Dittmar Adventures

This was our first KimKim experience and it didn’t disappoint. The drivers who transported us between locations were always on time and definitely made our trip easier and more efficient. The guides were all amazing and SO knowledgeable about environment, history and culture of their country and the region we were visiting. Only one guide was disappointing- the food tour in Buenos Aires- while she was very friendly she was not well versed on culinary traditions and did not take us to the last two events promised on the itinerary.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Magnolia Boutique

Buenos Aires

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Poincenot

El Chalten

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Sierra Nevada

El Calafate

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Pampa Lodge Quincho y Caballos

Torres Del Paine

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Costaustralis

Puerto Natales

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Alma Sur

Punta Arenas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Galos Hotel & Lofts

Valparaíso, Cerro Alegre

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Ismael

Santiago

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Buenos Aires City Tour

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Buenos Aires Traditional Argentine Food Tour

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Full Day Private Tour of Lago del Desierto

El Chaltén

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

We are new this year to organized tours and this trip is by far our best ever. Planning from the start through the end of the trip was a personally tailored and very professional experience. All of the details were handled by Erin with Dittmar Adventurers, and during the trip additionally by Dania. We loved that on each travel day all of the transfers happened smoothly. The excursions were all perfect for us!!! The Rapa Nui history of the Moai and the beauty of the island, and laid back vibe was a perfect start to our vacation. In Puerto Varas our guide Juan, so knowledgeable about the local area and a lovely person to spend 3 days with-hiking the Osorno volcano, the forest, biking around the lake, and an amazing day at a local farm and restaurant with Cornelia. The farm to table experience was definitely a highlight. In Punta Arenas we had a kayaking and boat excursion with dolphins that was so awesome. Claudia and Nicolas and their team are so fun. Hiking with our guides Diego and Josefa in Torres del Paine was an adventure and so beautiful, the views are stunning. We had a second day in the park with Andres and Juan, and did a big loop all around with a focus on wildlife- Condors, Guanaco, an Armadillo even!!! and so many different birds, short hikes to waterfalls, glaciers and icebergs!! We got back to Puerto Natales and had dinner at El Guanaco, a special mention because this was an amazing meal. The Octopus (the sauce it is plated on is memorable) and ribeye were perfect. All of the recommended restaurants we tried were delicious, included in our itinerary. We had a day at a Patagonian Ranch, Estancia, with Tomaś…another not to be missed. We ended in Santiago and had asked to do food and wine things here…we visited 4 wineries, with Casa Lapostolle being the absolute don’t miss. Their red wines, at every price point are amazing. Next we really enjoyed Montes- the Icon wine experience is worth it!! and the lunch at Fuego de Apalta is excellent.
Part of the wonderfulness of this vacation were all of the experiences we had. An even bigger part of it was the really wonderful guides and people we met doing all of the fun stuff. I’m guessing that is one of the reasons to plan a trip with someone like Erin who knows the local area and people.
Overall an exceptional experience. I think that the extensive questionnaire in the beginning is very helpful for the them to tailor the trip to places and experiences that you will love.
This trip made us fall in love with Chilé…the people, the country, the food and wine. We will return to visit more areas💝

