
Iain
Iain’s first visit to South America in 2015 was a typical backpacker affair with limited time, money and research. Having sidestepped Patagonia for the aforementioned reasons, he…
Deep roots in Patagonia: We are ex-guides, tour leaders, outdoor enthusiasts, & adventurers.
We’ve got our feet on the ground: Impartial advice, a bespoke service, and at no extra cost.
For the ends of the Earth: Sustainability is more than our carbon footprint (but we’re reducing that too).
We're a team of Patagonia specialists with decades of collective experience working and travelling throughout the region. Through our knowledge and our network of local partners, we help over 1,500 people a year find the Patagonian adventure that matches their dreams, their budget and their appetite for adventure.
We're a small team of Patagonia enthusiasts. Most of us have lived and worked in Patagonia long before our Swoop days, and we still visit every year.
Between us, we enjoy mountain biking, wildlife spotting, trail running, bird watching, adventure racing and generally exploring the great outdoors. When we're not exploring Patagonia, we love nothing more than talking to people who are planning their own adventure.
Overlooking the Upsala Glacier, Southern Patagonian Ice Field
Solo hike to Pliegue Tumbado
Swoop specialist, Sarah, completing the Cerro Torre & Mt. Fitz Roy Trek in Chalten
On top of the Andes at 5,604m at the peak of Cerro Toco
Exploring in New Zealand
Hiking Dientes de Navarino
Cerro Torre viewpoint in Los Glaciares, Argentina
Cerro Torre, Argentina, 2018
At the base of the towers in Torres del Paine, Chile
Iain’s first visit to South America in 2015 was a typical backpacker affair with limited time, money and research. Having sidestepped Patagonia for the aforementioned reasons, he…
After a misspent youth in Cornwall, spent sailing and wanting to be the next Jacques Cousteau, Peter worked on chartered yachts in the Caribbean and Central America, subsequently …
Since Sydney's first visit to Torres del Paine in 2013, she’s trekked all over the globe, but she always finds her way back to Patagonia, the otherworldly place that started it …
Born and raised in the United States, Sarah has been living in Chile for close to 12 years and considers it her home. She has travelled extensively throughout South America, spent …
Growing up in the French Alps, it was easy for Chloe to fall in love with the Andes mountains and the vast landscapes of Patagonia. Having lived in Chile since 2012, she spends her…
Meet Patagonia Specialist, Danny, a former travel writer covering South America, and long-time adventure guide who has made the Patagonian outdoors his home.
Felipe first visited Patagonia more than 15 years ago on a bicycle and without much idea of what he would encounter. Four years later he'd backpacked half the world and decided…
Whilst working in the remote Patagonian region of Aysen, Harriet discovered trekking, the great outdoors and her future husband. She later spent two and half years biking and …
After working in tropical tourism in Ecuador, David worked his way south, living with friends and family in Argentina and working as a guide all over the region, eventually …
Always captivated by its dramatic landscapes, diverse people and fascinating cultures, a love affair with South America began after a year-long adventure throughout the whole of …
Combining her love for travel and a need for speed, Carys is always planning her next adventure. She shares a particular connection with South America where no two days are the …
Growing up in suburban London, Lewis sought adventure from a young age to escape city life. His passion for cycling enabled him to find solitude on the weekends. Later in life, …
From the first time Isidora stepped foot in Patagonia, she knew that she wanted to live there. After living for more than 10 years in Puerto Natales, Chile, she can call …
Patagonia is Cecilia's favourite place on Earth and she has explored deep into the wilderness of the region.
Nico was born and raised in Santiago de Chile. He is a big lover of high-altitude mountains and any adventure that involves being in the middle of beautiful valleys and glaciers.
Marcela was born in northern Patagonia where she grew up with the wind and solitude of the Patagonian steppe. Years later, she came back working as a guide and as a tour leader, …
Always curious to discover new cultures, and passionate about travel, Lisette has explored stunning places across the planet. Unforgettable journeys and people she met along the …
We're passionate about the ends of the earth, so we specialise in the Arctic, Antarctica and Patagonia.
