Francisco Torres

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.

Our Chile experience was the best! Francisco was definitely top of the line! Completely customized to our needs and all the local teams were phenomenal in every city we visited.
The experiences were great! We will definitely use Kimkim again!

We recently embarked on a remarkable 10-day adventure in Chile, expertly crafted by our trip planner, Francisco. The itinerary, flexible and seamlessly modified via Francisco's responsive WhatsApp communication, showcased impeccable pick-up and drop-off logistics.

Beginning our trip in the Atacama desert was surreal. Aptly named the driest desert in the world, it offered clear night skies, small stone houses, and a unique atmosphere. Our exploration included the Moon Valley, lagoons, Atacama salt flats, beautiful flamingoes, floating in Piedre Lagoon, and spending time at the El Tatio geysers.

In Santiago city, we explored captivating attractions, aided by the excellent guide Jose who provided a fantastic city tour and great suggestions for activities. A magical sunset view from the Sky Costanera added to our experience. Valparaiso and Vina Del Mar, with their undeniable charm, added a delightful touch to our journey.

Heading south to Puerto Natales, we encountered a sudden drop in temperature and windy conditions, with late sunsets creating a unique atmosphere. We visited the Myladon cave, took a panoramic tour to Torres del Paine, and had a one-of-a-kind experience at Grey Glacier, marveling at a glacier that is thousands of years old.

Throughout our adventure, the hotel accommodations consistently met our expectations, contributing to an overall excellent travel experience.

Special thanks to Francisco for curating a memorable trip that beautifully balanced relaxation and exploration, showcasing the diverse beauty of Chile's landscapes and cities.

The places we visited in Chile and Bolivia were unlike no other places we have been and probably will never be. The topography would change often and every time we felt like we were on another planet.

Francisco and his team planned an amazing adventure for us. All of our guides and drivers were friendly, knowledgeable and fun. Special shutouts to Jose, Manolo, Luna, Mauricio, Ariel, Danny and Gustavo in Chile and to Sandro and Johnny in Bolivia. To all the wonderful people who cooked and set-up our meals, thank you. They were all delicious.

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!