Kimkim Trip Reviews for Chile

Overall excellent trip

Nara did an excellent job and was always present and very responsive.

The staff at the hotel patagonia pristine was excellent

the guide Armand and driver. Juan in Patagonia were excellent too.

We started to plan our trip to Pagaonia in April, 2024. We had been to this area before, and I thought it was one of the most beautiful places we had ever been. Having used Kimkim to plan our 2023 trip to South America and other trips, I wanted to use their services again. Having Riwal as our advisor was a wonderful experience. His communication was stellar! He responded quickly and was sensitive to our needs and requests. When our son, Justin, decided to go with us muh later inthe process. we were able to add him to the tours, and Riwal was absolutely wonderful in helping with his hotels and transfers. When a tour was cancelled, Riwal immediately gave us other options and then processed a refund when we decided to spend the afternoon on our own.

We had a fantastic local coordinator named Jose Luis who was so instrumental in making things work. When our morning tour to Magdalena Island to see the penguins was cancelled and then commenced without prior notice(except for a 7am knock on our door when we were sound asleep), Jose arranged for us to join the afternoon tour and to take the 8:00 pm bus to Puerto Natales. It all worked out perfectly-actually better than the original plans.

Probably one of the most determining factor of our trip enjoyment was our private guide and driver, "Nacho". Late in the planning process, Riwal suggested having a private guide on our full day tour of Torres del Paine. This is what I wanted to begin with, so I was happy to do so. Nacho was so good, that we continued to forego the group tours and have us as our private guide and driver the next two days. He was knowledgeable, personable and flexible with our needs and requests. He and our son Justin forged a tight bond and lasting friendship. We absolutely loved our trip to Punta Arenas and to Puerto Natales. Thank you Kimkim, Riwal, Jose Luis and Nacho for making this happen.

Hotel Review

Best Western Patagonia / Hotel Borde Glaciar

Puerto Natales

Our room was beautiful with a stunning view. It is out of town a bit, so a taxi was needed each time we decided to go into Puerto Natales. The cost is only around 5000 pesos($5 USD)

Authenticity & Character

T

Location

The view is beautiful

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Torres del Paine National Park - Panoramic Tour

Chile

The most beautiful place on this earth! Get Nacho as your guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nacho is wonderful!

Transport

Magdalena Island - Penguin Encounter Half Day Tour

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tierra del Fuego - King Penguin

Punta Arenas

Absolutely worth your while to go see the King penguins.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My trip to Chile was a blast! Every tour guide I met was so friendly and helpful. They really made my day trips exciting and educational.
My coordinator, Jesse, in Santiago was very knowledgeable and patient. She listened well to my needs and questions; together we worked out this fantastic 14 day itinerary in Chile from north to south, from land to island, from desert to ocean,… I had a great time! Thank you, Jesse and Kimkim, for making my trip fun and productive!

I would like to thank the Kim Kim team and Responsible travel, especially Riwal, Angel, Eduardo and Jenny. We just spent 10 days in Santiago, Valparaiso, and Cascada de las Animas and had a wonderful experience. The wine experiences were fabulous especially Aconcagua Farms. Santiago is a modern and vibrant city and our City tours with Angel and Jenny were great. The empanada, ceviche and Churro cooking class that Jenny did for us was really well done. We felt as though we had been invited into their home. The street art tour that Angel did for us in Valparaiso was one of my favorite experiences. Angel's knowledge of the artists and the history was inspiring. We finished our week at Cascada de las Animas, in the Andean foothills, Horseback riding and ziplining. The place was beautiful the food was great and the people so warm and helpful. I highly recommend the Kim Kim team for anyone considering international travel.

Hotel Reviews

Cascada de las Animas

San Alfonso

What a fun stay, the staff and experiences were great. Some of the best food we had in Chile, Highly recommended

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Higueras Hotel

Valparaiso

Fabulous hotel, the staff and food were great. Highly recommended

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Quintero Coastal Experience + Visit to Aconcagua Farms

Chile

Swimming in the Pacific, visiting the local fish market and having the best Clams ever this was a great day, it was topped off with a visit to Aconcagua Farms, which has to be one of my favorite winery experiences ever and we live in California.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chilean Food Tour & Picnic with a View of Santiago

Santiago

I really love visiting local markets like this and Angel was an excellent guide and very knowledgable.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The entire team was really wonderful! I spent so much time communicating with Riwal before the trip. He was so accommodating and was great about adding Justin at the last minute and working out his details. I couldn’t ask for a better organizer.
While in Patagonia, Jose was our go to man. I appreciate his willingness to help when we had a cancellation of the Magdalena Island penguin tour. We loved the afternoon tour and the 8 pm bus ride to Puerto Natales worked perfectly.
Our guide, Nacho, was the perfect match. He was flexible with our itinerary and was so helpful with any issue we had. He was the best!

