Kimkim Trip Reviews for Argentina

We had planned our trip before the COVID -19 happened. We were one week from our departure when the lockdowns were announced globally. Fast forward three years,we finally managed to visit the beautiful Argentina. The team during these three years was extremely cooperative.
Special call out to our local specialist,Emilce. She accomodated us at a very short notice. Her suggestions were excellent and the selection of the hotels was super. Everything was meticulously planned and we take back the most amazing memories from the trip with us.
Many many thanks to the entire team for doing such a great job.

Miryam,Romina,Fernando, RodriguezJr.,Franko(it's a crime to be vegetarian in Argentina) we found plenty of options though. I am forgetting some names here though I would like to thank everyone who helped us make this trip,it was booked pre pandemic and we took it in 2023! Our initial coordinator Virginia and our next one Emi very very helpful. Liked the choice of hotels. Ushuia tops the list!! What views from the view top.

Hotel Reviews

Alto Andino Hotel

Ushuaia

Lovely receptionist and warm rooms

Authenticity & Character

The reception really is warm and friendly The heating in the rooms is topclass

Location

The view top is amazing

Staff

They were in love with their jobs

Cleanliness & Comfort

Heating was amazing

Hotel Lunajuim

El Chalten

Lovely location

Authenticity & Character

It is an older hotel with slightly frayed edges which is maintained and doesn't try to hide that it is an older property

Location

Its a small town ,hotel is right in the middle of it

Staff

They lent wme their walking sticks! The ones I rented were slightly difficult

Cleanliness & Comfort

It is an older hotel with older amenities

Hotel Sierra Nevada

El Calafate

Authenticity & Character

Location

Centrally located, what we had asked for

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Again very friendly

Hotel Loi Suites Esmeralda

Buenos Aires

Very centrally located oall the downtown buzz,also an older property,with it's quirks. Plus weekends are party time,so not suitable for people looking for peace and quite. It met our needs everything we needed was a walkable distance

Authenticity & Character

Residential area with restaurants outside

Staff

Marit the lady at reception was very aware of the work and was a solution finder

Cleanliness & Comfort

As mentioned it is an older property, very clean

Hotel Merit Iguazú

Puerto Iguazú, Misiones

Lovely hotel in the old part of town, very clean and lively decor.

Authenticity & Character

It was nice without being themed to the destination

Location

We wanted to be nit so far and things at walkable distances

Staff

I forgot to pack my umbrella, the hotel manager lent his personal one! Also we arrived before check in time they accommodated us.

Cleanliness & Comfort

They cleaned all the time because I guess of the weather and the amount of rain

Activity Reviews

Tierra del Fuego National Park (Half day visit) 🌲🌿

Ushuaia

The first views took my breathe away! It really is like walking into something sacred.

Quality of Experience

As I said it's a special space, you have to experience it yourself to feel how the place speaks to you.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The drivers were very good,the guides knowledgeable,barring the penguin hiccup.

Transport

Perito Moreno Glacier Excursion 🗻

El Calafate

It's a lively expedition. I felt like an explorer.

Quality of Experience

A healthy glacier. Need I say more

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Neighborhoods Tour

Buenos Aires

A lady on our toye got her phone stolen, nit only did she chase the their down with the help of locals, the tur guide, stayed with her for the process and arranged a substitute guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Niko was very helpful to the lady whose phone got stolen, Rominafinished the tour for us who didn't muss a beat.

Transport

The driver was very good and tried informing us of all the happening with the police and lady along Niko. Very sweetly in Spanish .

San Antonio de Areco & Estancia el Ombu

Buenos Aires

Just do it for the horses!!!They are beautifully kept and pampered to death I think. Such well behaved ones too. Oh! I can go on. I am a city dweller,chances like these don't come very often in my neck of woods. The last show with Brian and his horse,their bond is to be seen to be believed.

Quality of Experience

It is a working ranch, though these days tour like ours must bring revenue too, it really felt like a open air very posh picnic with lively gaucho music,singing and dance

Food

We are vegetarians! They knew it be f ore hand and the food prepared accordingly, while not a 10 course meals feasted by meat eaters, it was well thought out.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

I mean the singers and the couple with their adorable boy, God bless the family. The little one was singing and dancing too.

Transport

Well managed and executed

Argentinean Falls - Full day

Puerto Iguazú

This was an outstanding tour

Quality of Experience

I mean it's a natural phenomenon

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rodriguez Jr was very knowledgeable and knted out things of interest to lay person like me which encouraged me to ask more questions

Transport

Lovely drivers accommodative of requests

Our trip to Argentina exceeded our expectations and some. On the ground, the transfers were always early and ready for us, providing a seamless and on-time experience. We felt like each of the guides on the ground were knowledgeable about the given area that we were in and, most importantly, answered our one-off questions when we had them. We traveled to El Calafate, El Chalten, and Iguazu Falls and had a memorable time in each destination. In addition, each of the hotels we stayed had incredible views of the mountains and in the case of Iguazu was situated in the rainforest. They were clean, and definitely felt safe. Overall, Ana and the team at kimkim were responsive and lined us up to having a memorable and fun vacation in Argentina.

