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Jesse Barrera

Hi! I specialize in creating unique trip itineraries for all those keen on visiting the narrowest and longest country in the world: Chile. I believe travelling should be for everyone and can help in adjusting your trip to your budget while assuring the best quality.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I specialize overall in Chile, including Easter Island. I adjust trip activities based on the travellers profile and preferences. I'm also vegan so I know the importance and difficulties of assuring meals while on the road!"

How did you get involved in travel?

"I believe money and time is best spent when making memories and living new experiences! My dream is to travel around various parts of the world while getting to know about its people, culture and ways of life."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"On my honeymoon I went to the Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve. Imagine an enchanted forest where you can choose to stay either in a cabin deep into the forest, a hotel that's shaped like a mountain or up in treehouse-like refuges. I'm not a very adrenaline-seeking person but we chose to go rafting on the Fuy River and it was amazing. We were in luck (atleast that's what the guide told us!) because the currents were very strong which meant a more adventurous journey down the river! We travelled downstream for about 2 hours in total, stopping in between to drink some refreshing water from a small waterfall and jumping in to the river from high up on the bank. I have never felt so energized before and would definitely recommend it to anyone and everyone who has never done rafting of any sort."

Jesse is part of the following groups: Patagonia Travel Agents, Chile Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice

Favorite experiences

Isla Magdalena & Penguin Colony Boat Tour

Located on the Strait of Magellan, about 18 miles (30 km) northeast of the Patagonian city of Punta Arenas, is Isla Magdalena. On this island is Los Pingüinos Natural Monument, a protected area home to Chile's largest colony of penguins. A half-day boat excursion to Magdalena involves first...

Boat Trip to Laguna San Rafael National Park & San Rafael Glacier

47 miles (77 km) west of the Patagonian lakeside town of Puerto Río Tranquilo lies Bahía Exploradores (Explorers Bay). This bay sits at the western end of Valle Exploradores (Explorers Valley), which is situated at the confluence of the Exploradores, Oscuro, and La Teresa rivers at Laguna San...

Atacama Desert: Lagoons & Salt Flats

This full-day excursion includes visits to some of the most incredible natural wonders in the Atacama Desert. The first destination is Laguna Chaxa, a desert oasis lagoon located 50 km (31 miles) from the town of San Pedro de Atacama. Chaxa is situated in the middle of the Atacama Salar salt...

Recent trip reviews for Jesse

Panama
Panama | Nov 2 - Nov 9, 2024

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Adriane J.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Nov 13, 2024
Some portions of the trip were absolutely fabulous and a few things left something to be desired. I'll start with the positive. The hotel in Panama City was fantastic. Our trip to Broquete was almost seamless and our Gapa travel guide, Plinio, was beyond fantastic, especially when one tour had to be canceled due to weather and he came up with a fabulous backup solution. 5 stars for Plinio. Our trip to the San Blas Islands was fantastic, though we felt very underprepared. I wish someone had... Read more

Some portions of the trip were absolutely fabulous and a few things left something to be desired. I'll start with the positive. The hotel in Panama City was fantastic. Our trip to Broquete was almost seamless and our Gapa travel guide, Plinio, was beyond fantastic, especially when one tour had to be canceled due to weather and he came up with a fabulous backup solution. 5 stars for Plinio. Our trip to the San Blas Islands was fantastic, though we felt very underprepared. I wish someone had told us to bring a towel, extra water, and even a snorkel mask. Most other tourists seemed to know this information but we did not. And our accommodations did not remotely match the pictures provided in our itinerary. Maybe we were on a different island? We thought we were getting it huts above the water and that was not the reality. But the island was still great. Our guide via Gapa travel in Panama City was extremely friendly and sociable, but did not have the depth of knowledge I would have expected of a guide and spent a lot of time videoing and posting on his personal social media account. A bit disappointing. There was a bit of a snafu with our driver on the final day to return to the airport but Jesse was very available to help correct the situation. I'm not sure where the breakdown in communication occurred. But we made it in time to make our flight.

