Kimkim Trip Reviews for Chile

We had a truly memorable experience in Chile thanks to Lorena Huidobro, from Turismo Milodon, our kimkim-appointed tour company. Lorena arranged for us a wonderful five-day, outdoor-oriented visit to La Araucanía region of the country, centered around the small town of Pucón, at the foot of the majestic Villarrica volcano and next to the lake of the same name. Led by expert tour guides from locally-based Rehue Expediciones (Ermin and Ricardo), we hiked Conguillío and Huerquehue National Parks and some of the Lagos Andinos, all areas of stunningly unique beauty. Lorena also arranged for us stays at two top-notch accomodations: Antumalal Hotel and Rakau Lodge --the latter we would especially highly recommend to any visitors to the area. Lorena's expert advice and attention to detail truly paid off. We also appreciated Turismo Milodon's follow-up while we were in-country. And last but not least, while we were in Santiago, Lorena was able to arrange for us on very short notice a great private day trip to Valparaíso and Viña del Mar, knowledgeably led by Hernán and driver Gabriel. Thank you, Lorena!

Thank you Jason for planning such a wonderful trip for Jim and me. All your arrangements worked out perfectly, from pick up at the airport in Santiago to our departure on the last day from Puerto Natales. Felipe, our guide in Santiago, was amazing. He had such a thorough grasp of Santiago’s history, the people and the politics. We learned so much from him as we toured the city. Lunch at Boscanariz was a delicious surprise and gave us an education in Chilean wines. The Atacama Desert was another highlight of our trip. The salt dunes, geysers and lunar vistas were amazing. All of our guides were so knowledgeable and engaging. We liked staying close to town at Noi Casa Atacama and being able to walk into town whenever we wanted. The staff at the hotel was great and the pool and spa were perfect for relaxing after long touring days. And of course staying at Explora Patagonia in Torres del Plaines with its incredible views and vistas was thrilling. The hikes, guides, food, spa, and staff, all surpassed our expectations. We were so impressed with the passion, enthusiasm and love the staff have for Patagonia and Chile. By the end of our trip, we shared that love.

Chile is not an easy country to navigate especially if you don't speak Spanish. It was wonderful to have Kimkim plan our adventures and take the stress of travel away. We were very impressed with the drivers and guides. We were able to see a lot of the country in 3 weeks. Next time I would plan longer in Patagonia as the wind caused our boat tours there to be cancelled. They were helpful in getting us refunds which would have been hard to deal with ourselves not knowing Spanish. I would definitely recommend Kimkim.

The onset of COVID forced us to postpone our planned 2 week itinerary to Chile in March of 2020 but KimKim faithfully stayed in contact with us, encouraging us to not cancel but only delay the trip. We were apprehensive and concerned we would lose our paid trip but were more than satisfied with the repeated contacts from the company over 2 years of delay. They were responsive and personal in our communication the entire time.
Our guides and drivers were excellent, giving us Spanish lessons as we drove. We learned South American politics, economics and family life from different points of view, depending on who we were with that day.
We were traveling as independent travelers but our tour had us joining other groups or independents on our excursions. We like that kind of plan and made so many friends from around the world.
Santiago-Punta Arenas-Puerto Natales-Santiago-Atacama high desert-Vina Del Mar and Valparaiso was our itinerary. Our favorite was Puerto Natales and the excursions into Torres del Paine, especially the glacier tour day. And at Atacama the excursion to the geysers before dawn was unreal.
Our other favorite wasn’t a planned excursion but a happy independent traveler adventure as a result of meeting a Chilean who lives in Salt Lake City on our flight from Atlanta. He was going home to his family for the summer and invited us to visit in Casablanca. On the last day of our trip we accepted his parents gracious invitation to lunch at their home. We now have a wonderful family connection in Chile and plan to see them in Minnesota. 😊

All the guides were wonderful. Ana for the Torres del Paine, Jorge for condor and trekking, Ray and Gonzalo of Andoandes for volcanoes and hot spring

I think Ndudi covered most of what I would like to say about the trip however we had some issues at that last hotel.