How do I put into words my Patagonian Adventures that I've experienced with the people I've met in this journey of self discovery. They are all now a part of my extended family. I've seen such splendor, majestic beauty, and an overwhelming sense of grandeur. It's like when God finished creating the world in 6 days before he rested on the 7th he dusted his hands off over the Patagonian Provinces of Argentina and formed a lavish banquet of wonders with an array of unique wildlife, mountain peaks, glaciers, forests, and lakes all in Argentina for all the world to enjoy and embrace.

(INSERT PHOTO OF ANA AND ME TOGETHER HERE)

I thoroughly recommend Kimkim as they have outperform, and surpass my expectations. All the accommodations were nothing less than 5 stars, all transfers to and from hotels, all my domestic flights across Argentina were handled with such detail, my friend Ana was handling it all. ( I just can't call her a tour specialist). I feel Ana has been with me through this journey from start to finish. When I started this plan to cover as much of Argentina in 16 days I thought it was an impossible task. From Day 1 to Day 16 Ana was right there with me. From My Buenos Aires Querido to all of Patagonia. Starting with my first stop in Calafate as I ventured on a Mini Trekking across the Perito Moreno Glacier, in San Marcos Bariloche experiencing the Nahuel Huapi National Park in the province of Río Negro and Neuquén, along the Valle Encantado route 237 la Angostura this region comprises the southern section of the Andes Mountains with lakes, fjords, rainforests, and glaciers in the west and deserts, rich tablelands and steps to the east. Patagonia is bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the east and many bodies of water that connect them. More than a trip of a lifetime. This checks all the boxes on my bucket list.

BARILOCHE
I can't forget my friend Luis (now a part of my extended family) my private guide as he shared with me the beauty of this province and the wealth of its natural resources. Luis’s knowledge of the province from the Condors nesting grounds to how the locals protect and respect nature. Luis and I spent 14 hours covering as much of the Patagonia landscape before night fall. Stopping to see Llamas crossing the routes and capturing their beauty as local commuters were missing out on what was in front of them. The voyage on board CauCau ferry headed to Victoria Island overjoyed with the breathe-taking views. You have to see it in order to believe it. I did the Circuito Chico Lago Moreno. Llao Llao, saw llamas, Rio Limay, it’s un-imaginable how small we are and what we take for granted, we miss out on what is in front of us. I took time to listen, hear, smell and taste the pureness of the air that was surrounding me. I even visited the smallest Rio in the world. (Thank you Luis for this gold nugget) Rio Correntoso. Folks...the list of lakes and wildlife goes on and on.

IGUAZU
Next stop was Iguazu Falls National Park, my dear guide Camila more than just a guide, she's smart and very pretty. Super knowledgeable with the flora and fauna of Iguazu and has the ears and eyes of a hawk to find the smallest of details of the wildlife that live and breathe in this region. Camila and I managed to walk 600 meters on the green path, 1750 meters on the superior circuit and rounded it out with a 2200 meter walk to the Devils Throat (astounding 80 meters in depth) all while managing to see an early morning rodent Acuti, birds like the Magpie, Boyero, Mallard Ducks, Jotes (black head and red head), Aninga, and Coati mammals.

MENDOZA
My families home, this is where the self discovery comes in. Rich in ancestral history that dates back to the 1900s starting with my Grandfather Don Gustavo Julian Ruiz Cornellias and his lovely wife J. Elvira Ruiz de Gagliolo they migrated from Madrid Spain to Buenos Aires at 30 years of age. I was born in Buenos Aires and came to the United States, and the rest of my family settled in Mendoza where I managed to learn of my great great grandfather's contribution to Argentina’s rich history as he is immortalized at the Plaza Marcos Burgos right next to the national hero of Argentina, Chile and Peru Jose de San Martin. If you love wine Mendoza is the place for it and visiting the vineyards of Tupungato & Tunuyan is the right place to start. Time to relax, inhale the beauty that is Valle de Uco. Ana and her dream-maker team set me up with an experience that I will never forget at Casa De Uco, a must stay, wine testing at various vineyards like Gaia, Sophenia and the Piece de resistance lunch at Andeluna, I totally recommend this place, the food, the warmth of the staff at Andeluna is unmatched. Take 3-4 hours for lunch its so worth it. I was the last to leave. Make sure you stop at Puente de Inca along the Rio Mendoza before you experience Cerro Aconcagua, have a picnic lunch at the foot of Laguna Horcones and take in the beauty that is this province.

