Francisco Torres

Our trip to Chili from December 26 - January 8th with our family of five, was a huge disappointment because of the poor organization from KimKim.

The start of our trip was "Rocky" as we didn't receive our bags after spending several days trying to fly to Santiago, of which was no ones fault, but the person of whom picked us up at the hotel our first morning in Santiago to take us back to the airport to fly to Puerto Natales, had no information about our losing our bags and we couldn't communicate to our driver that we had to go to a certain part of the airport to retrieve them. We finally got ahold of Angel, our food tour person in Santiago and he translated the information to our driver. It was very stressful and should have been taken care of by KimKim.

We have used KimKim for another trip that was spectacular in Norway, while spending two weeks with the most spectacular guidance from our guide (Mathias) with KimKim. This current trip to Chili and Patagonia was abysmal in comparison. We had one miscommunication after the next and it was very apparent that KimKim was utilizing 1, 2 and 3 party groups to facilitate our trip. There were several times when we did not know who our contact was and we were contacting three different people at a time trying the get the situations worked out. After being picked up by our tour guide (Felipe) in Puerto Natales at the beginning of out trip, we had to tell him what was on our agenda. He had some kind of an idea with our touring the national park, but did not know anything about lunch and that it was to be provided. We had to wait 30 minutes at 2:30 in the afternoon, standing in the foyer of the restaurant to see what we were allowed to order and then waiting another 10 minutes to see if we had drinks provided.

On our second day in Puerto Natales, Felipe again didn't know that tix were already purchased for the boat ride to the French Valley for our trek to the Torres Del Paine, so I husband spent a good amount of time frantically trying to book tix finding out that the day was sold out!!! We decided that we would just drive straight to the boat to try to ask to please allow us on as this was our only day to trek, but then on our way heard from Pamela, via text that tix were already purchased for us. Very stressful.
We were unhappy with the accommodations in Puerto Natales as the Glacier Hotel was more like a banged up youth hostel. The bedding was visibly dirty in one of our rooms and there was actually a hole in one of the bathroom doors where it had been either kicked in or in someway damaged. We were moved to another room which was nicer, but still found the hotel unacceptable. The breakfast offered was sub par as well, with the only hot item being scramble eggs and everything else store bought, packaged pastries and the like. We did inform or original contact, Francisco that we were unhappy, but he informed us that because it was high season, this place was our only option. This is totally untrue as we called around and found several properties that were not booked.

We were so disappointed with the Glacier Hotel that we contacted Francisco and had our hotel in Puerto Varas changed after seeing it was of the same calibar hotel as the Glacier and was outside the city limits, where we would not be able to walk the town. We were charged an extra $500 and service fees to change to the new Hotel for three nights. Again Francisco said that he had to book the original hotel in Puerto Varas because of late booking, but this too wasn't true as we had no trouble booking at the Hotel Puelche of which we very much enjoyed, we could walk to town and loved the accommodations. When my husband looked back at communication with Francisco, my husband inquired why we were booked in this hotel, and we were told once again that it was an availability issue and we wouldn't want any other place, that this was "THE" place to stay.

Lastly, we were booked at the Hilton Hotel by the airport in Santiago for out last two nights of which is 15 to 30 min away from any sites and my husband contacted Francisco before we arrived in Chili about changing this hotel and never received a response from him.

We are a traveling family of five and have been to over 80 countries and now have the means to hire a company to assist us with planning trips and moving forward, will not employ KimKim for the job.

Considering the amount we paid for the trip to Chili, the return was abysmal.

We have many friends of whom travel and too, will not recommend your company to them as a source for travel.

Stephanie Drummond

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Glaciares

cesson sevigne

This is like an old youth hostel. Low budget place with very nice people running the front desk. The rooms were pretty clean, but bedding not and no mattress covers, just a very thin sheet.

