Customer Reviews

Overall our trip was wonderful, with only a few snags. The highlights of Argentinian Patagonia were the Perito Moreno Glacier and the Estancia Christina in El Calafate, and the Fitzroy hike in El Calafate. The Perito Moreno Glacier is breathtaking, and easily accessible from the raised walkway in the park. We also did the boat tour, which offers history and closer view of the glacier. Beware though, once you see it, other glaciers in Patagonia will seem less impressive. Estancia Christina was fantastic, but only because we opted for the fossil hike. Others on the excursion had lots of waiting around and did not seems as impressed. Not so great- The scheduling from El Calafate to EL Chalten- we would have preferred a later transfer. With the sun setting so late, you can easily hike until 7 PM...therefore there was no reason to leave so early for Chalten. Chalten was beautiful. Liked the wild dogs and friendly locals. The Fitzroy hike was spectacular....we were on the trail early so it wasn't too crowded but I imagine during peak season it was be a little unpleasant as it is narrow and you need to step aside to let people pass. Our best meal in Chalten was at La Tapera, wish it had been recommended. Avoid La Senyera, worst meal of our entire trip. Australis Cruise- This was a mistake. After having days filled with hiking and enjoying the riches of nature, being confined to a boat was very frustrating. The boat itself was nice, the rooms clean and comfortable but the excursions were short and underwhelming and most of the time on the boat was spent waiting....waiting for a short presentation, waiting for lunch, waiting to get off the boat, waiting to get on the boat etc....The penguins were the highlight of the cruise but, we found out you can take a day trip from Puntas Arenas to visit them. That would have been nice to have known. Highlight of the entire trip was Torres del Paine. The Explora hotel is beautiful and the hiking on the W was the best we experienced. The spa, the guides, the surroundings were all unbelievable. If I could redo the trip I would nix the cruise and spend an extra 3 nights at Explora.

The trip was incredible. The destinations are wild, unique, and absorbing. Every location took hold of us and offered so much more than we could do given our two weeks in the area. We found the people very pleasant and friendly, and the guides at the independent operators were knowledgeable, skillful and committed to ensuring that our family had the best experience possible. We were surprised by exceptional weather with clear skies all day but one! Coming down from the pass to Grey Glacier was unforgettable, as was Perito Moreno and Laguna los Tres.

I cannot think of one particular moment that stands out. The most memorable are all my wow! moments when first seeing a particular mountain or glacier.

Incredible. Flawless. Personal. Our adventure was nothing less than a novel of memories. My highlight could never be just a moment, but rather a new lens of of beauty from the culture, the wilderness & the incredible people we met. The culture, deep with love and incredible care that you would not just see but feel the blessing Patagonia has to offer. The wilderness, the most dramatic scenery you can experience and the people, warm with compassion and incredible depth of care for their communities. If the face of God was reflected in the wild it would be Patagonia. It's said that true adventure starts when the plan ends and that was the truth of our trip. Of course planning such a detailed adventure you know in your head the risks you are taking but until your faced with the choices of change and the out of your hand shifts due to storms, the truth whether you love adventure or not comes to a refining moment. And though not all went to plan, all went more than perfect.

So many highlights! El Chalten was the first area we explored and our first hike was to Mt Fitzroy as the weather was beautiful that day. A very special time sitting in front of the lake looking at the granite spires after a hard scramble to the top. Another favourite hike was Loma del Pliegue Tumbardo with it snowing at the top! Also Puerto Moreno Glacier seeing carvings, the Petrified Forest at Leona, the W trek and whale watching with a very knowledgeable guide on the 'Forrest' boat. Probably the best weeks scenery was the Carretera Austral and surviving the gravel roads! This area should be recommended more although the beauty was fewer people! I think it will take a while to fully appreciate all we saw.

The 4-huts hike outside Bariloche - every time we got to the top of a ridge or peak and had amazing 360 degree views of the surrounding mountains and lakes. It was breathtaking!!

Being quiet and still in the French Valley, absorbing the sense of beautiful yet stark unforgiving nature surrounding us. Unfortunately we could not get all the way to the Mirador Britanico due to some guides not wanting to split up their groups, many people having trouble keeping up a fast enough pace to ensure we'd be down and into camp at an appropriate time. This was disappointing to more than 8 people in our 2 groups. I was told early on in our planning that a group would be able to split off (if there were at least 6 people, but this wasn't an option for us)

Overall the trip was fabulous. The highlight was probably the cruise on the Stella Australis - the weather was so good we were able to sail around Cape Horn. The landscape was amazing ranging from the peaks of Torres del Paine to the geysers of the Atacama. The wildlife was another highlight with penguins to condors to flamingoes & guanacos, rheas & llamas. Our only regret is not seeing a puma! The local people were lovely as were the travellers we met - sometimes the same people at opposite ends of the country!

Highlight was ecocamp and our guide for the trek there. The food at ecocamp far exceeded any other food we had on the trip. Amazing vegan options at every meal. The biggest surprise was how hard it was to understand Chilean accented Spanish (I speak but mostly with Mexican speakers)! Our most magical moment was surprise live folk music at ecocamp on the evening of the summer solstice. We LOVE American and Celtic folk music, it was amazing to hear and see a new flavor.