In closing don’t let a day go by without embracing it. I found real meaning on this trip. What truly matters. It’s Family and Time. There is a balance. Life is short and we are not promised tomorrow. So live for today. Be grateful for what you do, what you have, and share with those around you that are not as fortunate. We are all part of one another in one shape or form, we touch peoples lives with kindness whether you believe if of not….so be kind.

Argentina is indeed a beautiful country and our trip was made most memorable by the excellent service provided by our travel specialist Ana and her entire onsite team.
Clementina, the local specialist was extremely responsive and flexible to change the trip as needed.
Our guide in Buenos Aires, Andrea Zunino and driver Fabio were both extremely knowledgeable about the city, history, culture and a pleasure to be with, with the pleasant and friendly demeanor.
We had the same experience in Mendoza with our driver & guide Daniel Sciolis and in Bariloche with our guide Gonzalo.
Thank you to the entire team for making our trip memorable!

My family and I had one of the most exciting and memorable trips travelling Argentina and Brazil, and the organisation, efficiency and hospitality arranged by Matias was simply astounding.

All our guides were warm, knowledgeable and adapted well to our requirements and desires

Thank you Matias and we are so grateful to all the guides

Amazing trip of a lifetime!! Herve did a wonderful job planning and activities were fabulous! Sandra a great tour guide in Buenos Aires! Pablo a great guide in El Calafate! The indigenous tour guide was wonderful as well! Thank you!!! Made many great memories!

This was our wedding anniversary trip!
Claudia did a fabulous and amazing trip plan for us. She truly knows the entire region very well.
Here communications skill are excellent and her response timely. The locations we visited were incredible and the tours and staff were very good and knowledgeable made it easy to follow.
Argentina is an amazing country with so many different regions ,climate and the people are so friendly like where we are from , Iran!
The sites visited in both Argentina and Rio were. Amazing, thanks once more to the planning and hard work by Claudia. We will recommend your company and team to our friends and colleagues!!

Many thanks, sadik and Nasrin

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Buenos Aires City Tour

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner & Tango Show

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Perito Moreno Glacier

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nautical Safari tour

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Iguazú Falls Argentine side

Puerto Iguazú

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Brazilian Falls tour

Argentina

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The tour guide was very knowledgeable

Half-Day Tijuca Forest by Jeep

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Corcovado & Sugar Loaf

Rio de Janeiro

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I decided to try kimkim because there many different elements of travelling to Argentina that I wanted to combine, including a focus on seeing Orcas in the Valdes Peninsula, which has long been a dream of mine. Without the specialized and in-depth advice from Francesca and her team I would never have been able to plan this trip myself- or at the very least not without investing weeks of research! She was always super responsive (even going beyond the call of duty in answering smaller questions and offering tips) and her suggestions were completely spot on regarding tours and activities. During the trip, everything was organised seemlessly, with all trips/drivers/reservations having been planned perfectly. I have already recommended kimkim to friends and family, and can only do the same here!

Hotel Reviews

Hilton Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

Facilities a little aged but the service friendly and the food good- particularly breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

Very central

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was fine because we were in an executive room with access to the lounge, otherwise the room facilities (coffee/tea etc) would not be acceptable

Lagos Del Calafate

El Calafate

The staff is friendly and helpful, apart from the night receptionist who kept disappearing and was not available when we had to find someone to help us to quieten the groups hanging around the reception at 1am (we had to be up at 6am). The standard of the facilities is more 3 star and I do not recommend eating dinner there. Also, ensure you do not have a room near the dining hall because it is so loud you cant get a good nights sleep.

Alto Andino Hotel

Ushuaia

Excellent room and hotel! Staff goes above and beyond the call of duty and the breakfast is good too.

Staff

Fantastic- helpful & friendly!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Oceano Patagonia Wild Coast Residence

Puerto Piramides

It is drfinitely the best ootion in the area. The homemade breakfast brought to the room is a lovely touch. But it really needs a coat of paint as well as the heating and water pressure/temp fixed- we were cold most of our stay.

Staff

Once again, very friendly staff

Activity Reviews

Café de los Angelitos: Dinner and Tango Show (VIP Menu)

Buenos Aires

Absolute delight! The food and wine was surprisingly good too for it being all inclusive!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day Trek to Laguna Esmeralda - Afternoon

Ushuaia

Our driver and guide were fantastic! Noelia was suler knowledgeable, even as the weather turned she guided us expertly on the trail.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer from Puerto Piramide to visit San Lorenzo's Magellanic Penguin Colony

Puerto Madryn

We were suprised at the price for what was effectively a 10minute walk amongst penguins. We were only told any information when we asked questions. The food was also a little disappointing. Also, there seems to have been a mix-up with the payment, which we havr the suspicion was in purpose to get us to pay for everything twice.