absolutelly amazing!
especial mención a Nara y Dania, quienes estuvieron super disponibles y pendientes antes y durante todo el viaje! antes del viaje cualquier duda que teniamos nos lo respondian de inmediato, la comunicación ha sido increiblemente fluida. Nara intentó ajustarse a nuestro presupuesto y cambio el planning tantas veces como fueron necesarias, super super amable. Recorrimos con Kimkim todo Patagonia, comenzamos en calafate. Todos los desplazamientos en patagonia argentina los hicimos mediante autobus, y la verdad que estaba super bien. Los autobuses muy cómodos y puntuales. Al estar alojados en el Chalten, todas las caminatas las comenzamos desde el propio pueblo por lo que no necesitamos coche propio. SiN embargo, para la parte patagonia chilena, alquilamos un coche y fue super util porque dentro del propio parque torres del paine, era necesario moverse mucho para cualquier caminata y nos dio mucha libertad. Esto nos aconsejo Nara y fue un absoluto acierto, estamos super contentos. El tour de los pumar lo hicimos con Carlos, Pumagonia, super amable y recomendable, no tuvimos la suerte de ver ningún puma pero el guía lo intento muchísimo y se veía que tenia muchísima experiencia, aprendimos mucho con el mas allá de los pumas. Los alojamientos básicos pero muy cómodos para lo que buscábamos. El viaje no ha sido barato pero nos hemos dado cuenta allá lo caro que era todo, por lo que entiendo que el presupuesto esta ajustado a lo que hemos hecho. Aun asi, con todas las comodidades que nos han dado desde Kimkim sin duda merece la pena tenerlo todo tan bien organizado y con la enorme disponibilidad que tienen. Los volveria a elegir 100%. Gracias por todo Nara y Dania!!!!Patagonia un destino que todos deberiamos visitar!!!

My husband and I usually plan our own trips but we are so glad we had KimKim plan our Patagonia trip. Our transportation, tours and hotels (loved Lago Grey) were organized for us and we avoided traveling with a large group, wearing matching name tags, and following a umbrella carrying guide. It was the perfect compromise. KimKim did the big planning, offered suggestions for things do, but gave us the freedom to explore on our own. Erin adjusted the itinerary to fit our choices and once we were on our trip, Jessica handled every detail and responded quickly to our many questions.
Our favorite tours involved glaciers (we did four and loved them all) but if you only have time for one glacier, Perito Moreno Boat and walking tour is the tour you want, This glacier is spectacular.
Our Torres del Paine Private Wildlife Tour was another highlight. We had a hike over gentle hills and then it got wild! Our guide, Armando, spotted a puma across the river and our driver, Juan, pulled the car over. We all watched the puma swim across the river to where we were standing and watched it leap up the mountain side! Armando took videos for me!
Even more amazing was the concern Armando and Juan had about the hike we had planned for the next day. After our hike across the gentle hill, they realized that we should not attempt our planned hike. They had a private chat and came up with an easier hike with as similar view. It was perfect and even had a lake view for our picnic lunch! Their quick planning was an example of how great it was to have such personal attention.
Our only regret is that we planned our trip to Iguazu Falls instead having KimKim do it!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lago Grey

Torres del Paine

Perfection ! Great food - loved our server each evening. The view from our room was amazing!

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

great bed

Hotel Kosten Aike

El Calafate

The location was great to walk downtown and easy to find a great place to eat.

Authenticity & Character

Location

close to shops and places to eat

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Perito Moreno Boat & Walking Tour

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Torres del Paine Private Wildlife Tour

Patagonia

excellent guide

Quality of Experience

very helpful guide who took photos of puma for me

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

planned a safer hike for. the following day

Transport

Gourmet Glacier Cruise to Perito Moreno & Spegazinni

El Calafate

loved seeing the glaciers, excellent lunch, liked seeing the Puesto Las Vacas

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

nice guide for the Puesto las Vacas area

Transport

Boat Tour to Bernardo O Higgins National Park, Serrano & Balmaceda Glaciers

Puerto Natales

we liked getting scotch on the rocks with the "rocks" being glacier ice loved the cormorants loved being able to see the glacier and then get off the boat and walk to it loved the lunch

Quality of Experience

lunch, glacier walk,

Food

all of it

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Admire Salto Grande & Hike the Cuernos Lookout Point

Patagonia

Our guide Jauquin was fantastic - always showed us the best place for a photo and offered to take photos of us

Quality of Experience

great lunch and snacks

Guides, Drivers and Staff

very well informed about the area

Transport

nice ride

Grey Glacier Boat Tour (round-trip)

