Customer Reviews

The itinerary, transfers, tours, sights were all top quality. the trip exceeded my expectations. we were so fortunate that for 16 days , there were no weather problems. every tour, sight , planned activity was available to us. this, i understand , is the exception not the rule when traveling in march. if we experienced bad weather, i would probably be disappointed, but i am not.accommodations were interesting, especially staying in a yurt. the views, trips, food, guides end all wonderful. the only surprise was on the stella where we had assigned seating for meals. biggest surprise for us was the length /distances we had to walk . not all the trails were in great shape and 2 of us suffered falls, one fall requiring a doctor (not me). the only animal we didn't see that we wanted to see was the puma, however, we did see results of puma hunts.we met people that we enjoyed talking with and maybe see again, we'll see about that. what i was most pleased with was the itinerary. being able to travel in both chile and argentina and cruising the wild waters of the straits and fjords, for us, truly demonstrated the wild beauty of patagonia. we felt we didn't miss anything while fulfilling a dream to visit this part of the world. we did have airline issues but it was not due to anything swoop did. AR is a cheat airline, charging for bags and not even offering water to passengers on one flight. they also striped down planes of all amenities that i would normally find on similar aircraft if flown in the US. LATAM was OK , however, they did switch my reserved seats and i was unable to check in online. once again, this has nothing to do with swoop. highlight was camp patagonia. we were able to customize our hikes where as we couldn't do that in chalten . totally liked the day cruise in calafate. perfect for us. stopping at sights and taking short walks with spectacular views. i want to emphasize that ALL our guides/ tours were exceptional. we were delighted with each person who took us around showing what patagonia has to offer. we also discovered the most delicious candy bar that the guides gave us. we looked for this bar and bought it wherever we could. just know, you guys put together a fabulous trip.

It's impossible to pick a highlight because we enjoyed so much of what we saw and did, for many different reasons - the landscapes, encounters with wildlife, chatting with people, our activities, the weather, the food. We were surprised by the quality of the huts we stayed in (more like basic hotels really) and the coaches we travelled on (so smart and comfortable). Also, the weather was far better than we expected! We really feel like we made the most of our time in Patagonia, which was important as unfortunately it could be some time before we can go back.

I am a penguin liver so for me the highlights were our visits to the penguin colonies at San Lorenzo and Punta Tombo. I also really enjoyed my ice hike on Perito Moreno Glacier and the Laguna de Los Tres hike. The views from Laguna de Los Tres was the most beautiful landscape I have ever seen. For me, the most magical moment was sitting on the beach at San Lorenzo penguin colony with no one else around for at least an hour. The peace and quiet really helped us feel at one with nature. We sat and watched the penguins. A baby chick came up and rested his head in my husband’s lap. Sea lions were swimming along the shore and the penguins all ran up and surrounded us as they fled the shore. It was fantastic!!!!

There were a lot of highlights. We very much enjoyed Puerto Varas and surrounding areas. Our mix of activities centered around PV were really fun and diverse; the birding trip with an excellent Birds Chile guide, Carlo, to the Alerce forest natural park was a nice hike and we saw a number of birds; the kayak trip across the fjord was fun and our wonderful guide, Paz, was fun and we had lunch at a sheep farm, which was special. On our off day, we rented a car and drove into the Petrohui National Park and hiked up the flank of Osorno volcano, which was a bit challenging but really fun. The Mero Gaucho B&B was the best place to stay and had great staff. Puerto Varas was a nice little place to walk around and we found great places to eat. The second phase of the trip to Patagonia was really great. We had a good experience with the car rental and able to manage getting gas. Arriving at the Estancia Cerro Guido was a real highlight. The staff was wonderful and the accommodations were great and very interesting. We ended up going into Torres del Painey every day for hikes and drove through most of the park on one day. It was spectacular scenery and we especially enjoyed the ferry out to the Francis valley for a hike up towards the lookout was awesome. The other hikes we took were also suggested by the staff at the Estancia and those were excellent. We saw a lot of guanacos, rheas, flamengos, swans and geese. The food at the Estancia was excellent and we had very nice conversations with the waitstaff at the restaurant. Very special place. On the first night in the Estancia, after a long day of travel it was special to be able to see the Torres in the sunset. We have already told our friends about how wonderful our trip was to Chile in general and these places in particular. We were surprised by how open we found everyone in Chile to be and how enjoyable it was to talk to everyone we met; even those people who didn't speak much English and we speak very little Spanish, and much of that badly. We also had a chance to meet with one of the owners of the Estancia, who was on a visit to the ranch, and had a very interesting conversation. The gas situation in Patagonia was not really a surprise but we did find it manageable with some planning.

Excellent varied package of life experiences, in a stunning unspoilt part of the world with great scenery and wildlife, friendly hospitable people and well organised logistics. Enjoyed the UNESCO sights of Valparaiso and Chiloe churches.

If you like hiking (or the outdoors in general) and wine, Chile is one of the best places on the planet to visit. Landscapes remind me of the Montana nickname - Big Sky Country. Wildlife was more abundant and more accessible than we expected. People were friendly and helpful. Didn't really go in with specific expectations, so we really were not "surprised" by anything. I/we learned much more detail about the society and the original European settlers than we knew. I had no idea that Croatians migrated in some numbers to the area - like my ancestors (Rick).

