Kimkim Trip Reviews for Patagonia

It is hard not to feel how magical it is in Patagonia, the nature is truly exceptional. We really could tell the passion Francisco and his team have for Patagonia. It was evident they wanted us to experience this same passion, and we felt really well taken care of. There were a few occasions were an activity detail was slightly messed up, or we didn't understand information about an excursion (inevitable with travel!) Any time this occurred, Francisco and his team put effort into supporting us and remedying the situation. On one occasion, they booked us a new excursion, which was hugely appreciated. Our favorite overall experience was El Calafate, and we absolutely loved the Torres del Paine hike and Simple Patagonia hotel.

Hotels worth noting:
1. Imago Spa in El Calafate: Solid hotel! Communicative staff, pool was nice to have. Great to start out here. If you are looking for something different, do NOT hesitate to book Estancia Nibepo Aike for lodging as well. I wish we did this - would spend all my time on this estancia!
2. Simple Patagonia: ABSOLUTELY amazing!!!! Staying in one of the small houses with the view of the water was so tranquil. It was a perfect place to come home to after a long hike (there's a bath in the room which is lovely, and the bed is very comfortable as well). The whole property is so peaceful, the staff is so helpful and kind, and the food was delicious. Best hotel by far of our stay, we would recommend this for all future travelers.
3. Casa Bueras: great boutique hotel stay, and this area of Santiago was our favorite. Friendly staff, would recommend!

Experiences:
1. Perito Moreno hike: 10/10, awesome experience and unique. You get to drink whiskey at the top of the glacier!
2. Darwin Kayaking: 11/10 - this was one of our favorite days, and surprisingly so. Would suggest this to any future travelers! The guide is fantastic and friendly, and the fact that it's more intimate (with only 6 people total) made it super special. It's also something different to do in the region, which made it exciting as well.
3. Estancia Nibepo Aike: Absolutely our favorite day - truly exceptional. The nature was so powerful and beautiful. I would suggest this for all future travelers. Spend as much time here as you can, and look into the different excursions they offerent.
4. Torres del paine hike - incredible. Very challenging for newer hikers, but very exciting and rewarding. We did the right side of teh W!
5. Horseback riding in puerto natales - really enjoyable experience! We loved it and would recommend it. Anywhere you can horseback ride in patagonia is worth it!
6. Penguins in punta arenas - very cool and different experience. Would warn travelers that it has a strong chance of being cancelled because of the wind (we were lucky that we got to be there!) Punta Arenas itself does not have much to do. I think Ushuaia might have been more interesting to visit!

Our entire trip was planned by the Kim Kim team (Erin, Nara and Laura). It went smoothly and meant we didn’t need to organise much ourselves at all. They were super helpful right from the start and met us at the beginning of our trip to help answer any questions and go through the itinerary. The team had cleverly scheduled our W trek itinerary well ensuring we were camping / sleeping at the best spots and at the best times. Throughout our trip if we had any further follow ups or problems she would respond instantly. We cannot thank them enough for making our trip enjoyable and helping it run smoothly.
Thank you!

Erin was incredible in helping us plan our honeymoon in Patagonia, and I cannot sing her praises enough. From the very beginning, Erin was there every step of the way with an exceptional level of dedication and local expertise. Planning a honeymoon can be a daunting task, especially when considering a destination as vast and diverse as Patagonia, but Erin made the entire process so easy!

Most impressive was how responsive Erin was. She promptly addressed all of our questions and concerns, demonstrating a genuine willingness to ensure that our trip was tailored to our preferences. Her wealth of knowledge about Patagonia, from the best hiking trails to places to stay, was invaluable. It was evident that Erin had a deep passion for the region, and her enthusiasm translated into thoughtful recommendations that added immeasurable value to our itinerary.

What truly set Erin apart was her dedication to customizing our honeymoon experience. Instead of presenting us with a cookie-cutter itinerary, she took the time to understand our interests, preferences, and desired pace for the trip. Erin then crafted a personalized itinerary that exceeded our expectations.