Hotel Reviews
Private Cabins at San Blas Islands
San Blas

I don't know where you got this picture but these are not the cabins we stayed in. So I have to rate them as a one because this is what we expected and not what we got. Now if I were rating the actual huts we were in on Iguana Island I would give them 4 stars.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Waldorf Astoria Panama
Panama City

Hotel was absolutely fantastic. The staff was impeccable, their concierge set us up with a number of fabulous tours, 100% would stay there again.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Panameña Night
Panameña Night
Panama City

The restaurant chosen for this night was fantastic. We started at the Mercado de Pescado for a beer and some ceviche and continued on to a fabulous restaurant whose name I unfortunately don't remember. The staff and food at both locations were great. The only downfall of our tour again, was our guide. While very friendly, he didn't provide any information on Panamanian food culture.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Boquete - Hanging bridges
Boquete - Hanging bridges
Boquete

This is a fabulous activity and a great way to see the cloud forest of Panama! Highly recommend. We had a great guide through Tree Trek.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Soberania National Park
Soberania National Park
Panama City

This had the potential to be a fantastic tour but our guide unfortunately, was not very knowledgeable. He knew a lot about birds but not a lot about any other flora or fauna. The walk he chose was strange compared to where other cars were parked. We did see a lot of animals so that was neat. But at times I felt I knew more information having been to Costa Rica six months ago, than our guide. Still a fabulous national Park that everyone should visit. Just go with a good guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Coffee Experience
Boquete

We did the coffee experience also through Tree Trek. Highly recommend, especially if you're headed up to Tree Trek for any of their other activities. We had an extremely knowledgeable guide who gave a fantastic tour that included an up close experience with hummingbirds. The coffee tasting was superb.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on Nov 14, 2024

Hi Adriane,

I'm happy to hear your overall experience during your 8-day adventure Panama was a good one 😊 I will pass along your praises to Plinio for being responsible of the awesome time you had in Boquete!

I apologize for the lack of information for the San Blas island, I will definitely make sure to add that info for our future travelers and update the pictures as well!

Don't hesiate to reach out if you ever decide to do another trip to Panamá 🛫

All the best,
Jesse

Wonderful experience for the trip of a lifetime!
Chile | Oct 25 - Oct 31, 2024

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Lisa S.
Ashburn, VA | Reviewed on Nov 06, 2024
Our local specialist, Jesse, did a wonderful job throughout! She was receptive to our ideas, chose locations and excursions that matched our interests, and was flexible and patient as we worked out the details for two couples--one pair of native Chilenos and one pair of English-speaking US citizens. She was available for last minute questions late at night and early in the morning. We felt well-taken care of the whole time. In terms of our experiences, our stay at Hotel Las Torres... Read more

Our local specialist, Jesse, did a wonderful job throughout! She was receptive to our ideas, chose locations and excursions that matched our interests, and was flexible and patient as we worked out the details for two couples--one pair of native Chilenos and one pair of English-speaking US citizens. She was available for last minute questions late at night and early in the morning. We felt well-taken care of the whole time. In terms of our experiences, our stay at Hotel Las Torres Patagonia was a splurge but was well worth it. The location inside the park was extraordinary, the rooms and food were exceptional, and the folks who worked there could not have been more welcoming. Two excursions stand out in our minds as experiences we will never forget. The first was the boat trip to Isla Magdalena to see the penguin colony there. Jesse reserved VIP tickets for us, which gave us an opportunity for good views, a nice snack, and personalized information from Guillermo, a guide from Fiordos del Sur. Another memorable tour was the day we spent hiking from Sarmiento to Amarga Lagoon in Torres del Paine National Park. Our guide, Pedro, with Patagonia Planet was fantastic! We appreciated his ability to speak both Spanish and English, the tour van with big windows that offered all of us a great view, and his patience and knowledge in answering the million questions we asked about the flora, fauna, geological features, and cultural history of the park. This trip really was the adventure of a lifetime, and we could not be more appreciative of the services Kimkim offered!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Costanera
Puerto Natales

New and modern accommodations, a nice breakfast, and a friendly, helpful staff. The hotel was a little off the beaten path, but we were able to walk to the center of town, though getting an Uber was often more convenient. The location on the water was nice!