There was a minor issue too but this was the main one. When checking out the clerk at the desk kept insisting that our room was not paid for and we needed to provide a credit card to pay for the room. He didn't have any idea of how the rooms where booked and who was responsible for payment. He said he needed to wait for somebody to Call and confirm that our room was paid for and that once he got the confirmation that we would be good to go. At this point our guide was already there and waiting on us to leave.

This interaction was a little disconcerning but besides that overall it was a pleasant trip.

Fantastic! Lorena created a truly amazing Chilean experience for my family. Lorena and the KimKim team were extremely flexible and reactive throughout the trip which insured that we were able to fully take part in all planned activities. I highly recommend KimKim and this Chilean trip of a lifetime!

Activity Reviews

Hidden Baltinache Lagoons - Currently unavailable

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour of Tatio Geysers

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Buggy Safari Through the Desert

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Chiloé Island & Puñihuil Penguin National Reserve

Puerto Varas

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Emi was fantastic all through the planning. She gave us great options and made changes based on our (not always clear) descriptions of what we’d like to do.

I fully recommend Emi (and Mateo) and Kim Kim

Hotel Reviews

Pullman Santiago El Bosque

Las Condes, Santiago

Hotel, staff, and location were great!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Bellavista

Puerto Varas

Wow! What a view couldn't ask for a better location.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Tour: Full Day Valparaiso & Casablanca Valley

Santiago

Orlando, our driver and guide for the day was very personable and informative. The wine tour was really good. Though it was a bit weird to do the tasting in the morning, it did mean we had a more intimate tour. The streets of Valparaiso were lovely, and the Neruda museum was fun and quirky. The only weak spot was perhaps the castle restarting for lunch and the tour through Viña del Mar. Neither was bad, just lackluster.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day Volcán Osorno + Trekking El Solitario + Petrohue

Puerto Varas

We are not a family who treks. So this ended up being some work and exercise for us. But so worth it!! The views, the environment… breathtaking. And Javier was an amazing guide. He could “read the room” and kept us laughing and learning. He helped us rest when we needed and motivated us when we needed it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to Puyehue National Park and Hotsprings

Puerto Varas

This day was fun. But it was a lot of driving to get to views that may be replicated closer to Puerto Varas. Though it was nice seeing some of the small towns along the way. Christian, our driver and guide, was amazing. And he adored well when we hit some bumps. When we arrived at the park and hot springs, the staff was on strike, so we couldn’t do the big pool hot springs where you really soak. But in the end, that was ok. They didn’t seem to have much a view and just looked like a public pool. Instead we soaked our feet in the natural (and free) hot springs riverside.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day Kayak Reloncavi Fjord

Puerto Varas

This experience was amazing! Fantastic views of the fjord, the volcano, and the sea lions. All while getting a little exercise out on the water. The the view from the woman’s farm where we stopped for lunch was awe inspiring. And she was extremely sweet. Chloe our guide was fantastic too. She was funny and knowledgeable. Also, I have to plug the lunch. All the other excursions had boxed lunches from a company. They were fine. But these lunches, someone took real time making just for us: salads, homemade cookies, coffee riverside, etc. And they took into account some dietary restrictions I have. Really put an amazing experience over the top by going that extra mile.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful time in Chile. Lorena planned an adventurous itinerary - city tours, San Pedro hikes, Easter Island wonders, and spectacular hiking in Torres del Paine. During the few times that a flight was rescheduled or the weather interfered with a tour, Lorena and Ignacio stepped up to save the day! We are very grateful to them for making this such a special family vacation.

Hotel Reviews

Renaissance Santiago Hotel

Santiago

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel La Casa de Don Tomás

San Pedro de Atacama

Authenticity & Character

best hotel in the area

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Taura'a

Hanga Roa

Sweetest owner - like staying with your aunt.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Holiday Inn Santiago - Airport Terminal

Santiago

great location for an early flight

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Carpa Manzano

Punta Arenas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Altiplanico Puerto Natales

Natales

Authenticity & Character

beautiful views

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

relaxing and beautiful environment

Activity Reviews

Santiago City Tour

Santiago

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Valley of the Moon Tour

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stargazing Experience

San Pedro de Atacama

This was such a unique experience - the stars are amazing. Guides were incredibly knowledgeable and the use of telescopes was so much fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hidden Baltinache Lagoons - Currently unavailable

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had the most amazing guide!