Quality of Experience

Food

Suprised that the meat was so tough

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Distantly friendly, but not really helpful informative

Fly to Trelew and transfer to Puerto Piramide in the Valdez Peninsula

Puerto Madryn

Andi was a star during our whole time in Puerto Piramide- super helpful and flexible. We immensely enjoyed our conversations with him and were grateful for all the tips too.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We just returned from a 14 day whistle stop tour of Argentina and it really was amazing. During the planning stage, we found Emi incredibly patient and helpful. Reorganising the itinerary around 3 or 4 times fid not phase her at all - she was professional and insightful throughout.
The trio itself was planned and executed to perfection. The in-country team were all very efficient and the chosen excursions were really wonderful. Professional, informative, high quality and fun.
We raced around the country, trying to fit in as much as possible in the timescale and it all went to plan. The internal flights went smoothly and the various taxi services made sure we were where we needed to be at the right time!
We absolutely loved Argentina - what a wonderful place with some amazing scenery. A fabulous experience all round!
I have been recommending Kimkim and Emi to all my friends and would not hesitate to use the service again. Thank you!!

Activity Reviews

Neighborhoods Tour

Buenos Aires

Loved our guide Fernando - he was knowledgeable, friendly, witty and helpful

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Argentinean Falls - PRIVATE

Puerto Iguazú

Incredible scenery - a must if you go to Argentina

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great Adventure - Boat trip

Puerto Iguazú

This was a highlight (although there were many of those in our trip). Going under the falls in a boat was an amazing experience - the noise! and the weight of water on your head was fabulous to experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tango Show & Dinner

Buenos Aires

A really fun evening - we did a dance class and that opened our eyes to how hard tango is to dance. This made the show even more impressive - delicious food too

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

driver was a bit late to take us home which was disappointing

Transport

Cycling and Wine tasting in the vineyards 🚴‍♂️🍷

Mendoza

Really fun day cycling through the vineyards. We visited a small family run vineyard first to learn about the process and understand the different stages. And of course do some tasting! We finished with a 6 course dinner and wine flight which was delicious - another highlight!!

Quality of Experience

Food

all of it!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

our driver was very efficient, great english and witty. Andres our guide was fun and knowledgeable and set the right pace for the cycling

Transport

High Mountain Tour Mendoza

Mendoza

The scenery was incredible! Blows your mind

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

brilliant guide - insightful knowledge of the area - brilliant driving too

Transport

Full day tour to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares and Minitrekking

El Calafate

this was fabulous - it is impossible to describe or even photograph what you experience and see. Incredible scenery and the experience of walking on the glacier was something I'll remember forever

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

El Chalten Full Day, Free time

El Calafate

steep hike up to the lake but it was worth the view!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fiesta Gaucha Estancia Santa Susana Excursion

Buenos Aires

Great fun at the ranch - we rode the horses around the ranch, had a fabulous lunch and watched some incredible horse whispering. Amazing!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Loved Michaela - funny, informative and very helpful

Transport

My husband and I just returned from a two week tour of northern Argentina. Our private tour was arranged by Ana and she put together a perfect trip. We spent time in Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls and Salta. We loved all of these areas. She arranged our domestic flights and I received our boarding passes very timely (I'm a little fanatical about details). Our guides in each area were very friendly and took such care to make sure we did and saw the things we wanted and at our pace. This was important as we are not spring chickens. Flo was our guide in Buenos Aires for our city tour. She was knowledgeable, friendly and professional. Our guide in Iguazu Falls was Matias who is a fantastic guy. We spent two great days with him and they are two days we will never forget. When he picked us up at the airport, he immediately asked if we had our proof of covid vaccination as this is required to enter Brazil to see the Falls from that side. I didn't have mine but was able to immediately reach our son who messaged it to me. I highly recommend seeing the Falls from both sides as the views are so very different. I appreciate Ana including this as I hadn't looked into it and we loved the experience. Matias also suggested a local place to have lunch in Puerto Iguazu that was one of the best meals we had the whole trip. Our guide in the Salta Area was Jorge, We spent three day with Jorge and had a blast. There is so much to see in this area that appears to be off the beaten path. Everything from rainforest to desert. We visited small villages, traveled through mountains with views that take your breath away. Jorge was our driver as well as our guide and did a great job of both. I tend to be a bit of a nervous passenger as I usually am the driver as I love to drive as did Jorge. I was totally relaxed with him as the driver on the harrowing roads used in this area. Our activities in Buenos Aires included a city tour, an asado dinner, a dinner with a tango show and a day at a gaucho ranch where we rode horses. All these were great additions to our trip. The hotels chosen for us by Ana were perfect. You can book your custom tour with Ana and KimKim with full confidence of having a wonderful vacation.