Authenticity & Character
The women who worked the front desk were welcoming and helped us to make dining reservations each evening.
Location
Not in the center of town.
Staff
The women who cooked and served breakfast could not have been friendlier.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Everything was clean and comfortable.
Hotel Las Torres Patagonia
Torres del Paine

The hotel is certainly pricey, but its location in the park was well worth the money. We could walk out the front door and immediately start trekking. It was also a warm and welcoming place to rest after a long day of adventures! Our reservation was "half-board," and the breakfasts and dinners were exceptional. Every staff member we encountered went out of their way to be helpful.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Right in the park! We could hike to the base of the towers.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Great showers!
Activity Reviews
Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island
Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island
Chile

Seeing penguins up close was amazing! Although all visitors to the island are required to stay on the paved path, we never felt herded or rushed. The walk was self-paced, and a number of guides were spread out during the walk to answer questions and give more information.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guide, Guillermo, who was assigned to the upper deck, set up a big map that helped us to visualize where we were and what made that route on the Straits of Magellan so special.
Transport
Safety was a primary concern of the staff, which we appreciated. The seating was comfortable, and the big windows allowed us to have clear views as we travelled.
Full-Day Tour of Torres del Paine National Park & Surroundings
Full-Day Tour of Torres del Paine National Park & Surroundings
Chile

This trip was disappointing. Our tour was for just the four of us, but the small SUV we rode in required that one of us sit up front with the driver, while the other three sat in the back, with someone in the middle seat. Not ideal for looking out the windows, which was a big part of this driving tour. Two of us were native Spanish speakers with good English, and two of us were native English speakers who know a little Spanish. Our guide was fluent in Spanish, but his English was definitely not fluent. The result was that he spent 90% of the time conversing with the Chileans, and much less time talking with the English speakers. It was frustrating when we had questions. That being said, we visited some beautiful parts of the park, places we never would have seen if we had been driving on our own.

Quality of Experience
Food
We had box lunches which were very good.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
A guide for English speakers who is truly fluent in English.
Transport
A larger vehicle with bigger windows.
Hike from Sarmiento Lake to Amarga Lagoon
Hike from Sarmiento Lake to Amarga Lagoon
Chile

The route was amazing and so was Pedro, our guide!

Quality of Experience
The route offered us extraordinary view of both Los Cuernos and Los Torres. Seeing guanacos and native birds was a thrill, as was seeing the cave paintings and imagining those who traveled this route before us.
Food
Box lunch was convenient and delicious.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Pedro was SO knowledgeable and shared his knowledge generously in both English and Spanish. He was also extremely responsive to our needs and abilities.
Transport
Nice big van with big, clean windows.
Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Chile

Full disclosure: The day we took this tour could not have been wetter. It poured rain the whole time, and everyone on the boat was soaking wet before we were finished. It limited the views of this incredibly scenic place. The windows were steamed up, and most people never went out on the decks because it was raining so hard.

Quality of Experience
Food
Everything. We stopped at an "estancia" for lunch. It seemed more like an event venue, a giant room filled with tables. The wait staff was insufficient for the number of people they were trying to serve. We waited forever to be served, making the lunch take hours. The food was poor. The specialty of the house--lamb--was dry and overcooked. What a disappointment! We would have preferred to have skipped this part of the experience altogether.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
There was little in terms of a guide. The narration came over a loud speaker, and because of the noise level of conversation on our deck, we could hardly hear what was being said.
Transport
Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on Nov 06, 2024
Hi Lisa, I'm happy to hear you and your group had an overall awesome experience exploring the Patagonia in your 7-day trip to Chile! The Penguin Island tour is one of my very favorites and I'm so glad you enjoyed it as well 🐧 I apologize again for the lackluster service during your tour of the National Park! I have taken note of your experience and will make sure our future travelers have a better time enjoying the sights. I'm also sorry to hear the weather wasn't ideal for your boat... Read more

Hi Lisa,

I'm happy to hear you and your group had an overall awesome experience exploring the Patagonia in your 7-day trip to Chile!