Patagonia

well it was the first glacier tour of our trip

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing trip to Patagonia Chilena planned through KimKim. I first deal with Nara Matos, locally based in Puerto Natales, who helped us craft the itinerary based on our interests and some existing itineraries. She was extremely responsive including having a video call with me early on. We were also supported by Jessica Walker who was also very responsive including helping clarify for me which specific property showing up with a common name was the actual place of our dinner reservation. Having Nara and Jessica available while on country is definitely one of the benefits one gets for the premium one pays using KimKim versus trying to arrange everything oneself. They were both very friendly and great to deal with.
All of the hotels and excursions arranged through KimKim were top notch. Our Santiago city tour with Julio Contreras was an excellent introduction to the city and Chile. Julio was engaging, funny and very knowledgeable and I highly recommend him. We also enjoyed staying at the Hotel Ladro in Santiago’s Providencia neighborhood, chosen by KimKim.
Our excursion to try and see Condors by going up Cero Benitez outside Puerto Natales was also excellent. Our guide, Polo, was knowledgeable, fun to chat with, reactive to our needs and safety-conscious. The view from the top
was just incredible and we did see one Condor perched outside its cliff-face home.
The Puerto Natales hotel KimKim booked in which we stayed, Hotel Costaaustralis, was very good. In fact, we rebooked there unexpectedly when our flight back to Santiago was canceled and we had to fly the next day. We particularly enjoyed the view of the water and mountains from our room.
The highlight of our trip was the the three days/nights in the Patagonia Camp eco-resort. An incredible property, beautifully situated and staffed with warm and friendly and fun people. The two day hike excursions we did, Miradores and Historical Patagonia were amazing. The view of the “cuernos” of the Paine Massif across the lake at Mirador Cuernos was jaw-dropping. Not only because of the majesty of the rugged young mountains, but the natural prism-ing of the sunlight 8”into multiple colors that gave everything a magical feel.
The experience of being on the East side of Torres Del Paine for the historical excursion was a nice alternative to the previous day’s Miradores hike. We don’t see any pumas but saw plenty Guanacos and bird life. And at times we were the only one ls out in that massive landscape.
The food and drinks at Patagonia Camp were also excellent. We especially enjoyed the Sunday night bar BBQ our first night. Grilled meats (and veggie options) and wine outside was really nice.
We would use KimKim again as their role in helping craft a wonderful (though too short) introduction to Patagonia for our party (Mom, Dad, 24-year old daughter) was something we really appreciated. Thank you KimKim for helping craft some amazing memories for the three of us.

Hotel Reviews

Patagonia Camp

Torres del Paine

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Costaustralis

Puerto Natales

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Ladera

Providencia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Santiago City Tour

Chile

Julio Contreras was an awesome guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Condor Watching

Puerto Natales

Polo was a great guide!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an amazing visit to Chile -- from four days in the Atacama desert to a week in Santiago (with some wonderful side trips) to a wedding outside the city. Our time in Atacama was active with an Astronomical Tour, a visit to the Valley of the Moon, and the lagoons to see flamingos, vicunas, llamas, and sheep. The guides were extremely knowledgeable, friendly, and warm. The experiences felt very individual and special -- the food and drinks were delicious and added to the really great experience. Each of our guides was wonderful, with special recognition to Vicente -- his passion and enthusiasm for his work and our surroundings made our experiences unforgettable. Ivonne (spelling?) or Ivi, who gave us the astronomical tour was super enthusiastic and made sure that everyone had the best experience. Thanks so much for the photos! The hotel was great -- very comfortable and close to Caracoles street (the Emporium has the best empanadas!!).

Our stay in Santiago was truly special. The Bidasoa Hotel is a little distant from downtown, but the meals were delicious and we could walk to the Ralli Museum. Our tour of Santiago gave us so much history and a chance to walk around. Just fantastic! Our excursions to the Cajon de Maipo and horseback riding in the Andes were very special. Thanks so much to Julio, Fernando, and Alberto. They were great! We are so happy that we worked with KimKim -- your responsiveness, creativity, and flexibility (switching activities because of the weather to make a better experience), made us feel cared for and important. We really appreciate the top level of care and attention you give to create the BEST experiences! I can't imagine anything better!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel NOI Casa Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Eco Boutique Bidasoa

Santiago

Bidasoa is absolutely beautiful and a wonderful stay. I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Authenticity & Character

Really wonderful environment and glad that it's eco-friendly.