Throughout the planning process, Erin's attention to detail and commitment to excellence were evident. She not only provided us with a comprehensive itinerary but also equipped us with helpful tips and insights to make the most of our time in Patagonia. From navigating transportation options to suggesting ideal times for specific excursions, Erin's expertise was a guiding light that made our journey unforgettable.

Could not have done this without Erin's exceptional service and unwavering dedication to make our honeymoon in Patagonia an absolute dream. Her personalized approach, coupled with her in-depth knowledge and responsiveness, ensured that every aspect of our trip was tailored to perfection. If you're seeking a travel advisor who goes above and beyond to turn your dream vacation into a reality, look no further than Erin! Her commitment to excellence and passion for crafting unforgettable experiences make her a true gem in the world of travel planning! Cannot wait to book our next trip!

Overall, I would rate Kimkim and my experience as great but with a lot of caveats. My trip ended up being excellent and much of it was arranged by Kimkim. But in my case, I would have been better off making my own arrangements. But I’m a very experienced traveler and could have easily arranged everything on my own for quite a bit less money and without a middle person which would have given me control. This probably would have been better.

My trip to Patagonia was excellent. Lorena had excellent knowledge of how to create a lot of wonderful experiences in Patagonia. I ended up creating my own which worked out fine but I also know that if I would have allowed Lorena to arrange them, they would have been great

As far as my primary goal of going on the O-trek in Patagonia, I honestly would have been better off arranging this myself since I ended up out of the loop with the planning which left me confused at some points. I also had some poorly planned transferred based on the trekking plans which I could have fixed if I had direct access to the agency that booked the trek.

My advice is if you like a black box arrangement where you want everything prepared and ready and are more concerned with experience than cost, this is a great service. But if you like to know all the details and like to micromanage the planning, then there are better approaches to planning your trip.

I really appreciate Kimkim and specifically Lorena in helping me to create what ended up being one of the greatest trips of my life.

Great organisation. Everything was perfect. Nara was real helpful. My note od 11/10 🥰

Jimena did a great job sleuthing the various alternative ideas we wanted to consider and overall provided excellent guidance on how many places we should stay and how many days we should allot to each one. We were very happy with the trip and grateful to Jimena for her help in organizing it.

We thoroughly enjoyed our Patagonia trip in Chile and Argentina. Planning it beforehand was such a positive experience because Erin and Nara's responses were immediate and their advice so helpful. They were exceptional. There were many logistics on this trip because of the vastness of Patagonia and everything went very smoothly. Our activities and locations were nicely varied and we had a really good balance of scheduled and free time. Valparaiso was such an interesting city - we loved the street art, the Hotel Fauna and especially our Chilean cooking class with Sebastian. One of the best days was the trip to Estancia La Peninsula outside Puerto Natales. There was horseback riding, barbeque, sheep sheering and just general good cheer - such a blast. Yurt "camping" at Patagonia Camp in Torres del Paine was a super high point. Our hikes were stunning, the facility beautiful and the staff superb. We were sad to leave. In El Calafate in Argentina, we liked the dining - great restaurants and food - and also the Hotel Kosten Aike. Seeing the Perito Moreno glacier so close was remarkable - a worthwhile day trip. Our day trip to Upsala Glacier and Estancia Cristina was OK but not outstanding - the weather was partially to blame for that. Overall, we were blown away by the beauty of Patagonia and appreciative of the great planning through Kimkim. It is a trip we will remember forever.

This is our first trip to South America / Patagonia. Usually I plan all my trips on my own. However, for this trip.. I found it difficult to imagine the journey -- the places, the logistics, and the watch-outs that we need to know. Thank goodness, we found Kimkim.

Erin was our contact person. I took 6 months of deciding, researching, and going back and forth changing my mind. Throughout that time, Erin was super patient with me. She answered all my concerns, built on the wants that I have, and help customize the experience so that each of us can have the trip we all want -- ie, me and my sis on adventures vs mom taking a more relaxing approach.

