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active 2 hours ago

Angel Gutierrez

Since I was a kid, all I've been thinking about is traveling the world, I finished University, worked for 1 year, saved money, and started my life as a Digital Nomad which allowed me to live and travel through 17 Different Countries. Now I Live between Chile My Home Country and Ecuador my wife's home country and I am Lucky to Work helping other travelers to come here and visit the region of the world I love the most, South America!

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"The Atacama Desert, Uyuni, Santiago, and surroundings, "Carretera Austral", Pucon, Valdivia, Patagonia, Buenos Aires, Iguazu, Lima, Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands
Private Tours, Shared Tours, Extreme Sports, Hiking, Diving, Biking, Astronomical Tours, and Navigation Activities."

How did you get involved in travel?

"All my most precious memories are old Family Trips, since I was a kid I have loved traveling. I know that going on a trip is one of the best things that can happen to a human being, that's why I started at a young age to organize trips for my family and friends. when I grew I decided to Study something related to travel, so I studied Tourism & Hospitality which opened many doors to start working in this fantastic industry where I have been part of a work team in Hotels, Travel Agencies, and also as a Tour Guide. It has been a beautiful ride!"

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"Back in 2019, I had a Trip planned To Canada and USA, it was a road trip from Toronto to Miami. Before flying to Canada I had a 3 -day layover in Peru to meet some friends and family. As the universe works in a mysterious way I lost my flight from Peru to Canada so I stayed in Peru, here I decided to visit Machu Pichu. A week after that I flew to Cusco where I met the Love of my life and had an incredible trip! One of the best of my life. For sure I won't forget this, traveling has given me so much in this life. "

Angel is part of the following groups: Chile Travel Agents, Patagonia Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice

Favorite experiences

Hike to the Base of the Paine Massif

One of the most popular hiking routes in all of Torres del Paine National Park is to the lookout at Base Torres, which sits at the foot of the iconic triple peaks of the Paine Massif. Although it can be completed in less than a day, this hike is strenuous and requires a good level of physical...

One day Inca Trail Machu Picchu

The most famous trek in Peru is the Inca Trail, a five-day hike from Cusco that culminates at the ruins of Machu Picchu. But for those with scheduling constraints, there's one-day, abridged version of this trail that allows folks to experience all the stunning scenery in a mere 24 hours. The tour...

Maipo Valley Wine Experience

The Valle de Maipo (Maipo Valley) is a rich wine-producing region in central Chile. The great thing about this hotbed of viniculture is that it lies just a few minutes from the capital of Santiago, so it's easily accessible on a day trip. This tour covers the history of wine and the almost...

El Calafate to Los Glaciares National Park - Perito Moreno Glacier Trek

Los Glaciares National Park, located in the Santa Cruz province of southern Argentina, covers nearly 1.5 million acres and is home to the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. It's a Unesco World Heritage Site that draws hundreds of thousands of international visitors each year. They come to view some...

Chiloé Island Tour

On the western edge of Chile's Lake District lies Chiloé, a relatively small island well known to Chileans but little visited by outsiders. It's a place steeped in myth and lore, defined by its rugged coastline and rolling green hills dotted with patches of rich Valdivian forest. To get there...

Iguazú Falls - Argentine Side

The famous Iguazú Falls, located at the tri-borders of Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil, are split into two parts: the Brazilian side and the Argentine side. The latter is a much larger section of the falls and comprises the protected area of Iguazú National Park. There are three circuit routes...

Recent trip reviews for Angel

Excellent time in Santiago
Chile | Nov 16 - Nov 23, 2023

T
Tim G.
Coralville, IA | Reviewed on Dec 02, 2023
Be patient with the organizer but at the same time, do not have stuff "fall into the cracks" It was a very good and diverse trip during my week there. My only regret was to have listened to his hotel recommendations (apparently they were close to the metro). Felt very safe and secure. The other tourists also made this trip very memorable. Would highly recommend Angel. Read more

Be patient with the organizer but at the same time, do not have stuff "fall into the cracks" It was a very good and diverse trip during my week there. My only regret was to have listened to his hotel recommendations (apparently they were close to the metro). Felt very safe and secure. The other tourists also made this trip very memorable. Would highly recommend Angel.