Hotel Reviews

CasaSur Palermo Hotel

Buenos Aires

This hotel is in trendy Palermo with tons of restaurants. We felt totally safe walking throughout the area. The staff are friendly and the rooms are extremely clean.

Authenticity & Character

Very clean, good breakfast and very helpful staff.

Location

Great neighborhood.

Staff

Helped us in many ways.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable bed, very clean and fast elevators.

Loi Suites Iguazú Hotel

Puerto Iguazú

Great resort type hotel. Beautiful views. Only reason I didn't give 5 stars is that the buildings are connected by suspended walkways. I have never been a graceful person and had some trouble keeping my balance on the walkways if anyone else was on them at the same time.

Authenticity & Character

Top rating for a beautiful hotel.

Location

Beautiful location but secluded so it doesn't leave you many options for eating unless you take a taxi into town.

Staff

The wait staff in the restaurant weren't very attentive.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean.

Legado Mitico Salta Hotel Boutique

Salta

I can't say enough about how much we enjoyed this hotel. It is unique, beautiful and has a great location. The breakfast has a lot of options including eggs cooked to your liking. The staff are really friendly and helpful. The rooms are beautiful, comfortable and extremely clean.

Authenticity & Character

This is an old building that has been renovated into a beautiful hotel. You are greeted with your own wine, cheese, and olives reception. Has a library and outdoor area to relax and enjoy some downtime. Our room had it's own secluded patio.

Location

Great location. .

Staff

All the staff were great.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and roomy.

Activity Reviews

Asado Dinner at El Fogón

Buenos Aires

This is a really unique experience. What was suppose to be a seven course dinner ended up an eight course dinner. It is just fun. The staff interact with the customers all during the meal. The food is cooked to perfection.

Quality of Experience

We felt very welcomed and were treated so well. The food is excellent!

Food

All of the courses were great. Just remember to take it slow as the best is last.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff was very friendly and fun.

Transport

We arranged our own transportation to the dinner and used Uber.

Buenos Aires Barrios Tour

Buenos Aires

Beautiful part of Buenos Aires.

Quality of Experience

Very colorful.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide, Flo was informative and fun. Our driver did a great job driving in very heavy traffic.

Transport

Comfortable vehicle and good driver.

Gala Tango Dinner & Show

Buenos Aires

The food was good but for us the dancing went on too long. Ignore the previous if you are a late night person.

Quality of Experience

Food

Good but not memorable.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Staff was professional but not as friendly as other places we ate.

Transport

Used Uber.

Day trip to San Isidrio & Tigre with Lunch at Vivanco Restaurant

Buenos Aires

For my husband and me, this was a really good experience. The boat ride was very interesting and enjoyable. Seeing life along the river was fun and enlightening. Seeing the El Tigre area was a nice addition to our experience.

Quality of Experience

Our guide did a great job of making sure all of his group kept informed although we did spread out on the boat.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide was a very fun person, the driver was good.

Transport

Really enjoyed the boat ride.

Estancia Gaucho Day

Buenos Aires

The guide had so much information she shared with us on our way to the Gaucho ranch. Enjoyed the horse ride. The food here was excellent. We didn't participate, but really enjoyed watching others learn the dance.

Quality of Experience

Was a fun day.

Food

Really good food.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was very informative and the staff did a terrific job.

Transport

Comfortable van and a nice drive.

Brazil Falls & Birds Park

Argentina

Iguazu Falls are spectacular from the Brazil side. You get the full panoramic view. The bird park provides a lot of information regarding the native species and was definitely worth the time spent there.

Quality of Experience

Just a totally awesome view of Iguazu Falls.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide and driver were both extremely friendly and professional.

Transport

Very comfortable vehicle.

Visiting the Argentine Waterfalls of Iguazu

Argentina

What a fun day we had with our guide. The Falls are so close. We took the train first thing in the morning and avoided the crowd for this first viewing of the Falls from the Argentina side. Then took the two upper paths. These are long walks but very much worth the effort. It was a hot day so really enjoyed the mists. Lots of nature to enjoy on the path walks. My husband and guide then took the third (lower) path and there they saw the monkeys.

Quality of Experience

Great day of walking and seeing the falls.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide and driver could not have been better.

Transport

Comfortable vehicle.

Tour of the City - Discovering Salta's Hidden Treasures

Salta

Was a fun way to get to know the city of Salta.

Quality of Experience

Saw local crafts, museum and wine tasting.

Food

Had some really good coffee, lunches and dinners.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jorge was both our driver and our guide. Great at both.

Transport

Enjoyed riding in the pickup truck through the mountains.