Transport

Waterfalls Trek - Private tour

San Pedro de Atacama

Very cool to see the geysers. Great guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour of Tatio Geysers

San Pedro de Atacama

Great experience and guide.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Viña del Mar & Valparaíso

Chile

Really enjoyed touring these towns. Fantastic guide!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Tour to Ahu Akivi

Easter Island

Just an amazing experience to see these statues.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Tour of Torres del Paine National Park & Surroundings

Chile

Great overall view of park. Excellent guide.

Base Torres Hike

Chile

Be prepared for a rigorous hike with lots of changes in weather.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

When we decided to take last minute Thanksgiving trip to Chile with our 4 kids (22 - 12)I wasn’t sure where to start. Fortunately we found Kimkim and Lorena!!! Lorena helped us craft the perfect vacation full of adventure, history and unforgettable moments at a great value. A truly seamless experience which included 4 airport transfers, 2 in country flights, 3 hotels, 2 days touring the area with our amazing guide Victor, whitewater rafting, fjord kayaking, volcano trekking and penguins 😍

As a family which travels internationally on multiple occasions, we had never engaged a service to help coordinate our trips. However, our entire family has agreed based on Lorena and the incredible Kimkim vendor partners we can’t imagine taking another trip without them.

16 thumbs up and as many stars as possible!

Hotel Reviews

Holiday Inn Santiago - Airport Terminal

Santiago

The nicest airport hotel we’ve ever seen. A perfect blend of convenience, comfort and vibe literally 5 steps outside the terminal.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Desk staff when we checked in at midnight were so helpful and engaged.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Best shower and beds of our whole trip

Renaissance Santiago Hotel

Santiago

Great customer service! When we arrived after a 8 hour flights before check-in time, the front desk suggested us refreshing in the spa and having lunch at the beautiful restaurant. Both ideas were fantastic and helped us settle into our vacation.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to dining options

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Solace Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas

Clean, convenient and a perfect base for our Chilean adventures. The hotel restaurant was a big hit for dinner on a night we were too tired to venture out.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Rafting on the Petrohué River

Chile

What a great outfitter in the most amazing setting imaginable. The guides were all so fun and extremely professional. Highly recommend and the beers afterwards were well deserved!

Quality of Experience

Perfect mix of professional and fun

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We loved all the team but our guide Chris was especially engaging

Transport

They picked us up at our hotel on time and dropped us back after. Made the whole day super easy.

Kayaking on Reloncaví Fjord

Puerto Varas

If you like adventuring and want to engage with the mostly lovely locals ever, this is your trip. Our day was a little windy so the athletic demand was higher than anticipated but so worth it. The lunch break at Yolanda and Juan Carlos’ farm was magical. Our kids (22, 18,17 & 12) had the chance to see up close the beauty of living in connection with the land. Walking around the property proved to be high on everyone’s list of favorite things on our amazing Chilean adventure.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guides were so engaged and informative. We loved them.

Transport

Seem less pickup and return to our hotel in Puerto Varas

Explore Chiloé Island & Puñihuil Penguin National Reserve

Puerto Varas

History, beauty and penguins!!! Our day with Victor, the most amazing guide ever, was incredible. His knowledge on the history of the area, Chile and the environment gave our group so much more than we could have imagined. Fortunately we had him for 2 days and by the end felt like Victor was part of our family! The day trip was so special - would definitely recommend.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Victor (our guide) and Sandro (our driver) we’re so easy to be with and responsive to our interests and needs. The casual pace was perfect and they really picked up on what our group was interested in learning and seeing.