Location

I loved the location, and ubers were plentiful, but it's a bit away from the action of the city. But I liked that!

Staff

The staff were wonderful -- the front desk (Helida) recommended a great cafe nearby; others helped me find and schedule time at the nail salon. Everyone was extremely friendly and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Everything was spotless and the room was very comfortable. We felt super special!

Activity Reviews

"Fire and Stars" Astronomical Tour

Chile

This was a highlight and a key reason for our trip. Ivi was super enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I would give this the highest recommendation. The snacks and drink were wonderful. And the photos we received were very special. Whoever thought of that, chef's kiss!! The information brought us into the Inca and Indigenous thinking, which was great our entire time in Atacama.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Valley of the Moon, Ayllus and Atacameña Tasting

Chile

This was an absolutely wonderful day. Vicente, our guide picked us up very early -- totally worth it! We saw the sunrise with a delicious breakfast and a big "welcome" to the sun. We heard the roosters, dogs and the town wake up below us before we went to the Valley of the Moon to experience the most beautiful, dramatic landscape. Vicente was really wonderful -- explaining everything -- and we knew we were with someone who loved his job and ensuring that visitors understand how special the Atacama Desert is! We went for the tasting and were able to walk around the garden and eat pomegranate from the tree. We felt the hospitality and completely comfortable!

Quality of Experience

Food

We loved the explanation and the tasting -- different and delicious!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vicente is special!!

Transport

Cejar Lagoon, Ojos del Salara, Tebenquiche Lagoon

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Atacama Salt Flat, Chaxa Lagoon and Tocanao Gardens

Chile

Quality of Experience

I loved the walk-through of the orchards and the explanation of the irrigation system.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

High Plateau Lagoons, Tradicional Agriculture and Socaire Weavers

Chile

Absolutely lovely! The first time that altitude was an issue, but it was well-worth the visit! Happy to learn about the traditional weaving and contribute to the beautiful work of the community.

Quality of Experience

Food

The food was wonderful throughout our activities and the guides took great care to make our tables very special and beautiful!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Excursion to Cajon de Maipo

Santiago

This was a great chance to see where residents of Santiago go for a break! Many of my friends talked about going as a family or when they were children. We had a wonderful day!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Felipe was a wonderful guide and great to talk with!

Transport

Santiago City Tour

Chile

We enjoyed this activity despite the day being overcast. It was also a Monday, so many cultural places were closed. However, we appreciated going through the city and getting a sense of the neighborhoods.

Quality of Experience

only because of the weather and the Monday

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Julio was wonderful and passionate about Chilean history and was flexible about taking us around

Transport

Horseback Riding in the Andes Mountains

Santiago

I was so happy we did this to get into the mountains, but it's not for everyone. It was beautiful and although I was getting carsick, experiencing the curves was something I won't forget! The horses were great and steady, but it was a little nerve-wracking to move through the mountains with no paths that we could see. Our guide was perfectly confident, so I just didn't look down and followed him. The views were incredible!

Quality of Experience

The beauty and quiet of the area.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Alberto was wonderful.

Transport

Alberto was great driving, but the curves....

We had an amazing trip to Patagonia!! HIGHLY recommend this trip! Incredible nature, mountains, rivers, lakes, hiking, kayaking, wonderful accommodations, food and wine, and lovely people!

Hotel Reviews

The Singular Patagonia

Puerto Natales

This hotel is really special and unique. So interesting and the food was awesome!

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful room, comfortable bed, excellent restaurant. The architecture is amazing and so unique!