Activity Reviews
Santiago City Tour
Santiago City Tour
Santiago
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Santiago Food Tour
Santiago Food Tour
Santiago

Everything was tasty; the Vega market and Central Mercado, food can be cheap and it's best to eat at the outer areas of the market. Watch out for the floors as they can be slippery.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Private Bike Wine Tour - Maipo Valley
Private Bike Wine Tour - Maipo Valley
Chile

Haven't biked since 2009; great experience; did not realize that we biked for 13 km. Nice to learn about wineries and the famous Carmenere.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Concha & Toro Wine tasting Tour
Concha & Toro Wine tasting Tour
Chile

The wine tasting tour seemed too commercialized. Also, did the wine tasting as the second part of the tour instead of the last. It was nice to see the ghost in the cellar. It seemed the tour focused on the house and garden rather than the winery. If it weren't for the other tourists in the group, this would have been a 1 star.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The other tourists and the driver (Carlos)
Transport
Carlos.
Casablanca, Valparaiso and Viña del Mar- Shared Tour
Casablanca, Valparaiso and Viña del Mar- Shared Tour
Santiago

This was one of the best parts of the trip. I had a nice lunch that contained seafood and I was able to touch the Pacific Ocean. It has been the second time in my life that I was able to do this. The drinks were tasty.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Chris was an awesome tour guide.
Transport
Visit Viña Casas Del Bosque -Wine Tasting & Lunch
Visit Viña Casas Del Bosque -Wine Tasting & Lunch
Santiago

This was a good tour and very focused on the wines rather than the house or garden. Wines were pretty good. The lunch was really awesome and bought a wine that was not on the tasting tour but at lunch.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Wine Tasting at Viña Cousiño Macul & Visit the Bahai Temple
Wine Tasting at Viña Cousiño Macul & Visit the Bahai Temple
Santiago

I wish the weather was not hot; it was almost 30 degrees C and I felt really tired after doing the tasting and walking around the vineyard. A lot of historical value and it was nice to taste different wines during the tour instead of at the end. I bought two wines. Bahai was a good experience. A lot of tranquility there. I wish there was no smog that covered much of the city. I also went to Los Domingoes and got some souvenirs.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Undurraga Vineyard - Wine Tasting group tour
Visit Undurraga Vineyard - Wine Tasting group tour
Santiago

Bought a sauvignon blanc; just tasted it today in the US. Went well with a salad.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Angel Gutierrez
Angel
Angel Gutierrez
Local specialist in Santiago & Quito | Replied on Dec 02, 2023

Mi Amigo Tim!
It was Bacan to meet you!!

I had a great time with you in Santiago, I am glad you had a great experience Eating and Drinking wine All around the Central zone of Chile
I know we will meet again somewhere, Say hello to Iowa, your brother, and your dad.
Remember that between the 3 of you, you almost visited the whole country :D

Best Regards,
Angel.

Angel and his contacts were attentive and hel...
Chile | Nov 11 - Nov 18, 2023

Braden
Braden J.
Durango, CO | Reviewed on Nov 25, 2023

Angel and his contacts were attentive and helpful. We are experienced travelers, but the logistics around getting from the airport in Puerto Natales to our various hikes and trips to and from the Torres del Paine were a bit overwhelming when planning on short notice. Everything went off without a hitch. We were able to message the local team and have them deliver trekking poles to our hotel last minute, our rides were on time, and generally everything was accounted for. I would definitely use Kim Kim for a future trip.

Local specialist: Angel Gutierrez
Angel
Angel Gutierrez
Local specialist in Santiago & Quito | Replied on Nov 26, 2023

Hi Braden,
I'm glad everything went as planned and you are happy with our help :)
I am sure this experience will stay with you and Kelly for a long time
If you plan to visit Ecuador or Peru I would be happy to help you plan a new trip, it could be the Galapagos which is one of my favorites, or the Amazon which is another whole world!