Activity Reviews

Blue Lagoon / Laguna Azul Hike to Laguna Cebolla

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

Torres del Paine National Park - Private Panoramic Tour

Chile

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Tierra del Fuego - King Penguin

Punta Arenas

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Very well coordinated and orchestrated by KimKim and our local specialist. Tours and guides, including Angel, were knowledgeable and otherwise ideal. Just a few things that did not meet expectations: (1) getting an accurate final itinerary (but we were keeping our own version concurrently), (2) waiting time at the airport once we arrived was rather long (particularly challenging after 24 hours in transit) and the KimKim greeter and then the driver, ultimately, spoke no English, which made communications challenging, and (3) the hotel in Santiago did not measure up in any way to its billing.

I just returned from an unforgettable trip to Argentina. Riwal put together an itinerary that included Buenos Aires, Mendoza and Bariloche. Together with Alejandra they picked must do tours and coordinated all accommodations and transfers to all locations. As a busy working mom who loves to travel but doesn’t have time to research the ins and outs, their service was pivotal to having an amazing experience. I was able to truly enjoy the trip as a traveler without the stress of coordinating everything else. I just had to show up and have a good time. I highly recommend them.

Riwal did an excellent job planning our Chilean wine & more excursion! He was extremely professional, in spite of us making several changes along the way. He was quick to suggest options during the planning process and continued to check in with us throughout the actual trip to ensure we were enjoying ourselves. We were able to visit wineries from several areas including Maipo Valley and Valperaiso. Each was a unique experience and we kept saying that each one was even better than the prior one! Although we asked to do winery tours every day, towards the end of trip we were a bit "wined out" and asked if he could cancel our last winery and find something else for us to do. In less than a day we were rescheduled for a Chilean cooking class which turned out to be one of our very favorite experiences on the trip. Our guides were fantastic and our driver was great. I would highly recommend kimkim for anyone planning a trip to Chile and would suggest you ask to work with Riwal -you will not be disappointed!

Hotel Reviews

Casa Higueras Hotel

Valparaiso

I cannot say enough good things about this hotel. The staff was amazing from Marco who met us when we arrived, to Dorinda who served us at breakfast (and even going ac way to get me coke light instead of coffee each morning) to Christobal who took care of us at dinner. The location was beautiful, the rooms were spacious and each one was unique, and the people couldn't have been nicer.

Authenticity & Character

Each detail of the hotel was unique and beautiful

Location

At the to of the hill with fantastic views of the city and the ocean.

Staff

Everyone was so friendly and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Casa Bueras Hotel (ex Lastarria)

Santiago

The hotel and the staff were wonderful. While Lastarria was interesting, we didn't feel as safe walking around there as we did in other places in the city

Authenticity & Character

The outside area terrace and pool area were excellent places to just hang out after a busy day.

Location

The surrounding area was a little less safe feeling than other places in the city.

Staff

Eric was great!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full Day Quintero Coastal Experience + Visit to Aconcagua Farms

Chile

We started the day at the beach and stopped at a local fish market for some samples of fresh ceviche, clams, and shellfish. The highlight, though was Aconcagua Farms - by far our favorite winery! It's a small winery that also produces sangrias which was an interesting change of pace. Their sustainable and regenerative farming practices were so interesting and the owners were so energetic and likable!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit to the Santa Ema Wineyard - with winetasting

Chile

Sophia led our tour. She was so engaging and you could tell that this family owned business feels like family to the entire staff. It was a great tour and the wines were excellent.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chilean Food Tour & Picnic with a View of Santiago

Santiago

We always start every new city with a good tour and this one didn't disappoint. In addition to the stops to try various dishes, we got some interesting history from Angel, and then bought food in the market that Jenny put together for a picnic lunch in the hills above the city -- it was perfect!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Colchagua Valley Wine Tour: Explore Montgras & Santa Cruz Vineyards

Santiago

We changed this to a coming class with Responsible Travel Chile and we're so glad we did. The best experience of our trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Jenny and Angel are the best!

Transport

Angel picked us up and took us directly there. We wanted to take the metro back, do he made sure to walk us there and that we knew exactly where to go

I gave Angel an almost impossible task, which was to see all the best places in Chile in 30 days. So, he delivered, and then some! To get it all in, we ended up at 32 days, and we covered so many amazing places in this amazing country!

We started our journey in Vina del Mar. This beautiful area is right on the Pacific Ocean, with numerous great choices on where to dine. It was a nice place to recharge after the long flight to Santiago. Our next day was right next door, with a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Valparaiso. Our guide was Grex, and he led us through this famous city, showing the architecture and street art across this unique colorful town. We tasted local foods, and met many of the famous street artists. Very cool!
Next we did some wine tasting in the Casablanca Valley, and had a cooking class in Santiago with Angel's awesome wife, Jennifer. The food "we" made was wonderful!

Our next leg of our trip was flying to Rapa Nui (Easter Island) for 5 nights. What an incredible place! You just have to see the island to appreciate how special it is. Our guide was Andres, a lifetime resident and island researcher. His knowledge and insight made the tours exciting. We stayed in the in town so we could walk to dinner, and meet the locals, and see the indescribable sunsets. We also scuba dived and saw the local dance show...something I did not expect to enjoy, but really did!

