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Jonathan Guinness

Australia

Customer
Rating

10

Customer Rating On return from their adventure we ask customers: “On a scale of 0-10, with 10 being the highest, how likely is it that you would recommend Swoop to a friend or colleague?”

Jonathan Guinness' Trip Date:

28th Dec - 20th Jan 2019

Overall, how was your trip?

Santiago EcoCamp and W track - the guides, the food, the whole experience, the group we were with were awesome and we all had a stack of fun Australis 4 day cruise - simply astonishing - and incredible experience, again the food, the guides/crew, the whole pace of the adventure and on back of hiking was really perfect

In one sentence, what did you think of Patagonia? Did it live up to your expectations?

Simply awesome experience and absolutely lived up to expectation. The whole trip was really well organised, transfers, recommendations, time at various places. Couldn't think of anything we would change. a perfect family holiday, in fact for any sort of group. Definitely want to visit again

Would you visit again?

Yes

How was the service that Swoop provided?

Brilliant - whole itinerary was perfect, 3 days Santiago, to relax get over flight, walking tour, some great food, get into the Pisco sours, transfers, EcoCamp recommendation (and loft dome), having transfers all sorted, including being at front of bus for easier access through to Argentina, Swoop kindly sorting private transfer to Chalten, dinner recommendations, all gear / clothes were perfect, appreciated advice re currency (ie US$ for Argentina), was not so taken with Calafate (would give horse ride a miss), Australis adventure was simply perfect (and appreciated strong suggestion to include - despite my initial reticence to go on a cruise), dovetailed well with hiking / exercise up front. Would only suggest a day/night in Punta Arenas to ensure would make the disembarking and then transfer to and catching flight.

How likely is it that you would recommend Swoop to a friend?

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

10 out of 10

How was your experience in El Calafate and El Chalten?

Fitz Roy hike - simply stunning - great weather - great guide - bizarrely had 1 extra (from Argentina) who wanted to give up after 1km? Any ways didn't wreck our fantastic day. Great meals in El Chalten. Good feel for a very new town. Enjoyed the transfer and view to / from El Calafate / El Chalten. Hotel in El Calafate was great, but less to do, with Perito Merino glacier an absolute stand out experience. Wow the noise of the glacier cracking is amazing. Good places to eat don't take bookings or fill up early so pays to get their in good time.

How was your experience in Santiago and the surrounding area?

Great being picked up and personal transfer. Very relaxed way to enter and acclimatise. Loved first visit viz restaurants, Bocanariz sensational. Went on a walking tour which would recommend. Same people who organise the bike tours (which we did on return visit) and a really good way to see Santiago. Return trip was great as preferred BuenaVista to Listarria, but enjoyed mixing it up. The Aubrey was superb and the breakfast really one of the best in a lovely relaxed setting. Pool was a must but we also trekked up to the pool at top of San Cristobel which is worth doing.

How was your hike in Torres del Paine?

The whole EcoCamp experience - food, guides, ambience and wow do you look forward to getting back to your dome after being in refuguios. Starting with a softer, then harder, softer, harder hikes perfect. Really rewarding and beer post hike to base of Towers was thoroughly earned. We were very lucky with our group make up too and sensational and interested guides. All the gear recommendations were perfect. Poles a must. Travel towel great. Lunch's were fantastic. Nothing a hassle.

How was your Patagonian cruise?

Fabulous. Exquisite accomodation. Great food, wine, Pisco sours. A really super group of interested staff. Enough zodiac and exercise opportunities and really informative visit, with the post dinner movies (if you could stay awake). Only bummer was not getting off at Cape Horn but we had a great viewing and to be honest there is no way we could've disembarked. I should've read up on what to do in Ushuaia prior to boarding and would have gone to museum earlier. Getting off boat at Punta Arenas was potentially tight with docking (re wind) and then waiting for all bags before we could clear port and rather a tight transfer to airport.

Do you have any tips or advice for other people planning a trip to Patagonia?

Basically follow Swoop's recommendations - which were absolutely on the money

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