Mery Morelli

The itinerary was well thought out and the reservations with lodging and tours went very smoothly. The places that we visited and the people that we ecountered were wonderful, and I believe that we experienced a great deal of what Torres del Paine and Santiago have to offer.
However, some of the tickets for buses were not shared, leading to confusion once we arrived in Punta Arenas. Additionally some of the pick-up and drop-off times often differed by an hour or more, causing us to miss dinner reservations (incurring cancellation fees) and to miss out on other opportuntinues. These errors may fall on the tranportation vendors that were used (CL Mundo, Patagonia Planet), but there seemed to be communication lapses between them and Say Haeque.
Overall, this was a wonderful experience in a beautiful/welcoming country, but there appeared to be a lack of attention to detail that caused us temporrary frustration while in Chile.

Activity Review

Full Day Visit to two wineries in the Colchagua Valley

Santiago

Great wine tour in two scenic locations and the wine was awesome! However, the drop off time at our hotel was much later than expected, causing us to miss dinner reservations and incur cancellation fees. We were told that we would be home between 8-9 PM, but were actually dropped off at 10:15 PM.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pick up and drop off times

We had a fantastic trip and appreciated our local specialist's patience dealing with a complicated itinerary - this was an extended family trip with different family members arriving and departing at different times. Everything went smoothly with all the various pickups and drop-offs, with just one small hiccup where a driver went to the wrong address that was quickly corrected. All of the tours we arranged were fantastic. We especially loved our two days with the local tour guide Romina - our family adored her and wanted to take her home with us!! Thank you for everything!

My trip started with the pickup at the airport taking me to the wrong hotel. The second disappointment was the lack of communication regarding our tour in Ushuai, I mean who goes all the way to Ushuai and not book the penguin tour? That was the main attraction in Ushuai and that was a huge disappointment for me. Other than these two hickups, the rest of the trip was ok.

Activity Reviews

Full-Day Tour in Areco & Estancia

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Buenos Aires City Tour

Buenos Aires

Dinner & Tango Show

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Walking Salta Tour

Salta

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full-Day Salinas Grandes through Purmamarca

Salta

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Cafayate

Salta

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Mayo Spirit Trek

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Trekking & Canoes in the National Park

Ushuaia

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day Beagle Channel Navigation

Ushuaia

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a wonderful trip to Patagonia organized by Mery and supported by Joaquina. All transfers were always on time and we got lots of good suggestions from Joaquina about restaurants. We are looking forward to going again to Patagonia!

Argentina New Years!

Activity Reviews

Dinner & Tango Show

Buenos Aires

The Tango show was great! We learned a lot about their dance, the food was fantastic and service was elite!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Estancia Day - San Antonio de Areco - El Ombu -

Buenos Aires

We had such a great time on this trip! Our guide was incredible, I loved learning how they tamed the horses, enjoyed the BEST empanadas and the property was beautiful. It was a perfect day trip and totally worth it!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Iguazú Falls Argentine side

Puerto Iguazú

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Brazilian Falls tour

Argentina

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mery did a superb job of putting together an amazing trip on very short notice. The guides were almost all very excellent. The drivers were prompt and willingly waited when we were delayed. The level of service provided for al aspects of thsi trip was excellent.

Activity Reviews

Half-Day Buenos Aires City Tour

Buenos Aires

We were to meet the driver for this tour at a specific time in front of our hotel. We were there early. A van arrived and we asked the driver if this was the city tour. He said that it was the city tour so we boarded the van along with six other people. No one asked us our names but the same circumstance had occurred the previous night. Unfortunately we were on the wrong van and so missed the city tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Dinner & Tango Show

Buenos Aires

Very athletic dancing. The show was a great introduction to Argentina.

Quality of Experience

Food

Advance notice that an excellent meal could be had but that an additional cost would be involved.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half-Day The Argentine Experience Cocktail & Dinner

Buenos Aires

The meal preparation and dining experience was great. The staff who coordinated the event were very good. We were told to arrive no later than 7:00 pm so we made sure to arrive 5 minutes early. We were not told that the cocktail teaching experience required us to be there by 6:15 pm so we missed out on that part.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We were able to walk from our hotel.