Thanks for trusting us with this adventure!
Best,
Angel

Beautiful country and very kind people!
Chile | Oct 3 - Oct 13, 2023

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Paul C.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Oct 30, 2023
This was a wonderful trip for us. We just love it! The planning was great and reasonable! Thanks to Angel Gutierrez, who planned our trip and responded our inquiries/questions quickly no matter day or night, literally. Angel is just so helpful. I think that he not only did his job requirement but way beyond: such as on-spot translation via phone when we encountered many communication difficulties, solving cellphone SIM card problems, suggesting good restaurants when we were on our own,... Read more

This was a wonderful trip for us. We just love it! The planning was great and reasonable! Thanks to Angel Gutierrez, who planned our trip and responded our inquiries/questions quickly no matter day or night, literally. Angel is just so helpful. I think that he not only did his job requirement but way beyond: such as on-spot translation via phone when we encountered many communication difficulties, solving cellphone SIM card problems, suggesting good restaurants when we were on our own, etc.

The astronomical tour was amazing. Morita, the guide, and driver provided snacks and wine for us. I tasted the best red wine I ever had. The photographer was very nice, who took extra Milky Way pictures for us, and help me photographing Milky Way with my own camera. I was so happy that I took good Milky Way pictures for the first time.

Baltinache Hidden Lagoons tour and Valle De La Luna tour are unique, and the guides organized tours and timing very well. The sunset at Valle De La Luna is so beautiful. Sandboarding in the Atacama Desert was a lot of fun for beginners like us. We managed doing it and got exhausted.

Hike to Mirador Base Torres del Paine was definitely the highlight of this trip. It was once a life time physical challenge to us for 60-year-old people. We are so proud of ourselves that we did it by our own pace and back to parking lot before dark. It was 14 miles hike to high elevation. Here, I would suggest that similar age/physical condition tourists be considered grouped together for better safety.

Torres del Paine National Park Panoramic Tour, and Navigation Excursion/Serrano Glacier and Patagonia Lunch were very worth to have, especially after trekking to Mirador Base Torres del Paine, because they were much easier physically. I really liked the BBQ lamb for the lunch, the best lamb dish I had.

Hotel Review
Hotel Costaustralis
Puerto Natales

Staff are very kind and helpful. Very good breakfast. Convenient location. Very clean.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Angel Gutierrez
Angel
Angel Gutierrez
Local specialist in Santiago & Quito | Replied on Oct 30, 2023

Hi Paul
I'm so happy to hear all this!
It was a pleasure having you with us in Chile :)
We worked hard to have an amazing trip for you and Fan, Im glad we made it.
Thank you very much for being so kind and friendly all the time

I hope you will be back in South America soon!
Best Regards,
Angel.

Enchanting Chile with Desert and Patagonia
Chile | Oct 3 - Oct 13, 2023

F
Fan Z.
Overland, MO | Reviewed on Oct 16, 2023
This was one of our life time trips. Overall this trip was wonderful. Local specialist Angel put together a very good trip plan for us. He listened well to my wants and expectations as he designed the trip and made changes to the plan as I communicated with him during the planning process. During the trip, he was always there and ready to jump in to facilitate any last minute situation. We speak zero Spanish. Communications had created glitches through out the trip. As much as we tried... Read more

This was one of our life time trips. Overall this trip was wonderful. Local specialist Angel put together a very good trip plan for us. He listened well to my wants and expectations as he designed the trip and made changes to the plan as I communicated with him during the planning process. During the trip, he was always there and ready to jump in to facilitate any last minute situation. We speak zero Spanish. Communications had created glitches through out the trip. As much as we tried to use Google Translate, sometimes it was just hard to get our points across through an App. Angel would always come online through WhatsApp to talk to people on our behalf when we needed it.
In the middle of the our trip we had planned a free day in Santiago, and it was a Sunday. I wanted to visit the top of San Cristobal to get a view of the city and snow-capped mountains. Because it was a free day, we were supposed to handle the day on our own. Not until we got to the Pin No No entry of the park did we find out the top was closed that day for a certain event, and the cable cars were not running. We struggled to communicate with the park staff who was trying to tell us what was going on. So we called on Angel and he came to our rescue. In a few minutes of time he came up with a different way for us to access the hill from a different entry, which was open for walking. As it turned out, we were able to get very good views of the city skyline as well as the mountains in the background.
This trip would not have been as smooth and successful without Angle.