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Rio Serrano

Torres del Paine

We loved this hotel. Great location and so much fun to spend time outside on the couches watching the sunset.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Los Cerros del Chalten Boutique Hotel & Spa

El Chalten

We truly loved El Chalten! Amazing town with lots of bars and restaurants and shops. Gorgeous views and fun that the hike to Lagos los Tres ended up in town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Everyone was so nice and helpful. Excellent breakfast!!

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were spacious and beds very comfortable. Nice lounge area to hang out in!

Aguas Arriba Lodge

El Chalten

This place is spectacular! The owners were so lovely and made us feel so welcome. The food was truly amazing and the service just as awesome. We did several hikes from this lodge (we actually did a two hour hike on the way in to a beautiful glacier and then took the boat across to the Lodge). The warmth and hospitality are simply amazing. I loved the yoga dome too. Sitting on the deck overlooking the lake at sunset with views of Fitzroy was one of my favorite memories of the trip! All the other guests were so wonderful and it was just a slice of heaven! We also went fly fishing and had a great time catching lots of rainbow trout with our fantastic guides. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS LODGE!!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Legado Mitico Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

We enjoyed this hotel and our time in Buenos Aires. We did an awesome half day city tour and then went to a couple of museums the next day. The location of the hotel was super convenient to lots of shops and restaurants. The staff at the hotel was lovely and we loved the beautiful artwork in our room!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Xelena Hotel & Suites

El Calafate, Santa Cruz

The breakfast here wasn't the best but we enjoyed the walk into town along the lake. El Calafate is a lovely little town and we decided that if we return we would plan to stay at a hotel or Inn in town. Wish we had more time to explore the town!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to a Patagonian Estancia

Chile

This is a gorgeous Estancia and the boat ride there and back was great. I loved riding horses and the views were spectacular. The staff, the lunch, the wine were all fabulous and we enjoyed the tour very much!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayak Lago & Rio Grey

Chile

This was a must do activity! The river was so beautiful and we had the best time! Our guide was awesome and the weather couldn't have been better. We were a little nervous about the "rapids" but they were manageable even with our limited kayak skills. This was one of my favorite activities on the trip!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My friend and I just returned from a trip to Chile (Patagonia region). It was an amazing trip and unforgettable experience! We are both very seasoned travelers but decided to use KimKim to help plan as we were very unfamiliar with the area and not sure where to start. From the beginning Jimena and Jessica were very helpful. We changed several days of the trip and they were able to help out and accommodate our requests. The entire trip was done thoughtfully and we were never bored but had some downtime to explore and do some shopping on our own. Jessica was willing to see us several hours early for our local briefing and arranged for us to have hiking poles for all our hikes.

Highlights:
We really enjoyed spending a night in Torres del Paine park. It was a amazing being so close to all the trails and being able to stay at the Refugio Paine Grande was a highlight. Great food and a great place to rest up between hikes.
We absolutely loved the Kayaking tour in Eberhard Fjord. It was a perfect way to adventure while resting our legs. Our guide Vincenzo was so kind and patient. He inspired us to paddle hard and brave the strong winds. Being invited into Alecia's home was also and unexpected but amazing gift. She severed us fresh sopapillas and jam after kayaking. It was such a special day.

There were several minor hiccups with timing. I think it was due to the approaching winter season and tour times seem to change with the later sunrise. Overall, we would highly recommend KimKim. We would also strongly recommend Patagonia as a destination if you love nature, hiking and challenging yourself. Thank you!
Amber

Hotel Reviews

Pristine Patagonia Hotel

Puerto Natales

Clean and close to many restaurants. They provided an extra early breakfast for us when we had to leave at 5am. Rooms are small but comfortable and clean.

Authenticity & Character

Interesting decorations.

Location

Located on the edge of the city but within walking distance to restaurants and shopping.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable beds.