Transport

Clean, safe and temperature controlled vehicle

Day Trip to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park

Chile

For our final day in Puerto Varas we hiked volcanos, saw waterfalls and toured a lake with no roads. Let’s just say it didn’t disappoint! It was our second day with our wonderful guide and driver team, Victor and Sandro, and we were all ready to explore. The mix of history, area knowledge and incredible beauty was remarkable. We toured all day and then went straight to airport in Puerto Montt to head back to Santiago. A great last day!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

If I were to plan again, I would spend less time based in Santiago and I would try to increase my chances of not having activities canceled due to weather. Hotels were great, service was good and we found super wine and food. Seeing penguins outside of Punta Arenas and getting up close with glaciers were priorities for me and neither happened. More flexibility, more time, different time? Not sure what but would research it fully. Ana was good, Clementina was great. Service in Patagonia was mixed ie our schedule kept changing and only once of the three times were we notified. Drivers and guides were timely and good except for the one incident from San zpedro to Calamari, which we have already reported. Now we are waiting for refunds for our two canceled excursions. I love travel, I have travelled many places, rich and poor, alone and it groups. This was a good trip but there definitely still are challenges out there and some disappointments. Hope this is helpful. Please reach out to me if you have any questions

Lorena and all the trip coordinators were amazing. They helped me plan the most amazing trip and engagement!! Thank you so much

Hotel Review

Hotel La Casa de Don Tomás

San Pedro de Atacama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Valley of the Moon Tour

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Amazing trip organized by Lorena. This was my fifth time down to Chile but first on an organized trip.

First, we got up high in the Andes with knowledgeable and friendly guide Sebastien…and even snuck in a hot springs visit! Then down south to rio tranquilo. 4x4 truck was the perfect rental as some of the washboards/ potholes were pretty rough on route 7. Great stay and food at “el mirador de guadal” ( cabins are highly recommended) with the chance to get up on exploradores glacier with Felipe. Marble caves were underwhelming but it was good to be out in a kayak and guide Rodrigo was great and let us go exploring.

Then down to puerto natales and into Torres del Paine national park. Great trekking. Trails well marked and easy to navigate. ( Park rangers were on strike, but didn’t affect the trip) Modified W trek with a bit of reverse O. Got onto glaciers, lakes, snow at John Garner pass. A bit of wind and some showers but great hiking weather. All self guided. Stayed at the Refugios. Just bring some snack and clothes and you’re set!
A day of rock climbing on great conglomerate near lake Sofia with fantastic guide Chalo from Boulder Natales to finish it off.
Then a bus to punto arenas and a chance to see penguins before flying back.
All connections/ flights and transfers went very smoothly. The only hiccup was the park ranger strike but really didn’t affect us and Lorena was able to alter the trip when one excursion had to be canceled.
High recommendation for Lorena and her team in Santiago. Sure you pay a bit extra but all we really had to do was show up! Thanks again!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Ladera

Providencia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Mirador del Guadal

Puerto Guadal

Amazing location and wonderful hosts. Cozy warm cabins. Great food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Sir Francis Drake

Puerto Ayora

Hotel was clean. Nothing outstanding but good place to stay.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Refugio Grey

Torres del Paine National Park

Refugio Paine Grande

Puerto Natales, Chile

Hotel Alma Sur

Punta Arenas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Santiago City Tour

Santiago

Typical city tour. Worth learning a bit about Santiago. Guide friendly and well spoken but perspective somewhat jaded from his background. Enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San José Volcano & Andes Mountains

Santiago

Sebastien gave a great trip and accommodated special request. Moved at our pace and gave good background. Fantastic day that made me want to explore more! Found easy access to ski 6100m peaks!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ice Trekking in Exploradores Glacier

Chile

Guide Felipe was knowledgeable and made the day fantastic. Good instruction. Funny.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marble Caves Kayak Tour

Chile

Rodrigo was great as a guide but the marble caves were a bit blah. Neat area but more enjoyed the kayaking and exploring beyond the caves.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Ice Hike to Glacier Grey

Chile

Base Torres Hike

Chile

Self guided hikes. Fantastic park. Great scenery. Will be back.