Full-Day Estancia Day - San Antonio de Areco - El Ombu -

Buenos Aires

The horseback riding was not very exciting as the horses moved slowly along a predetermined path in an open field. The barbecue and the wine were both excellent and made the day a pleasurable experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Iguazú Falls Argentine side

Puerto Iguazú

Astounding views of the falls. The guide did a wonderful job of showing us around and explaining everything.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Brazilian Falls tour

Argentina

The Argentinian side of the falls was amazing. The Brazilian side of the falls was ten times as wonderful. I tell everyone that they must put this natural wonder of the world on their bucket list. Our guide was very conscious of the fact that we were arriving on a Brazilian holiday and that the falls would be crowded by the afternoon so he wisely switched the order of our day's itinerary so that we had an even better experience.

Quality of Experience

A great guide and a stupendous sight.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was very knowledgable and did is best to make sure we had the best experience.

Transport

Visit to Parque Das Aves

Puerto Iguazú

An memorable park that allowed close observation of the various birds and other animals.

Quality of Experience

Close encounters with exotic birds.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A very knowledgeable guide.

Transport

Half-Day City Tour Santiago de Chile

Santiago

The guide did not seem interested in showing us the highlights of the city. My impression was that she was doing the minimum to get through what she had to do and no more.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide seemed bored and disinterested.

Transport

Full-Day Rafting & Trekking

Mendoza

A fun day rafting and trekking in the Andes. The trekking included rappelling which could be a lot of fun. However, the guides had trouble explaining the steps. When I observed from the bottom as others were beginning their descent it was clear that the instructor missed explaining a fundamental point that would have made it easier for everyone. The rafting was fun. A better explanation of what was required of us and what would be provided wold have been helpful. For instance, we did not know if wet suits were provided or what footwear we needed etc.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Better information by a person fluent in English early.

Transport

Full-Day High Andes with trekking to Durazno Gorge

Mendoza

The sights while hiking in the Andes were great. The hike was not too long or to difficult.

Quality of Experience

Food

Transport

I am not sure how to improve the transport but travellers should be aware that it is a 3 hour drive each way (6 hours total) for a 2 hour hike

Full-Day Cacheuta Hot Springs

Mendoza

A half day at the spa would be sufficient. Sitting in pools of water at various temperatures loses its appeal after a few hours. The spa could add additional services such as massages, facials, manicures and pedicures to make a full day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Valparaiso & Viña del Mar Tour

Santiago

A good day seeing an historical city.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Visit to two wineries in the Colchagua Valley

Santiago

Very informative trip to the one winery. The second winery was a fascinating place but the guide spoke very little English so it was difficult to benefit from the tour.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Red Rocks

San Pedro de Atacama

A great experience. We did not expect to be treated to two picnics in the desert along with visiting the National Flamingo Park as well as the Red Rocks with their lagoons. The guide was very helpful and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Food

I was very pleased to be treated to two picnics in teh desert.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

A superb guide who made a clear effort o make everyone feel welcome and relaxed and enjoy the day.

Transport

Half Day Tatio Geysers

San Pedro de Atacama

An amazing place. The hot springs and geysers are a highlight of the trip.

Quality of Experience

Tremendous sights.

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide was knowledgeable and able to answer all of my questions.

Transport

It is a very bouncy ride up the mountain.

Half-Day Moon Valley Tour

San Pedro de Atacama

A hike in the desert hills with stunning views al around. Wonderful.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide knew the best time to go and took us to a great location to watch the sunset.

Transport

My two boys and I had an incredible experience with our trip to Argentina and I would highly recommend anyone planning to visit Argentina to work with KimKim and Say Hueque. I found their local knowledge and planning to be top quality. I found KimKim by searching for "fun things to do in Argentina", and quickly became overwhelmed on what to do and the coordination of moving the three of us around the country during our two-week vacation which led me to reach out to them.

