Review: Solo Trip to Chile, Patagonia, Santiago, Valparaiso, Chloe Island, Punta Arenas, Cooking Class

I am thrilled that in my internet search when I decided to visit Chile that I found your company.  You matched me with this travel company and my personal agent.  The service your company provides is excellent.  I would change nothing and have no suggestion for doing things better.

I worked on my trip with the help of this agent for a few months.  I am an experienced traveler and know what I want to accomplish on a journey.  I did some research and talked with friends who traveled in Chile, one is particular on a cruise.  

My trip was multi-faceted

So would I change anything. Absolutely not.  Helped to know generally what I wanted to do and was involved in the planning process. Also very important was the materials the travel company provided outlining my itinerary and the continual emails with in country flight boarding passes and pickup times.  All worked like clock work. 

in that it began with a cooking class in Santiago with a tour of the markets.  Cooking is my hobby and I really enjoyed the class which my agent arranged.  I traveled to Puertos Arenas and Nataly and was on a cruise to the glaciers and fiords for three nights.  Personal guide from Arenas, also excellent,  chosen by my agent was perfect for me.  We toured to a nearby volcano and amazing waterfall, I met his wife, we went to the island of Chloe, I met his father in law and saw his farm, and spent a night in Castro, also fun.  Stayed at a bnb on stilts outside of town.

Next portion was a self drive at the Carratera Austra.  This guide knows the area and arranged for lodging at a wonderful place near a beautiful river.  What was not planned was picking up a young couple from Argentina, musicians who play on streets for support.  I adopted them for two nights.  We had a great time together.  Even the rental vehicle was an SUV which I needed on the travel roads and space to pick up hitch hikers.

My trip ended in Santiago where I relaxed at my wonderful hotel also chosen by my agent, and saw parts of the city including the Barrio Italia.  My trip concluded with a tour of Valparaiso with another excellent guide and our driver.  (I suggested that my driver be sent to a English as a second language school as he is excellent and would be good for him and clients).

With each of my guides we discussed the history of Chile, the current issues and politics, social issues through which I really learned about Chile in my two week stay.  

My last activity was to visit the Museum of Memory to learn more about the Allende years and the military coup and its aftermath.