Scenic Drive to Cafayate

Salta

Beautiful drive through the mountains. The echo chamber was fun. My husband enjoyed the wine tasting and the wine museum was interesting.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visiting Quebrada de Humahuaca

Salta

Another great day of driving through the mountains with beautiful views. The small villages are definitely where you want to purchase locally made items. They are displayed on tables around the village square. The hills of seven colors is gorgeous.

Purmamarca & Salinas Grandes

Argentina

We did not get to see this.

We just returned from a 15-day trip to Argentina that we planned through kimkim. We loved the door-to-door coverage knowing that all arrangements for transfers, lodging, domestic flights, and most excursions were handled. In addition, we had a team of guides and drivers, almost all of whom spoke English, to help us really find the best of this unique South American Country.

Our trip started in Buenos Aires, went to Salta, Cafayate, Mendoza, and then El Calafate in Patagonia. The 474 Buenos Aires Hotel was in a great location, a short stroll from the Obelisco and bustling Avenue Corrientes. A private sightseeing tour took us to the Recoleta Cemetery and the colorful La Boca neighborhood, among other sites. We really enjoyed the spectacular Gala Tango Show (which was a recommended option). The food and wine were stellar and this started our Argentina experience in good fashion.

We then traveled to the beautiful city of Salta, whose scenic square features the impressive Cathedral, built in 1865. Our hotel, Balcon de la Plaza, was beautiful and two blocks from the square. The square is loaded with shops and restaurants and is a perfect spot to take in the evening fun while dining at a cafe. We had an evening tour of Salta with the highlight being a visit to San Benando Hill, which gives a panoramic view of the city below.

A full-day tour the next day took us to the Heights and stops included San Antonio de los Cobres, a village on the Puna plateau, which featured a tasty restaurant (loved the empanadas), an ancient church, and a bustling craft marketplace. We also stopped at Alto El Morado, 13,681 feet in altitude, the highest spot in our journey, and the salt plains of Salinas Grandes.

The next day was travel to Cafayate, with spectacular scenery and a stop at luxury winery Colome. Special thanks to our guide Andres, who was outstanding during our swing into the high-elevation wine country. To get to Colome we had to drive through (not over) two rivers. The winery experience, which includes the James Turrell Museum, was spectacular.

Our lodging in Cafayate was the Patios De Cafayate, our favorite stay of the trip. This elegant hotel is in the style of a French country estate, with beautiful grounds, a pool, courtyards, and a fine dining restaurant. Just about perfect -- and even more so since the El Esteco winery is right next door. El Esteco is a world-class winery not to be missed. The Cafayate wine museum in town is also a wonderful attraction. Other wineries visited included Nanni, located downtown, and the impressive Piatelli.

We then ventured to Mendoza, the wine capital of the country. We stayed in the Bohemia Hotel. We found this to be sub-par but with an ideal location two blocks from Avenue Arístides, which had eateries and shops galore. Our first sip of wine in Mendoza was at a lovely outdoor table under the trees at Repulica Aristides. We also found a nice vegetarian restaurant just steps from the hotel.

We visited a total of six wineries in Mendoza, three through the kimkim arranged Wine & Flavors of Maipu tour and the others through another tour we found online. The famed Traipiche was everything you could hope for in a winery visit. Sin Fin, Vistandes, and Familia Checchin were also memorable.

The final leg of our trip took us the the breezy region of Patagonia and El Calafate. We again stayed at a fine hotel in the Esplendor by Wyndham El Calafate. The hotel had all the full-service amenities including a nice restaurant and pool. The culinary highlight of our trip was dinner at Rancho Aparte. This was an optional recommendation and turned into an unforgettable event. The restaurant is the home of Chef Gabo, who prepares meals for small groups, in our case seven people. Guests are seated around a common table and the conversation flows as the amazing dishes come out paired with the rare and unique wines of Patagonia. El Calafate is an appealing small town with plenty of great restaurants and shops with outdoor gear. The Glaciarium is another great stop.

The excitement continued as we visited the Perito Moreno Glacier at Los Glaciares National Park. We hiked the catwalks opposite the glacier, giving amazing views of this glacier -- one of the few in the world that isn't shrinking. Titanic formations of blue and white ice make it a photographer's dream. We then took a boat tour to get even closer to the glacier (an optional but inexpensive add-on). This gave us another perspective of the glacier and brought us up close to hear the cracking sounds as icebergs calved and fell to the water. Memorable in every way.

Our final activity (aside from return travel) was a Patagonia Ranch Day at Nibepo Alke, where we were able to watch gauchos in action (shearing lambs) and enjoy a tasty asado of lamb and Malbec. We hiked to a lake and enjoyed the impressive views of the Andes.

We packed a lot into our two weeks and kimkim helped make it happen.