The plan was 12-days in Patagonia. We ended up enjoying every moment of it. The activities were memorable; accommodation clean and convenient; transportation logistics all accounted for. Throughout our trip in Patagonia, Erin and Nara were contactable in case of last minute questions or changes -- which we did have, and they were so nice to help accommodate us.

Highly recommend working with them. We started with Relaxing Patagonia plan, and then built customization from there.

Thx again!

The local specialist Lorena did an amazing job organizing the trip, she was always very responsive, provided great insights and helped a lot with her knowledge of Chile. All local guides were very nice and on time too. The experiences and accommodations felt very specific to what I wanted to see and I particularly loved the Torres Del Paine area. Thanks a lot!

I highly recommend KimKim and the local company they connected us to for a trip to Patagonia. Erin and Nara were amazing! Their expert itinerary took our wishlist, budget, and interests into account and created a trip of a lifetime! (also their patience with all of my questions was greatly appreciated)

Our hotels, guides, excursions and restaurants exceeded expectations and despite some unfortunate weather we able to do most of the things we planned on. The Singular hotel was a highlight of the trip for all of us and the guides we had at every destination were wonderful!

We will definitely be using KimKim again and will recommend to all our friends and family!!

Hotel Review

The Singular Patagonia

Puerto Natales

This was a truly amazing place to stay. The balance of luxury and comfort was just right. We stayed here for two nights initially and then returned for another night.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Trip Briefing at Dittmar Adventures

Puerto Natales

The briefing turned out to be really helpful. Nara, who we met there, had a whole map spread out and explained why we were doing what we were doing. It was nice to meet someone from the company in person.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Torres del Paine Full Day Private Tour

Patagonia

This was just the right amount of hiking and sightseeing. We really liked our guide.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak Lago & Rio Grey, Return to Puerto Natales

Patagonia

Even though the weather wasn't great, we had a fun time. We ended up cutting it a bit short due to the weather, but it didn't impact our enjoyment. The lunch served was delicious, even though we had to eat it in the van.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to a Patagonian Estancia

Patagonia

Due to wind, we had to go to a different Estancia than initially planned. However, it turned out to be one of our favorite days. The people were so nice, and the food was so delicious.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip to Patagonia in October 2023 could not have been better. I had a basic idea of where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do from the recommendations of some friends, but I contacted kimkim because I was intimidated by trying to book accommodations on the W hike, and because I figured a local agent would know which excursion providers were the best. Kimkim connected me with Dittmar Travel in Puerto Natales, and I was pleased to work with Laura, Erin and Nara. The whole trip went off without a hitch. Hotels were expecting us, drivers and guides showed up on time, bus tickets were easy to use (and exchange when desired), and suggestions for restaurants and free time were all great. We especially enjoyed our guided hike in El Chalten with Julie from Walk Patagonia. Best hotel breakfast was the amazing spread at the Kau Yatun Hotel and Estancia in El Calafate, though all were good and offered a variety of foods. The best view from a hotel room probably goes to the Andino Sur in Ushuaia with the Alma Sur in El Chalten a close second. Of course, the very best views were from the refugios on the W trek, but those require some serious hiking to get to! Erin and Nara were available to answer even the most basic questions (should we bring sleeping bag liners? how about microspikes?) and I felt very comfortable asking them. I highly recommend visiting Patagonia with the help of Dittmar Travel.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Alma Sur

Punta Arenas

The Alma Sur is a nice hotel convenient to the Bus Sur station and the attractions of downtown Punta Arenas. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, the staff is very friendly and provides good recommendations, and the breakfast was ample and delicious.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

NOI Indigo Patagonia

Puerto Natales

nice hotel right on the waterfront. walking distance to good restaurants and shops of downtown Puerto Natales. staff were very helpful in getting us an early breakfast to go and storing our lunch in the restaurant cooler.

Authenticity & Character

Location

stunning views across the water to snow capped peaks!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Refugio Torre Central

Parque Nacional Torres del Paine Pedro Montt

A great place to rest up after the big hike to the base of the Torres. Rooms and bathrooms were neat and clean. Check in process was easy Restaurant and bar staff were friendly and efficient.

