Argentina & Chile Trip Review: Iguazu Falls, El Calafate, El Chalten, Ushuaia, Santiago, Torres del Paine, Laguna de los Tres Hike

Review by traveler

Thida M.

4.13.2023

General Info

Traveler Review

Which Country (Countries) did you visit on this trip?

Argentina

Chile

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:

We have recently finished a 19 day trip to Patagonia (Chile & Argentina) and Iguazu falls. Ezequiel helped us customize our trip. Pia, our destination host was extremely wonderful, responsive and available at anytime. Most of the local tour operators were good except transportation from Ushuaia airport to the hotel in a dirty old taxi. We have a mixed reviews of the hotels especially the hotel in Torres del Paine, all inclusive program which was not worth it. Food, excursions, attitudes of the staffs and some guides, customer service were below our expectation.
We like the Santiago hotel, the hotel in El Calafate and the hotel in El Chalten.
We enjoyed the Trek to see Perito Moreno Glacier (amazing!), the Trekking & Canoeing, Off-roading in Ushuaia, the great adventure with the boat ride under the waterfalls. All of the tour guides were outstanding!
Thank you to our travel team for the amazing trip!

What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip?

Laguna de los Tres hike of 24 kilometers was the most memorable moment and highlight of our entire trip. It was exhausting, especially the last kilometer of steep slope with slippery snow and ice. It's brutal, but totally worth it. The views of the lagoon and Mt. Fitz Roy are stunning, incredible and mind blowing.

We also did the guided hike of the Mirador base Las Torres but we were discouraged by the hotel guides for the last kilometer and we were very disappointed that we could not pursue to the base for another kilometer. The guides were more interested in finishing the hike by certain time instead of our interest. We regretted that we did not do this trek on our own without the guides from the Hotel.
We could not even express our joy at our accomplishment of Laguna de Los Tres hike after the deeply disturbing experience with the guides of the hotel at Torres Del Paine National Park.

If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently?

We will not stay at the hotel in Torres del Paine and will definitely finish the Mirador base Las Torres hike on our own without the guide.

Travel Company Comments:

Dear Thida,
Thank you very much for taking the time to send us your detailed feedback.
I am very happy to hear that you enjoyed the trip and most hotels and excursions. I agree that Laguna de los 3 is an amazing experience, the effort pays out!
Regarding the Hotel in Torres del Paine, thanks for sharing your experience. I have already gotten in contact with them to review the situation. Thida, if you remember the name of the guide that went with you to Mirador base Las Torres, please send it to me. Unfortunately, by the end of the season, yours is not the only comment I have received about this Hotel service.
I hope you keep unforgettable memories of the beautiful Patagonia and Iguazu Falls and hope to welcome you again soon.
Warm regards from sunny Buenos Aires,
Ezequiel