Refugio Paine Grande

Puerto Natales, Chile

This was a very pleasant surprise. Our room was ready when we got off the boat. Food was amazing and served up buffet style. They also provide packed lunch for to take hiking for lunch. There are wood burning stoves located through out that offer some much needed dry heat. We got there late so seating by the fires was taken but it seemed like a great place to hang out after a long day hiking. Rooms are small but beds comfortable and clean. There is a shared shower / bathroom that is basic. We also used the Refugio after we checked out while we waited for our boat. They provide bathrooms, a mini mart, hot water and shelter for hikers passing through. A cup of ramen never tasked so good! They give each person 30 minutes of free internet and after that you can purchase more time based on needs.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The views from this hotel are insanely beautiful.

Staff

Very helpful and accommodating to both guests and day hikers.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean and well maintained. Everything was freshly painted.

Hotel Vendaval

Puerto Natales

Very charming hotel. Clean and comfortable rooms. The decorations were modern and well thought out. Staff was very helpful storing our bags and answering questions. We loved the location as it was very close to the city square where there were so many restaurants and shopping. The breakfasts were very good. My favorites were the scrambled eggs, the coffee machine, and the calafate jam with local breads.

Authenticity & Character

Charming and clean.

Location

Very close to restaurants and shopping.

Staff

Helpful and kind.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Trip Briefing at Dittmar Adventures

Puerto Natales

We arrived for our briefing early and Jessica was able to adjust to this. We had been traveling for 24 hours straight and wanted to get to bed early that evening. Jessica went through our itinerary and helped to plan through issues like transferring bags from one hotel to the other. She gave tips on the trails and what to expect for the meals.

Quality of Experience

Welcoming and helpful with questions.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our airport transfer was 30 minutes late and we were told the wrong starting time for our Serrano Glacier.

Transport

Condor Watching

Puerto Natales

We really didn't know what to expect for this but were hoping to see some Condors. We saw one but very far away. We were told it was an easy hike which turned out to be an hour hike straight up a mountain side. We climbed 1750 feet in 1.49 miles. It was manageable but we were not prepared for that type of activity. On a positive note, the views from above were stunning and our guide was energetic and fun. Biggest disappointment was not seeing condors!

Quality of Experience

More information about what to expect.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike to "Mirador Base Las Torres"

Puerto Natales

This hike! Wow. We were very limited with time for the hike as we needed to be back at trailhead by 16:00 to catch the last boat at 1700 to our Refugio. We had a super early pickup of 5:00. We started the hike by 7:15. It was dark and raining / sleeting. The trail conditions started out quite muddy but improved over the next few hours. The sunrise views were so amazing, even in the rain. We moved at a very good pace with no stops but after arriving at the Chilean Refugio our guide advised us that we should reconsider climbing the final rocks as it was snowing quite hard up there, he talked with others that were there and there was no view of the towers plus the snowy conditions would make the rocks very slippery and also make it so that we would really have to rush through the hike. We agreed to go to the alternative lookout spot and from that point stopped and took lots of pictures and soaked up the beauty of the hike. It is such an amazing hike with so many different perspectives from mountains, to rivers, to forests, to rocky cliffs. We really enjoyed the changing weather from rain to snow then back to sun. We made it down by 1530 and did not feel rushed at all. We missed the last scramble but feel like due to conditions, we made a good choice to slow down and enjoy. We ended up going to the alternative lookout but were not able to see the towers at all.

Quality of Experience

So worth the effort!

Food

Sack lunch from Refugio was nice.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Our guide took many nature bathroom breaks to the point we wondered what he was doing (vaping?). He seemed knowledgable about the trail and suggested alternatives to keep us safe and to make it enjoyable for us.

Transport

Boat Tour to Bernardo O Higgins National Park, Serrano & Balmaceda Glaciers

Puerto Natales

We were told to walk down and be a the office of this tour by 7am. When we arrived it was not open. I tried to call several numbers with no luck. We saw a note on the door that said something about winter hours. We were about to leave when two others arrived. We all waited until someone came to open the office at 7:30. This was our first tour after returning to Puerto Natales the previous evening at 22:30 so having an extra hour to sleep in would have been nice. We eventually were transferred to a boat and waited another hour for the boat to fill with other guests. The journey to the glacier was very beautiful. We saw some smaller glaciers, waterfalls, and sea lions. The hike to the Serrano glacier was easy and scenic. Guides there were helpful and answered questions about park and glacier. On the way back we stopped and and had lunch at a ranch. The food there was good. The boat serves coffee, snacks and whiskey with glacial ice cubes.