Refugio Frances

The ecodomes at Frances are spacious and generally clean and comfortable. Our heater ran out of gas in the night, so it got chilly, but the sleeping bags provided were warm enough. The small dining room and bar were great for convivial meals and chats. Staff was friendly and efficient.

Refugio Paine Grande

Puerto Natales, Chile

This is a large refugio serving many overnight and day guests. The check in process was a little slow because many guests were coming and going and asking questions, and I think they were short staffed as the check in staff had to show everyone to their rooms. The common areas are warm and comfortable and the dining room was well organized. The food was good and plentiful.

Refugio Grey

Torres del Paine National Park

This is a beautiful refugio with a lovely dining room and bar. It feels a little more calm than the other ones we stayed in. We enjoyed the communal meals here and look forward to checking out some of the destinations recommended by fellow guests.

Hotel Lago Grey

Torres del Paine

This is a lovely hotel with enormous windows overlooking Lago Grey. We were ready for a comfortable private room after four nights of shared bedrooms and bathrooms on the W. The restaurant has a large and varied menu and the service staff were professional and friendly.

Destino Sur Hotel

El Chalten

This is a large-ish new (?) hotel in El Chalten, just off the main street. It was clean and comfortable and staff were friendly and helpful in exchanging money, arranging meals to go, and getting laundry done. Breakfast was good and the dining room was comfortable. The room was nice and the bed was comfortable. The views of the town and surrounding mountains were lovely. There was a little noise from the hallway, but nothing that kept us awake too late. The hotel is very convenient to the trails accessing Los Glaciares NP and also to a number of restaurants and breweries.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kau Yatun Hotel & Estancia

El Calafate

The Kau Yatun is located outside of the main commercial district of El Calafate which is nice because it's noisy down there. We enjoyed the walk through the neighborhood to the main street. The lobby and lounge area are very comfortable with lovely views of the surrounding estancia. The room was large and comfortable and the breakfast was fabulous. The staff were helpful in arranging luggage storage and transit to the bus station.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Alto Andino Hotel

Ushuaia

The Alto Andino is a couple of blocks uphill from the waterfront in Ushuaia, which means wonderful views from the room and breakfast room. Our room was huge and comfortable with a great shower. We appreciated the small kitchenette for making tea and coffee.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Trip Briefing at Dittmar Adventures

Puerto Natales

We appreciated the opportunity to sit down with Nara and go over the remaining days of our itinerary and ask questions.

Guided Hike to Laguna de los Tres

El Chaltén

It was nice to hike with our guide, Julie, from Walk Patagonia. She actually suggested a modification to our itinerary because I was suffering from a sore knee after our W trek. It was great to hike with someone who knows the natural history of the park and could answer any question we might come up with.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We had a great trip, and couldn't have done it without the help of Kimkim.

Hotel Reviews

Hosteria El Puma

El Chalten

Urban Suites Recoleta

Buenos Aires

Hotel Boutique La Yegua Loca

Punta Arenas

Hotel Boutique Le Reve

Santiago

Hotel Kosten Aike

El Calafate

Hotel Las Torres Patagonia

Torres del Paine

Refugio Frances

Refugio Paine Grande

Puerto Natales, Chile

Refugio Grey

Torres del Paine National Park

Hotel Lago Grey

Torres del Paine

Activity Reviews

Perito Moreno Glacier Mini-trekking

El Calafate

A full day activity, but really fun!! Our guide for the actual walk was particularly great.

Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island

Patagonia

Santiago City Tour

Santiago

Our guide was excellent -- extremely knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Unfortunately, I had my gold necklace grabbed from around my neck while walking!

Kayak to Grey Glacier

Patagonia

Our experience was cut short because of the windy conditions which was disappointing. Our guides, however, were very capable.

Boat Trip to Glacier Grey

Patagonia

The boat was full of boozed up tourists looking for the perfect selfie... But still fun! We didn't realize there would be quite a long windy walk from the boat to the hotel with our big packs on. Not a problem for us, but not sure how some of the other folks fared.

