The Classic Full Circuit Reviews

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.

The entire trip was a highlight! Totally worth the effort getting down there. Between all the flights and bus rides, all of the hours of traveling seemed to disappear the minute we entered the park. The crazy blue waters, the amazing snow covered peaks, the freshness of the air, the excitement of all the other people heading in. We were lucky with the weather, had beautiful partly sunny, partly cloudy days, with only one snowy/rainy day, and of course the winds...must experience the Patagonian winds!! Overall the trip was AMAZING!!!

The highlight was definitely going over the John Gardner Pass. It was a tough but really rewarding day. One of the most magical moments was when we made it through the pass and had an absolutely gorgeous view of the Grey Glacier in front of us. I also really enjoyed going through the windy passes and fighting our way through the infamous Patagonian wind! It was a pleasure to meet other people on the trail and to discuss what we had seen already and comparing experiences.

Highlight — going across El Paso de las Agachonas while in the middle of a blizzard. We thought we were on another planet. People — INCREDIBLE. My favorite group was the first with Chile Nativo, simply because it was the largest (7 ppl) and every single person was amazing. I still loved the other groups too. Landscapes / wildlife — landscapes were out of this world, with all the glaciers taking the spotlight. Wildlife was pretty good. Friends and family — I let the photos speak for themselves. They told me that it looked legendary. Surprises — Dickson campsite. All the icebergs nearby along with the glacier itself. Very lovely. Magical moment — again at Dickson campsite, by the lake, there was this small bank on the lake with perfectly still water and I caught a photo with the mountain and glacier in the back with PERFECT reflection. Looked like a mirror.

The circuit trek in Torre del Paine was by far the highlight. The remoteness and the untouched nature were amazing. Both of our guides on the hikes were amazing! The simple and quiet beauty is what we will remember forever.

My friend and I were so fortunate to happen into a trip with 3 other ladies our same age who were energetic and kind and perfect travel companions. Our guide, Mauricio, was top notch: Warm and welcoming. Well known and happily greeted by nearly all staff amongst the campsites and facilities. A perfect balance of motivation and patience, a wide knowledge of the trek and terrain, and a passion for the land. We had unusually fantastic sunny weather the entire trek which made for stunning views. Two moments of the trek stick out in my mind -- the night sky at Grey Glacier taking in what seemed like the entire galaxy with the naked eye; and an extended mountaintop lunch break overlooking Grey as we walked on to Paine Grande, enjoying the company of friendship we had made with our guide Mauricio and the porters Pablo and Antonio while we played cards in front of an unforgettable backdrop.

There were so many memorable moments! I'd say the most memorable was getting to the top of Garner Pass and looking down on Grey Glacier. So windy! Sun was out! Glacier was glowing! Jose was excited for us!

Great trip - a mixture of excellent day hikes, a longer multi-day hike and great food/ wine. Both Los Glaciares and Torres del Paine national parks were highlights with the highlight being the quieter back areas of the O trek which is a little closer to more wilderness trekking. I was a little surprised how busy parts of the Torres del Paine mainstream hiking areas were, particularly on the W circuit areas. I really enjoyed El Chlaten - it's a great size for a trekking type town and a fantastic base from which to explore the surrounding areas

Sorry, it can’t be just one - Horse riding at the ranch, driving tour of TDP, the walks, the view!

Our visit was memorable, a mixture of city/town life and the great outdoors. Just moosying around Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales at our leisure, either taking in the museums or the varied bars and cafes, to get a feel for the culture and history was so rewarding. Then there was the Torres big circuit, the challenge of the weather and the spectacular scenery....where would one begin - just do it and live the experience? And then while you are enjoying the scenery, there is the wildlife to watch out for, whether this be for the birding - which if you lucky and knowledgeable about is great, or the elusive puma - and yes, we saw one! Of course there is then the new found friendships;- fellow hikers on your 'tour', other hikers as the sites and in our case the exceptional guides and support staff. Yes, we had some moments....cold, wet, thigh deep snow and more rain but hey what are waterproofs for :).

The trek was extremely challenging, both physically and mentally. The landscapes are incredible. The people I met were likeminded and a pleasure to be with. I think, the terrain was the biggest surprise in terms of the difficulty levels associated with ascent/descent and underfoot.

Highlight: thermal therapy in glacier los perros!! And Xmas eve - beach party with the lodge staff! And how awesome my group was (literally couldn’t have been better - made lifelong friends) Landscape was fabulous, so varied and spectacular. Not much wildlife. Our group was awesome - all young, fit, full of energy and life! Will tell my grandchildren about all of it! Surprised by how good the food was - especially dinner.

Highlights include that each day was a totally different visual delight. Having done a fair amount of hiking - you can drink all of the water and it is icy! What I tell everyone is "You need to do this hike. Eight days of being off the grid and fabulous scenery. " Additional highlight for those of who have humped our stuff - the food is great and plentiful"

Aysen kayaking

Highlight was summiting on day 5 and seeing the glaciers. The landscapes were incredible, and we finally saw guanacos on the last day. The people were very friendly and welcoming of trekkers, and I appreciated their hospitality. I would tell my friends that they need to put this on their bucket list.

My trip was amazing. The weather was exceptionally good with rain only 1 day. The mountains and granite peaks are unlike any other mountain region I have seen. There were some long days of hiking, but always balanced with a following less demanding day! We saw wanaco, little foxes, woodpeckers and various other birds. I really was hoping to see a puma but that is quite rare. The group we had was great. Everyone had wit and humor that make the hike all the more enjoyable.

An unexpected highlight was the other hikers in my group. We had a wonderful time getting to know one another during our walks. The landscapes and wildlife were breathtaking. John Gardner Pass was probably my favorite day. This trip will be highly recommended to any family/friends interested in a wild, wonderful adventure

-3 towers was amazing & we loved hiking through John Gardner’s pass. - we had 2 others in our group that loved wildlife so we ended up learning and seeing a lot of wildlife. Everyone we met on the hike was great. Super friendly, helpful and upbeat. - our guides were incredibly knowledgeable and always knew exactly the right time to bring out the warm tea! Great treat on a cold rainy hike.

Having been there, met others, spoken to lots of people on the ground, the itinerary that Swoop pulled together looks perfect. We were v lucky with the temperamental weather - which helped a lot - and the local partners were excellent. Best parts were the more arduous days and the rewards of the views gained.

Gorgeous landscape, fantastic guides, great food (which I certainly wasn't expecting).