Chile Travel Review: Santiago, Atacama Desert, Wine Country, Lake District, Culture & Experiences

Review by traveler

Tom S.

1.28.2020

General Info

Traveler Review

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

Chile

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:

Overall excellent experience. All travel arrangements were seamless, from pickup at the airport to transportation at destination sites. Accommodations were clean, safe, and well located. Guides were friendly, informative, and accommodating. The pace of the trip was coordinated with the travel agent and was perfect; not too slow or too rushed.
Zicasso teamed me with the travel designer at this travel company. Prior to our trip we discussed things we wanted to see and places we wished to visit. She made constructive suggestions and discussed options which I hadn't considered. We had many email communications and our designer was always prompt and clear in her responses.
We had an in-country travel company representative. She was available, but not intrusive. She easily made some minor changes in our schedule. She was always prompt in her responses to my questions.

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

We visited Santiago, wine country, Valparaiso, the Atacama desert, and the Lake District. For me, the most enjoyable parts of the visit were the personal interactions with our guides. All were friendly and informative. The more we spoke and questioned, the more we learned. They were all passionate about their area of the country. They provided excellent recommendations on not only local restaurants and attractions, but also off-the-beaten-path things to see and do. These experiences usually led to more interactions with locals and accentuated our experience.

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

The Hotel in San Pedro has no need for air conditioning. The temperature is cool and comfortable at night. However, leaving the window open allowed small flying insects to enter. Bug bites and buzzing in our ears disturbed sleep. I would suggest recommending to travelers they bring insect repellant if they stay in the area. Otherwise, the Hotel was great.
The area of the salt flats was closed for the month of January, the time of our visit. Apparently, this is the area where large flocks of flamingos congregate. We were disappointed that we weren't informed of this closure prior to our arrival in San Pedro. The information wouldn't have changed our travel plans, but would have been appreciated.
We were scheduled for a star gazing tour while in the Atacama desert, but this was cancelled due to cloud cover. The weather is unpredictable anywhere, but my impression was the Atacama desert was consistently dry and clear and one of the best places on earth for star gazing. I suggest that travelers be informed that this activity could be cancelled due to the weather. Consider a replacement activity should this occur.

Photos

Chile Travel Review: Santiago, Atacama Desert, Wine Country, Lake District, Culture & Experiences

General Info

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

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company:

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

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

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