Camila was excellent: consistently responsive AND informed/connected in designing a trip to Patagonia that exceeded our expectations. In short, she listened well and curated an excellent trip based on our wants/needs. Her contacts/selection of local guides in Bariloche, Calafate, and El Chalten were excellent, especially that of Julian in El Chalten!
One piece of feedback: the booking of flight travel and transport to/from airport pick up times could have been improved. Specifically, (1)...
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Camila was excellent: consistently responsive AND informed/connected in designing a trip to Patagonia that exceeded our expectations. In short, she listened well and curated an excellent trip based on our wants/needs. Her contacts/selection of local guides in Bariloche, Calafate, and El Chalten were excellent, especially that of Julian in El Chalten!
One piece of feedback: the booking of flight travel and transport to/from airport pick up times could have been improved. Specifically, (1) when we decided to extend our KimKim Argentine travels with a new trip to Iguazu Falls at the end of our travels from Patagonia, a new ticket should have been issued for a flight from Bariloche to Iguazu, with a stop in Buenos Aires. Instead, a second round trip ticket was added for the travel from Buenos Aires to Iguazu. This necessitated a stressful dash thru BA airport to pick up our luggage and recheck our bags to Iguazu. (2) While all drivers were excellent and always punctual, pick up times should have been better coordinated in the transports between Calafate and El Chalten, and again from El Chalten back to Calafate. Both times had 7:00 AM pickups which created slack time in El Chalten without access to hotel room (from 9-3) and at the airport in Calafate (from 9-2).
Hotel Reviews
Gran Meliá Iguazú
Iguazú National Park
This hotel is a world-class gem showcasing a piece of the breathtaking beauty of Iguazu Falls directly from its infinity pool.
Authenticity & Character
It’s worth every penny! To really experience the falls, stay a minimum of two nights.
Location
The location of the hotel with its connectivity to the trails in the park that lead directly to the falls is its key attribute. It’s also a 5 star luxury hotel that delivers on all fronts: rooms, amenities, dining, grounds and staff.
Staff
To a person, the staff is superb!
Cleanliness & Comfort
Splurge: Book a room with the view of the falls. You won’t be sorry.
Mercure Iguazu Hotel Iru
Puerto Iguazú
Exceptional linens and bed quality! Lovely setting among lush jungle plants. Excellent breakfast and sold dining in restaurant.
Authenticity & Character
Lush jungle setting
Location
About a 30 minute drive to falls
Staff
Staff seemed inattentive and not particularly happy…Of all hotel staff of our 19 nights of stays in Argentina, this staff was the most UNINSPIRED.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Bed and linens were exceptionally comfortable/high-end
Hotel Lunajuim
El Chalten
There are not of good choices in this town so this one, which was mediocre, might have been the only option
But the rooms were of poor quality, very noisy, lacking any kind of decoration. Purely functional
Location
One night at a local bar there was a very noisy band playing very late.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Try to make the rooms look better?
Xelena Hotel & Suites
El Calafate, Santa Cruz
This is a premium hotel with air conditioning that is geared to large groups. Excellent accommodations and staff, as well as excellent restaurant for breakfast, lunch, dinner and bar. It’s not readily accessible to town, but does provide a reliable hotel bus service.
Authenticity & Character
Great views of lake!
Location
Reliable and comfortable hotel bus service into town!
Design Suites Bariloche
San Carlos de Bariloche
Hotel rooms are spacious and restaurant provides excellent breakfast and dinner! However, the location is not walkable into the city (and doesn’t have AC).
Location
Not walkable to city
Palladio Hotel Buenos Aires—MGallery
Buenos Aires
Excellent location with exceptional rooms, breakfasts and welcoming staff!
Activity Reviews
Laguna Torre Hike
El Chaltén
SAME AS LAGUNA DE LOS TRES and LOS HUEMELES: EXCEPTIONAL ! The guide, Julian, was the best guide of all our guides in Argentina. His command of English, historical context for explanations and knowledge of science/flora/native birds was unparalleled! Also, he had excellent customer service or really, “people skills”: Ensuring we had sufficient water, checking our physical stamina throughout the hikes, and even sharing his tea during daily lunch. In addition, being able to see/touch icebergs was quite a memory-making moment! The raw and diverse beauty of hiking thru forest, rock, and flat plains added to the exceptional experience.
Finally, the lunch prepared for all three days was SUPERB: Varied, fresh, filling and very tasty!
Quality of Experience
See above
Food
SUPERB: Varied, fresh, filling and very tasty!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
See above
Transport
Always punctual!
Reserva Los Huemules
El Chaltén
SAME AS LAGUNA DE LOS TRES: EXCEPTIONAL ! The guide, Julian, was the best guide of all our guides in Argentina. His command of English, historical context for explanations and knowledge of science/flora/native birds was unparalleled! Also, he had excellent customer service or really, “people skills”: Ensuring we had sufficient water, checking our physical stamina throughout the hikes, and even sharing his tea during daily lunch. In addition, the raw and diverse beauty of hiking in Laguna de Los Tres added to the exceptional experience. Finally, the lunch prepared for all three days was SUPERB: Varied, fresh, filling and very tasty!
Trek to Laguna de los Tres
El Chaltén
All three guided tour days in El Chalten were EXCEPTIONAL ! The guide, Julian, was the best guide of all our guides in Argentina. His command of English, historical context for explanations and knowledge of science/flora/native birds was unparalleled! Also, he had excellent customer service or really, “people skills”: Ensuring we had sufficient water, checking our physical stamina throughout the hikes, and even sharing his tea during daily lunch. In addition, the raw and diverse beauty of hiking in Laguna de Los Tres added to the exceptional experience. Finally, the lunch prepared for all three days was SUPERB: Varied, fresh, filling and very tasty!
Quality of Experience
See above
Guides, Drivers and Staff
See above
Transport
ALWAYS punctual
Blest Port & Cantaros Waterfalls
Bariloche
Guides, Drivers and Staff
While viewing the falls in their entirety from the Brazilian side was remarkable, this was the least favorite part of our travels. The time to transition thru customs between Argentina and Brazil, plus the actual travel time to/from the hotel to the falls (about 4 hrs total) , coupled with the crowds on the Brazilian side diminished the experience. The Brazilian falls felt very commercialized when contrasted to the Argentinian side and less well maintained.
Quality of Experience
See above
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide was most gracious/kind/informed, but his English skills were not as solid as all other guides.
Transport
Prompt, polite driver who had a car with strong air conditioning!
Estancia Cristina Discovery Trek
El Calafate
EXCEPTIONAL! Hard to describe the contrast of landscapes and climates experienced during this trip…Often, it felt as if we were hiking between differing planets; at other times, it was as if we were in a movie setting where a dinosaur or caveman might make an appearance! Also, the packed lunch and the location for lunch: EXCELLENT ! In addition, the boat was a magnificent vessel and the captain took extraordinary care to provide multiple viewing access points to the icebergs.
Quality of Experience
This was an unusual, robust and absolutely SPECTACULAR experience. Definitely 5 star/high quality, from the design of the boat, to the national park hiking guide, to the well maintained and pristine setting.
landscape.
Food
Excelente sandwiches and snacks well suited for a long hike!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The Blue Safari
El Calafate
This was one of the most impactful and stunning experiences of our entire Patagonia trip! The boat trip to view the glaciers up close and to experience the floating icebergs is difficult to describe: the beauty, the clarity of the ice/waters, the contrast of sea and sky yielded innumerable pictures and memories for a lifetime. We had an exceptional guide with solid scientific grounding peppered with humor !
Tronador Hill Trekking
Bariloche
Black glacier and calving in real time were spectacular! Our guide also provided pics that showed the changing face of the glacier from various viewing points we visited. That was eye opening/sad.
Quality of Experience
This was our first viewing of a glacier. The scale and the floating icebergs were impressive! (NOTE: However, the impact of viewing Tronador would not be as impressive if a traveler has already visited Perito Moreno .
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide Patricia was excellent, sharing historical context that framed what we were viewing. Also, she shared a lovely less traveled hike to a waterfall.
This a great first day must do activity. It provides visual perspective to the vastness of Patagonia
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Nativo Experience - Lakes and Caverns
El Calafate
Good to get a cultural oversight of Patagonia
Quality of Experience
Loved the dinner in the cave and seeing/learning about the cave pics
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Tango Show & Dinner at La Ventana
Buenos Aires
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Iguazu Falls Great Adventure
Puerto Iguazú
Quality of Experience
Great guides
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Local specialist: Camila Plat