Quality of Experience

This is a larger group so things move a bit slower. It is an all day tour but they do a nice job of showing people lot of sights on the way and then offering a unique lunch.

Food

Glacial ice drinks were a nice touch. The lunch was unique and very good.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Check hours of operation especially in the fall and winter months.

Transport

Views from boat are impressive. There is so much to see.

Kayak the Eberhard Fjord

Puerto Natales

This was one of the highlights of our trip. We were not sure what to expect and were so tired but from the very beginning our guide Vincenzo was amazing. He stopped along our journey out to the fjord to identify birds and let us get some pictures. We arrived at Alecia's home on the Eberhard Fjord and she welcomed us in to get changed. We were given ALL the gear from dry suits, to booties, to gloves for our hands. We were given some quick tips and set out in the sunny but very gusty water adventure. Our guide was so encouraging and patient. He made us feel so empowered and inspired us to kayak around the entire island, only getting snagged up once. We made two stops on the islands to stretch our legs. Vincenzo also took our camera and got some great pictures and videos of us in action. After the kayaking, Alecia invited us in for homemade sopapillas and calafate jam. She talked about her family and home and even took pictures with us. We felt very special and was a great way to end our tour.

Quality of Experience

It was so fun and unique.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Vincenzo was amazing! So patient and kind.

Transport

Our trip to Torres del Paine/Puerto Natales was spectacular! It was a VERY active trip, which is what we were looking for! It was fun to see our guides underestimate us (49 and 56 year old nurses!)!

Our planner was very responsive and helpful in picking activities that suited us! Trekking poles were provided for all the hikes which was great not to have to pack any.

We were a little disappointed that our Condor watching involved no Condors. Our guide had let us know that the time of year for them was not unusual to not see them. Such information would have been appreciated ahead of time. Nonetheless it was a beautiful day and our guide took spectacular pictures for us on a very vertical hike! He also brought tea and granola bars for a break at the summit. If your itinerary states that you will be getting a meal, be sure to verify what it will be.

We wanted to do the Torres Base hike and also the ferry on Pehoe Lake, which was a lot to do in one day, but our planners at Kim Kim made sure they worked it out for us. We left our hotel in Puerto Natales at 5am, snoozed during the two hour ride to the park and hiked the first section mostly in the dark with headlamps. The sunrise was a spectacular unexpected benefit of leaving so early. The hike was heart rate raising but very doable. Hiking boots, trekking poles, rain gear, water and layers are essential. We had rain, sleet, snow and sunshine throughout the day. I am dairy free and was glad to pack some dairy free snacks but options are available at the midpoint central Refugio too. Due to cloudy conditions we couldn’t see the peaks clearly so our guide recommended not to hike the last section and we did the alternative lookout instead because of our time crunch, but honestly we could have made it. Which brings us to our guide - he said he was going to the “natures bathroom” often because he was on blood pressure medication which caused this need. We actually figured out he was sneaking off to vape. I suspect he wanted to finish the hike to vape at the end because he was in a huge rush to get back and we had quite a bit of time to spare. He was not nearly as informative nor helpful as the guide we had our first day (Paulo Angel). We mentioned several times we wished he had been with us. Nonetheless, we had a spectacular day and Kim Kim did a great job planning the timing for us.

The ferry to Lake Pehoe provides amazing views, especially on a sunny day. The Refugio Grande was much better than we expected - the meals were buffet style and we had many options that were very well prepared!!