Dinner & Tango Show

Buenos Aires

Then dancing was glorious, but the whole event was clearly catering to tourists. Felt very rote, and although the elegance of the property has been preserved, some of the guests were wearing shorts and running shoes... Kind of sad, really.

The best decision I ever made - I was reluctant at first seeing as it was my first solo trip to a whole new continent! I had my doubts but the team at Kimkim, especially Erin, gave me the assurance and confidence I needed to embark on this journey. She was responsive to every question/concern I had and gave me full transparency on how these trips occur.

I could not recommend their services enough and I will definitely use it again.

Thank You!

Thank you Erin @ KimKim for your work in setting up our unique vacation to Chile including all the details which made it stress free. You helped us create our ideal trip!! Our favorite days were spent backpacking the W Trek in Torres del Paine then touring the southern part of the park with our private guide Carlos. Our memories of this special adventure will last a lifetime!!

Wonderfully planned vacation. Excellent clearly planned details provided. Always available for help along the way!
Patagonia is amazing......hike to Grey and the base of Torres del Paine is a MUST!!!!!!
El Perito Moreno in Argentina is spectacular!!!!!!
We unfortunately were unable to do the kayaking to Glacier Grey because of high winds.....but I would still recommend doing it.

We loved our kimkim trip! Here are some details:
•El Calafate: Our first hotel, Cauquenes de Nimez, was clean and quiet although the breakfast lacked variety. The two excursions we went in this area were very good. The Mayo Spirit Trek had a wonderful guide and the activities were so fun. The trip to Estancia Cristina was very special. The boat captain made it easy to see and photograph the magnificent icebergs we saw on the way to the estancia. We learned so much history about the estancia when we were there. Lunch was so enjoyable on that excursion.
•El Chaltén: Our hotel, Lunajuim, was comfortable and had a nice lobby with a bar. The restaurant was good, too. We were unable to take the guided hike scheduled for our first day en El Chaltén since I wasn't feeling well and it was pouring rain. We really enjoyed our free days doing short hikes and being unscheduled.
•El Calafate: Our hotel, Kosten Aike, was very lovely and we were sorry that we were unable to stay there upon our first arrival in El Calafate. Our bus ride to Puerto Natales went quite smoothly.
•Puerto Natales: Our hotel, Vendaval, was really good. We especially enjoyed the rooftop bar and deck. We also had a view of the water from our room. 21 de Mayo neglected to inform Dittmar that our excursion would start an hour later than the 7AM scheduled time. We got up very early to stand around for an hour in the cold. The excursion was somewhat crowded and loud. We couldn't hear the guide on the boat. However, the glaciers were beautiful to see and the estancia lunch was good.
•Torres del Paine: Our guide, Andrés, and our driver, Mauricio, were right on time to take us to Torres del Paine. Both of them were wonderful, kind, thoughtful, and always looking for interesting things to show us. We thoroughly enjoyed our day with them. Hotel Lago Grey was the best! The view from our room was gorgeous. From our window, we even saw a condor eat a fish. The excursion to Glacier Grey was quite crowded making taking photos just about impossible. It was my least favorite excursion. Then we had another fantastic day with Andrés and Mauricio. We requested to have Mauricio for our driver and, thanks to Nara, he was our driver again and was our driver to take us to Punta Arenas the next day.
•Punta Arenas: The Hotel Albatros was my least favorite. Our view was a cement wall and breakfast, although good, was served too late at 8:30. Everyone had already left except us and we felt rushed since we were getting picked up at 9. Our driver to take us to the Magallanes National Reserve was right on time. Ademil was very kind and made sure we were registered before we went on our beautiful hike. When we returned, there was Ademil waiting for us. He also drove us to the airport later that night.
All of our transfers went well and everything on the trip went very smoothly. The trip was even better than I pictured it when Erin created the itinerary. It was fun to meet the Dittmar team in Puerto Natales. Throughout the entire process from planning the trip to its execution we had the support of that team. Responses to our requests and questions were always prompt. I felt supported the entire time. What a wonderful experience we had thanks to Erin and Nara!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Kosten Aike

El Calafate

Kosten Aike is a really nice hotel with a great downtown location. The rooms are spacious and the bedding is very comfortable. The hotel has a charming look and feel, and the huge breakfast is a great way to start the day. We wished we could have stayed here longer.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Vendaval

Puerto Natales

Our hotel, Vendaval, was really good. We especially enjoyed the rooftop bar and deck. We also had a view of the water from our room. The connected restaurant was also a convenient feature.