Atacama was next! What a contrast to Rapa Nui! We had another strong tour guide (Marco) who took us to Laguna Cejar (salt lagoon), where we had some amazing pictures of the valley, and floated in the salt waters! The next day we hiked a little known canyon with Andrej. The river was flowing strongly, with lots of small waterfalls. We had to scale the walls in a few spots. It was a blast, and we saw no one the entire hike! We finished one day with a horseback ride during sunset. Our last day we traveled to Puritama Hot Springs, high up in the mountains. It is a series of pools fed by warm spring waters. Really nice!

Next we flew to Balmaceda, got a rental car, and drove to Puerto Rio Tranquilo. This drive was one of our favorites, as the area is a series of gorgeous valleys, mountains, and rivers. It is lightly populated, and 2/3 of the roads are dirt. We stopped a lot. We saw the endangered huemul deer, and 3 condors. The town we stayed in was very small, but had a wonderful restaurant. The highlight here was kayaking to the Marble Caves. The water in these glacial lakes is so clear, and our guide, Victor, was outstanding...we did not even get wet! From here, we drove to Coyhaique, where we took a catamaran to some hot springs on the side of a fjord. Incredible!

We then flew to Puerto Montt, and drove to Huilo Huilo Reserve. Note that these roads were very easy to drive. The few hour drive was beautiful, and the scenery was great. In Huilo Huilo, we stayed in a very unique hotel (it was round, with trees in it and a stream running through it!), with a great restaurant. We hiked a lot here. The rivers were flowing strong, and the numerous waterfalls were amazing. A very relaxing area. We then drove to Puerto Varas next. It is a popular tourist town for both Chilean and international visitors. The lake is the 2nd largest in Chile. From our hotel we could see the amazing volcanos and snow capped mountains. Here we did a challenging and fun hike at the base of a volcano called Desolation Pass. And we ended this leg at the hot springs in Termas del Sol.

We then flew to Punta Arenas. For being so far south, we were surprised by the size of the town, as well as the beautiful architecture downtown. Here, we boarded a catamaran, and headed out to Magdalena Island, where we spent time with penguins! We then took a bus to Puerto Natales, about a 3 hour ride. Here, we had a boat ride to visit Serrano Glacier. Very nice! From here, we drove to Torres del Paine, the iconic view of Patagonia. The hotel was wonderful (Hotel Lago Grey). where we had endless views of the mountains, and sat right on the edge of the glacial lake.

We then flew back to Santiago, where we had a special dinner high up on a rotating restaurant (Giratorio). The next day we drove our rental to Colchagua, where we visited VIK. We had a wonderful 7 course lunch here, which lasted almost 3 hours, with plenty of wine tasting! The next day we visited Vina Santa Cruz, another beautiful winery in this area. Before heading back to Santiago, we visited the lush and beautiful Maipo Valley, where we hiked and rode horses.

Our last day we visited downtown Santiago. This took us to main plaza, as well as walking through the fruit and vegetable markets. We ate and enjoyed the afternoon, and had a final light snack and wine with Jennifer at a hillside with a great view of Santiago. A great way to end a great trip!

A couple of thoughts-
1) We used private tour guides in a number of places. We found them to be very good, and they could focus on us. With so many international visitors, many tours end up repeating things in at least 2, or more, languages. This obviously takes more time.
2) Car rentals were easy, and allows you to stop where you wanted. We found the road infrastructure to be very good.. While roads in some areas were not paved (including Torres Del Paine), they were still maintained.
3) With Angel as our specialist, he could set up just about anything we wanted...and he also set up things we did not know we wanted! He and his staff, especially Gabi, responded to questions and requests immediately. We were very happy with how they set up and guided us through our adventures!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Valle Exploradores

Puerto Río Tranquilo, Aysén

Hotel Valle Exploradores was fine for a single night stay while visiting the Marble Caves, though it wouldn't be suitable for a longer stay. The place felt more like an apartment complex than a hotel, lacking some standard amenities. However, the staff were nice, and considering the limited accommodation options in the area, it was acceptable.

Hotel Cabaña Del Lago Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas

Our stay at Hotel Cabaña Del Lago Puerto Varas was excellent. The hotel itself is very nice, with a good restaurant and welcoming atmosphere. The location by the lake with views of the volcanoes made it even better. It was a very enjoyable experience.

Hotel Lago Grey

Torres del Paine

Hotel Lago Grey was a standout during our trip to Patagonia. The location is simply breathtaking and the hotel offers wonderful amenities. The rooms were comfortable, the views were incredible, and the meals at the restaurant were delightful. It's definitely one of the best stays I've had in the region.

Activity Review

Waterfalls & Cactus Private Trek

Chile

The Waterfalls & Cactus Private Trek in Atacama was a fantastic experience. We had an amazing guide who took us off the beaten path, allowing us to avoid the crowds and enjoy a more personal adventure. The trek provided great scenery and was one of our favorite activities.

Absolutely loved our guide and driver in Santiago. They were both so friendly and informative and attentive to what we wanted to do. The Atacama desert was beautiful. Recommend staying close to town so can walk to restaurants. The Lake District was our favorite- so green and lovely and Puerto Varas is a lovely town to walk around. There were many days where we had to get up very early for flights or tours so be prepared for that. Having the What's Up group when we were there was terrific- we got reminders for our tours and could ask questions and get timely answers while on the trip. So we never felt we were "alone" in Chile.