Have you been lucky enough to live in Patagonia? Perhaps you've hiked from Villa O'higgins to El Chalten, explored the Cordillera Darwin Mountain range or visited Tantauco National Park. If you're as potty about Patagonia as we are, then take a peek at our jobs page for our current vacancies.
We're always on the lookout for Patagonia enthusiasts to join our team, so if we don't have any vacancies please do get in touch by emailing advice@swooptravel.co.uk. We look forward to hearing about you and why you love Patagonia.
Everything was perfect. Understandable and very informative. Swoop are very professional. Read the full review
Travelled: November 2018
Igor Gorelik - Russian Federation
Swoop was great. The itinerary ended up being perfect for what we wanted (a lot of activity, a lot of different places to see, and a mix of accommodation types). The team was always very responsive.
Travelled: December 2017
Alysha - Colorado, USA
Chloe was attentive and I would highly recommend her to others. Swoop did everything right.
Travelled: March 2017
Ellen and John - Georgia
We were very pleased with the service from Swoop. You were as close to perfect as we can imagine. Sally was great and patient in planning this trip with us.
Travelled: February 2017
Ellen - USA
I'm already looking at some future trips that I can take with Swoop. I feel confident that I will find just the right one with Tom as my go to guy.
Travelled: January 2017
Kristen -
Harriet was very knowledgeable, it seemed like she knew parts of Chile backwards. She seemed to know the local operators & their worth. She was always on the lookout for what was available & ensured that I could make an informed choice.
Travelled: March 2016
Kim -
We really valued Swoop's expertise, and the fact that you had been to the places we were going.
Travelled: December 2015
Greg & Michelle -
Without your help, I'm not sure that we would have booked this trip. We really appreciate your genuine interest and enthusiastic assistance.
Travelled: November 2015
Anna -
You couldn't have done more. Sally was excellent and helped shape and book our dream trip. We'd recommend you every time, and hope to travel with you again.
Travelled: November 2015
Graham & Nicky -
Your best performances were in expedient and accurate communication - no question was left unanswered. I would ABSOLUTELY recommend you.
Travelled: November 2015
Ted -
Swoop were very organised and accommodating. We booked the trip at short notice and they were really helpful. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2023
Sara Wynne - UK
Already recommended you! Your customer service was incredible! Read the full review
Travelled: December 2021
Ken Knara - USA
Appreciated all the communication from Swoop throughout the planning process - that was key and very helpful, not to mention comforting that we had everything under control! Read the full review
Travelled: March 2020
Rebecca Alegria - United States Of America
Swoop delivered at every step. The guides were great and attentive. The hotel selections were perfect. The transportation connections all worked. The background information was very helpful. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2020
Tom Kellerman - United States Of America
The entire trip was seamless. Your suggestions were fabulous. I enjoyed every aspect of this trip. Accommodations were great, transfers were without issue and your insights were on point. The pace of the trip was just right. Thank you for your attention to detail, your great communication throughout the process. One of our top 3 adventures of a lifetime! Read the full review
Travelled: January 2020
Kathy Murphy - United States Of America
Everything about this adventure was perfect. Your company was very helpful, organized, patient with all out change requests, you were informative and you made every aspect of this vacation enjoyable. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2019
Dane Heptner - United States Of America
Use Swoop to help plan a trip to your liking, and create an adventure you will not forget. Travel in a group of four +/-, then you have a better chance of getting into small, incredible lodges that read "no tour buses"! Read the full review
Travelled: November 2019
Grover Meyrose - United States Of America
Swoop service was exactly what we needed. Sample pictures, lengthy descriptions, and thoughtful comparisons helped us to make our final decision between trips. Many questions came up regarding trip logistics, equipment, gear, and weather. Tasch walked us through answers with credibility given her research and own trip experiences. Read the full review
Travelled: March 2019
Matt Zablotny - United States Of America
I was so happy with the advice I received from Natascha. She was amazing, quick to respond (especially on our last minute timeline), and knew exactly what we wanted. More than that, there was no pressure to buy anything - just a true sense that she wanted to help make our honeymoon the best it could possibly be. I would definitely seek Swoop's advice again and I plan to use them for our next trip! Read the full review
Travelled: February 2019
Victoria Vuong - United States Of America
Swoop could not have been better. We originally planned this trip in October but my husband had an injury. Swoop helped us rebook the whole trip at a later time. Natasha was organized, helpful, always available for questions. Read the full review
Travelled: February 2019
Pinky Stuhldreher - United States Of America
Swoop were excellent. When we first decided to visit Chile we had no thought as to some of the things we could do or see. Swoop guided us in this regard, gave us inspiration and arranged all that was required in Patagonia. It is difficult to know if anything different could have been done, other than extend our time in Southern Chile Read the full review
Travelled: January 2019
David Cook - United Kingdom
You made it so easy and so much better! Even though I still worried and stressed (because that’s the person I am), it was far far far less than if we organised on our own. It was great knowing you were there if we needed you! :) Read the full review
Travelled: December 2018
Anne Marie McGonigal - United Kingdom
Thank you for making this one of the best experiences of my life. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2018
Dipesh - United States Of America
If you're doing a 2 week trip, either use Swoop or talk to a friend who's done it before and properly work through your itinerary. It's tricky to get the balance right between squeezing enough in, and packing it too much. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2018
Oli Feldwick - United Kingdom
Swoop Patagonia was great at helping me choose the right trip. They convinced me to stay an extra day in Patagonia which I'm glad they did, otherwise I would have had too short of an experience since travel days really are only for traveling great distances. They also helped me plan for my stop in Santiago and the Lake District and I absolutely adored the boutique hotels they recommended. Read the full review
Travelled: December 2018
Sarah Tocco - United States Of America
Very pleased we booked with Swoop, it made the trip run SO SMOOTHLY and really allowed my father and I to be "on vacation" and leave the details to them. It's a big area, with lots of connections and timings to arrange, so going with Swoop allowed us to do so much without feeling the hassle. Our guides also did a really nice job of taking us to wineries and places to experience more of the culture of the area. Read the full review
Travelled: November 2018
CJ Newendorp - United States Of America
Swoop is an AMAZING company and I would go anywhere with you. You are worth every penny. Thank you for making my trip of a lifetime flawlessly amazing. It began with the wonderfully encouraging, responsive Natascha, then rockingly efficient Ange, then kind, patient and confidence-inspiring Fitzroy guides and amazing W guide. Read the full review
Travelled: November 2018
Hoang Phan - United States Of America
Swoop were patient and helpful as we planned our trek, re-explaining things and taking care of the necessary logistics in a manner that meant we could immerse ourselves in the Torres Del Paine completely without stress. Our only obligation was to wake up each morning, which is hardly difficult! Read the full review
Travelled: November 2018
Howard Williams - United Kingdom
Swoop did a great job from quickly helping us plan the trip, offering up a great itinerary to the emails and responses we received on the trip when something needed to change. We always received quick feedback on any questions we had, especially during the trip when we had to use the 24/7 support.
Travelled: December 2017
Jami & Don - California, USA
Swoop's portion of the preparation was flawless. Your instructions were detailed and great.
Travelled: November 2017
Ryerson - Oregon, USA
Our experience in Patagonia exceeded all of my expectations; the scenery, the people, the places we visited. We were blessed with perfect weather, which made all of our hiking experiences amazing. The views and environment were even more striking than I had hoped. I can't recommend this experience more highly. I found the entire booking process easy and straightforward. The staff answered all of our questions in a timely manner and communicated effectively. This helped to alleviate any nerves!
Travelled: October 2017
Amy - Australia
Swoop were truly dedicated to curating a personal itinerary that included everything I wanted. They have trusted relationships with the local companies; we were matched with great local partners and it was very easy to communicate with both parties. Read the full review
Travelled: January 2017
Andrea Lora - USA
First-hand advice from people who know the region just makes planning so much easier.
Travelled: December 2015
Jenny -
It is easy to put people in fancy hotels but hard to plan a trip that meets the individual’s needs. You planned just the right variety and pacing for us. Thank you so much for all your help.
Travelled: November 2015
Sarah -
Review:
Three reasons why you should to choose us to help you plan your Patagonian adventure.
We lived and worked in Patagonia long before our Swoop days, and we still visit every year. We only help people with extraordinary Patagonian experiences, because it's a region we're passionate about.
What this means for you:
We can give you advice and personal recommendations for where to go, where to stay and what to do. If you happen to be in the area (UK folk - we're in central Bristol), you can even pop into our office for a cup of tea and look our wonderful wall of maps.
Through our family of kayaking, horse riding, hiking and cruise partners, we've got the whole of Patagonia covered - no one else offers you such incredible regional knowledge. We know all our partners' specialisms and strengths and we can match them up with your needs and budget.
What this means for you:
We'll listen to what you want from your trip and we'll suggest an itinerary, trip or place to stay based on your exact requirements. We rarely arrange the same experience twice. Plus, because we work directly with partners in Patagonia, your money goes to the local community.
You can book your entire, personalised trip with us or we can book a just one small section and do the rest independently. Whatever help you need with your trip arrangements, we can also provide advice and support when you're planning your trip, because we know that creating the perfect itinerary is so important.
What this means for you:
Whether you just want us by your side, giving impartial advice along the way, or taking the reins and arranging everything for you, we'll help you plan and book your perfect trip.
Read more about how we can help you.
Founded in 1992, the Latin American Travel Association champions Latin America’s diverse and beautiful destinations. LATA nurtures a community of over 350 specialist members including travel agents, tour operators, airlines, tourist boards and hotels.
Swoop Patagonia has been a LATA member since 2016. Our membership is just one representation of our commitment to Latin America and our love for Patagonia. LATA encourage best practices and increase standards across all aspects of travel in Latin America, a mission that we believe benefits LATA members, travellers and Latin American communities alike.
LATA’s registered charity, the LATA Foundation, was launched in 2007. It is a volunteer-led organisation that brings LATA members together to support and fund grassroots projects throughout Latin America. The aim of the foundation is to give back to the communities that LATA and its members promote, in the hope that it will make a difference in the lives of Latin American people.
We'll provide our expert advice during the early stages of your trip planning, to help you decide where to go and what to do. Once we've worked together to create your perfect itinerary, we'll help you in one of the following ways:
A guided, multi-day activity
A multi-day activity trip, such as a hiking, kayaking or horse-riding trip, can be arranged to fit in with the rest of your plans. Guided trips are typically for small groups of no more than 8 people, but private trips and self-guided trips can be arranged too. We can help solo travellers and couples find like-minded groups to join. Find out more.
A hotel or ship-based trip
We can help you choose the perfect hotel, lodge or eco camp from which to explore the national parks by day and enjoy fine food and wine by night. Expeditionary cruises are also a great way to immerse yourself in Patagonia’s scenery and wildlife from a comfortable base. Find out more.
A group tour
Group Tours are fixed-itinerary trips of around 15 people. With set departure dates and prices making them easy to plan around, they can be either a simple and sociable way for solo travellers or anyone on a budget to fit the highlights of Patagonia into a short time frame, or a great core to a larger adventure. We can help you find the right group tour for you. Find out more.
A 2-3 week holiday
We can help you choose several multi-day activity trips, such as hiking, kayaking or horse-riding trips, and integrate them into your own itinerary. Or, we can plan and arrange an entire bespoke itinerary for you, including flights, buses and accommodation - doing the hard work so you don’t have to. Find out more.
We help our partners to market themselves to the international market; so when we introduce you to them and you book a trip, they pay us a small commission, and when you arrange your tailor-made trip with us, we are able to negotiate better rates with them and charge a small mark-up, to cover our time. Either way, the price you pay is the same and you'll benefit from our free, impartial and expert advice.
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