need any address in this town; all you need to do is making yourself the recipient of your own package. The bus company will ship your box to this town in 1 or 2 days and store it until you pick it up. There you can take out of your box whatever you need and resend the box with the reamining stuff to the next resupply town where it will be stored again. Storage of up to 30 days is free of charge.
===Visa===
As a non-Chilean tourist with a regular tourist visa you can stay up to 90 days in Chile. With an [[#Expected Duration|estimated duration]] of 90 to 120 days it is possible to complete the entire trail in 90 days but leaves little margin for rest breaks or weather related delays.
The easiest way to renew your visa is travelling to Argentina before completing your 90 days and return a few days later to Chile. On re-entry you will normally be granted another 90 days. Such a visa trip can be combined with a resupply stop in a nearby town. Recommendable visa trips are:
* Section 9: From Curarrehue in Chile to Junin de Los Andes or San Martin de Los Andes in Argentina
* Section 13: From Osorno in Chile to San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina
If doing the packraft sections 11 to 16 first you will cross the border from Chile to Argentina on food at the end of the last section and renew your turist visa when returning to Chile. This will give you enough time to hike sections 1 to 10 in a comfortable pace.
If you insist in not taking any bus or motorized vehicle during the entire trek you have three options:
* You hurry up to reach the finish of the Greater Patagonian Trail in Argentina within 90 days counted from your arrival in Chile.
* You can walk on food from Icalma in Chile to Villa Pehuenia and back (Section 8, 16 km one way).
* You request an turist visa extension in Chile.
==Recommended Equipment==