Authenticity & Character

The view of the port from the window was nice and the rooftop bar was the highlight.

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lago Grey

Torres del Paine

Hotel Lago Grey was the best! The view from our room was gorgeous. From our window, we even saw a condor eat a fish. Lago Grey is an amazing hotel with floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing mountain views. The dinners were excellent we ate here all three nights and the breakfast had a large spread. We loved our stay here.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Albatros

Punta Arenas

This was not our favorite hotel, if you would like a room with a view I would make sure to request it! The location was great, very close to restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Admire the Famous Perito Moreno Glacier [Mayo Trek - Alternative Excursion]

El Calafate

The Mayo Spirit Trek had a wonderful guide and the activities were so fun. It was a perfect distance with a great guide who was knowledgeable and very friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak at Perito Moreno Glacier

El Calafate

The kayaking experience at Perito Moreno Glacier was fantastic - Dan absolutely loved it.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Upsala Glacier & Estancia Cristina [Upsala Program]

El Calafate

The trip to Estancia Cristina was very special. The boat captain made it easy to see and photograph the magnificent icebergs we saw. Despite the windy conditions, this tour was wonderful The captain even showed us a flipped iceberg and drove slowly for everyone to see. The lunch was amazing. The restaurant was very quiet and comfortable and wine included!

Quality of Experience

Food

Very quite and comfortable restaurant, wine included)

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip Briefing at Dittmar Adventures

Puerto Natales

It was fun to meet the Dittmar team in Puerto Natales. Throughout the entire process from planning the trip to its execution, we had the support of that team. Responses to our requests and questions were always prompt. I felt supported the entire time. What a wonderful experience we had thanks to Erin and Nara!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Tour to Bernardo O Higgins National Park, Serrano & Balmaceda Glaciers

Puerto Natales

The tour started an hour later than expected, but the free whiskey shots were a hit. The included lunch was nice and the tour allowed us to roam around on our own. The glacier was beautiful and had a huge lake to view.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Grey Glacier Boat Tour

Patagonia

The weather was not great for this tour, it was a bit rainy but the glaciers were beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Torres del Paine Full Day Private Tour

Patagonia

Met the Dittmar team, in this town, and everyone was so fun and caring looking out for the exciting stuff and making sure we stopped for everything. Really good photographs from that trip.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Private Photography Tour in Torres del Paine National Park

Patagonia

The guides asked what we wanted to do and we said to take good photographs as my husband is a photographer so they took us to all the best photography spots! Best box lunches - lamb and beef sandwiches which were the best on the trip. Mauricio the driver was the best too! We personally asked for him again because he was great!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Magallanes Nature Reserve

Punta Arenas

Our driver to take us to the Magallanes National Reserve was right on time. Ademil was very kind and made sure we were registered before we went on our beautiful hike. When we returned, there was Ademil waiting for us. He also drove us to the airport later that night. Magallanes was beautiful with the fall colors and a perfect way to end our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We began in El Calafate with a quiet afternoon. We took a boat excursion to Perito Moreno recommended by our kimkim agent, Erin. It was perfect! My first site of this glacier brought tears to my eyes. The next day we returned to kayak in front of the glacier. Perfect! An iceberg turned over right in front of us and moments later, a whole side of ice came down off the wall. We went on a multi day horse ride with Niebepo Aike and rode through rain, fall colours, snow and brilliant sunshine. Our guide, Juan was amazing! The program also included a hike to the Hidden Glaciers. All breathtaking views. Thank-you to Erin for helping us plan such a wonderful holiday. Unforgettable! I only wish Kimkim would also include flight bookings as part of the service.

