Customer Reviews

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.

Hike to the base of towers of the Torres del Paine was one of the best hikes I have ever done. The trail was as much beautiful as the towers. The stay at Eco camp was also one of the best and unique experiences we had. The whole place was so beautiful. We had very memorable time there.

Being able to complete the W trek in Torres Del Paine with my husband.

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.

So many! 1) Perrito Moreno glacier 2) Base of the Towers 3) French Valley

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.

Having a nice lunch in the sun amidst gale force winds close to the Penon Glaciar at the top of the Penon Pass with Cerro Castillo and all its glory about a mile away.

Too many to list

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

The hikes at El Chalten and the hikes/views of Torres Del Paine National park were spectacular, as was the day spent seeing the Morena Glacier. The town of El Chalten is an experience all it's own! We also really enjoyed El Calafate and Puerto Natales. Even the drive from El Calafate to Puerto Natales was very beautiful and memorable. I can not pick one most memorable moment.

It is difficult to single out one moment among so many memorable moments from the trip, but I would say a moment that stands out was when the group really bonded the second evening at Los Cuernos Refugia. I recall handing my traveling companion a cerveza Austral as we waited on benches for our bunk assignments. He was taking in the scenery and acknowledging my offer of cerveza and said: "I'm just happy, can't put my finger on it, but just happy". That seemed to summarize the group feeling as all stood together talking and talking in the momoment. I caught a glimpse of our guide Felipe giving us a knowing smile. He and I had trailed the group to Los Cuernos in the last 40 minutes of the hike, stopping to converse on the nature of synclines as we gazed across a pale turquoise-colored glacial lake at a particularly fine example. His passion for the resource and knowledge of details seemed to inhabit his every fiber. It was a prelude to many other such moments during the trek and articulated quite nicely by my companion at Los Cuernos as we all took in the day.

Our stay at Patagonia Camp was fantastic. The staff, to a person, were all extremely friendly, helpful, and courteous. The food was delicious and presented with Michelin star care. The accommodations were very comfortable, and of course the setting, and hikes, in the foothills of the Torres del Paine massif, was unforgettable.

The time spent in the wild in each of the three major destinations--El Chalten / Fitz Roy, Torres del Paine, and in the channels and fjords between Punta Arenas and Ushuaia. Of course, we had remarkable luck with weather and visibility in each location!