We very much enjoyed the Glacier Grey hike that we did on our own. It allowed for us to speak freely between ourselves, go at our own pace and stop for pictures and lunch (arranged by Kim Kim and provided by the Refugio) when we wanted. Relaxing at the Refugio before going back to PN via the ferry and a bus was easy and comfortable. Information from Kim Kim on the bus departure timing was incorrect, probably because of being the shoulder season, but I feel this could have been anticipated and communicated better. A taxi from the bus terminal to our hotel was $5ish. Kimkim arranged for our luggage to be transferred to our second hotel which was seamless! Hotel Vandaval was fantastic and very responsive.

After two days of active hiking we had a day of a boat ride to Serrano glacier and an estancia for lunch. It was a relaxing day, which was needed but it wasn’t a highlight of the trip.

The last day was THE BEST. As we were pretty tired from all our activity we considered skipping it and were so glad we didn’t!! Vincenzo was a top notch top tier tour guide - friendly, immensely knowledgeable and extremely positive and patient. It was a very gusty and windy day and his tips, attitude and assistance was the difference between a good day and an unforgettable one! To say we had fun would be an extreme understatement! He stopped on the way to Puerto Prat when we wanted to see the birds along the way or to take pictures of the breathtaking scenery. I cannot say enough good things about this young man!!! After our kayaking around the fjords we had lunch with a very sweet woman, Alicia, from Puerto Prat in her home, which we had no idea we were going to do - which was an extremely pleasant surprise! The hospitality of this day well represented Pantagonia hospitality and was the crown jewel of our trip!!!

All in all, our trip was well planned and the execution was great. Travelers to Pantagonia should be aware of the weather, rugged conditions and remoteness of Puerto Natales - which we were. With such an attitude, you are pleasantly surprised with the comforts and hospitality that do pop up.

A note about diet concerns: I have a severe intolerance to milk products and communicated this to KimKim. They did the best they could to communicate this need to all the vendors. I was amazed at the availability of vegan protein bars and food products in the park, at restaurants in town and at stores. Our favorite: Patagonia Dulce, which has amazing chocolate, coffees and pastries, as well as sandwiches. Soy and almond milk was available for all drinks.

We can’t wait to come back with our spouses on another trip!

Absolutely brilliant trip organised by Erin and the team at Dittmar Adventures. All the details were arranged to perfection and the tour was really fantastic. Big thanks to Erin and Rebecca and the team for sorting this.

Hotel Reviews

Pristine Patagonia Hotel

Puerto Natales

Great hotel in a great location with good facilities and great staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hostería Schilling

El Calafate

Great stay with super helpful staff and good location close to centre of El Calafate.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Camping Frances

Good camp and well organised site with great food.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lennox Hotel Ushuaia

Ushuaia

Good location and close to everything. Staff were super helpful and everything is walkable.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Aww

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Vendaval

Puerto Natales

Central location and friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lunajuim

El Chalten

Great location and brilliant staff close to all the main amenities.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Vain Boutique Hotel

Buenos Aires

Good hotel close to variety of food places.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Perito Moreno Glacier

El Calafate

Great day with unreal scenery despite the weather.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Great informative guides and drives.

Transport

Raft the Rio de las Vueltas

El Chaltén

Cold experience but brilliant fun and great guides.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trip Briefing at Dittmar Adventures

Puerto Natales

Rebecca was brilliant at explaining our whole itinerary. Very detailed and informative

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike to "Mirador Base Las Torres"

Puerto Natales

Fantastic day with brilliant guides. Milliemay and Joaquin were both brilliant and very supportive during the hike.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Despite the driver being late due to changing of the clocks it was a great day and we didn’t lose any time.

Transport

Guided Hike to Laguna de los Tres

El Chaltén

Mikayla was brilliant for 2 days and very supportive and informative on the hikes.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Guided Hike to Laguna Torre

El Chaltén

Again mikayla was fantastic and led the hike well.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Trek to Laguna Esmeralda

Ushuaia

Great hike with unreal views. And great guides who let well and supported the whole group.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport