Jesse was awesome and made our trip planning ...
Patagonia | Feb 12 - Feb 24, 2024

Paige
Paige S.
Tysons Corner, VA | Reviewed on Feb 28, 2024

Jesse was awesome and made our trip planning breeze. She was very responsive during the planning process and proactively asked us questions and shared draft itineraries. Everything was completely seamless during our trip and coordinated perfectly. Jesse was also very responsive during our trip whenever we had questions, and proactively provided her direct contact information in case anything came up. Thank you so much for making our trip unforgettable, Jesse!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Eco Boutique Bidasoa
Santiago

Loved the location of this hotel and the decor.

Authenticity & Character
Loved the decor
Location
Safe and walkable location
Staff
The staff was excellent
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was spotless
Hotel Cabo De Hornos
Punta Arenas

Fantastic location. The rooms were a bit dated but very comfortable

Authenticity & Character
A little dated but very clean and comfortable
Location
Right in the city center
Staff
Really helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was very clean and beds were comfortable
NOI Indigo Patagonia
Puerto Natales

Great views and location. Staff was very accommodating to early morning trekking schedules and making sure we were fed an caffeinated before pickups!

Authenticity & Character
Loved the look of the hotel and how it fits in with the special aesthetic of Puerto Natales
Location
Right on the lake
Staff
All staff that we met over our 5 day stay were great
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was very clean. Didn’t like the rainfall shower as it seemed inefficient and the beds could have been a little more comfortable
Rochester Calafate
El Calafate

The staff at this hotel made the stay a pleasure. Rooms were comfortable and the hot restaurant was nice.

Authenticity & Character
Comfortable and clean
Location
A little outside of city center but that was okay with us. They also provide a regular shuttle into main part of town, but we ended up just walking back and forth because the weather was so nice and the walk was on 30 mins or so
Staff
The staff was lovely and so accommodating
Cleanliness & Comfort
My only gripe is that the hot water on the dual tap was really hot, so you had to be careful!
Activity Reviews
Private Dinner
Private Dinner
Santiago

This was one of our top two favorite activities of our trip, second only to our big ice excursion in Patagonia. Gloria is an amazing cook and their hospitality was unmatched. Such a special evening for us!

Quality of Experience
Unique, authentic experience. Outside of the typical tourist experience
Food
So good, and we loved the wine pairings as well
Guides, Drivers and Staff
It was like having dinner at a friend or family member’s. They were so warm, friendly and fun
Transport
Santiago City Tour
Santiago City Tour
Patagonia

Loved seeing the city sites, including the Presidential Palace. We also were very interested in the history leading up to and after Pinochet, and also in modern day Chile. Our guide was so knowledgeable and we appreciated his honesty and perspective. I also really liked learning more about Mapuche culture and history.

Quality of Experience
Lautoro was an excellent guide and we appreciated how open and honest he was!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Interesting and honest
Transport
Great mix of driving and walking. We like to walk so this was perfect for us and allowed us to see more of the city by foot
Base Torres Hike
Base Torres Hike
Patagonia

This was such an incredible experience and one that I would recommend not missing if you’re able to do the 10 hr trek! It was challenging but so rewarding. Remember, there’s no bad weather just bad clothing (I.e. pack for all weather and wear appropriate trekking shoes!)

Quality of Experience
The trek was awesome, the guides made it even better
Food
We arranged a packed lunch through our hotel which I highly recommend doing
Guides, Drivers and Staff
They were helpful and very personable. Made the day even more fun!
Transport
Got us there quickly and safely
Trekking Torres del Paine Active
Trekking Torres del Paine Active
Patagonia

This was our favorite trek of the trip and one of the most beautiful parts of the “W”. If you are able to do this trek do it, but it is challenging. Again, no bad weather just bad clothing so pack appropriately as the weather is constantly changing during the trek. Also, wear proper trekking shoes as the trail gets challenging so it’s essential to have appropriate foot wear.

Quality of Experience
This was a awesome trek, made even better by the guides
Food
Arranged for packed lunch through hotel
Guides, Drivers and Staff
They were so funny and personable. They made the day even more fun!
Transport
They got us there safely and quickly
Perito Moreno Glacier Big Ice Excursion
Perito Moreno Glacier Big Ice Excursion
El Calafate

This was our top experience in Patagonia. Do not miss this, as it’s one of the most unique experiences you can have. This was challenging but so incredibly worth it. I also learned so much about the current state of Perito Moreno glacier and the lifecycle of glaciers. The guides are so passionate and knowledgeable

Quality of Experience
This was an amazing experience that I had I’ll reflect on for years to come
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Luis and Guillermo were knowledgeable and passionate about glaciers, trekking and Patagonia. Could t imagine better guides, they were amazing!
Transport
I loved that we saw the glacier from the observation decks by foot, from the ferry on our way to trek on the glacier and then from the glacier itself. This was an amazing experience
Valparaíso & Wine Tour
Valparaíso & Wine Tour
Santiago

We loved visiting the vineyard first and having the personal tour of their grounds to understand their approach to winemaking. It was definitely the most informative and comprehensive vineyard tour and tasting I’ve ever had, and I learned a lot. The murals were the highlight of the Valparaiso tour and it was cool to walk through the city and see how the art is incorporated throughout.

Quality of Experience
Our tour guide at the vineyard and Lauturo made this experience great
Food
Enjoyed the restaurant in Viña Del Mar
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Great guides
Transport
Comfortable
Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island
Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island
Patagonia

It was so amazing to see the penguin colony on Magdalena Island. This was definitely worth the trip down to Punta Arenas to do. We also saw an amazing amount of sea life on the boat ride to and from the island (whales, tons of dolphins, orcas feeding, a Sea lion…)

Quality of Experience
Seeing the penguins, sea life
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Boat was very well run and it was a comfortable trip to and from the island
Transport
Seamless transfer to the docks and to and from the island
Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Patagonia

This was some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen between the glaciers, waterfalls and mountains. It was also very cool to visit the ranch and see the horses and dogs. Lunch was also good!

Quality of Experience
Beautiful scenery, transportation was really well run, the lunch was tasty and in a beautiful facility
Food
Very good, several options
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The staff on the boat and servers at lunch were great and very accommodating
Transport
Clean, well run
Free Day in El Calafate
Free Day in El Calafate
El Calafate

We ended up liking the outskirts of El Calafate better than the main downtown area. There were lots of restaurants and shops, but none of them seemed particularly unique or authentic as what we experience in the areas of Punta Arenas, El Chalten, and our favorite Puerto Natales. Downtown El Calafate seemed a little too resort for our tastes, but the places we visited outside of that area we liked better.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
All guides and staff in El Calafate were fantastic
Transport
Transport was great
Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on Feb 28, 2024

Hi Paige,

Thank you so much for sharing your awesome experience during your 13-day adventure here in Chile 😊 I strive my very best to make all of my travelers enjoy themselves to the fullest and I'm so glad you were able to experience that during your trip.

I will make sure to let all of the operators know of your praises as well since they're the heart and soul of all our adventures! Don't hesitate to reach out again for future exploring of our country (or neighboring countries).

All the best in your future travels,
Jesse