Authenticity & Character

Bedding upgraded and mattress covers

Location

Walking to downtown

Staff

Very nice people all around

Cleanliness & Comfort

Our duvet covers were noticeably dirty and had no covers on them.

Park Plaza Santiago

Santiago

It was a middle of the road hotel.

Authenticity & Character

The bedding

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Santiago Food Tour & Cooking Class

Santiago

We love Angel and Jenny. We had a blast cooking and loved the food. Very sweet couple.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Here is feedback on the Chile trip
1. The organization by Francisco was less than what I expected. Communication was done with him over Kimkin portal or verbally but then actions were different.
2. The hotels that were promised were changed after we paid the deposit and they were much worse than we initially were told.
3. The hotel in San Pedro de Atacama (Don Raul) was very bad – I even sent photos of the hotel. The toilet seat did not fit the toilet bowl, no closet, extremely small room with barely much room for luggage, no closet, very small shower with half the shower door so water will spill out. This was not a 3 start hotel.
4. We were told that there will be 2 cabins in Torres Del Paine in Konkashken Lodge for 2 days. Then Francisco said that there was only 1 cabin with 4 beds and everything else was booked and nothing else was available. He never told us that the 1 cabin will be with bunk beds – imagine that! 4 adults, 2 aged in mid-thirties and 2 in their sixties trying to fit in bunk beds. We discussed with the owner/manager and she said Francisco changed the reservation from 2 cabins to 1 cabin and they had rooms available (but Francisco told us that there were no rooms available when original booking was done). The situation was so bad that we could not stay a second night as we had planned and paid for. Originally when I had asked Francisco that he should reduce the amount since he had charged for 2 cabins and changed the reservation for one cabin he said that vegetarian food was expensive so he will not reduce the price. This was not true also. I should be refunded for 2 rooms for 1 night and also for the other night that we were forced to spend in totally unacceptable accommodation with bunk beds in a single cabin.
5. I did not expect this kind of service from KimKim. Extremely disappointed.

Otherwise Chile and specially Torres Del Paine overall is a wonderful place to visit.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Don Raul

San Pedro de Atacama

Very small room with hardly room for luggage and with bathrooms in poor condition, the checkin clerk at front desk were rude (for English speaking guest). Would not recommend staying at this place.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

A couple of people doing the checkin were rude

Cleanliness & Comfort

Need to fix bathroom, have toilet seats that are right for the bowl, shower door needs fixing to prevent water spills

Hilton Garden Inn Santiago Airport

Santiago

Stayed for short few hours but good service and helpful people

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Alma Sur

Punta Arenas

Rooms were just okay as they are older and not updated. Restaurant would not server normal course meal and had to have their expensive Christmas meal with limited option

Hotel Plaza El Bosque Ebro

Santiago

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Konkashken Lodge

Torres del Paine

Very nice, helpful owner

Activity Reviews

Astronomical Tour - Atacama Desert

San Pedro de Atacama

Full Day Trip- Red Rocks, Lagunas Altiplánicas & Atacama Salt Flats

San Pedro de Atacama

Best tour for Atacama desert and salt flats

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Magdalena Island - Penguin Encounter Half Day Tour

Chile

Don's miss it

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Panoramic Santiago City Tour

Santiago

Baltinache Hidden Lagoons and Vallecito(magic bus).

Chile

NOthing very spectacular

Navigation Excursion - Balmaceda & Serrano Glacier with Patagonic Lunch

Chile

Nice tour

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing trip to Chile (Santiago , Atacama and Patagonia area) this December. Fransisco had organized our trip very well. He was very good in communicating with us right from the start and keeping us informed about our trip including a detailed packing list. Our local specialist Angel was super nice and very helpful. Same with Jose who was our local specialist at Puerto Natales.
The trips was very well organized and timed. We had an amazing trip. I would definitely travel with them again. Thank you very much!!
I would also like to mention that I do like the KimKim platform for communication and information about the trip.
Thank you again!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel La Casa de Don Tomás

San Pedro de Atacama

Authenticity & Character

Very aesthetic local decor.