Rock Climbing in Patagonia

Puerto Natales

Chalo was fantastic. Catered a wonderful day on the rock. Met some locals and worked up 5 or 6 routes. Highly recommended.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I was only able to spend 5 days on this trip. This was in practice reduced to 4 days when LATAM canceled my flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas, and I was transferred to a flight the next. Two of the four days were therefore devoted to travel - Santiago to Puerto Natales and back, via Punta Arenas. The two days in Puerto Natales were devoted to a hike up to Cerro Paine and a boat excursion to the Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers.

The Cerro Paine hike was arranged at the last minute in place of the popular Torres Paine Base hike because the park was closed due to a strike by park rangers. The hike is very demanding physically - a vertical gain of nearly 1300 meters, some of it on an exposed and very windy slope. It requires hiking poles (provided by the guide) but is not technically difficult or dangerous. The views of the Torres along the route and at the top are stunning. Pray for good weather, though - you might be miserable on a wet or unusually windy day.

The boat trip was on a catamaran capable of seating about 200 passengers. The boat is comfortable, and as the weather was calm (though overcast) it was quite stable. Viewing decks are a little cramped. The trip allowed us to cormorant colonies and sea lions up close, waterfalls from the steep rocky slopes, and the glaciers, which are sadly receding due to climate change. Light refreshments were served by the crew. Lunch was served at a stop on the way back, and consisted of local meat dishes with soup and dessert.

Local guides: They are advertised as speaking English, but don't expect learned discourses on the geology, flora, or fauna of the region. They were all very friendly, paid attention to our safety and physical needs - but do your own homework if you expect more than that.

The Casa Patagonia hotel at Puerto Natales is apparently managed by the same company as the local tour company that arranged my visits. They are housed in the same building and share some of the staff. It is located near the center of the town, with many restaurants nearby. It is also just across the street from a nightclub, which played very (!) loud music all night (until 5 am) on the night of my arrival. The hotel staff were aware of the problem. The following nights were OK - the club is apparently active on Friday and Saturday nights only. My room was small, but immaculately clean, as was the ensuite which is tiny. The bed was comfortable. The room has only 2 electric sockets on either side of the bed, making it difficult to work on my laptop with the power plugged in. Sower water was warm - but not really hot. Breakfast was good, with a selection of fresh fruit in addition to a continental style menu. It turns out that there are hotels in the town on the coast that are not adjacent to restaurants but which offer views of the sea, such as the Hotel Altaplanico - which I personally would have preferred given the choice.

The logistics of my trip were relatively simple, but all transfers, tours etc. were excellent. Drivers were always on time to pick me up, the paperwork was perfect and everything about the trip turned out exactly as planned.

Our trip was fantastic. Every tour guide we had was great. From Evelyn in Santiago who took us around downtown and gave us great insights about Santiago and Valparaiso.
To our guides in Atacama (Pablo, etc).
The hotel cumbres was great!. People were super helpful.
To our tour guides in Patagonia Camp. This hotel was great!!!! What an experience. I would go back in a heart beat. Barbara, Marcelo and Pauline were great!!!. A wealth of knowledge and extremely accommodating. This place is amazing and the excursions were great.
I have nothing but praises for the whole trip.
Honestly… every hotel and excursion.. fantastic!.
I would book future trips with Kim Kim. This was my first experience with them and would definitely repeat.

We had a great time in Chile thanks to the itinerary created by Lorena. The transfers were punctual, the hotels selected were either unique (has something special to offer) or well beyond being comfortable, the tours were satisfactory and sometimes exceeded expectations. Lorena had been responsive and quick in addressing our concerns during the trip. We could not be happier with her supports. As a result, we fell in love with Chile and friendly Chilean people.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel José Nogueira

Punta Arenas

Happy to be in a historical building.

Authenticity & Character

The location.

Location

Enjoyed the great view.

Staff

Friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable

Weskar Lodge

Puerto Natales

Enjoyed the great view

Authenticity & Character

Comfortable

Location

Great location

Staff

Amazingly friendly and flexible; offered early breakfast every day.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable

Kau Yatun Hotel Boutique & Estancia

El Calafate

Amazing environment!

Authenticity & Character

Spacious and beautiful

Location

Convenient location

Staff

Friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and beyond comfortable

Renaissance Santiago Hotel

Santiago

Had the best breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Amazing

Location

Convenient

Staff

Friendly and flexible

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beyond comfortable, love it!

Activity Reviews

Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island

Chile

Love it!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Tour of Torres del Paine National Park & Surroundings

Chile

Happy with the tour, enjoyed the lunch and the great view.

Quality of Experience

Great

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very friendly

Transport

Base Torres Hike

Chile

Although not being able to do it due to the strike, the alternative two short hikes largely compensated the loss. We enjoyed the trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trekking and Condor Watching

Puerto Natales

Love the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Perito Moreno glacier in Argentina

Puerto Natales

A little rushed but we were awestruck, well worth the long commute.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San José Volcano & Andes Mountains

Santiago

Embraced by Andes mountains, incredible!

Quality of Experience

Food

Delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Love the tour guides.

Transport

Our trip to Chile was amazing. Full of WOW moments. Chile is a varied and beautiful country.
We started in Santiago, staying at the Cumbres Lastarria Hotel. Great location; terrific service from the staff. Highly recommend. Only drawback was that it was a holiday weekend (Columbus Day) and many restaurants and sights were closed on the Sunday and the Monday. Did a free walking tour with a very good guide - you tip what you would like at the end of the tour. Had a very good meal at Ambrosia.
We then took a drive to Valparaiso stopping at 3 vineyards along the way with tastings at the first 2 and lunch at the 3rd. I can recommend that. Valparaiso is visually very interesting - the way the houses are painted with art is great. Again took an informative free walking tour which was a little too long - 3 hours turned into 4. Again ran into trouble finding places to eat and a visit to Pablo Neruda house because of the holiday weekend.

Atacama was definitely a highlight of the trip. Spectacular! Stayed at the Cumbres Atacama which was a very nice hotel but the food was mediocre and repetitive night to night. First day went on excursions to Moon Valley and Cejar Lagoon. Moon Valley is spectacular and definitely feels like being on another planet. A lot of walking and some climbing. Cejar Lagoon is highly saline and you can swim/float there. Harriet did, I just waded in a little. Next day I had some difficulty because of the altitude so Harriet went without me to the Rainbow Valley which was also spectacular. In the afternoon we went to Chaxa Lagoon where there is a nice walk and wonderful experience with the flamingos who come back in the late afternoon to feed. We had wonderful guides for the two days, Sebastian and Rudolfo. We were supposed to go to the Geysers of el Tatio the next day which is located at 14,170 feet altitude. Because of my problem with breathing at altitude we opted out of that trip and went into San Pedro de Atacama.

From there a trip to Pucon whose primary attractions were being very close to the active Villarica Volcano and a trip to Conguillio National Park. We had a very helpful guide there, Daniella who went beyond the call of duty to help me deal with the local hospital and with an audiologist. The volcano was awesome to look at. Conguillio was a long drive but also beautiful scenery - lakes, waterfalls, a walk to a lagoon. The visit to the Termas Geometricas hot springs on our free day was also a nice experience, although again a long drive. Pucon itself was touristy. Food not very good. If you needed to shorten your trip, I would skip Pucon.

The next highlight was the trip to Rapa Nui. A never to forget experience. Our guide there, Martin Hey, was a major contributor to our enjoyment. He was very knowledgeable about the Rapa Nui history and customs, spoke excellent English (he had lived in the USA), and was just a pleasure to be with. We would recommend that you request him if you have an option. Note that it was necessary to have a Covid PCR test within 24 hours of going to Rapa Nui. This was well arranged by KimKim. No matter what you've read about the moai or the pictures you may have seen, seeing these huge sculptures in person is an amazing and perhaps spiritual experience. There was a fire the week before we went that damaged several of the moai at the quarry, Rana Raku, where most of them were created, but we saw no evidence of that when we visited that site. Perhaps our favorite site was Tangariki where there are 15 Moai representing important people from the different clans. We went back there on our own to commune with them on our own. We visited several other sites including Orongo, the site of the Bird Man culture and the beach at Anakena. Definitely worth spending 3 days on Rapa Nui.