The Penguin Island tour is one of my very favorites and I'm so glad you enjoyed it as well 🐧

I apologize again for the lackluster service during your tour of the National Park! I have taken note of your experience and will make sure our future travelers have a better time enjoying the sights.

I'm also sorry to hear the weather wasn't ideal for your boat trip to see the Balmaceda & Serrano glaciers! The weather can be tricky in the Patagonia and especially in the park. We normally don't have issues with the food on this excursion so that's a double bummer that you weren't able to enjoy your Estancia lunch! We have reached out to the operator so we can come up with solutions to ensure the very best for our travelers.

Don't hesitate to reach out again if you ever decide to revisit our beautiful country! Maybe a visit to the Atacama Desert? 🌵

All the best,
Jesse

Toda la organización, respuesta rápida, infor...
Chile | Oct 25 - Oct 31, 2024

Marcela
Marcela C.
Brazil | Reviewed on Nov 05, 2024

Toda la organización, respuesta rápida, información, calidad de los hoteles, muy buena y muy recomendable.
Lo único que falló, fue el auto que nos fue a buscar a Pta. Arenas, no era para 4 pasajeros, viajamos apretados y algo incomodos. El guía aunque muy amable y servicial no tenía dominio del inglés lo que dificultó conocer los lugares visitados. Esto se hizo más evidente cuando nos tocó un guía muy instruido y con dominio de inglés en el último día de en Pto. Natales.

Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on Nov 06, 2024

Hola Marcela,

Me alegro saber que disfrutaron de su viaje de 7 días conociendo la Patagonia chilena 😊
Ya tomé nota de lo inconveniente del vehículo y también el guía para poder mejorar en ese aspecto!

Me avisan si quieren hacer otro viaje para seguir conociendo a nuestro lindo país! Estaría feliz de trabajar en conjunto para explorar más 😊

Saludos,
Jesse

A fantastic trip to Chile
Chile | Oct 14 - Oct 20, 2024

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Ariel S.
Shaw, DC | Reviewed on Oct 30, 2024
Jesse did a fantastic job coordinating my trip. It was easy to communicate with her in advance of the trip. When I got in country, everything ran smoothly. All of the guides and drivers showed up as expected in the right location and on time, the excursions were a lot of fun, and the hotels were as expected. I had no reason to be in contact with her while in country, which is exactly what one would hope to be the case. My only recommendation would be to let the traveler know in advance of the... Read more

Jesse did a fantastic job coordinating my trip. It was easy to communicate with her in advance of the trip. When I got in country, everything ran smoothly. All of the guides and drivers showed up as expected in the right location and on time, the excursions were a lot of fun, and the hotels were as expected. I had no reason to be in contact with her while in country, which is exactly what one would hope to be the case. My only recommendation would be to let the traveler know in advance of the formal entry requirements/forms for Easter Island. I learned through the LATAM website that I needed some special documentation for Easter Island. That made me a little nervous and would have been niceto know in advance. Aside from that, flawless!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Director Vitacura
Santiago, Vitacura, Región Metropolitana
Easter Island Eco Lodge
Hanga Roa

Wasn't the best hotel but I intentionally skimped on this hotel to save money. So I got what I paid for.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Took a little bit to understand how to get hot water. Had a couple days of cold water at first. Had a broken light in my room that took a while to get fixed. I couldn't get the screen door in the back of my room to lock--not sure if it did. But again, as expected for a two-star hotel.
Holiday Inn Santiago - Airport Terminal
Santiago
Activity Reviews
Orongo Morning Tour and Ahu Akivi Afternoon Tour
Orongo Morning Tour and Ahu Akivi Afternoon Tour
Easter Island
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Easter Island Highlights Tour
Easter Island Highlights Tour
Easter Island
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Trekking in Easter Island
Trekking in Easter Island
Easter Island
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Santiago City Tour - Private
Santiago City Tour - Private
Santiago
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on Nov 04, 2024

Hi Ariel,

I'm so happy to hear that you enjoyed your 7-day adventure in Chile getting to know some of Santiago and especially Easter Island 🤗 It's such a unique destination that a lot of people don't realize is possible to visit during their travels to Chile!