Location

Walking distance to all great restaurants and shopping on the Main Street.

Staff

Super polite and friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

45 by Director

Santiago

Very friendly and helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Alma Sur

Punta Arenas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hostal Los Pinos

Puerto Natales

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Panoramic Santiago City Tour

Santiago

Great guide Ignacio and his driver. Had a great tour.

Tour to Cajón del Maipo: Excursion to Embalse El Yeso from Santiago

Chile

The guide was not helpful at all. He told us he will pick us up 6:10am and he will wait 15 mins as per his company policy, that should be 6:25am. He arrived 10 mins early and left early. We came down 6:20am and he left with out us and refused to come back. He left at 6:18am!!

Quality of Experience

I

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Afternoon Visit to "Valle de La luna "

Chile

One of the best tours. The guide was very enthusiastic and had lots of information. Played Star Wars music as we entered the park 😂 snacks and piano sour at the end of the tour was amazing too.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Super nice

Transport

Full Day Trip- Red Rocks, Lagunas Altiplánicas & Atacama Salt Flats

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great guide.

Transport

FD Tatio Geysers and Machuca

San Pedro de Atacama

Amazing experience to the geysers and the natural wildlife in the area.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Magdalena Island - Penguin Encounter Half Day Tour

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A well-organized compact trip to Patagonia and Santiago. Fransisco, our tour organizer's arrangements were detailed and his instructions were accurate. His and local support along the trip whenever we had hiccups was particularly impressive. Our activities were great, and the local guides were wonderful. We particularly enjoyed Nicholas for our Punta Arenas tour and Jorge for the kayak from Puerto Prat. They were both knowledgeable and their enthusiasm and love for the land was infectious.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Director Vitacura

Santiago, Vitacura, Región Metropolitana

Excellent location, staff and breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Alma Sur

Punta Arenas

Mid hotel. Hotel rooms were small, dinner and breakfast were mediocre and payment arrangements were messed up for us. The hotel was very busy with a lot of Antarctica tourists.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Sheuen Patagonia

Puerto Natales

Great hotel catering exactly for adventure travel. Staff was awesome. Beds were somewhat worn, but still recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Eberhard Fjord Kayak Adventure!

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Torres del Paine National Park - Panoramic Tour

Chile

Tour is amazing, lunch was a bit chaotic.

Full Day Valparaiso & Viña del Mar - Group Tour

Santiago

Tour guide was good, but the stops for food were poor.

Francisco was just absolutely amazing in helping me plan this trip. he was patient with all my changing requests, worked within my budgets. most importantly, he was always honest and that gives me the confidence to refer him to all my friends. His excursion choices were well thought out, with good companies. he went over and above his brief to help me with flight bookings that were not in his purview. he was always available on whatsapp, email. and responded quickly. my only regret is we could not meet. As he said, to meet, we have to now plan another visit to South America soon!
Thank you for everything

Francisco was very attentive to our needs and quick to respond. There were some minor miscommunications that were frustrating but ultimately resolved. The communication model through Whatsapp is a bit confusing, requiring multiple points of contact. Once we got used to their way of doing business, we were able to relax a bit.

The excursions were good quality overall. We loved the Mendoza wine tour. The lunch at the end of the end was excellent. There were only a couple of half day tours in Puerto Varas that seemed like a waste of time. We would have been better off relaxing at the beach than sitting in a car for hours.

Overall, I would say it was a positive experience; though, like anything of this complexity and duration, there were some snags along the way.

Hotel Reviews

Park Inn by Radisson Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

There were some areas of the hotel that were only accessible by stairs, making a difficult for those with mobility issues.