Our last stop before returning to Santiago and home was in Patagonia, staying in Puerto Natales.
We spent a day in a group tour to the Torres del Paine National Park, stopping to see several lakes, flocks of guanacos, and a prehistoric cave. We stopped for a very nice lunch after which there was a scheduled walk, but because it was raining and we had met a couple on the tour we enjoyed being with, we stayed at the restaurant with them. We later took a nice walk to the cave. The next day we took the Glacier Navigation on a very comfortable catamaran boat to the Serrano glacier stopping to view waterfalls, condors, sea lions. To get to the glacier you had the choice of a 10 minute walk to view it from a distance or a one hour plus walk to get closer. In spite of the rain and the cold we opted for the long walk which was challenging but we were happy we did it. It was sad to hear that the glacier had receded 200 meters in the last decade. Afterwards we stopped for a good lunch of roast lamb and chicken. The hotel was basic but adequate. The food there was mediocre except for the steak which was good. We also ate in Puerto Natales.

We returned to Santiago for one night before flying home. We had a very good dinner that night at Bocanariz. Our last day before taking the flight home we spent with the cousins of a good friend in Savannah for a home-cooked lunch and the afternoon. Probably the best meal we had in Chile.

All in all, a trip to remember. The hotels were mostly quite good to excellent. The guides we had were excellent. We also met a number of people who were traveling in Chile from various countries that we became friendly with. I also want to compliment the service provided by Liane from CTS Turismo who answered all our questions and made some adjustments in the schedule in a timely manner. We would not go to Chile for a culinary experience as we found that outside of Santiago most of the restaurants we ate in were not very good.

Lastly, want to thank Paul for leading us through the many changes we made along the way dealing with the uncertainty of whether Rapa Nui would open up or not.

Howard Zabusky and Harriet Zabusky-Zand

Trip planning...

Jason, our travel agent, was very helpful and attentive. He was very receptive to feedback and promptly incorporated my input into a revised travel plan. Jason was very easy to work with, and I would highly recommend his services to anyone looking to travel in Latin America. I think the only way for the trip planning to be easier is if Jason could read my mind, because it was sometimes difficult to describe the types of adventures that would interest me and my family. I look forward to planning my next vacation with him.

Vacation summary...

Santiago
- Tour guide Felipe – Very nice, personable, helpful, and knowledgeable tour guide. Provided great insight during the tours and provided great suggestions for activities outside of our planned tours.
- Tour description/review: It was a holiday weekend when we visited Santiago, which our tour guide said was why many locals left the city. We may not have gotten the real feel of Santiago; however, less people likely simplified our tour of the major tourist attractions and important monuments throughout the city. We saw many, if not all the important monuments and learned a fair amount about the city during our tour.
The day trip to Valparaiso and Vina del Mar was amazing! The mural-like graffiti of Valparaiso was one of the most memorable things from our trip. Even our little kids were interested some of the graffiti and architecture of Valparaiso. In addition to the fascinating tour, Felipe took us to get some of the best empanadas we have ever tasted. Even though the water was too cold for us to get into, the view of the beach at Vina del Mar was beautiful. Santiago and the nearby areas were an excellent start to your vacation!

Puerto Natales
- Tour guide Jonathan – Our tours in Puerto Natales were guided by another great tour guide. Jonathan was very knowledgeable about the area, nice and personable, and very patient and good with our kids.
- Tour description/review: The next phase of our trip was even better than the initial. Our hotel room offered a view of the water and the mountain range, and the tours were just as amazing as Santiago. The tours of Milodon Cave and Grey Lake were even more exciting for the kids than the beach and graffiti of the Santiago area. The tours of the Milodon Cave and Torres Del Paine National Park were very interesting. The pinnacle of the vacation occurred on Grey Lake with an up-close view of Glacier Grey. The entire family was awestruck by the size and beauty of the giant glacier. While leaving the national park, we saw several guanacos in the hills on the side of the road. The kids were entertained by the guanaco calls to one another that sounded like they were laughing. The guanacos will likely be a vivid memory of the vacation for the kids, also.