Hotel Reviews

Solace Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas

Loved this hotel. Great breakfast, good location, nice size room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Pueblo de Tierra

San Pedro de Atacama

It was a bit of a far walk into town and did not have a restaurant for dinner - so it would take 20 minutes to walk to a nice restaurant. Room was spacious and nice outdoor sitting areas.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Castillo Rojo

Santiago

Such history in this building-- it was a pleasure to be in it and the neighborhood is terrific.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Puerto Montt & Puerto Varas City Tour

Chile

Not really a tour. We slowly drove around Puerto Varas and driver pointed out a few sites. He seemed surprised that some things, such as the church, were closed for a holiday. He did take us to a market. We walked along the wharf in Puerto Montt. But instead of telling us where to eat in Puerto Montt, he told us to eat at the airport, which was disappointing and not right. None of this seemed like a tour of the two towns, but more like a leisurely drive to the airport.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Saltos del Petrohue - Todos Los Santos Lake & Osorno Volcano

Chile

The National Park and all the waterfalls is just beautiful, a lovely little walk. On the mountain we chose to stay at the ski lodge and not take the lift up but it was still a great view.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chiloe Fauna: Ancud, Caulin & Penguins of Puñihuil

Chile

Chiloe was very interesting and the ferry across the beautiful lake was lovely. Unfortunately it was raining when we went to see the penquins and they were hiding.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Tatio Geysers - Morning tour

San Pedro de Atacama

Be prepared to wake up very early for this tour. Guide was terrific and so knowledgeable of the science behind the geysers. And she prepared a great lunch for us. Plenty of opportunity to see flamingos.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

San Pedro de Atacama

A very full day with an excellent guide. The two meals, set up as a picnic, were just wonderful. Very windy during the walk but worth it. Guide gave us ample photo times. The scenery was just amazing. I mentioned to the guide that I was looking for wild flowers and he kept pointing them out to me. Very, very nice.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Astronomical Tour - Atacama Desert

San Pedro de Atacama

I thought we would be using a higher grade of telescopes. We certainly saw planets, moon, etc., but it was not the incredible viewing I thought it would be.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Wine Tasting, Valparaiso and Viña del Mar- Private Tour

Santiago

The winery was lovely and appreciated the cheese and chocolates with the wine. Valparaiso was pretty in spots but not worth as much time as I thought it would. Loved walking on the beach in Vina del Mar. The lunch restaurant was a very nice spot and the food was good.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chilean Food Tour & Picnic with a View of Santiago

Santiago

Loved shopping in the market and having the picnic. The park isn't actually that nice but the view is fine. Our guide and driver were terrific in setting up the food and tables and we enjoyed eating and chatting with them.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Both of our guides were excellent -- Ignacio in Santiago and Tarengi in Hanga Roa. Both very knowledgeable. Jennifer was our driver on the tour in Santiago and she was great. Driver on Easter Island was also very good, but I don't remember his name.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Hare Nua

Hanga Roa

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Castillo Rojo

Santiago

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Good Bye Easter Island - Transfer to the Airport for your flight to Santiago.

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Tour Orongo Volcano

Easter Island

Unable to go due to landslide there.

Quality of Experience

Kari Kari Cultural Show and Dinner

Easter Island

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Rano Raraku Volcano & Anakena White Sand Beach

Easter Island

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Visit Ahu Akivi

Easter Island

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to the Airport for your Flight to Easter Island

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chilean Food Tour & Picnic with a View of Santiago

Santiago

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My husband and I looked at several tour agencies to help us plan a trip to the Lake District of Chile. KimKim came out of the gate with quick, helpful replies. Lorena was awesome as she helped tailor a 2 week visit with accommodations that met our needs and then some, as well as activities and tours . She was flexible as we went back and forth, as we did not a cookie cutter tour, but one that met our interests. One of the many experiences she recommended was an adventure cruise on the Skorpios 2… probably the highlight of our trip. If anyone gets the chance to take this cruise… do it. The service and sights were outstanding.
Lorena stayed in communication with us from start to finish… she deserves a big bonus!
We were also very happy with Vaale who was our local KimKim contact. The Whatsapp chat was very helpful and always answered quickly. There wasn’t one hiccup on this trip… all drivers, guides and accommodations were perfect. We will definitely be using KimKim again in the future. Thanks for making this a memorable trip.
Teri and Rob

Hotel Reviews

M/V Skorpios II Cruise

Santiago

If you get the chance… book this adventure cruise. The attentive service is outstanding. They sat us at a dining table of other English speaking people, as we were definitely the minority. But they made sure they provided English translations for any announcements or lectures. We soon became fast friends with the people at our dining table. The stops and sights along this cruise were memorable, with the visit to the San Raphael glacier being the highlight. Often we needed to take a smaller boat to visit the sights. The ship and its rooms were very comfortable and clean. The food was plentiful and delicious. A couple of our dining partners had food allergy issues that the staff were mindful of and provided good alternatives as needed. We loved that the cruise was small… we had only 70 people on board on our cruise in early November. We all dressed for an active trip. We didn’t want the typical large cruise experience and you won’t find it here, as it is geared to getting out and exploring the area along the route. We would highly recommend this cruise.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Wyndham Puerto Varas Pettra

Puerto Varas

This hotel is situated on a hill above the huge lake and if you get a room with a view… which I highly recommend…you can sit on a balcony looking at the 2 different volcanoes across the lake. It is a 5 minute walk to center of Puerto Varas… a cute town with many good restaurants nearby and shops. The rooms were spacious, clean and comfortable. The breakfasts were typical Chilean breakfasts and more than fueled you for a busy morning exploring the area and national parks. It was a perfect place to stay to explore the Lake District.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Eco Boutique Bidasoa

Santiago

Wow… a beautiful boutique hotel that was reasonably priced. The breakfasts were outstanding and included. The staff was attentive and friendly. The rooms and beds were comfortable and clean. The hotel is not close to the center of Santiago, but Uber is easy and quick to use and less expensive than in the US. There are plenty of good restaurants nearby if you don’t eat at the hotel’s restaurant. It is very safe to walk around the area of the hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Skorpios II - 6 days/5 nights Cruise

Chile

Please see my detailed review of our KimKim experience in the first review in the list of reviews, as I gave specific information about this outstanding adventure cruise.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Trekking in Alerce Andino National Park

Puerto Varas

A great all day experience hiking about 5 miles on mainly flat terrain through an old growth forest. There are several steps at end to the waterfall, but it was safe and well maintained. Our guide was very knowledgeable about the park and we enjoyed may conversations with him on a variety of subjects .

Quality of Experience

Food

This was no fault of our guide, it just wasn't the best meal, as we are not big sandwich eaters. Perhaps a list of potential food options could be given to tailor a box lunch to our tastes.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Fly fishing on the Río Maullín

Chile

My husband wanted to do this activity as he is an avid fly fisherman. He raved about how accommodating the guide was to meet his specific interests and needs. It was a fun experience that allowed him to catch several big lake trouts.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park

Puerto Varas

Beautiful national park with easy paved trails. It was a time of year the schools are winding down before their big break , so it was filled with alot of very happy teenagers . They were well behaved, but made it a bit crowded to stand at the over looks at times. The highlight was when our guide drove up to the big inactive volcano where we took a chairlift up to the bottom of the snow covered part of the volcano. You could hike around the area. We were lucky to have clear skies so we could take lots of pictures of the views. The lunch we stopped in as part of the tour was delicious and loved that it was a local spot.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

City Tour in Puerto Montt & Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas

After a quick flight from Santiago to Puerto Montt we were met by a great guide arranged by KimKim and its affiliate LS. He took us around Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas, pointing out the local history, interesting sights and giving us helpful suggestions for our stay.

Quality of Experience

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transport

Maipo Valley Wine Experience

Santiago

We enjoyed seeing both a small winery and one of the biggest ones in Chile. The tour guides were excellent and well informed. The lunch was very good. Our driver was very nice, always early and fun to be with.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Co-workers have traveled with KimKim and referred me to give them try. WOW! Francisco hit the spot with all hotels, tours and planning for our trip to Chile. We wanted to visit the country from North to South. Communication was absolutely amazing! 10 Stars! Matito's communication while we were in the Santiago, Valparaiso, Calama and San Pedro de Atacama was excellent. Jose Luis in Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales area was excellent as well. I never wondered if a driver would show up. Never worried that our accommodations were amazing and in great locations. I highly recommend KimKim for your travel planning. It was seamless travel with no worries and the recommended tours were all amazing. Chile is truly an unspoiled beauty and I wouldn't miss any of the regions as they are all so very unique. We will be back KimKim as soon as we select our next journey!

Hotel Reviews

Weskar Lodge

Puerto Natales

Our last location in Chile. Weskar was beautiful and just off the edge of town. Easily walked to town or 3000 Pesos for an Uber. Our view was incredible and we watched the sunset from our chairs in the room. We dined several times in the restaurant and breakfast was very good. The staff was helpful and considerate in filling water bottles and answering our many questions about the area with detailed maps and information.

Authenticity & Character

Called a lodge, but truly a luxury lodge!

Location

Very perfect location for viewing the fjord and snow capped mountains.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Boutique La Yegua Loca

Punta Arenas

What an absolute treasure! So creative with each room uniquely themed. We stayed in The Office! What a beautiful balcony overlooking the town and water. The staff was so friendly! They were wonderful. After a rough sea in the Strait of Magellan and a husband with seasickness, they provided a lounge to get his balance back even though we were checked out. The dining experience was excellent! Highly recommend a dinner here.

Authenticity & Character

Best unique rooms individually themed. The Office was so fun!

Location

Beautiful views!

Staff

The staff went out of their way to accommodate us with a special situation.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very comfortable sleeping arrangements

Hotel La Casa de Don Tomás

San Pedro de Atacama

DonTomas was quite a spread of adobe cobbled rooms. We walked to the main central area many times and it was a very easy 10-15 minute stroll. The accommodations were comfortable and very clean. The staff was very good and helpful and the dining in the on-site restaurant was very good.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Castillo Rojo

Santiago

Hotel Castillo Rojo was beautifully historic. The old castle and in Bellavista area. We were able to walk to many areas and dining in the neighborhood was great! Our room was beautiful and well appointed, comfortable sleeping, with a chilled sparkling wine to begin our journey. The hotel is very secure and safe. The staff at the hotel was so very helpful and pleasant. Very helpful with our inquiries.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Loved walking right in the Bellavista district.

Staff

Castillo Rojo staff is the best! Thank you for recommendations for dining and assisting us with questions.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Magdalena Island - Penguin Encounter Half Day Tour

Chile

Visiting Magdalena Island for the penguin encounter was a great experience. Although the boat ride back was quite rough, the time spent on the island was magical. Witnessing the penguins during their mating season with their eggs was a special treat. It was well worth the effort.

Torres del Paine National Park - Panoramic Tour

Chile

The Torres del Paine tour was overall very enjoyable, although I felt the guide could have communicated more effectively in English. The balance of Spanish to English explanation was a bit off, with lengthy narratives in Spanish and much shorter explanations in English. I felt like I was missing out on some of the experience. Still, I learned quite a bit and appreciated the scenic locations.

Estancia La Península Full Day

Puerto Natales

Absolute must. Such a special experience and so well orchestrated. Amazing open spit cooked lamb dinner and vino to enjoy after a 2 hour ride to views that are spectacular. Loved the staff and ranchers. The property is beautiful and the remoteness and peacefulness was a perfect last day for our journey to Chile.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had an incredible time visiting Chile and experiencing the country. Marcela did a wonderful job accommodating all the things we wanted to do with all the places we wanted to visit. It entailed a lot of moving parts and everything fell into place. Thank you Gaboo for coordinating all the domestic air tickets. The hotels we stayed in were very nice, comfortable and centrally located to restaurants and shops within walking distance. Our driver in Santiago, Eliseo Albornoz, was outstanding. We so much enjoyed talking to him each time he picked us up from the airport and during our time in Santiago. We enjoyed all the activities and the sights at the Atacama desert, Santiago, Patagonia and Rapa Nui! But I leave most impressed with the young men and women who were our guides in San Pedro de Atacama and Patagonia. They guided us in areas of extreme weather conditions, while educating us in all that pertains to the native wildlife, plants, vegetation, and even geology of the region. They maintained a positive attitude and high energy throughout. It was truly a pleasure to learn about Chile through them.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Kimal

San Pedro de Atacama

This hotel is centrally located to everything in town. The room small but quaint although a bit dark. The bed was not very comfortable. The room had a nice private sitting area outside your door.

Authenticity & Character

Adobe like room with a private sitting area outside your room which was very nice.

Location

Close to everything in town.

Staff

Staff prepared to-go breakfast bags for us several times when leaving early at dawn for the different activities.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The bed was not very comfortable and the room was a bit dark.

Hotel Hare Nua

Hanga Roa

This is a boutique hotel that embraces you with many personalized experiences, from the lei once you land at the airport, the arrival special drink waiting for you at the reception room, to your breakfast table with your personalized name placard served and ready for you every morning. The location is great, walking distance to shops, restaurants and the cove.

Authenticity & Character

A very nice layback tropical boutique hotel

Location

Close to restaurants, shops and the cove.

Staff

The staff was super warm and welcoming.

Cleanliness & Comfort

The rooms were nice, comfortable and clean.

Hotel Lago Grey

Torres del Paine

This hotel is right in the middle of the glacier grey park . As soon as you walk into the reception area the view from the floor to ceiling window in the bar and restaurant takes your breath away with direct view of a neon blue iceberg floating in the distance and surrounded by nature. Our room was super spacious with a huge picture window facing the water and nature with complete privacy. You can sit and look out the window mesmerized for hours. What an amazing privilege it was to be able to stay in this hotel.

Authenticity & Character

Quiet elegance surrounded by nature, superb!

Location

This hotel is stunning, right in the middle of the glacier grey park with view of an iceberg and surrounded by nature.

Staff

The staff was very warm and professional.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Beautiful spacious room with a very comfortable bed and great big picture window facing nature.

Weskar Lodge

Puerto Natales

This hotel is situated right outside of town with an incredible view of the fjord. The rooms are quaint.

Authenticity & Character

The hotel holds a lodge feel throughout.

Location

The hotel sits just outside of town with a beautiful view of the fjord.

Staff

Everyone was very pleasant and approachable.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Room is on the small side but nice and clean.

Hotel Cabo De Hornos

Punta Arenas

Beautiful and elegant hotel, eco-friendly. It’s situated right in the middle of downtown, walking distance to many restaurants, shops and tourist attractions .

Authenticity & Character

The artwork in this hotel is beautiful

Location

Walking distance to everything you need -restaurants, shops, museums and tourist attractions.

Staff

Everyone was very courteous and accommodating.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Nice room with super comfy beds.

Hotel Eco Boutique Bidasoa

Santiago

This boutique hotel was our home base during our trip through Chile and we couldn’t be happier with it. It’s in a safe location with shops close by. The interior design of the hotel is very elegant and vibrant. The rooms are spacious with a very comfortable bed and convenient mini-fridge with nice decor. The restaurant has a delicious menu, great drinks and superb service.

Authenticity & Character

Beautiful boutique hotel with vibrant interior design.

Location

Great location walking distance to shops.

Staff

Service was superb.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Very clean, spacious room with comfortable bed.

Activity Reviews

Tour to Torres del Paine National Park with Overnight

Chile

The views of Torres del Paine were impressive . The area is beautiful and so well protected. Worth revisiting to continue exploring the sites. Our guide, John, was incredible. He was so warm and friendly it felt like we had been friends of many years.

Quality of Experience

Amazing sights

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Boat Trip to Glacier Grey

Chile

We visited 3 different areas of the glacier grey all equally beautiful. It was a fun catamaran trip and we took great pictures. We even enjoyed a drink with glacier ice.

Quality of Experience

We had an opportunity to see all 3 sites of the glacier grey.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The staff had a great sense of humor, they provided information on how this glacier was formed and offered to take take pictures .

Transport

We were picked up from the hotel to the trail to the beach site.

Morning Tour to Orongo

Easter Island

The Morning Tour to Orongo was a standout experience. The views of the crater with water were simply spectacular. Having a knowledgeable guide made the visit even more enriching, as they provided deep insights about the area. It was undoubtedly my favorite part of the visit to Easter Island.

Certified Diving in Easter Island

Easter Island

Certified Diving in Easter Island was a fantastic experience. Despite not having dived in years, the dive masters took great care of us and later let us dive independently once they were confident in our skills. The only drawback was not knowing to bring a thumb drive for the pictures, which added some inconvenience. Overall, though, the experience was wonderful.

Tour of Tatio Geysers

San Pedro de Atacama

The Tour of Tatio Geysers in Atacama was impressive beyond words. Despite the rugged conditions, our guides were constantly checking on us and ensuring our well-being. Their expertise and stamina under such conditions were commendable. It was an educational and awe-inspiring experience.

Kayaking in Eberhard Fjord

Puerto Natales

Kayaking in the Eberhard Fjord was truly a highlight of our trip. Our guide Paulo was incredible, helping us with equipment and making sure we were comfortable. The serene location with mountains and snow in the backdrop made the experience unforgettable. After kayaking, being welcomed with tea made the day perfect.

Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island

Chile

Visiting the Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island was an amazing experience. The penguins were adorable, and the setting was breathtaking. It was a unique opportunity to see these beautiful creatures in their natural habitat, and the tour was well-organized.

My wife and I with my sister and her husband decided to use Kimkim to plan our trip to Chile and Rapa Nui (Easter Island). This turned out to be a great decision! Kimkim was great and planning the trip we wanted locating the best places to stay and the ideal tour groups. Further, Riwal was accessible to answer planning questions, responded to our wants and coordinated the trip once we arrived. For instance, we were picked up by the tour group on Rapa Nui and told we would need to purchase our tickets into the parks (~$100/person). However, we understood that these were already paid as part of the package. My sister sent a email to Riwal and, within minutes, the tour guide came to us to say he was mistaken and the tickets had been covered. In a different area, we saw the other hotels on Rapa Nui and were so glad we had Kimkim to pick an amazing one right on the ocean. It would have been impossible for us to compare hotels from our home. I would travel with Kimkim again in a second and am, in fact, considering our next trip with them now.

I travelled to Chile and Argentina from 10/03/25-10/17/25. I asked Lorena my travel expert to provide me an action adventure vacation that included the W trek in Torre Del Paine park Patagonia.
Lorena hit a home run with my itenary.
All the hotels I stayed in were very modern in awesome neighborhoods where I could walk to restaurants and shopping. She also arranged a bike tour in Santiago that was great
I had a friendly driver to take me to and from the
airports.
She arranged a local travel expert Valentina who was my WhatsApp go to for all my questions and on the ground support throughout my travel adventure. She was always available which took all the worry out of my vacation plans
The Wtrek 4day 3 nite in Torre Del Paine national park was amazing! It was a very challenging hiking experience but the scenery is stunning. Lorena picked the perfect amount of days for me to spend in the park. She also arranged my stay in the above ground tent which was a cool experience and all my excellent vegetarian meals.
My travel on the ground included extremely comfortable buses and it was awesome to sit back and view the beautiful landscape as I travelled from Chile to Argentina.
The hotels in Argentina were also super comfortable and the local hiking in El Chalten was great.
Lorena and Valentina did an amazing job providing me with a well thought out action adventure itenary in Chile and Argentina within my budget.
This is exactly what I wanted.

Hotel Review

Hotel Cumbres Lastarria

Santiago

The Hotel Cumbres Lastarria in Santiago was absolutely amazing. Located in the vibrant Lastarria neighborhood, which is bustling with street vendors, cool restaurants, and a lot of young, vibrant people, it was an ideal place to stay. The hotel itself was super deluxe and beyond what I imagined from the photos. The staff was excellent, and stepping out of the front door placed me right into the heart of everything. It was really convenient and a top-notch experience.

Activity Review

W Trek: Refugio Torres To Los Cuernos

Torres del Paine

The W Trek in Torres del Paine was an unforgettable experience. The scenery was breathtaking, and despite the challenges of varying weather from wind, sun, to sleet, it was a life-altering adventure. Navigating trails and sleeping in tents, I encountered nature in its purest form. The solitude I experienced was really special, and the journey was well-signposted, making me feel safe even when I was alone for hours. It's hard to compare this experience to anything else.

90% of our interactions were with Pamela, not Francisco - so this review is more based on those interactions. Pam was great - very responsive, flexible, always polite and very honest. Highly recommend working with her. We are used to dealing with much more expensive trips like Backroads and Jacada, which are a bit smoother, but are nearly 50-60% more expensive - which makes kimkim a very good value. The guides, tours and drivers they selected were very good - Angel in Santiago and Valparaiso in particular, as well as Eduardo the driver, were excellent.

Hotel Reviews

ICON Hotel

Santiago

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Cabaña Del Lago Puerto Varas

Puerto Varas

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Lodge Terrantai

San Pedro de Atacama

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Goncalo was fantastic as was the hotel manager

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Wine Tasting, Valparaiso and Viña del Mar- Private Tour

Santiago

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Saltos del Petrohue, Todos Los Santos Lake and Osorno Volcano

Chile

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Vegetarian Chilean Food Tour & Picnic with a View of Santiago

Santiago

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

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

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We went to Easter Island and San Pietro de Altacama. Our tours were all amazing and the tripwas seamless. I think most of all I really like a lot of info and Riwal answered me real-time every time I asked a question!!! I would recommend Kimkim.

We were very pleased with the hotel selections on our trip, as we thoroughly enjoyed every property we stayed at.
We gave Tami the list of hotels that we want to stay when started the booking. However, we were disappointed with the transportation arrangements, which did not meet our expectations.

When booking, we specifically requested at least a sport utility vehicle and an English-speaking driver for all transfers. Unfortunately, the first long transfer from Llao Llao Hotel to AMA was a negative experience. We were surprised to receive a small car with a non-English-speaking driver for a journey of over seven hours, including a border crossing.

Later we learned that both AMA and Explora provide reliable transfers to and from the airport directly through the hotels, with no excessive waiting times. Once we discovered this, we canceled the transfers arranged by Cami. However, when we requested a refund, it was denied, which was very disappointing.

In addition, we had requested aisle seats when booking the tour. Instead, we ended up in seats A and B on our SKY flight, which was uncomfortable. Due to this poor arrangement, we decided to pay out of pocket to switch our flights, moving from PMC–SCL on SKY to PUQ–SCL on LATAM, at our own expense.

In summary, while we were happy with all of the hotel accommodations and their services, we were not satisfied with the transportation that was arranged. We hope that a U.S.-based operations manager can review this case, especially as the final cost of this trip exceeded expectations. This was the first time, after many private tours booked through other companies, that we have felt the need to raise a complaint.

Hotel Reviews

Explora Torres del Paine

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel AWA

Puerto Varas

excellent hotel with good services and good tour guide. Good view.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Santiago City Tour

Santiago

The Santiago City Tour was a highlight of our trip. Everything was well-organized and the tour allowed us to explore the city in a meaningful way. We enjoyed every moment during this tour and found it to be an excellent way to see the city.

All Inclusive Program with Explora Patagonia Lodge

Torres del Paine

The all-inclusive programs we participated in were absolutely fantastic. We had no problems and everything was well-organized. We felt very well cared for and it enriched our stay significantly. I would highly recommend all-inclusive options for anyone visiting this area.

Jesse was very responsive and provided a tour as requested but it didn't feel personalised. The tours arranged were more expensive than prices on getyourguide and the tours were the same. The hotel in Rapa Nui was not booked and the hotel owners were very rude, made me call Jesse myself using international roaming and sat over me until the room booking issue was sorted out. That hotel (Inaki Uhi) not recommended at all - close to town but opposite a late opening bar, room walls are paper thin and there was no hot water throughout my stay. The tours on Rapa Nui were large (20-30 people), expensive and the guides were average in terms of knowledge. I ended up cancelling them and rebooking on the island for local guides and had a great experience. The site is convenient, with nothing to book, but doesn't provide great service or anything over and above what you could book yourself. I have never used a site like this before and perhaps as an independent traveller I expected more local knowledge and added value for the price I paid.

Hotel Reviews

Inaki Uhi Hotel

Pascua Island

The booking was not on their system despite a confirmation and the hotel management were quite rude. Two men turned up to my room asking me to go to reception and made me make a call with international roaming to the agent to sort it out. Not ideal. No hot water during my stay. Central location but opposite a bar that had music quite late.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

room not cleaned on the first night of my stay

Hostal Quinta Adela

San Pedro de Atacama

Very friendly but as it was off-season there was work going on at the time of my stay. However, owners were lovely to their only guest.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Morning Tour to Orongo

Easter Island

The guide was fine, but dealing with the agency was tricky. had to find their whatsapp number to try and sort out a the pick up they missed. The company did send someone to take me to join the group but quite disorganised. I cancelled other trips and went with a local guide who was much cheaper and better.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tour of Tatio Geysers

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Food

no food provided

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Atacama Salt Flats & Lagoons

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Stargazing Experience

San Pedro de Atacama

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

large number of people meant pick up took ages