Pullman Santiago El Bosque

Las Condes, Santiago

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Diego de Almagro Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

We had arranged to have laundry done while we were on an overnight trip, but when we got back, it had not been done, resulting in an emergency trip to the store for clean clothes.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Casa de la Patagonia

Puerto Natales

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Puerto Montt & Puerto Varas City Tour

Chile

A lot of time spent on a bus and not a lot to see.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Frutillar and Puerto Octay Towns in Llanquihue Lake - Half Day

Chile

We spent a lot of time driving stuck in traffic and didn’t get to see much other than an old German settlement and a small lake town. Our time would’ve been better spent at the beach or on a boat ride.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our driver was friendly, but it seems he was not experienced with this particular excursion.

Transport

We spent a lot of time stuck in traffic.

Torres del Paine Full Day (drop-off in Puerto natales)

Punta Arenas

Overall excellent experience. The guide was very knowledgeable. If only the weather had cooperated to allow us to see the famous Torres.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Navigation Excursion - Serrano Glacier and Patagonic Lunch

Chile

The glaciers were beautiful.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tour to Chiloe - The Island of the Legends

Puerto Varas

The guide was very knowledgeable and an excellent planner, accounting for delays and transfers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Wine and Olive

Mendoza

The tour was well rounded, and the lunch at the end was excellent.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Tasting, Valparaiso and Viña del Mar- Group Tour

Santiago

“Wine tasting” in the title is a little misleading, because the only wine that you taste is what you get at a rest stop on the way to the coast. Unfortunately, some of the experiences we had planned on were closed when we got there, so the driver had to make alternate plans. Valparaiso is a charming and busy town with some picturesque streets. Overall, I would say not my top experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to Santiago Airport for your flight to Puerto Montt - Transfer to Puerto Varas

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Francisco and his team were excellent. They went above and beyond in helping me and our family plan this trip. They communicated on time and outside of business hours to ensure that we are able to get what we needed during our trip. The trip has so many little details that is hard to remember especially when booked so far in advanced. Everything went smoothly. It requires effort in all parties.
The tours were also very good. The guides and transfer from Turismo Selknam were very efficient and organized in getting us to see the King Penguins. Paulina was very knowledgeable of the area - Punta Arenas, Porvenir/Tierra del Fuego.
The hotel La Yegua Loca is a very charming boutique hotel and has a great restaurant. I got a lot of souvernirs here including the serving wood board , wool slippers and stuffed penguin and sheep.

Torres del Paine is very beautiful but relatively small to drive. We have a 6 year old so the maximum hike that we can do is about 1 to 2 hours. We stayed outside of the park called Morenna Lodge. The restaurant chef is very good and the overall service is good.

The real highlight of our trip is the Estancia La Peninsula. Alejandro the tour guide is very humorous and knowledgeable of the area. Macleod, the captain of the boat is very good with kids. My husband and I have no experience with horses so he ride with my daughter. She was so comfortable with him the she fell asleep briefly during the ride.

All of the other hotels that Frnacisco picked also have very good customer service.
My only regret is not staying longer. Chile is really worth to visit. Don't forget to try Calafate sour and Austral calafate. I plan to return in the future and hopefully be assigned to Francisco and his team again.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Boutique La Yegua Loca

Punta Arenas

Authenticity & Character

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Diego de Velazquez

Santiago

Service was good, close to cable car but the area was too loud/thin windows

Staff

Best Western Patagonia / Hotel Borde Glaciar

Puerto Natales

Location

Staff

Morrena Lodge

Torres Del Paine

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Navigation Excursion - Serrano Glacier and Patagonic Lunch

Chile

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tierra del Fuego - King Penguin (Car rental)

Punta Arenas

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Estancia La Península Full Day (Car rental)

Chile

Quality of Experience

I

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Although we had to contend with lots of weather issues our trip was great. Unfortunately , we had to miss 2 of our planned excursions due to the wildfires and rainy weather. Francisco was always speedy in his responses and helpful in reorganizing our days. Chile is an amazing country. The diversity of the landscape from north to south is wonderful.