I hope you also enjoyed your continued journey to the Patagonia and hope you'll be back in the future to explore even further. Maybe a trip to the Atacama Desert? 🌵

All the best,
Jesse

Panama's national treasures.
Panama | Aug 23 - Aug 29, 2024

E
Elisa V.
Franconia, VA | Reviewed on Oct 13, 2024
Excellent, the guides were effectively national treasures, especially Hernaldo! Hernaldo was such a delight to be around and it was great to have him tag along with us on adventures. Ray was fun too but he had to focus on driving so his input was limited. The places we saw were beautiful and interesting, the food amazing! Only negative was the hotel, the staff was good but the actual rooms and hotel itself has this sense of water logging throughout. Granted Panama is really really wet but... Read more

Excellent, the guides were effectively national treasures, especially Hernaldo! Hernaldo was such a delight to be around and it was great to have him tag along with us on adventures. Ray was fun too but he had to focus on driving so his input was limited. The places we saw were beautiful and interesting, the food amazing! Only negative was the hotel, the staff was good but the actual rooms and hotel itself has this sense of water logging throughout. Granted Panama is really really wet but this hotel smelled of mold throughout.

Hotel Review
Best Western Plus Panama Zen Hotel
Panama City

Hotel staff is excellent, responsive and good. However the hotel definitely has a mold problem and some rooms have clear water damage (we had to switch rooms for this reason). Fix this and the hotel would be great!

Authenticity & Character
I mean it's a best western, brand names aren't exactly full of character nor authentic.
Location
Fun spot, lots of interesting places to visit including bars, restaurants, and even a tea house!
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
The mold problem
Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on Oct 14, 2024

Hi Elisa,

How wonderful to read that you, Marguerite, José and Kim enjoyed yourself during your 7-day adventure in Panamá 😁

We love when travelers feel at ease with our guides and enjoy having them around! They really do make a difference when exploring a whole new country. I'll be sure to pass along your praises to Hernaldo and Ray.

I'm sorry to hear the situation with the hotel and will definitely make changes so future travelers will have a better experience!

Please don't hesitate to reach out again for another adventure to Panamá!

All the best in your future travels,
Jesse

Wonderful trip to Chile
Chile | Sep 25 - Oct 2, 2024

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Mary A.
Broad Ripple, IN | Reviewed on Oct 09, 2024
We had a wonderful trip to Chile. From airport pickup, to the tour of Santiago and Valparaiso, both driver Eliseo and guide Claudio were amazing. All the tours in our next stop in San Pedro de Atacama turned out well. We did have some questions with the transportation, but Jesse was super responsive when we reached out for confirmation. After a busy few days of tours, our last stop in Pichilemu was a delightful change of pace. Hotel Alaia offered an incredible setting and the staff were... Read more

We had a wonderful trip to Chile. From airport pickup, to the tour of Santiago and Valparaiso, both driver Eliseo and guide Claudio were amazing. All the tours in our next stop in San Pedro de Atacama turned out well. We did have some questions with the transportation, but Jesse was super responsive when we reached out for confirmation. After a busy few days of tours, our last stop in Pichilemu was a delightful change of pace. Hotel Alaia offered an incredible setting and the staff were all so welcoming. Overall a great trip and we are looking forward to visiting Chile again!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Eco Boutique Bidasoa
Santiago

Great view of the mountains. Felt safe with several walkable restaurants. Nice Breakfast

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Cumbres San Pedro
San Pedro de Atacama

