Tie between seeing a huge avalanche fall from the mountains of Torres del Paine and hearing the calving of the glaciers.

Great holiday

Absolutely lovely place. The domes were so nice and perfectly situated away from the busy main entrance (the welcome center). Food was amazing and the bartenders made amazing welcome drinks each evening. Guides were friendly, informative, and just as into wildlife as me! Hikes were nicely situated which allowed us to warm up for the base of the mountains trek. The guides even got us ahead of the masses for the large trek! Early start that day, but well worth it.

I had no expectations but the spring flowers added a level beauty that was unexpected. Hikes were good for intermediate hikers but highly recommend hiking poles to save the knees for 4 days of heavy hiking (and for the wind). My personal preference was the French Valley due to the ever changing scenery and views, as well as fewer people on the trail. We didn’t make it to Mirador Britanico but were told by other hikers the best view was Mirador Frances (though I highly recommend going another 100-ft past this view point for the best panoramic).

Amazing views with snow covered mountains, albatross diving in the winds, and glaciers galore! The views from the boat were amazing and just a good as the hikes off the Zodiaks. Having the cruise ship be the only boat we could see the only time made it feel special.

Hiking in Argentina was slightly easier than Torres del Paine but still better for intermediate travelers (confirmed by our guide). The snowfall during our hike made it magical. Hiking did require going through town which allowed for getting a post hike drink or food easy. Hikers should expect a long drive through desert land before reaching El Chalten which can be closed due to weather (we almost got caught / stuck).

All of our guides were amazing! Doing the W-trek could have been done without guides, but with them, they were able to change the routes or plan easily if conditions changed. Hiking is for intermediate hikers (not beginners) and there is a guide for every 6 people (Ecocamp) or 12 people (Walking Patagonia). They were all very knowledgable of the areas though not all guides are fluent in English enough to carry a conversation. Knowing that people died on the O-trek (no guides) a couple days after our trip (due to weather) by getting lost or unable to comprehend the changing conditions only confirms that using guides was the way to travel the area.

Such smooth transitions from the cruise ship on and off the zodiaks. Good for all levels of hikers. Weather wasn’t impacting our rides (very smooth) but I could see how riugh it could be. Excursions (except for Cape Horn) were mostly protected from wind. Loved see the Pia Glacier up close. Not as many penguins though (only a couple dozen) but lots of cormorants.

I had forgotten that condors and albatross were in the area, so it was a sweet surprise to see so many of them! Loved seeing the ganachos in Chile! Wildlife in Argentina was much more sparse (disappointing after seeing the Chilean side).

Really disappointed by the Paine Grande site (and other sites owned by the same company). Only one working women’s restroom for the site and no maintenance of it (no toilet paper). The bar was under construction and costs for a glass of wine didn’t match the board (and they had no change). Food was not to the quality as Los Curenos, nor were the drinks (even though it has more accessibility for supplies).

I still want to know why our hotel in El Calafate changed mid-trip when we already had booking confirmation. I got a rude response back when we “got the hotel wrong” because a Whatsapp message was sent 3 days prior with a reminder of our itinerary with no note that the hotel had changed. We actually preferred staying at the original scheduled hotel (better location and a lovely welcome), and were disappointed to find out it had changed unnecessarily.

Use Swoop’s advice for most things about Patagonia, however, details of what would be seen on the cruise will vary depending on the route (eastbound or westbound). Hiking poles are recommended and you will be very well-fed (too much at times). Guides will tell you that you can get water from the trails along the way (no filter needed) so no need for large water storage.

Only about the difference in how Chile manages their environmental protected areas compared to Argentina.

I felt better after talking with Swoop closer to the trip. More nervous though than excited.

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