The first reply to my inquiry after putting out our dates and things we "had" to see was met with a friendly reply. A day later I had a couple of different itinerary options to choose from. We narrowed that down and then we selected hotels, again, from several recommended options.

The trip was booked and when we arrived, Julietta met us. She immediately took us to our driver and was full of information on our way to the hotel. Julietta helped us check-in and then gave me one of the most detailed maps of fun things to do in the city, with post-it-notes, that I have ever seen. Julietta is awesome and a wealth of information.

We had a trip to Calafate and unfortunately a storm passed Buenos Aires and shut everything down at the airport. The Say Hueque Client Services was in constant contact via WhatsApp and once the flight cancellation was confirmed, they arranged shuttles and new hotel stays for us until they were able to reschedule our excursions and accommodations in El Calafate. Without their services the experience would have been a nightmare.

I work in the tourism industry in Costa Rica and clients are quick to let folks know when things go wrong or don't meet expectations, so I want to give a five-star review for the seamless and professional travel experience we received. Booking the hotels and excursions with Mery, working with Felipe before and during our stay, Julietta (Buenos Aires) and Eduardo (Calafate) as guides were the best, I could have hoped for plus all the drivers for transfers really made this a memorable vacation for us.

If you want to have an amazing stay in Argentina, take the advice from the professionals who live there. Looking forward to going back again one day. -KC

Overall, we had a great trip and with minor exceptions all the logistics and tours went very smoothly. Some notes regarding our specific experiences in each destination:

1. Bariloche
- Gabriella, our guide for the first two days (Kawen Adventures) was exceptional. She was extremely knowledgeable and provided a wealth of information regarding the geology, flora and fauna, etc. She was very attentive and accommodating to our individual needs and interests.
- Both drivers (Tricky sp?, and Freddy) were very good. Freddy in particular was very attentive and functioned almost as a 2nd tour guide rather than just a driver. He shared Mate with us, helped with lunch, and assisted us in navigating some rough terrain when we hiked to a waterfall near Lake Traful.
- Kawen Adventures was very responsive with including Rupert in our tours when his plans for fly fishing on 24 and 25 February did not work out.
- The gluten free lunch we requested through Mery was not provided for Patricia on the first day. Gabriela made the effort to ensure a gluten free lunch on Day 2, but the lunch providers need to improve their ability to respond to dietary restrictions in a creative way.
- The Design Suites hotel was comfortable and the restaurant at the hotel was very good. However, the rooms did not have good sound insulation, and the showers did not drain properly. The front desk staff were a bit surly and not very customer friendly.
- We thoroughly enjoyed all of the tours and activities in the Bariloche area, including strolling around town.
- The white water rafting was well organized and a fun day. Lack of changing or bathroom facilities at the shore where we began the trip was a challenge. The lunch provided was very nice.

2. El Calafate:
- The Esplendor Calafate Hotel was comfortable and had a good breakfast. The front desk staff was very helpful. We had to arrange our own laundry service in town as the hotel's clothes dryer was broken. I don't understand why the hotel could not have taken our laundry to a private facility, but this was a minor inconvenience. There was a problem with elevator floor not stopping at the same level as the corridor floor, which resulted in Carol tripping and falling. The hotel did take the elevator out of service, and fortunately Carol was not injured.
- The Perito Moreno Glacier tour was spectacular, and our guide Natalya was exceptional. She was fun, knowledgeable and responsive to our interests and requests. The itinerary incorrectly identified the meal to be provided as "breakfast". In fact, we ordered our box lunches to take with us from the hotel's kitchen.
- The bus trip from El Calafate to Puerto Natales was OK, but not the most comfortable bus we have experienced. The bus departed about 45 minutes late. The immigration and customs process to enter Chile was time consuming, and we waited in line outdoors in a very fierce wind.