Our entire trip was amazing. We loved every single activity and had a great experience overall. Emilce was very helpful throughout the whole planning process, especially when we had to delay our trip due to COVID. We plan to book all future international trips through KimKim. There is not a single experience on out trip that we did not enjoy or wouldn't do again. My only minor complaint is that I wish our itinerary was more detailed and included contact information for our drivers/guides or at least the company name we would be looking out for (pick ups were sometimes confusing when multiple different tour buses were waiting outside the hotels in the morning).

Hotel Reviews

O2 Hotel Iguazú

Puerto Iguazú

Beautiful rooftop, beautiful and comfortable rooms.

Authenticity & Character

great ambiance

Location

walking distance from may restaurants/shops, gorgeous rooftop views of 3 countries

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Savoy Hotel

Buenos Aires

Beautiful hotel, but they ran out of King beds so we had to be put in a double room, which was frustrating when we booked months in advance. They were able to upgrade us to a room with a balcony for this reason.

Authenticity & Character

gorgeous lobby and dining area

Location

Staff

very helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cumbres Nevadas Hotel

El Chalten

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

communication with the front desk was poor, they told us the cab would pick us up at 7am and we would have breakfast at 6:30am, and then the following morning told us the cab was there at 6:30 and left because we weren't ready. This communication error could happen anywhere, but I specifically confirmed these times the afternoon before and then the woman proceeded to tell me that we did not talk about a 7am pick up the following morning.

Cleanliness & Comfort

uncomfortable bed, room seemed not the cleanest

Terrazas del Calafate

El Calafate

gorgeous views

Authenticity & Character

Location

easy to cab into town

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Brazilian Falls - Half day

Puerto Iguazú

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Parque Das Aves

Puerto Iguazú

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Argentine Experience

Puerto Iguazú

Amazing food

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Argentinean Falls - Full day

Puerto Iguazú

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Great Adventure - Boat trip

Puerto Iguazú

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tango Show and Dinner at Café De Los Angelitos

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

this driver drove very fast and was scary to ride with

San Antonio de Areco & Estancia el Ombu

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Food

everything was incredible

Guides, Drivers and Staff

myriam was an amazing guide

Transport

Full day tour to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares and Minitrekking

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nativo Experience

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Food

lamb stew bread bowl was incredible

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Neighborhoods Tour

Buenos Aires

we wish it had some free time to shop around la boca

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

myriam was great

Transport

Dear Ana & friends and all who help make our trip truly outstanding, the the guides the accommodations, providing transportation etc …everyone who made our trip truly memorable what a great adventure and to meet such nice people…..thank you very much to each and everyone of you …. You live in a unique part of our world 🌎…… sincerely yours David

This was a trip that was so out of our comfort zone…. But the minute we started talking to Ana, we could relax! The trip that we came up with had everything we wanted and so much more we would not have known abt.
Once our trip started, we were contacted every step of the way. We did not have to worry abt anything…. We got picked up easily at the airport and our hotels were so great. Each of our guide were so knowledgeable, kind and so much fun. We had Fernando in Buenos Aires, Pedro in El Calafate, Loraine for the iguazu falls. The trip was so magical thanks to everyone who worked to make it wonderful. Cannot begin to say how grateful we are.

We had a wonderful trip to Patagonia with the assistance of KimKim and their rep Ana. Our 13 day trip took us through Ushuaia, El Calafate, El Chalten/Fitz Roy and W-Trek at Torres Del Paine. We had wanted to do some customized experiences, such as our own camping - and she was accommodating.
We were welcomed at the start of our trip in Buenos Aires with a welcome gift box with souvenirs, local food/snacks and wine - and also at some other later accommodations there were welcome gifts waiting for us, which was a nice touch.
We did have a couple hiccups with car transfers between locations, but Ana quickly resolved those.
As for our itinerary - I think we did as much as we could in a 13 day period. But to fully experience both the Argentina and Chile side of Patagonia one really would need an extra week, as there was a good amount of things we didn't have time to do on either side. Also with the weather being unpredictable one would want extra time, just because there may be days you can't see much - but that depends on the time of year also (we went in the fall). However this bucket list trip was epic nonetheless and we will treasure the memories forever.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Madero

Buenos Aires

Upscale hotel with welcoming staff

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hostería América

Ushuaia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hosteria Senderos

El Chalten

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Los Canelos Hostería

El Calafate

Smaller rooms than our stays in Ushuaia and El Chalten which was odd given this is a larger city than those two, but otherwise beautiful hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Weskar Lodge

Puerto Natales

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Refugio Paine Grande

Puerto Natales, Chile

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Esmeralda Lagoon Trek & Lunch

Ushuaia

Gable Island and Penguin Colony with Harberton Ranch

Ushuaia

Laguna de los Tres Trek

El Chaltén

Estancia Cristina Discovery Trek

El Calafate

Amazing trip to Argentina thanks to Ana and her team. Ana was great, paid attention to all our needs and organized everything so well: flights, hotels, tours, and rides. We were on a tight schedule and everything worked out really smoothly. All the tour guides, van drivers and contact people were very kind and helpful. We visited Calafate-Perito Moreno, Iguazu Falls and Buenos Aires with our three kids. We came back home with great memories. Thank you to the crew who made it possible.