There were so many highlights that it is difficult to pick one. We experienced it all. From the 10 hour hike in freezing rain, gale level wind, and no view to days of perfection weather (so lucky) and stunning views every minute of every hiking hour. The bicolor majestic cuernos (horns), the glassy turquoise surface of the Nordenskold lake, the 360 degree amphitheater view in the Frances Valley, the wild orchids of Patagonia, and the bluest of blue Gray Glacier. One day, we even experienced the famed four seasons Patagonian day. My magic moment? Las Torres....the gleaming granite towers of Paine sheathing straight to the Patagonian skies from the pit of volcanic hell. After a very steep climb, I turned the corner and the scenery took my breath away. My heart stilled. No human could have conceived or imagined such beauty. Pictures are one dimensional and emotionally limited. I can now understand why Las Torres have been a life time dream of hikers and mountain climbers the world over. It is here that heavens and earth syphonically merged to create a beauty that will forever endure.

Getting up close to the penguins! Being able to learn about and walk through the area where they live was amazing!

Overall very good. We had better than average weather according to the guides, and the sights were truly once a lifetime. Highlights: Laguna De Los Tres, Perito Moreno Glacier, Base of Towers in Torres Del Paine. To our friends, the more you train, the more you'll enjoy. Especially do vertical training.

The Alto de Toro hike from Patagonia Camp!

The entire experience at Torres del Paine EcoCamp. Everyone there believes in the power of nature and sustainability and human connection. It was truly a magical place.

I developed sciatica the week I was leaving for this epic trip. I was most amazed that even if I couldn't be super active, the most amazing views were right there all the time. Fitzroy in El Chalten, transfering from one point to the next, and Torres del Paine in Ecocamp. I really didn't feel like I missed out at all. I was blown away when we were driving into Ecocamp, and when we arrived seeing Torres del Paine up close and personal throughout our stay. Walking to and from our dome it was framed in the background by the Towers. I loved the theme of Ecocamp..."Making Connections". We met so many amazing people from all over the world who were there to enjoy the rugged beauty just as we were. At Ecocamp they connected people to different groups each day depending on their hikes. They would have breakfast and dinner together allowing you to really get acquainted with a different group each day. The guides on all our excursions from Chalten, Calafate, Eco Camp, Puerta Varas, and Valparaiso were well prepared to lead us on our adventures.

Loved Peninsula Valdez. It is wild and full of such a variety of animals......birds, marine, and wildlife.

My trip was incredible. It has really left me at a bit of a loss for words. While I tremendously enjoyed every piece of my trip (hiking, kayaking and then day hiking with an afternoon of horseback riding), I really loved hiking the W. I was traveling solo, but I enjoyed my time with our small group during the W trek. We were incredibly lucky with weather and very fortunate to have a group that was made up of all positive, excited people who were up for whatever each day brought our way. Our guide, too, was incredible. The Patagonian landscape was breathtaking. Every single bit of it. I've never been in a place quite so beautiful.

The whole trip was memorable! There are so many moments it's so hard to pick one. Our trip began in the city of Buenos Aires and most memorable there was our dinner at Fogon Asado. Absolutely wonderful!! In El Chaltén, our most memorable hike was Laguna de Los Tres. Fantastic hike and we got lucky with the weather - clear and no wind! Our guide, Emi, was outstanding! But of course, we loved Huemul Glacier as well. We went early and had the unique opportunity to view the glacier in complete solitude. Breathtaking and peaceful! The ice trekking on Perito Moreno Glacier was also fantastic - and the opportunity to drink water from the glacier was mind blowing! Unbelievably refreshing! In Torres del Paine, our most memorable hike was the Base of the Towers. We couldn't do this trek the first couple of days due to weather, but finally able to do it on our last day in Patagonia Camp. For a couple of 60-somethings, this hike was challenging and we felt a huge sense of accomplishment afterwards. An added bonus was the puma sighting on our return trip to Patagonia Camp! Views were breathtaking and the glacier water refreshing to drink! Our guide, Bruno, was phenomenal. In Santiago, William-Cole winery tour was the best we'd ever had - and of course the tasting was excellent! Then there is Atacama - truly otherworldly and very different from Patagonia. There were hikes in which we felt like we were on Mars, but others with so much wildlife! Hot Springs, geysers, volcanos! Too many to choose as a memorable - all so different!

The landscape with vast open spaces, snow capped mountains, glaciers, lakes, rivers, shrubs with edible berries, delicious food and wine and world class hiking and horse riding. The light was very different to the light in Australia which allowed for excellent photographic opportunities. The wildlife was great. We saw an armadillo, but alas, no puma. I lost count of the number of condors and we saw many other animals including skunks, foxes, guanacos, rheas and domestic animals such as horses, sheep and cattle. We met no locals but the staff at the hotels and lodges were all delightful.

Cresting the John Gardner Pass and looking out over the incredible expanse of the Gray Glacier.