Lu is an experienced Wilderness First Responder and Swiftwater Rescue Technician and carries current First Aid and CPR certifications. He is long time backcountry traveler and has many successful years of experience in guiding clients on fly fishing, cycling and hiking trips into remote areas. First and foremost among his concerns is your safety and he will do everything possible to minimize the risks and educate you to safely enjoy your Chilean vacation.
Chile is a very civilized country and has recently been voted as the safest country in Latin America to travel to. The larger cities of Santiago and Puerto Montt like any large cities in the U.S. have their problems and travelers should use normal safe travel precautions. South of Puerto Montt you will find amazingly honest and friendly people willing to go out of their way to help a traveler.
There are good hospitals in Chile but in Patagonia medical help can often be a long ways away. Although we have detailed plans for evacuation and rescue, the best medicine is prevention. There is a small hospital in Futaleufu (pop. 800), 7 miles by road from the lodge where minor probelms can be taken care of. One and a half hours by car, Esquel, Agentina with a population of 30,000 has a good hospital and can provide excellent care. You will have the chance to tell us any health problems or concerns
that you may have on our medical information sheet that you will
receive after making a reservation.
There is currently no phone at our lodge and the nearest one is 7 miles away in town. This may be changing with the construction of a cell phone tower in May 07 but we are not counting on it. There are easily accessible public phones and high speed internet in town.
We ask you on your trip to Chile to keep an expedition mentality, whether at our lodge or in the backcountry. This means being careful, not taking chances and taking the time to consider the consequences of all of your actions, as a slip or fall could have more serious consequences than it would at home.
|
Safety