We planned our trip to Argentina one month prior to leaving. With that being said, Matias and the KimKim team were amazing and were able to bring our dreams to light in such a short amount of time. Matias was extremely responsive and prompt, and provided great recommendations for dining and tours. Argentina is such a beautiful country and we are so grateful for Matias ability to help facilitate and cater one of the most memorable trips of our lifetime. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I highly recommend Argentina, Matias, and the entire KimKim team!

This was our second trip with KimKim - the first was in Greece. But the service was excellent on both continents. Matias was so helpful with the planning as we arranged and re-arranged as plans and guests changed. Landed on a very active and busy holiday which was what we wanted. He also rolled with changes that came up. Juan and the Victoria Island boat trip, hike and barbecue was a definite highlight. He was very knowledgeable about the area and about fishing - which was an added bonus. Kayaking was on a crazy windy day but we liked the challenge. Nido del Condor was well located and provided a great jumping off point for all our activities. All the drivers were on time and obviously well trained. Buenos Aires was a great contrast. Patricia was our guide throughout and she was wonderful. Knew so much about the history of the city and the country, she presented it all so well. We loved our trip to the Delta and lunch with Sylvia and her husband. Just the sweetest couple. I’m sure they would have had us stay longer. Again, the drivers were so timely and attentive. Everything went without a hitch. Highly recommend.

We really appreciate the role that Erin and Nara had in helping us to put together a personalize adventure in Patagonia at a reasonable cost. The hotels were great, especially the Hotel Lago Grey in Torres del Paine and Kosten Aike in El Calafate. Everywhere the hotel staff were very professional, helpful and friendly. All the daily activities and pick ups happened on time as per the program. The guides were outstanding with detailed knowledge and experienced especially Chri in Torres del Paine, Leila in El Chalten and the drivers were very safe and personable especially Kevin in Torres del Paine and driving us to El Calafate. The weather is a very significant part of a visit to Patagonia and we experienced the full range of weather from snow, rain, clouds and wind. I mean real wind. We also had some sun but it was on rare occasions. The weather adds to the unique Patagonian atmosphere that reminds one they are in a wild, unique and remote part of the world. We also saw many Andean condors, many guanacos and several pumas that was a real thrill. The trek with Paul into the wet clay canyon to see petrified trees and strange rock formations was a unique experience though we were sliding around on the wet clay. The sun emerged for our visit to the Perito Morena glacier which we saw up close by boat and on the view points in front of the glacier, a breathtaking experience. The walk with our guide Liila to the lookout above El Chalten was fun while she provided many details about the area. The boat trip on the Lago del Desierto was amazing with the hanging glaciers and snow capped mountains. The hike up to the lagoon Huemel and glacier through the forest and rain was beautiful. More warning about the challenging last portion of the trail should have been provided. Our final trip to the airport was a bit uncomfortable because the vehicle was too small for the amount of excess luggage we had but we were able to manage.
Just a few suggestions, we found that information in the trip plan a bit scant about the daily activities and could be improved. You may make visitors aware of the constantly changing weather is an essential part of the trip and sunny days ca be a rare treat.
Overall a great trip for us. It was unfortunate that some of our party developed colds during the trip but otherwise, it was great, a real trip of a lifetime.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Aquaterra

Natales

Great Location, nice design with several sitting rooms, very helpful staff. Room are a bit small but adequate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rooms are a bit small

Hotel Lago Grey

Torres del Paine

Helpful staff, amazing views, spacious rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

The view of Lake Grey, the mountains and the glacier

Staff

very helpful and professional

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Kosten Aike

El Calafate

iGreat location in the town, beautiful interiors of wood and traditional motifs, great staff

Authenticity & Character

the building is a masterpiece

Location

2 blocks from the main street

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lunajuim

El Chalten

Great staff and good location, spacious bar and sitting room

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Torres del Paine Full Day Private Tour

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Perito Moreno Boat & Walking Tour

El Calafate

Great experience, with the boat and walking to the view points, fantastic with the good weather we had

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the La Leona Petrified Forest, Transfer to El Chalten

Argentina

Very interesting to see the petrified trees and geological formations but it was wet and slippery the day we went

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guided Hike to Mirador Los Condores and Mirador Las Aguilas

El Chaltén

Nice hike and not too difficult, saw condors and good views, Laila was a great guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff