Kimkim Trip Reviews for Chile

Francisco’s team created a wonderful itinerary based on my requirements. The entire team including Pam, Dayana, Angel were hyper responsive at all times of the and available to answer my questions. My daughter (24) and I enjoyed all the cities but especially the trip to Valparaiso, Casablanca valley and all of Easter Island. We landed late around midnight many times and it was nice to have private transfers all arranged for us. We had a flight that cancelled last minute and the team made great suggestions to fly that same night and booked a hotel and arranged private transfers quickly. It was a most memorable trip and we returned home with a head and camera full of memories. This was our second trip with Kim Kim, the first being to Brazil and I would engage them again.

Lorena did an amazing job communicating, being responsive and clear regarding our 8 day trip to Chile in February. Every single transport, accommodation and tour was really well done and reliable. We had weather issues in the Atacama that caused some reworking of itineraries and they were handled greatly. Shoutout to the Hotel Desertica who handled the numerous weather related power outages really well, even serving dinner by candlelight. Overall a great experience with Kimkim and its on to Morocco with them! Thanks again to Lorena and all supporting staff.

We had a wonderful trip with some outstanding tour guides such as Freddy and Felipe in Santiago and Daniel in Patagonia. Hotel Lago Grey was outstanding. It's impossible to choose a favorite place: the moai in Rapa Nui, the street art in Santiago and Valparaiso, Torres del Paine. Our itinerary was customized to match our interests, but some things exceeded our expectations like the Grey Glacier boat. Luckily, we had perfect weather for our trip. One thing that could be improved is the daily schedule which had multiple minor hiccups: starting time/location, guide's name, checkout time. In the end, Dittmar Adventures was very responsive and made everything right.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lago Grey

Torres del Paine

Excellent location and delicious food. This was the best hotel of our trip. We're very happy we didn't stay at Hotel del Paine. The complementary drinks was a nice touch which allowed us to discover calafate sours.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very helpful staff.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Costaustralis

Puerto Natales

The location was good although the window the first night wouldn't close so there was a good bit of road noise. The staff was not particularly helpful and the breakfast wasn't the best.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great views, but some road noise.

Staff

The staff was not very helpful.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room didn't have a fridge.

Hotel Ismael

Santiago

The location is great and the staff is very helpful. The room was small unlike the pictures. The rooftop pool was very small. The hotel has two entrances which was problematic when we were leaving, Transvip was waiting on the street behind the hotel instead of at the front door.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Great view and lots of choices for restaurants.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

The room was small.

Cabañas Anavai

Hanga Roa

The description was for a bungalow. We had a room with a corner kitchen. There's no air conditioning so the room got very warm. Luckily there were two fans which we had to use all of the time. The last night the water went out. The next morning the want came back but the electricity went out. For the airport transfers, they really should use the guest's names to avoid the problem we had of confusing with another Cabanas.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Next to moai and beach

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

No AC

Activity Reviews

Trekking "Miradores" - Guided Day Hikes in Torres del Paine

Chile

Armando was a good guide. We were able to pick which hikes we wanted. He also let my wife use his hiking poles. Unfortunately when we were coming down from Mirador Condor, he was going down quickly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Daniel was an amazing driver.

Grey Glacier Boat Tour (round-trip)

Chile

One of the high points of our trip. Seeing the glacier and the impact of climate change was very impressive.

Quality of Experience

The weather was perfect which made the trip much better.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guides were knowledgeable and available to answer questions.

Transport

Very smooth ride.

Uptown Santiago Walking Food Tour

Santiago

Freddy did an outstanding job. It was great that he met us at the hotel and we took the subway together. We tried multiple foods and then saw multiple street art around Bellavista. Freddy is very knowledgeable and friendly.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

It would have been more complicated to take the metro on our own.

Day trip to Viña del Mar & Valparaiso

Chile

Julio Contreras was very flexible in customizing our tour so we got to see the sites we wanted to visit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santiago City Tour

Chile

Felipe Godoy is an excellent guide. He was extremely helpful in suggesting visits for our free day. The tour did not include the cable car up to the top of Cerro San Cristobal.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very knowledgeable about the history and culture.

Transport

Easter Island (Rapa Nui): Secrets of the Seven Explorers (Half-Day Tour)

Easter Island

These are the only moai facing the sea.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Easter Island (Rapa Nui): Half-Day Orongo & Volcanic Wonders

Easter Island

The crater is very impressive.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Isla de Pascua (Rapa Nui): The Grand Tour of Moai and Ancestral Sites

Easter Island

A good introduction into the history of Rapa Nui.

Quality of Experience

Lunch should have been included.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Terangi was excellent as was the driver.

Transport

Kim Kim has an amazing staff of very knowledgeable guides and coordinators. Collectively, they took our desires and built a trip that met our every expectation. We contacted our Kim Kim coordinator, Riwal, approximately one year before the trip. No mater time, he was always available to strategize, answer questions, change plans and support us from beginning to the end. In country, our guide, Nacho (Luis Miranda Casanova), and driver, Logan, were nothing short of fantastic. Nacho’s breadth and depth of information far exceeded our expectations. From animals to geology and flowers to fossils, he was well-versed in everything about in Patagonia, and really South America. Logan is a true professional as evidenced by his driving skills and ability to navigate some very challenging dirt roads, day in and day out. I strongly recommend this highly talented team for your travels to South America.

Hotel Review

Hotel Lago Grey

Torres del Paine

Excellent location. Room was clean and the bed/pillows were comfortable. Staff was supportive.

Authenticity & Character

Cabin life, which we appreciated

Location

Staff

Front desk staff was excellent but some of folks that worked other areas upfront and in the restaurant could have been more helpful. At times we had to ask around the staff to get basic information on excursions and amenities.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Enough said.

Activity Reviews

Blue Lagoon / Laguna Azul Hike to Laguna Cebolla

Chile

Went on short hike. Nacho provided a great deal of information about the trees, lagoon, tree plantings and many other very special bits of information.

Quality of Experience

Amazing views!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide did excellent job planning around bus traffic.

Transport

Movement through the park was very efficient to get to tour.

Cerro Benitez Half Day Trek - Visit the Chilean "Condor"

Chile

Not sure how to rate this activity since we didn’t get to do the trek. However we did stop to see condors and an eagle during our transition through the park.

Torres del Paine National Park - Private Panoramic Tour

Chile

Sights were simply amazing, spectacular, jaw-dropping. This tour met every expectation.

Quality of Experience

Glaciers.

Food

Lunch was good but not great.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

knowledge and insight.

Transport

Full Day Estancia Cerro Guido with a Private Driver

Chile

Horseback riding while herding sheep was a highlight of our Patagonia experience.

Quality of Experience

Food

Absolutely amazing breakfast and lunch. 5 starts.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We have just returned from a truly wonderful 14-day February trip to Chile, booked on kimkim with the excellent, professional help of Jesse. First we must write about Jesse. From the moment I began looking into doing this trip, Jesse provided thorough, competent, and sensitive assistance. She "listened " to all our hopes and preferences, designing for us the trip of a lifetime. She adjusted hotels for us to make the package more affordable. And every tour she arranged for us revealed things we had hoped for and amenities we couldn't even have imagined - like early morning outdoor breakfasts in the desert, and phenomenal trekking and viewing experiences.

Once we arrived in Chile, again, Jesse could not have been more helpful. Communicating with her on WhatsApp, she ensured that all pick-ups and drop-offs went smoothly, and answered all the questions we had immediately, even sometimes quite late at night. Her responses were always kind and personable. We always knew we were in good hands with her guidance, and when we return to Chile - which we will! - we hope we will be lucky enough to work with Jesse again.

We began our trip in Santiago, and thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Valparaiso, with its incredible murals and steep, winding streets. Our guide, Javi, made sure we spent as much time as possible walking those streets, and she pointed out many treasures that we would have missed without her help. And we were thrilled with the "San Jose Volcano and Andes Mountains" experience. We had our guide, Juan Paulo, all to ourselves, and his love of the area and of the climb was so evident and genuine that it filled us with love for the experience, as well. He was also a true professional, teaching us things about the flora and fauna and ensuring that we were always safe as we climbed and descended.

Then we flew to the Atacama desert, and began our time there there with what was my favourite tour of all - the "Atacama Experience." We visited the farm of Gonzalo, a young indigenous farmer who introduced us to his llamas, and then demonstrated and talked us through the experience of making pottery with local materials, helping us each to create pieces of pottery that we could take home. Next we sat 'round a small fire with him while he prepared infusions from local herbs, which we gratefully drank. And last of all, he "gave" us each a llama to walk, and we spent an hour or so walking with "our" llamas in the desert as the sun was setting. Gonzalo was an excellent, knowledgeable and gentle host whose passion for the way of life he was retaining has stayed with me and made me want to return to Atacama.

Everything we experienced in the Atacama was wonderful. Our guide for "Exploring the Atacama Salt Flats" and "Valley of the Moon Tour" was Daniel - a true professional with an uproarious sense of humour. We learned about the salt flats, saw statuesque flamingos and wild vicunas with their young and had a great outdoor breakfast. Daniel brought us to a small village where he helped us find and purchase genuine alpaca products - and when we saw things we wanted to photograph he always made that possible. We were thrilled to have him as a guide again to visit the Valley of the Moon. The trek along the salt caves and stone formations was awe-inspiring, and Daniel thoroughly explained the formation of these geological wonders.

Marta was our guide to the Tatio Geysers, and she too was a wealth of knowledge and a great outdoor breakfast provider. And seeing the geysers steaming into the air at sunrise was beautiful and otherworldly.

I was sad to leave the desert, but other wonders awaited us. We flew to Santiago and from there, via Puerto Montt, to Puerto Varas. We loved our "Day Trip to Vincente Perez Rosales National Park" as well as our wonderful and quick-witted guide, Jorge. The highlight of this tour for us was the amazing view of the volcanoes and glaciers, and our ascent of the Osorno volcano. We chose to take the lifts up the side of the volcano, and I'd recommend that to anyone taking this tour. We also had a fabulous lunch of local salmon. All the while Jorge had us learning and laughing. He was an excellent guide.

Nest we went "Trekking in Alerce Andino National Park" with Luis, whose knowledge of local flora was impressive. He shared with us his fascination with the plants, flowers, and trees of this rainforest - and kindly taught us a lot of Spanish, which really pleased us.

Then we flew to Punta Arenas. It proved too windy to go see the penguins on Magdelena Island, but we enjoyed time to ourselves exploring the town with its amazing waterfront statues. We could feel the pull of Antarctica from there. Punta Arenas is another place we'd like to return to.

In Puerto Natales. the "Boat Tour to Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers" was a fantastic day. We saw sweeping waterfalls, sea lions resting on shore, and beautiful views of the glaciers. It was doubly gratifying to be able to land and walk to the base of one of them, where the view was amazing. So was our stop at the ranch and our meal of lamb there. And so was our surprise treat of whisky served with glacier ice, on the boat!

We finished our time in Patagonia with a day of trekking Torres del Paine. Three treks in one day was challenging, but the views of mountains, glaciers, and waterfalls was memorable.

Jesse and Kimkim made all of this happen for us, and we will certainly want to work with them both again for our next South American adventure. Thank you for this amazing experience.

Activity Reviews

Atacama Experience

San Pedro de Atacama

The Atacama Experience was absolutely my favorite part of the trip. We visited a farm where Gonzalo, who I wouldn't even call a guide, shared so much about the landscape, traditions, and the animals. His explanations made the desert come alive for me.

Trekking Torres del Paine Active

Chile

The Trekking Torres del Paine Active tour was great, however, we didn't see as much wildlife as we hoped. We probably started too late in the morning to see animals like pumas or guanacos. Also, the tour included three hikes in one day, which was quite intense. Perhaps two hikes would have been enough.

Valley of the Moon Tour

San Pedro de Atacama

The Valley of the Moon Tour in Atacama was stunning, but I think a warning should be included about the narrow and high trail. It might be daunting for those who have a fear of heights. Despite that, we were fine and enjoyed the beauty.

Really enjoyed our wine-focused trip to Central Chile. Working with Nara was great - she was responsive to our desires for the trip, and she did a great job finding us terrific wineries to visit. Felipe was a wonderful guide - knowledgeable, personable, and easy to be around.

Hotel Reviews

Clos Apalta Residence

Santa Cruz

This is a stunning property. Everything was wonderful, from the casita to the restaurant to the wine tour. Highly recommend.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

La Casona at Matetic Vineyards

Lagunillas

Lovely relaxed winery stay. Comfortable room, beautiful grounds, very good restaurant.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Gran Hotel Gervasoni

Valparaiso

This is a lovely period building, and the decor is simple and elegant. However, the bathroom in our room was on a lower floor, accessible only by a steep spiral staircase. Breakfast was good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Accessibility

Hotel Solace

Providencia

Good solid choice for lodging in Santiago. Breakfast was comprehensive, although nothing fancy. Staff was helpful. Location is great for getting around the city.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Convenient

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Santiago City Tour

Chile

Jose was a great guide - knowledgeable and very proud of his city. Unfortunately, we scheduled our trip for Monday, when most of the attractions were closed.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Tasting in Aconcagua Valley

Chile

Escorial Winery was our favorite of all the wineries we visited in all the valleys. Their story is inspiring, and the wines were delicious. Sadly, they do not export to the States, so we spent a great deal of our limited take-home wine allowance here!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Maipo Valley Wine Experience

Santiago

All the wineries we visited were impressive in their own ways, but we particularly loved El Principal and Haras de Pirque.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I strongly recommend kimkim and particularly the local specialists.

a 3 week trip with lots of moving parts was perfectly planned. any questions along the way very answered immediately regardless if it was Sunday 6am or Wednesday 11pm. Just extraordinary customer service.

thank you for the great experience kimkim team

Hotel Reviews

Camping Frances

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

its a tent, but as good as it can be... even had power to charge phones

Hotel Lunajuim

El Chalten

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

walls are thin, I could hear guests in other rooms snore, water pressure in shower is extremely low

Hotel Big Sur

Puerto Natales

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Las Lengas Hotel

Ushuaia

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Kenton Palace Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

central location, nice rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Boat Tour Through The Glaciers

El Calafate

average especially if comparing to other experiences in el chalten, perito Moreno, and torres del paine

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Beagle Channel Cruise

Ushuaia

not ideal if you get easily sea sick....

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Perito Moreno Glacier Mini-trekking

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike the French Valley

Chile

Quality of Experience

Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island

Chile

amazing experience walking the loop between the penguins

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marcela was great! Everything went off like clockwork. We had some problems with an adjoining trip which affected the start of this itinerary but Marcela and her team handled the changes with complete efficiency. Gaboo gets a call out too for excellent service and assistance!
The drivers and guides were on time, did a good job and were personable.
Especially like Juan Pablo from the Buggy ride in the desert and the kayak guide.
Dinner (you called it lunch, but it was at 5pm so it was our dinner) with the red rocks tour was fun and a pleasant surprise.
The only tour we didn’t like was the moon valley. Too big of a group and a very disorganized start and it just wasn’t that interesting.

Hotel Reviews

El Refugio - La Casa de Don Tomas

San Pedro de Atacama

Pretty place - nice pool area and places to sit outside. Rooms comfortable. Loved we got complimentary sparkly wine once a day and the restaurant was very good. Good service.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cabaña Del Lago Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas

Amazing breakfast room and great location. Nice size rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Casa de la Patagonia

Puerto Natales

Loved the breakfast room. Staff was great - but it was VERY noisy! Only 7 rooms and people were loud going up and down the wooden steps starting very early in the morning and then late at night and it sounded like someone was clanging dishes in the breakfast room starting at about 5. Also bathroom was way to small - no shelf space and there wasn’t much storage in the bedroom either.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

It was clean, just not that comfortable - see above

Hotel Ladera

Providencia

They had a coffee maker in the room, but charged for a tny cup of coffee. Also the hot water took forever to warm up

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Valley of the Moon Tour

San Pedro de Atacama

Not interesting and way too long

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour of Tatio Geysers

San Pedro de Atacama

Well done

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Puritama Canyon Trek

San Pedro de Atacama

Didn’t give as much info in English and lots of loose rocks - so hike was challenging

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stargazing Experience

San Pedro de Atacama

It was delayed until 10:30 so really late at night - hard to see each other and the wine/snacks table was kind of awkward

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Explore the Atacama Salt Flats & Lagoons

San Pedro de Atacama

Beautiful landscape made for amazing pics A little too much back and forth time in the van Wind made it kind of uncomfortable Breakfast outside is a fun touch

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Bike & Beer

Puerto Varas

Beautiful town to start and countryside to ride in. Beer and pizza were fun One of the best drivers Guide was great

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trekking in Alerce Andino National Park

Puerto Varas

Really muddy- I sunk up to my knees at one spot. Our guide, Rafael was amazing. Great guide. Nice lunch provided.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trekking and Condor Watching

Puerto Natales

It was a tough hike mostly do to the incredible wind. and we didn’t see any condors

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trekking Torres del Paine Active

Chile

Good challenging hikes. Great staff

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Buggy Safari Through the Desert

San Pedro de Atacama

JP was superb! Maybe our best guide of the tour. He had a good sense of humor, taught us much!

Quality of Experience

Guide, equipment, all top-notch.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

JP was a great communicator and fun to be around.

Transport

He picked us up in a comfortable vehicle and took us directly his home where we got the jeep

Kayaking in Eberhard Fjord

Puerto Natales

A little strenuous but in a good way! We really go a workout and learned about the history of this area. The guide was excellent!

Quality of Experience

It was private. The guide was very attentive to our capabilities and was a good coach.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Valparaíso & Wine Tour - Private

Santiago

Claudia was very good! And the wine tasting was amazing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santiago City Tour - Private

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Caro was very helpful in planning our trip to Santiago and Patagonia. She kept us well informed and was very good at communication. Unfortunately, at the last minute, my friend's father became very ill and she had to cancel the trip which meant I was traveling alone. It was reassuring to know that KimKim and TripsSouthAmerica was aware of this and I had someone to pick me up from the airport and transport me during the trip. I also had another situation with an approaching winter storm in my area require me to change my plans and leave a day earlier than planned. Caro made the arrangements to accommodate me with an additional hotel night and change in pick up schedule.

The hotel in Santiago was less than I hoped - rooms were sparse and dated, very limitied English spoken, and not in the most favorable area of the city even though it was located in walking distance to the cultural center and museum. On the other hand, I loved Westkar in Puerto Natalas and the MR hotel in the Provincia neighborhood in Santiago upon my return were great options. EcoCamp Patagonia was 5 star eco-resort and I would highly recommend it if visiting Torres del Paine.

I wish I could have visited Punta Arenas while in Patagonia

Hotel Reviews

MR Hotel

Santiago

Loved the location and feel of this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Weskar Lodge

Puerto Natales

A very nice hotel located about a mile from town along the water.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Camping Paine Grande

Puerto Natales, Chile

Lots of tents but the tents and pillows were clean and comfortable. Food was good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Camping Frances

For a camping experience it was very comfortable. The food was very good at the refugio.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

EcoCamp Patagonia

Torres del Paine

Loved everything about this eco-resort! The accommodations were very nice and the food superb. I loved they offered a welcome drink every night and wine was included with dinner.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Fundador

Santiago, Región Metropolitana

The hotel was dark and dank. After flying over night, I was not able to check in early and so had to find a couch to nap. I checked about getting a to-go breakfast on the morning of my departure and was told that had been arranged but when i checked out they acted like they didn't know anything about that. The room was sparse and dated with a lot of rust in the bath. The neighborhood where the hotel was located was in the financial district with older buildings and apartments but no convenient cafes or inviting restaurants.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Maipo Valley - Concha y Toro & Santa Rita Wineries

Santiago

I think visiting the wineries could be fun to do with a group but by myself it wasn't that enjoyable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Eberhard Fjord Kayaking Tour

Puerto Natales

The kayaking trip was nice but nothing spectacular.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

EcoCamp W Trek 7D/6N - Day 7- Enjoy the lanscapes and let's return to Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas 💕⛰️

Torres del Paine

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

EcoCamp W Trek 7D/6N - Day 6 - Eastern Lakes 💕⛰️

Torres del Paine

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

EcoCamp W Trek 7D/6N - Day 5 - The Big Challenge: Torres del Paine 💕⛰️

Torres del Paine

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

EcoCamp W Trek 7D/6N - Day 4 - Grey Glacier Trek & Boat Ride 💕⛰️

Torres del Paine

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

EcoCamp W Trek 7D/6N - Day 3 - The Paine Massif's Heart: French Valley 💕⛰️

Torres del Paine

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eco Camp W Trek 7D/6N - Day 2 - Los Cuernos Trek 💕⛰️

Torres del Paine

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Eco Camp W Trek 7D/6N - Day 1 - Welcome to Torres del Paine 💕⛰️

Torres del Paine

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santiago Markets City Bike Tour

Santiago

The bike tour was very enjoyable and informative.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The driver was late picking me up and returning me after the bike tour. He had a womas hiding in the back of the van which made me feel very uncomfortable and was very unprofessional

We had a wonderful trip to Chile. Our agent, Marcela, crafted an exceptional itinerary—she listened carefully to our wishes and adapted plans seamlessly when changes arose.
The Atacama Desert was breathtaking, and our guides, Rodrigo and JP, were incredibly knowledgeable about the region’s geology, history, and Andean wildlife. Rapa Nui was unforgettable; learning about the Moai and the Birdman competition brought the island’s rich history to life. In the Colchagua Valley, we enjoyed sampling outstanding wines amid stunning scenery, which was the perfect way to round out the journey.

While we spent weeks building this trip as the days passed we realized that the information on the tours was incomplete and the age of the men in our group was not considered fully. My husband is 72 and Gabi is 72 as well. We had to send numerous messages to figure out the details of the itineraries, the length, challenges, etc. One tour was dangerous to our health. The Puerto Varras tour gave no details on the challenge, 23km length, amount of water needed, clothing, huge flies, etc. we had to turn around after just 3 km.
Several tours had guides who struggled with English or did not bother to speak it at all.
In short, KimKim needs to refund us the money for the full day Puerto Varas tour. In general, KimKim should assign a travel specialist who is educated about the destinations and give full details about the tours.
While South America is beautiful and we appreciate the people and the landscape, we expect KimKim to do the write thing about its customers and offer best communication.

Hotel Reviews

Rochester Bariloche

San Carlos de Bariloche

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cabaña Del Lago Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

No AC

NOI Indigo Patagonia

Puerto Natales

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Diego de Almagro Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

No AC

Hotel Pueblo de Tierra

San Pedro de Atacama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Plaza El Bosque Ebro

Santiago

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit to Perez Rosales National Park – Trekking through Desolation Pass

Puerto Varas

We were not given any details about the length, clothing, food and water demands. Guides were nice but the communication with kimkim I existent. We need to be refunded as we could not do this tour safely.

Quality of Experience

Food

Give full details about the tour before the tour.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Victoria Island & Arrayanes Forest - Navigation

Argentina

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Trip- Red Rocks, Lagunas Altiplánicas & Atacama Salt Flats

San Pedro de Atacama

Guide struggled with English

Quality of Experience

Better guides

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Astronomical Tour - Atacama Desert

San Pedro de Atacama

Did not happen

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We recently returned from a three-week trip in Patagonia, mostly in Chile. Planning the trip and working with this touring agency was challenging; we spent many hours researching the itinerary, the tours and hotels recommended, even double-checking their final vouchers. This was all due to having picked up discrepancies on the initial draft of the itinerary and along the way. At times we wondered why we're paying them the fee?!
Our tour operator was not proficient in English, nor familiar with the places we planned to visit, which made it difficult to communicate in real time, frustrating once we arrived at our destination(s), or complete the tours they recommended. Most of the tours (5 out of 8) were not detailed and they missed the mark on punctuality, safety, quality and not being matched to what we had requested. One tour in particular, ~23 Km hike to- and around a volcano was inappropriately designed for our group, critical information was not provided until our pickup, and we had to terminate it early.
All airport and hotel transfers were adequate and on time.
Visiting Chilean Patagonia was an experience we will not forget; interesting history, diverse culture while the scenery is amazing, spectacular and mesmerizing. Being there made us forget about the logistics so poorly managed by this agency,

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Cabaña Del Lago Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas

stars awarded ONLY for the location; rooms are quite small and bathroom even smaller. we arrived on an unusually warm day (over 32C/90F) and they could offer a standing rotating fan, as there is no AC. great location walking distance to town and beach

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

hotel was clean however, small rooms, bathrooms and no AC

Hotel Plaza El Bosque Ebro

Santiago

great location, nice rooms/suites; appreciate the espresso coffee machine in the room. rooftop restaurant for breakfast with mountain views is amazing. exquisite walking area in town.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Diego de Almagro Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas

Great location if you have a view of the straits and the beach

Authenticity & Character

Location

if you have a view of the straits and the beach

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

rooms are bit small

NOI Indigo Patagonia

Puerto Natales

Great location and decent restaurant fare.

Authenticity & Character

Location

just make sure you get a fjord view; else you will be looking at a wall or someone's back yard

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Rochester Bariloche

San Carlos de Bariloche

the lake view albeit across the dusty main road, is very nice if you have a terrace. this hotel does not have a restaurant on site; you have to walk to a nearby hotel on the side of the main road in the dust as there are no paved walkways.

Authenticity & Character

add a restaurant to the property

Location

this hotel is 7Km (~4.4mi) from downtown

Staff

the staff was accommodating and helpful at times

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Victoria Island & Arrayanes Forest - Navigation

Argentina

stars awarded ONLY for the scenery. this tour was improperly planned for our group. the one-day tour includes 3-4 hrs on Victoria Island which is mostly waiting on the dock for the boat to take you back. there is another shorter tour, which we found out about after we arrived and which would have been better for us. we were unable to change it since it was planned by kimkim with a 3rd party. throughout the tour we were rushed due to many tours arriving at the same time, to the point of being uncomfortable. while the Arrayanes forest is interesting, we were not allowed any time there to fully enjoy it. likewise for Victoria Island; the signage is poor, to the point that you cannot hike on your own. our guide chose not to speak English (Jessica) so for us this tour was a major waste of time and money.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Short Circuit

Bariloche

a good way to visit, albeit lacking sightseeing downtown. the pickup from the hotel was 45 min late. view from the top was magnificent

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Andean Lakes Crossing (Todos Los Santos Lake-Villa Peulla-Lake Frías to Bariloche) One way to Bariloche

Chile

this tour is a MUST albeit long, with many transfers and guides some of whom do not speak English. it was adequately planned however, little to no information is provided at any time. this tour does not provide a guide for the entire trip. at one lake crossing after arriving in Argentina, the guide and driver left us at the dock to wait on a boat that arrived more than an hour later.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to Perez Rosales National Park – Trekking through Desolation Pass

Puerto Varas

this tour was improperly designed and planned for our group. no details were provided and critical information was only available when we got picked up. after an hour or more drive, we arrived at the trailhead only to be informed that the trek is ~23 km (14mi), with the first section on a steep incline of rough gravel, in the sun and at a time when insect (large horse-fly biting insects) activity was at its peak. after a grueling short ascent, we stopped at a log cabin where it was decided to terminate the tour and return to the hotel. there is no value add to be around the base of the mountain when you can view the spectacular site from town

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Estancia La Península Full Day

Puerto Natales

this tour was properly managed; nice experience at the ranch and the lamb was delicious. we were fortunate with great weather. we felt rushed; we would have liked to stay there longer

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Grey Glacier Round Trip Navigation

Chile

this tour was improperly managed by the touring company, and no details were provided. the pickup was scheduled too late, which forced the driver to go at unsafe high speed on the 2-hr trip to the ferry area. the driver did not speak English. once he dropped us off, there was a 40-minute hike through the woods and over an open stretch of beach where the winds were gusting at over 50 mi per hr (80Km per hr). everyone was huddled into whatever seat was open; very crowded. 2 stars only for viewing the glacier close up

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Magdalena Island - Penguin Encounter Half Day Tour

Chile

this tour was properly managed and adequate pickup; reserved upper deck on the ferry and tour operators guiding you throughout the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

This was such an amazing trip, it will take a while to fully review.
All the transportation was excellent with only two small exceptions. Our standout driver was Nico in Mendoza
All the hotels were perfect and all had great staff, facilities and location. Our standout hotel was Hotel Eco Boutique Bidasoa, with Blanca Patagonia Boutique Inn being a close second. Everywhere we were well welcomed. Casa Glebinias was absolutely lovely and Casa Sur Ricoleta well located.
Our guides were excellent and our standout was Andrea in Mendoza.
The wineries were wonderful and our favourites were Santa Rita, Bodega Benegas, but Luigi Bosca was the standout for sure.
Other tours were great with the standouts being touring the markets and cooking with Chef Tatan in Santiago. It was truly amazing! We also loved the Captain’s Table cruise to the glaciers in Patagonia - what an experience! The ranch in Buenos Aires was lovely and the Gala Tango show was very enjoyable.

Hotel Reviews

CasaSur Recoleta

Buenos Aires

Well located city hotel in Buenos Aires. Helpful, professional staff and very comfortable rooms with excellent amenities.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mirador del Lago Hotel

El Calafate

Boutique hotel located out of town with spectacular views of Lago Argentino. Extremely friendly and helpful staff. Excellent restaurant and very comfortable rooms

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lares De Chacras

Chacras de Coria

Beautiful boutique hotel. Extensive gardens and huge pool. Attentive, friendly staff, including the resident dog. Charming rooms with rustic touches. Very quiet and well located.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Eco Boutique Bidasoa

Santiago

Excellent hotel in great location. Helpful, friendly, professional staff. Wonderful restaurant and bar. Comfortable beds and good showers and facilities. Unique decor.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Todo Glaciares Capitan's Club

El Calafate

When we arrived we were a bit concerned as the lines were so long, but once we were directed to the special boarding area all that changed. After being escorted to the private cabin we were offered drinks and settled in. The whole day was fantastic from the service, commentary, food, wine and spectacular views. Lunch, in a private dining room, was delicious. I particularly enjoyed the guanaco stew which was hearty and very tasty. Highly recommend

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chilean Cooking Class

Santiago

This was a real standout day. Chef picked us up at the hotel and took us to the markets. He was a wonderful guide, providing so much information. Then we went to his beautiful apartment and were taught how to make ceviche. After that we enjoyed a delicious lunch on the balcony overlooking the city and the mountains. We enjoyed excellent wines and listened to great stories from our convivial host. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The whole trip was amazing. We particularly enjoyed some tailored experiences such as the kayaking and the condor watching in Patagonia.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel La Casa de Don Tomás

San Pedro de Atacama

NH Ciudad de Santiago

Santiago

Activity Reviews

Hike to Base Torres

Chile

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trekking Torres del Paine Active

Chile

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trekking and Condor Watching

Puerto Natales

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Kayaking in Eberhard Fjord

Puerto Natales

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Biking Tour of Puerto Natales

Puerto Natales

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike to the Summit of Toco Mount

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Puritama Canyon Trek

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour of Tatio Geysers

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Atacama Salt Flats & Lagoons

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stargazing Experience

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Valley of the Moon Tour

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Viña del Mar & Valparaíso

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Santiago City Tour - Private

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was incredible - the experiences Angel planned were amazing, including an authentic Asado BBQ meat tasting with the best steak I've ever had, a Tango Show, some incredible hikes with excellent local guides and stunning views, and a tour to interact up close with penguins. I learned so much about the areas we visited, and it was the perfect activity level for our group. We had regular communication with our local experts throughout the trip, which was very helpful. Thanks so much, Angel!!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Alma Sur

Punta Arenas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Carlos was wonderful, but otherwise many of the staff were not friendly or accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean but the walls were paper thin - you could hear EVERYTHING from other rooms, the lobby... I could even hear the treadmill from the fitness center from my room (on a different floor).

45 by Director

Santiago

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Mirador del Lago Hotel

El Calafate

Authenticity & Character

Location

beautiful view of Lake Argentina

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Lennox Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Natalino Hotel Patagonia

Puerto Natales

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Visit to Santa Rita Vineyard + Optional Lunch at Doña Paula Restaurant

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Magdalena Island - Penguin Encounter Half Day Tour

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hike to Mirador Base Torres del Paine - Full Day Tour

Chile

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Condor lookout Horse riding - Laguna Sofia & Cerro Benitez

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day El Chalten - Trekking Fitz Roy View Point

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit Perito Moreno Glacier - Full Day Tour

El Calafate

Dany was the best!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Native Experience- Lakes and Caverns

El Calafate

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Live Cooking & Meat Tasting Menu

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the most Famous Neighborhoods in Buenos Aires - City Tour

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

San Telmo Tango Show and Dinner.

Buenos Aires

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

There was a bit of a snafu with the driver, but Angel and the local experts were quick to remedy.

We had an incredible experience travelling to Argentina and Chile. The activities planned were perfect for our group - including dinner/show reservations, cave tours, hiking, penguin excursions, and more. Our guides for the hikes were fantastic. The travel arrangements were generally well communicated, and our drivers were friendly and pretty punctual. Overall, it was a wonderful trip!

Our trip to Chile was amazing and so much of that is thanks to the exceptional people who guided and supported us at each stop.

Camila, our main organizer, deserves special recognition. Her attention to detail, responsiveness, and genuine care shaped the entire experience. Every transfer, tour, and connection felt effortless because she was always one step ahead. You could feel how much pride she takes in showcasing her country, and it made all the difference. She was also very patient and worked hard to get the itinerary just right.

We were also fortunate to have wonderful local guides throughout the trip. Each one brought their own personality, expertise, and passion for Chile’s landscapes, culture, and history. Whether we were exploring cities, tasting incredible food and wine, or taking in the natural scenery, our guides made every moment richer and more meaningful. Shout out to Ignacio and Jennifer who showed us around Santiago and out to the coast, Marco who spent the day with us at the geysers and desert and has a great passion for the country and photography, and every other tour was great! We appreciated and genuinely enjoyed our time with each guide. There's no part of the trip we wouldn't recommend!

It's a lot to pack in 11 days, but Camila made it possible!

We had a great time on our Chile vacation organized by KimKim!
Amazing scenery around San Pedro de Atacama, in particular the high elevation drive to and visit of the Tatio Geysers with guide Diego, and the Valley of the Moon hike. We saw many vicunas and flamingos!
In the Lake District town of Puerto Varas our stay at Casa Molino was amazing, with an other worldly view of Vulcan Orsono across Lago Llanquihue, with the full moon rising. Our guide there Patricio was very knowledgable on our beautiful tours of Parque Nacional Vicente Perez Rosales and of Isla Grande de Chiloe.
The final destination in our travels to Patagonia's Parque Nacional Torres del Paine offered amazing natural scenery. Staying in/near the park at Hotel Lago Grey Hotel and Los Torres Patagonia was worth it, allowing us to experience the evenings and mornings in the park. The boat tour on Lago Gray to the glaciers was beautiful. And our ultimate experience, the all day hike to the the spectacular Torres Mirador was a life experience - very challenging and totally worth it. Our Patagonia driver Daniel and guide Leo were both excellent in informing us about the history, culture and environment of Patagonia and answering our many questions.
Overall our trip to Chile was well organized by Kimkim, with seamless transport between airports, hotels and tours which allowed us to concentrate on enjoying our holiday and the amazing scenery of Chlie.

Hotel Review

Hotel Casa Molino

We really enjoyed Casa Molino, one of nicer hotels at which we have stayed. The hotel is a grand house in the countryside and right on Lago Llanquihue, with a view across to Vulcan Orsono that is unreal. We had a 2nd floor very comfortable room with huge windows facing that amazing view. The grounds and the house are immaculately kept and beautifully designed, with peaceful indoor and outdoor areas to relax and take in the view. The property has a nice short garden walk down to the lakeshore to its small beach, very nice. While staying at Casa Molino we had all our dinners there, the food and service was some of the best we had during our travels in Chile.

Authenticity & Character

This seems to be a grand country house that was converted to a botique hotel. The design of the house and the interiors is nice, warm, serene and inviting to just relax and take in the view. The grounds area also beautiful and well kept and a beautiful backdrop to the lake and house.

Location

Right on the lake and the view of Vulcan Orsono is world class. The hotel is in a rural location away from Puerto Varas which I consider a plus - quiet, peaceful and relaxing. There are country roads around that look interesting for walks and biking, we did not have time to try this.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room was beautifully designed, great bed, very comfortable room.

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park

Puerto Varas

Boat ride on Lago Todos de los Santos and easy/moderate hike on the side of Vulcan Orsono made for a pleasant and relaxing day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Patricio was great. A fount of information about everything about the Lakes District. We enjoyed talking to him.

Transport

Valley of the Moon Tour

San Pedro de Atacama

We very much enjoyed hiking in the Valley of the Moon and experiencing this completely unique desert scenery. After the hike we drove further into the park to see the Tres Marias which we could have skipped, not as interesting in our opinion. Then to a nice viewpoint overlooking the Valley of the Moon and San Pedro for snacks and cocktails at sunset which was nice.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Klaus was a good guide - friendly, very knowledgeable about the desert landscape and geology.

Transport

Tour of Tatio Geysers

San Pedro de Atacama

This tour was great. Need get up very early to experience the geysers at sunrise but totally worth it. The drive up from San Pedro to the very high altitude plains with views of the much higher mountains is spectacular.

Quality of Experience

Food

Excellent breakfast outdoors enjoying the amazing scenery.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Diego was great - super friendly and fun, accommodating and knowledgable.

Transport

On time, clean, everything worked. Its on gravel roads across the high desert plains in a van which is all part of the fun.

Explore the Atacama Salt Flats & Lagoons

San Pedro de Atacama

Overall this day trip was OK but not as spectacular as our other Atacama tours IMO. The lagoons viewing and viewing and hiking at Piedras Rojas were nice enough.

Quality of Experience

Food

Food was good!

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Leo was pretty good. He was not as engaging and informative as guides on our other tours. Acted more as a driver than a guide.

Transport

Marcela was an absolute angel! This trip would not have happened without her. I picked places I wanted to see, things I wanted to do, set a budget and let her pick the rest. All the transportation was on time and professional. All the hotels were beautiful with wonderful service. This was the trip of a lifetime seeing things I’ve only ever dreamed about. If I could do it over, I would spend more time in puerto natales and Torres del Paine as well as spend time in el Chalten instead of el calafate! The communication that Marcela provided from start to finish was amazing. I had never booked with a travel company before and this experience won’t be able to be topped. My guides in Puerto Natales were one of my favorite parts of the trip. Both through Patagonia Planet. Jhon on the all day bus tour through Torres del Paine was phenomenal! Paz on the lago Sarmiento hike in the park was incredible. You could tell they love what they do and love to share the area with people who appreciate it!

Hotel Review

Hotel Sir Francis Drake

Puerto Ayora

This place felt like home. Everyone was so kind and helpful but especially Carolina. She was so helpful with recommendations and was a friendly face each time I arrived back from the days adventure.

Authenticity & Character

It felt clean and comfortable with a really unique feeling of being in a house instead of a hotel.

Location

This hotel is so easy to walk to so many places! A couple blocks from the ocean and a couple blocks to any restaurant you’d like!

Staff

Carolina was incredible!! I’ve never felt so comfortable asking questions of a staff member at a place I’m staying. Everyone else was friendly and professional!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nothing fancy but very clean and comfortable

Activity Reviews

El Chalten Full-day with Mirador de los Cóndores

El Calafate

I had a really terrible guide for this excursion. You could tell she didn’t want to be there. However, it is beautiful and well worth the visit. I wish I would’ve planned to spend a few nights in Chalten instead of just a day trip.

Hike from Sarmiento Lake to Amarga Lagoon

Chile

This was a great little hike and I had perfect weather! However my guide Paz, was truly what made this experience unforgettable. She was so passionate about the area and the things we were talking about. Being a guide from the United States it was really fun to compare stories and have someone who understands you from the other side of the world.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Perito Moreno Glacier Mini-trekking

El Calafate

This is a once in a life time experience and I am so grateful that I chose to do this tour!! It was really one of the coolest things I’ve ever done!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Tour of Torres del Paine National Park

Chile

I wasn’t expecting much from this tour but it was incredible! Being able to see so many parts of the park and so much wildlife was really exciting. Torres del Paine blew me away and I should have spent more time there!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jhon was the most phenomenal guide and trying cared that I was there alone. He made sure to check each time to make sure I made it back on the bus and offered to take photos of me at every stop. You could tell he loved the area and is excited to show it to people!

Transport

The communicated well on when transport would arrive and the vehicle was clean and Alvaro was a great driver!

I loved everything in my trip. I had a wonderful hotels, tours. Even when things did not go right ( because of the flight) everything was rearranged and I did not loose any experiences. I am definitely coming back with my family to explore Patagonia. Thank you