Highlights-- time in Bariloche and Torres del Paine Landscapes etc----immense and spring was lovely time to go with all the flowers. Also saw new born chulengo and Torrent duck family :). All Chilean & Argentinian people were great, helpful & friendly

In three and a half weeks we packed in an incredible amount; it is almost too soon to say what the highlights were. The landscapes were awe-inspiring; the wind, literally, took your breath away. The people that bother to live, work and even travel so far away are almost always delightful. It is a physical challenge: you could experience a limited Patagonia without exerting yourself, but you would miss so much. It's the sort of travel that at times makes you wonder, "Why aren't I lying on a beach in Thailand??", but that you appreciate so much more after the event.

I don’t have a most memorable moment. Everyday, has a rememberable moment.

The Perito Moreno glacier tour. It's one of the most unique sites I've seen in my life. Also, while I was initially disappointed that I could not do the on-ice glacier walk, I realize now that is not really necessary to appreciate the site.

Glacier hike and day tour guide in Buenas Aires.

Torres del Paine was the highlight. Aguas Arriba was a close second. The landscapes were stunning. There wasn't terribly much wildlife, but we'd also ranked landscapes over wildlife in our trip preferences. Every one of the local activity leaders was fantastic--professional, exceptionally good at communication, and really worked to provide the best experience (Nikolas in Torres del Paine, our driver Luis, Juan in Chalten, both of our kayak operators at Perito Moreno glacier, and the head guide in our Torres del Paine kayaking trip). The glacier was a surprise--we weren't expecting it to be so impressive. I wish we could have gotten closer. Waking up in the quite of Torres del Paine campsite and Aguas Arriba were pretty magical. Watching Alexi grill meat (and try to warm up the wine), while ignoring everyone's instructions on how to cook steak rare, and listening to NWA, it started snowing in our campsite--that was pretty unique.

Seeing my first puma in the wild - imperious, at ease, powerful, and very beautiful. An amazimg moment.

As we were nearing the end of the Base of the Towers hike in Torres del Paine, I wasn't sure my legs were going to let me finish the hike. I then looked up and saw a condor soaring above my head. It was awe-inspiring to see this majestic creature against such an incredible backdrop. It was as if the condor was there to encourage me on, my energy spiked and my body was ready to continue to the base. What a magical experience!

See detailed answers for highlights. We were amazed and delighted by the enormous variety of landscapes we travelled through. The Chilean and Argentinian people we met were, without exception, warm and welcoming. Our grandchildren will be subjected to the full photographic record once they are old enough, and urged to visit for themselves. There were endless surprises every day!

Overall the trip was great with the highlights being the kayaking excursion and homestay on Yolande's farm and the Chiloe Island wildlife. Everyone we met was very friendly, especially Yolanda, and the guides were all excellent especially Isobel. The Patagonia (Torres del Paine) landscapes were fantastic but we didn't see as much wildlife as we would have liked.

There were many highlights, some via Swoop's efforts and others through our individually arranged trips. Landscapes are amazing, thank goodness my husband was driving on the lengthy trips. Wildlife at Iguazu was fantastic, from the coati's; monkeys, beautiful butterflies, tree snake (not my favourite). We met some really lovely people; were really impressed by the police & security in Buenos Aires and the cleanliness of the city. What to tell the grandchildren - it's hard to know where to stop, but I think the waterfalls on the Argentinian side at Iguazu were really spectacular. The main surprises were the bike racks on the BA trains - so efficient and space saving; the clear and simple directions when taking transport in Buenos Aires, particularly the lit up sign boards inside the train carriages ; the transport & tourist police - again not seen in London & very reassuring; the cleanliness of Buenos Aires.

There are places on this earth that change you. Las Torres, Patagonia is one of them. Staying inside Torres del Paine National Park is unlike anything else—waking up to golden light spilling over jagged peaks, the sound of guanacos calling in the distance, and the absolute silence of a place untouched by time. Here, the land, the people, and the experience weave together to create something truly unforgettable: ? The Horses – Riding across the wild landscape with Joaquín, Milky, Marcello, and Pacho, learning the deep connection between the vaqueros and these incredible animals. ? The People – From hiking guides who share their love for the trails to Héctor and José, who slow-roast lamb over an open fire, passing down the traditions of this land. Every meal is farm-to-table, sourced from the gardens—homemade beer, fresh-picked berries, and gin distilled from native plants. ? The Land – Towering granite spires carved by glaciers, rivers as blue as the sky, valleys filled with wildflowers. To stand at the base of the Torres, to feel the silence wrap around you, is to feel completely alive. I found a condor feather on the trail—a gift from the great spirit. A reminder that this land, these people, and this experience will stay with me forever. Next time, I’m coming back with my husband and adventurous couples who want to elope in one of the most awe-inspiring places on earth. Looking for adventurous couples who crave adventure, iconic landscapes, and a wedding day that feels truly free. I'm so down, let’s make it happen. Instagram: / elopewithcorey Website: https://coreylynntuckerphotography.com/

Highlight was the hiking in Argentina and in Chile. The unbelievably good weather enhanced the whole experience. There were guanacos, condors, ostrich type birds, sheeps, horses and others spotted a puma. The people at Tierra and our guides were exceptional. We would tell everyone to head to Patagonia in both Argentina and in Chile and to stay in El Chalten, Argentina and with Tierra in Chile. The most surprising element was the luck we had with the weather and how stunning Tierra Patagonia is. The most magical moment was taking a nap in front of and at the base of Laguna Cerro Torre while hiking in Argentina.

The W-hike adventure was amazing and challenging in so many ways. For better or worse, the variable weather thoroughly beat us up, but that added to the memories. For joy of beauty, the first reveal of the mountains at Cuernos were spectacular.