Nice resort with great pool and spa. Offered a shuttle between the hotel and town which is nice, but required as it is a little ways outside. The food was ok, but menu somewhat limited.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Alaia
Pichilemu

Spectacular setting and views. Staff was all very friendly and accommodating. Food was excellent. They have a long list of provided activities, but be sure to contact the hotel about them or book ahead of time.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Santiago City Tour - Private
Santiago City Tour - Private
Santiago

Claudio was informative and very accommodating to our interests. A great start to the trip.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Valparaíso & Wine Tour
Valparaíso & Wine Tour
Santiago

The wine tour and tasting were great. Claudio suggested having lunch at the winery, which was delicious. The tour of Valparaiso was interesting, informative and scenic.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Stargazing Tour
Stargazing Tour
San Pedro de Atacama

The stargazing tour itself was very cool. The pickup and drop off were being changed/coordinated through WhatsApp somewhat last minute. The drivers did not speak any English, but the tour itself did have a translator.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Explore the Atacama Salt Flats & Lagoons
Explore the Atacama Salt Flats & Lagoons
San Pedro de Atacama

Layana Travel did a great job with communication and the tour was incredible. The tour guide and driver were great. The meals were somewhat lacking compared to other tours nearby, but were just fine.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tour of Tatio Geysers
Tour of Tatio Geysers
San Pedro de Atacama

Very cool. Long drive to see the Geysers, but was a beautiful spot. There were extra stops on the way back we were not anticipating. The tour dropped us in the town center and unfortunately the hotel shuttle wasn't running yet, so was a somewhat long walk back after a very early morning.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
The bus did break down, but they had a new one waiting
Valley of the Moon Tour
Valley of the Moon Tour
San Pedro de Atacama

We didn't really know what to expect from this tour, but it was great. The guide and driver were both top notch. The hike was a pleasant surprise and the food spread and cocktail at sunset were delightful.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
I wish we knew dropoff was at the center of town, but generally good
Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on Oct 13, 2024

Hi Mary,

I'm so happy to read that you and Max enjoyed your trip in Chile 😊

I will see what happened with the dropoffs in San Pedro since it should have been at the hotel! Apologies for the inconvenience.

Please don't hesitate to reach out again for your next adventure to explore more of our beautiful country!

All the best,
Jesse

The Best!
Patagonia | Jul 8 - Jul 15, 2024

S
Sharan G.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Jul 16, 2024
The Best! Jesse is one of the best in business! This was my first time in South America and I have been a bit anxious through the entire plan, but working with Jesse and her team has given me so much of comfort. It is still ongoing, have few more trips to complete, but so far every single transfer, tour guide every one went above and beyond, humbled me with the hospitality and guidance! She was able to guide me with practicality of what can be accomplished and maximizing the overall... Read more

The Best!

Jesse is one of the best in business! This was my first time in South America and I have been a bit anxious through the entire plan, but working with Jesse and her team has given me so much of comfort. It is still ongoing, have few more trips to complete, but so far every single transfer, tour guide every one went above and beyond, humbled me with the hospitality and guidance! She was able to guide me with practicality of what can be accomplished and maximizing the overall experience. I am looking forward to engaging her again when I am back next with my whole family! Thanks Jesse!

Activity Reviews
Perito Moreno Blue Safari
Perito Moreno Blue Safari
El Calafate
Quality of Experience
Thanks to the guide for engaging me and answering me with all the questions in English!
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Thanks to the guide for engaging me and answering me with all the questions in English!
Transport
Victoria Island & Arrayanes Forest
Victoria Island & Arrayanes Forest
Bariloche

Thankful for the tour guide who walked me through in English!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
 7 Lakes Tour to San Martin de Los Andes
7 Lakes Tour to San Martin de Los Andes
Bariloche

Thanks to the guide for engaging me and answering me with all the questions in English!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Bariloche Circuito Chico Half Day tour
Bariloche Circuito Chico Half Day tour
Bariloche

Thanks to the guide for engaging me and answering me with all the questions in English!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on Jul 17, 2024

Hi Sharan,

It makes me so happy that you enjoyed your trip getting to know Argentina! July is a tricky month due to weather but I'm glad we were able to come up with a plan and make things worth it on your journey here 😊 Thank you for your patience and understanding of the situation. I would be more than happy to help plan another trip for you and your family so please don't hesitate to reach out! I'll pass along your kind words to the guides who really are the heart of this whole adventure.