Hotel Reviews

Estancia Nibepo Aike

Colonia Francisco Perito Moreno

We took the multi day horse riding program. The Estancia is very comfortable and the outposts we rode to were rustic as advertised. An amazing experience.

Authenticity & Character

The outposts were authentic

Location

The views are incredible

Staff

Our guide Juan attended to us with such care!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The second outpost was a little more comfortable

Hotel Amado

El Calafate

A very well-located hotel right in the middle of town. The room was clean and comfortable and the staff was great. A simple breakfast is included, but nothing was fresh and it was bad.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Central location

Staff

Very helpful staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The first room had a better bed

Activity Reviews

El Calafate to Estancia Nibepo Aike [Multi-day Horseback Riding Day 1]

El Calafate

The first day started at 5 pm and was just transport to the Estancia and dinner

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Juan....our ride guide!

Transport

The transport is at the convenience of the outfit, not the customer. The first day was not really any kind of activity day other than dinner and the last day, we felt rushed to meet the shuttle schedule.

Admire the Famous Perito Moreno Glacier [Mayo Trek - Alternative Excursion]

El Calafate

Great choice of boat company....not too large a group. The guide was very good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak at Perito Moreno Glacier

El Calafate

Well equipped and lots of fun. I felt safe even when a nearby iceberg turned over right in front of us. Don't get too close to the icebergs!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Estancia Nibepo Aike to Puesto Rosada [Multi-day Horseback Riding Day 2]

El Calafate

We rode about 6 hours to an outpost. It was very rustic. We had all weather and an incredible experience. Be prepared for weather changes as always when in the mountains. It was just my husband and I and the guide.

Quality of Experience

Food

Juan was a great cook!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Amazing horses and comfortable saddles with huge pieces of foam for added comfort

Transport

The horses!

Puesto Rosada to Laguna 3 de Abril [Multi-day Horseback Riding Day 3]

El Calafate

Another great day that began in snow and ended in sunshine

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the "Glacier Balcony" [Multi-day Horseback Riding Day 4]

El Calafate

We were expecting to ride, but the horses were only used to meet the boat. This was an unexpected 5 hour hike, but it was beautiful just the same

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Southern Face of Lago Argentino, Return to El Calafate [Multi-day Horseback Riding Day 5]

El Calafate

Beautiful ride back to the Estancia followed by a tasty BBQ. Felt rushed off the ranch to meet shuttle schedule

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shuttle schedule

Excellent and appropriately adventurous tour of Chilean alpine world, Patagonia (Torres del Paine, El Calafate, El Chaltan) and End of the World. Ana worked with two of us to identify great lodging and enriching experiences--all within our budget. Transport through two countries was seamless and all taxis were on time and well briefed. Also friendly and helpful in making adjustments to our schedule, booking internal flights, and suggesting places to eat and places to go at each locale. She's a pro!

Trip was reasonably priced overall and well worth it. Weather was uniformly good in destinations--despite forecasts and fears. Contact Kimkim or Ana for our itinerary, lodging, and activities. Wouldn't change a thing. Local contacts connected to us on What's App and local tour guides were fun, informative, and professional (except one who needed an attitude adjustment!).

We spend some eventful pre-trip days in Santiago/Valparaiso guided by a friend and some good times in Buenos Aires afterward. I've been to nearly 100 countries and will now put Chile and Argentina towards the top of my list. Naturally, there's plenty more to see and do there but our itinerary is a good start!

Thanks to Kimkim and Ana for making it happen!

Hotel Reviews

Weskar Lodge

Puerto Natales

Rustic and comfortable. Good for relaxing after a trek and excellent meals. Friendly and helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Bellavista

Puerto Varas

Great location, helpful staff, comfy rooms.

Calafate Parque Hotel

El Calafate

Great location, helpful staff, nice amenities.

Meraki Lofts

El Chalten

Good price.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Cilene del Faro Suites

Ushuaia

Great location and staff. Gave us an upgrade on room. Good breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Navigation to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers

Puerto Natales

Pleasant boat ride and interesting info on glaciers. See Glacier museum beforehand. Well worth it.