Puerto Varas
- Tour guide Carlos was the best tour guide during our vacation, and all our guides up to this point were very good.
- Tour description/review: Another good view from our hotel room and good tours. The tours were good, but they followed the glacier tour, so they were unjustly penalized. Whatever the tours lacked in comparison to the glaciers, Carlos, our tour guide, did an excellent job of compensating. The final phase of our vacation included more interesting things for the entire family. The tours included a ski lift to nearly the top of a snowcapped volcano, amazing views of Todos Los Santos Lake and Petrohue, and a ferry ride to Chiloe Island to take a boat around Ancud Island to see penguins, sea lions, and birds. Seeing the glaciers was the climax of the vacation; however, the tours of Puerto Varas were the perfect falling action in the wonderful story of our Chile vacation.

We have numerous pictures of amazing sights that will remind us of our wonderful vacation!

Hotel Reviews

Pullman Santiago El Bosque

Las Condes, Santiago

The hotel staff was very friendly and helpful. The hotel is located in a very good location that allows for a short walk to restaurants and the huge mall.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NOI Indigo Patagonia

Puerto Natales

The view from our hotel room was amazing. The staff was friendly and helpful. The restaurant staff went out of their way to accommodate us when we arrived just before breakfast was finishing. The hotel is located in walking distance to the major attractions of the city.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Wyndham Puerto Varas Pettra

Puerto Varas

The hotel room was nice with a very good view. The hotel staff was very helpful. The restaurant was okay; however, the menu was limited. The hotel is located in walking distance to the town center, which offers various restaurants, a casino, and other attractions.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Private Torres del Paine National Park & Grey Glacier

Puerto Natales

The views of the glacier were amazing, and the knowledgeable and friendly tour guide was an added bonus. It would have been helpful to prompted to bring snacks for such a long tour. Also, for such a long tour, it would be better to have a more substantial lunch included/offered.

Quality of Experience

Food

It would be good to have options available for the box lunch or the option to eat at the hotel restaurant prior to boarding the boat.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Viña del Mar & Valparaíso

Chile

The tour guide was awesome and the murals/graffiti throughout Valparaiso are unforgettable!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The tours were excellent and the tour guides knowledgeable, friendly, helpful and prepared to go beyond my expectations to allow me to experience the atmosphere of Chile,

There were a couple of hiccups along the way but your organization worked diligently and solved them quickly. The one was prior notification prior to the start of the tours in San Pedro de Atacama and the second was where the tour ended (different from where it began). Both were resolved quickly by your extremely responsive staff,

Thank you.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel La Casa de Don Tomás

San Pedro de Atacama

very rustic with very nice services

Authenticity & Character

Fits into the area so well

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Novapark

Santiago

Excellent service

Authenticity & Character

It's a hotel

Location

right downtown

Staff

Helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and comfortable

Activity Reviews

Panoramic City Tour

Santiago

History and beauty of the city and the country

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day - Valparaiso & Viña del Mar

Santiago

Same guide and driver. very knowledgeable and friendly. It was like being on an adventure with a buddy. Highest marks.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rainbow Valley

San Pedro de Atacama

Again knowledgeable guides and very capable passing the knowledge on

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half day Moon Valley and Mirador Ckari

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tatio Geysers

San Pedro de Atacama

Really important to have start time knowledge before the tour starts especially at 0500.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cejar & Tebinquiche Lagoons - Atacama Salt Flat

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Evening Astronomy Tour

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

If you are traveling to South America, you need to go to Patagonia / Torres del Paine National Park & stay at Patagonia Camp. It is the most luxurious glamping & unique stay we've ever experienced! Emilce was wonderful & helped plan the perfect honeymoon for us!