All the best in your future travels,
Jesse

Birthday trip to Chile and Argentina
Chile | May 11 - May 22, 2024

Lauryn
Lauryn G.
North Port, FL | Reviewed on May 24, 2024
Jesse planned a very last minute trip for myself, my husband, and our one year old that was wonderful for our family! We felt like we got to see a lot during our 12 day trip but the pace was not so rushed that we were exhausted. I would highly recommend visiting Chile and Argentina, they are beautiful countries with very friendly and kind people. Jesse was there to answer all of our questions and had a very quick response time when we needed a last minute change. We felt confident traveling... Read more

Jesse planned a very last minute trip for myself, my husband, and our one year old that was wonderful for our family! We felt like we got to see a lot during our 12 day trip but the pace was not so rushed that we were exhausted. I would highly recommend visiting Chile and Argentina, they are beautiful countries with very friendly and kind people. Jesse was there to answer all of our questions and had a very quick response time when we needed a last minute change. We felt confident traveling with the itinerary she planned for us and would do it again in a heartbeat!

Hotel Reviews
Renaissance Santiago Hotel
Santiago

Very nice hotel with a great location and friendly staff.

Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Amerian Park Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires

This hotel is in desperate need of room upgrades. The door to our room looked like it had been kicked in with marks and debris on the floor and a broken/missing doorstop. We did request to change rooms however the other room the staff showed us looked very similar. The tub/shower was falling apart with pieces of tape across the tile and a moldy and cracked shower handle. Breakfast was included with our stay however the options were very limited and of poor quality. The location very central and the lobby is very modern and up to date which is why I did not give this hotel a one star review.

Location
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very small beds with only one pillow per person. Room needs upgraded and deep cleaned.
Calafate Parque Hotel
El Calafate

Small hotel with a great location for downtown walking and a great breakfast. We did not have a chance to use the jacuzzi/sauna but loved that it was an option.

Hotel Costaustralis
Puerto Natales

Stunning hotel with beautiful waterfront view. Our room looked out over the water and we loved that we could open the window to catch the sea breeze. Breakfast was delicious and the staff were very kind and helpful to us.

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

This was our favorite day of the whole trip with stunning views of Torres del Paine National Park. Our guide was Jhon Pineda and he was super friendly and helpful and took some absolutely amazing photos of our family. He truly went above and beyond to make sure we got the best quality photos and videos and we appreciate him so much. He made sure we were comfortable with our baby all day and always checked on us. This tour cannot be missed!

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Jhon Pineda is an amazing tour guide!
Transport
Alex was our driver and he made sure everything went smoothly for the entire day!
Dinner & Tango Show
Dinner & Tango Show
Buenos Aires

Amazing food and service with a tango show that was out of this world! The dancers, musicians, and singers are so talented I could have watched them perform for hours! Truly talented!

Food
Large menu to select from and very generous staff who kept the wine flowing!
Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on May 24, 2024

Hi Lauryn,

I'm so glad you and your family enjoyed your 12-day trip in Chile and Argentina 😊 I imagine it can be tough sometimes to travel with a baby so I'm happy to have been of help with the planning!
I apologize that the Amerian Park hotel wasn't up to standards, we will definitely consider using another hotel so that our travelers can enjoy comfortable accommodation in each destination while on their trip.

Don't hesitate to reach out in the future for another visit to our wonderful country - there's still lots more to see!