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Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Excursion to Osorno Volcano & the Petrohue Falls

Puerto Varas

Nice environs and plenty of time to see volcano and walk around at your ability/discretion.

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Excursion to Chiloe Island: Ancud, Castro & Dalcahue

Puerto Varas

Long ride to interesting locale. Local museum was great but towns not particularly interesting or charming.

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Torres del Paine National Park

Puerto Natales

World class venue and experience. 22k to towers magnificent but challenging hike. Other hike to caves and between entries also excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was a fantastic trip to Patagonia and KimKim/Natalia did an excellent job in putting the itinerary together. Keeping in mind that you are visiting some of the most remote places in the world the quality of tbe experiences was very good - hotels, transfers, guides, restaurants. Best guide goes to Sonia in Ushuaia who was a fund of information and a great companion for 2 days. Best transfer goes to Patricia who brought us from El Calafate to El Chalten and back 3 days later. Best restaurant goes to Isabela’s in El Calafate where you much try one of their Plough/Disco dishes. Best hotel setting is a top gh call but was probably the Los Cauquennes in Ushuaia overlooking the Beagle Channel. Best Hotel was the Noi Hotel in Santiago - they even gave us a late checkout room gratis as we toured the city. Their rooms, breakfast and service were all excellent. Patagonia is an amazing part of the world. Comparing things to do is difficult. I will give my Top 3 to Torres del Paine Base, Mount FitzRoy/Chalten and Pietro Moreno Glacier. Every site is stunning. Some of the hikes are tough especially the last mile or two to the top - but the reward of seeing the spectacular Mountain views was always worth the effort. You don’t always need a guide especially those hikes where it is more about the experience of reaching that final destination. We found our local costs cheap especially in Argentina - you could have a very nice dinner including drinks, taxes and tip for less than $25 per person. Patagonia may be the end of the world but it is a view of what it was like when it all started. If you have the opportunity you will not be disappointed.

Patrick
Natalia we had a great once in a lifetime trip to Patagonia, overall the guides were great and everything ran on time getting us from one location to another. Thank you for a great experience.
Patrick & Joanne

Hotel Reviews

Casa Sur Recoleta

Buenos Aires

Nice hotel great location,breakfast lnot so good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Location

Staff

Attentive staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was always clean

Los Cauquenes Resort + Spa + Experiences

Ushuaia

Authenticity & Character

Decor fitted in well with the surrounding area

Location

Great views and shuttle bus to Ushuaia

Staff

Attentive and courteous

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean and comfortable seating in the lounge area

Destino Sur Hotel

El Chalten

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great location near hiking trails

Staff

Attentive and courteous staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Well taken care of hotel

Lagos Del Calafate

El Calafate

Authenticity & Character

Weird layout and noisy room

Location

Close to town center

Staff

Nice staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean

Hotel Las Torres Patagonia

Torres del Paine

Authenticity & Character

Very authentic and rustt

Location

Great location near hiking trails

Staff

Staff in general we're okay not very responsive when we had a problem with our safe,supposed to take of it next day but it never got fixed

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hallway was stained and not cleaned

Noi Vitacura

Vitacura, Santiago

Authenticity & Character

Modern and functional

Location

Great location and safe area

Staff

Great staff and excellent breakfast

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable bedroom

Activity Reviews

Buenos Aires Barrios Tour

Buenos Aires

The tour was fine,got to see major areas of interest

Tango Show & Dinner at La Ventana

Buenos Aires

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Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Trek & Canoeing in Lapataia Bay

Ushuaia

Great trip and our guide in Ushuaia Sonia was excellent

Quality of Experience

Great guides

Food

Great food cooked by staff on the tour

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Again great guide just give me other alternatives when weather doesn't cooperate

Transport

Hike to Esmeralda Lagoon

Ushuaia

Sonia our guide made the trip to the Laguna,very knowledgeable about the area and the its characteristics

Quality of Experience

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Transport

Minitrek Perito Moreno Glacier

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Food

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