3. Puerto Natales:
- The Weskar Lodge Hotel was cozy and comfortable, although the rooms are a bit small (challenging when you are traveling with luggage). The Ennos Restaurant in the Weskar Lodge is very good, as were the breakfasts. Nicole at the front desk was exceptionally helpful, and even adjusted the breakfast serving time to accommodate our schedule. They also were very helpful with arranging taxis, and coordinating the pick-up times with Patagonia Planet.
- We clearly did not receive the same level of personal service from Patagonia Planet that we enjoyed with Kawen Adventures and Huellas del sur. When we went to the pre-tour briefing on 29 February, Macerana of Patagonia Planet told us we would be in a group of seven (7) rather than with a private guide as per our itinerary. She also seemed to exaggerate the difficulty of the trek. We worked with Ines of Say Hueque while at the briefing and Patagonia Planet honored the commitment for a private tour.
- The vehicle that Patagonia Planet sent to pick us up at the airport appeared to be a personal vehicle and was too small for all our luggage (so we had to hold some bags on our laps).
- They did not provide the gluten free lunch that we had requested for Pat.
- They required that we travel to their office for the briefing rather than meet us at our hotel.
- It appeared that the first time they really paid attention to the requirements that you had arranged for us was when we showed up for the briefing on Saturday evening.
- The the trek in Torres del Paine National Park with Rosanna (our guide) went very well. Rosanna made adjustments to the pace, and Carol decided to stay at the "refugio" (where the cafe and bathrooms are) while Rupert, Pat and I continued. We did not make it all the way up the the lookout over the lagoon, but we made it onto the moraine. We were tired and it was getting late, so we decided to return. On the way back, Rosanna took us to a 2nd lookout behind the ranger station where we ate our lunch. We got back to the vehicle at about 6 p.m. We had a very good day. A little rain at the end, but otherwise the weather was very good (and not windy), although when we arrived at the lookout the clouds and fog was coming in and partially obscuring the 3 towers.
- Overall, Patagonia Planet seems more focused on the physical logistics of moving bodies to the Park, and not really focused on providing personal service and an experience matched to the needs of the client. That said, Rosanna was very attentive and accommodating to our needs and we had a great day.
- The tour of the Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers was enjoyable, although a bit crowded due to the size of the group on the boat and on the trail. We very much enjoyed seeing the sea lions, and the interesting flora along the trail to the Serrano Glacier. The itinerary indicated that we needed to get a taxi to town to the 21 de Mayo office, but the Weskar front desk was able to call and confirm that they would pick us up at the hotel on the way to the dock.

4. Santiago de Chile:
- Luis, our driver, was great. It was nice that he did all the transfers for our stay.
- The Cumbres Lastarria Hotel was very luxurious and comfortable, and the staff very helpful. We had a great dinner at BocaNariz just a short walk from the hotel.

5. Regarding the entire vacation, we are very pleased with everything. The only significant issues have been that the tour providers did not provide the requested gluten free meals for Pat (although Kawen Adventures made an effort to provide a gluten free meal for Pat on the 2nd day), and the disconnect with Patagonia Planet regarding the private guided tour to Torres del Paine.

The trip to Argentina was incredible! Such convenience of having all of our transport coordinated for us. We loved the tango dinner show experience and our tour of Buenos Aires was fantastic. They accommodated the needs of my kids by scheduling us an earlier dinner tango show and a van service for our city tour which made sightseeing much easier for our family. Everything coordinated for us in Iguazu was excellent as well. I really liked Say Heque which was the tour company in Argentina that they used. Our tour guide Laura was friendly, warm, knowledgeable, and her English was perfect. I really liked the games and kid facts she incorporated into the tour. My only suggestion for improvement for Kim Kim and for Mery would be that they should recommend “kid friendly” itineraries and time schedules from the beginning...I really had to specifically ask for this rather than our agent suggesting things from the start. My experience using in Kim Kim for my trip in Ecuador was different in the sense that right from the start they made sure we had everything booked that was kid appropriate. No big deal this time around, as Mery was happy to help and was very flexible, and overall everything was excellent!!! Thank you!