All the best in your future travels,
Jesse

We had a wonderful trip to Santiago , the coa...
Chile | Apr 19 - May 2, 2024

J
Jyoti J.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on May 09, 2024
We had a wonderful trip to Santiago , the coast and wine country thanks to the amazing welcoming and caring by Dominique and Eliseo. They were real, authentic and so helpful, prompt and communicative. Dominique also went out of her way to make sure we knew our pick up times, etc for other outings. They both helped me celebrate my birthday in a special lovely way. Dominique is so knowledgeable and Eliseo despite our language barrier was so fun and caring for us. We had a blast and great... Read more

We had a wonderful trip to Santiago , the coast and wine country thanks to the amazing welcoming and caring by Dominique and Eliseo. They were real, authentic and so helpful, prompt and communicative. Dominique also went out of her way to make sure we knew our pick up times, etc for other outings. They both helped me celebrate my birthday in a special lovely way. Dominique is so knowledgeable and Eliseo despite our language barrier was so fun and caring for us. We had a blast and great introduction to Chile thanks to them both.

The trip to Patagonia was also amazing. KimKim did take care of all the details. Some additional descriptions about tour time pick ups and drives would have been helpful but in the end we had a blast.

Activity Review
Boat Trip to Glacier Grey
Boat Trip to Glacier Grey
Chile

This was a great cruise. I think it would have been helpful to have more of a description regarding the pick up time, the length of drive, and need for walk to the boat as felt somewhat surprised by the morning. The trip was fantastic though but could have had a better description of what to expect.

Quality of Experience
Beautiful!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver on this leg was not that communicative and the van did not heat up so we were Freezing!
Transport
Van did not work well in terms of heating so a cold drive first thing in the morning was challenging.
Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on May 09, 2024

Hi Jyoti,

It makes me happy to hear you and Amy enjoyed this special 14-days trip getting to know Santiago, Colchagua Valley and Puerto Natales! It was our pleasure to help plan something special for your birthday as well 🎉

I will pass on your kind words to Dominique and Eliseo, they contribute a great deal so that our travelers feel welcomed and cared for during their journey!

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you ever decide to visit Chile once again, maybe this time for a trip to the Atacama desert? 🏜

All the best in your future travels,
Jesse

Review of Chile Honeymoon
Chile | Mar 23 - Mar 30, 2024

Sophia
Sophia A.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Apr 01, 2024
Overall, great experience. In hindsight, would have planned the trip for Patagonia first and then Santiago toward the end to break up the extensive traveling from Puerto Natales --> Punta Arenas --> Santiago --> Atlanta --> Knoxville. The international flight is our fault because it was cheaper to purchase a connecting flight. Additionally, the city tour of Santiago was good, but our tour guide did not give as great of a history lesson of Santiago as she could have in comparison to our other... Read more

Overall, great experience. In hindsight, would have planned the trip for Patagonia first and then Santiago toward the end to break up the extensive traveling from Puerto Natales --> Punta Arenas --> Santiago --> Atlanta --> Knoxville. The international flight is our fault because it was cheaper to purchase a connecting flight. Additionally, the city tour of Santiago was good, but our tour guide did not give as great of a history lesson of Santiago as she could have in comparison to our other tour guides who were excellent. Our favorite hotel was Bidasoa. Liked that all of our transfers were pre-booked for us. Saved us a lot of time and made the traveling seamless.

Activity Reviews
Base Torres Hike
Base Torres Hike
Chile
Santiago City Tour - Private
Santiago City Tour - Private
Santiago

History lesson wasn't great. Very repetitive. Somewhat slow. Felt we didn't see as much as we could have.

Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Chile
Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island
Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island
Chile
Valparaíso & Wine Tour
Valparaíso & Wine Tour
Santiago
Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on Apr 02, 2024

Hi Sophia,

It's great to hear that your overall experience was a great one during your 8-day trip in Santiago and Patagonia 😊 That's one of the awesome things about booking with Kimkim, it really allows you to relax on your trip and concentrate on enjoying the sights instead of juggling all the reservations for hotels, excursions, transfers etc!
Don't hesitate to reach out in the future for further exploration of our beautiful country 😀

All the best in your future travels,
Jesse