What to pack for Patagonia and the Atacama Desert:

During our Chile sojourn, we traveled almost the full length of the country, with a range of climates from the desert of Atacama to the windswept steppes of Southern Patagonia and the pleasant Mediterranean conditions of the Central Valley and Santiago in between. When embarking on a journey through these varying climates, the solution is to think in terms of layers when packing.

• A light, quick-dry under layer. I use Patagonia's No. 2 Capilene in a zip-neck, which is the most breathable of the Capilene line. I bring two of these.
• Micro-fleece zip-necks, which provide added warmth. I have two by The North Face that have proved most useful.
• A micro-fleece vest. This is also very useful in many situations and conditions. Additionally, I wear it on airplanes for warmth.
• Windbreaker/rain-resistant coat. I travel with one made by Lands' End that has served me well on many trips. It is the other part of the 3-in-1 Stormer Parka, which comes with a separate liner (which I did not bring on this trip because of its bulk).
• Quick-dry shirts. I especially like those made by Mountain Hardware, the Canyon model being the one I most prefer. I bring two, one in white for being outside in bright sun, as in the desert, and a darker color, such as navy, for other times.
• Convertible pants, by which I mean those that have zip-off legs so they can be worn as shorts. Mountain Hardware's Mesa model has served me well on many trips. I bring one pair in khaki and another in a dark gray.

What to Pack For Santiago

The Chileans tend to dress on the conservative side, but as we were there in warm weather, I just packed a pair of good lightweight dark wool slacks, two button-down white oxford shirts and two cashmere sweaters, one navy and one black. These covered all the bases for in-town restaurants and for the evenings at the resorts.

Don't Forget to Pack This

Because of the high altitudes and sun in the desert, and the depleted ozone layer in South Patagonia, protect yourself with a broad-brimmed hat – I have one made by Columbia that has been invaluable – sunglasses and ample sunblock.

View our Andrew Harper Pinterest board for product details and other inspiring photos of Chile.