Hotel Reviews
NH Ciudad de Santiago
Santiago
Authenticity & Character
Location
Safe and close proximity to everything.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
This hotel serves very good breakfast. Rooms were clean and spacious.
Hotel Costaustralis
Puerto Natales
Authenticity & Character
Location
We enjoyed the views of the tranquil harbor
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Diego de Almagro San Pedro

We showered in lukewarm water during our stay.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Half Day Tour - Baltinache Hidden Lagoons
Half Day Tour - Baltinache Hidden Lagoons
Chile

This was an OK tour in and of itself, not as impressive as it was marketed. But the guide and the driver were very nice. For us, what made this trip good were the tourists who did it with us.

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Afternoon Visit to "Valle de La luna "
Afternoon Visit to "Valle de La luna "
Chile

The sunset was the best part of this tour. The lunch was very good. The guide could be a little friendlier.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Trip- Red Rocks, Lagunas Altiplanicas & Atacama Salt Flats.
Full Day Trip- Red Rocks, Lagunas Altiplanicas & Atacama Salt Flats.
San Pedro de Atacama

These lovely birds were worth it!

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Sandboard in the Atacama Desert
Sandboard in the Atacama Desert
Chile
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Astronomical Tour -  Atacama Desert
Astronomical Tour - Atacama Desert
San Pedro de Atacama

I really appreciated the way our guide always repeat her presentation for us in English. We were the only two members of the tour who didn't understand Spanish. So she had to rerun all her presentations for the two of us. The photographer was professional and nice. We loved the chilean red wine served at this tour. It was our best red wine experience in Chile. In my mind what can be improved of this trip was the location of the showing. It was too close to the town San Pedro and the town's light had some negative impact on the view of the Atacama starry night sky.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Hike to Mirador Base Torres del Paine - Full Day tour
Hike to Mirador Base Torres del Paine - Full Day tour
Chile

This was one of our lifetime trekking experience which will stay with us in our memories. It might be a bit too challenging for us (10 hours of almost nonstop trekking and a good part of it involved steep ascending). My husband and I are in our high fifties. We were the oldest of the five members of our team. From the start the younger part of our team had to frequently stop to let us catchup. At one point we almost decided to turn back. We had to let the younger members move on without us. We eventually finished the hike, albeit at a much slower pace than our younger team members. I think one thing that could make our experience better is if we were grouped with hikers that were closer to our age. It would definitely take some stress off of us trying to keep up, and it would improve the younger members' experience too. It would make the guide's job a bit easier too, as he tried to get the team to stay together. We only got to spend 10 minutes at the base of the towers to snap some quick picture, because our guide was so concerned that we couldn't get back to the bus by 6pm. But it was one heck of hike! We were glad we did it.

Quality of Experience
Food
The food was good but we didn't get to eat, because of the time crunch.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Danny is young and probably does this hike everyday. It was hard for him to sympathize with us. In trying to get us back to the bus by 6pm, he pushed us a bit too hard in my mind. I can understand his concerns of our safety. Nonetheless, I saw many people finished the hike behind us, which told me not all guides think it would be unsafe to get back to the bus a bit later.
Transport
Torres del Paine National Park - Panoramic Tour
Torres del Paine National Park - Panoramic Tour
Chile

Torres del Paine is amazing. We were vowed again and again. This was definitely the highlight of our trip.

Quality of Experience
Food
We got to eat our box lunch at one of the most beautiful places on planet earth, with jade blue lake and the amazing view of Torres del Paine right in front of us, sitting on a dead tree trunk by lakeshore. It felt like heaven came to earth.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Navigation Excursion - Serrano Glacier and Patagonic Lunch
Navigation Excursion - Serrano Glacier and Patagonic Lunch
Chile

Amazing scenery. The highlight of this tour was the lunch serving BBQ lamb and Chilean red wine.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Angel Gutierrez
Angel
Angel Gutierrez
Local specialist in Santiago & Quito | Replied on Oct 16, 2023

It was a pleasure to have you in Chile Fan!
Thanks for your kind words I'm happy to hear this was an unforgettable experience
I'm sure I will see you again back in South America! Keep traveling amigos!!

So helpful to have Angel's guidance!
Chile | Jun 22 - Jun 29, 2023

K
Kristen F.
Baltimore, MD | Reviewed on Jul 02, 2023
My two teenaged sons and I traveled to Chile - Santiago and Puerto Natales. I did not know where to begin in planning this kind of trip. I found Kimkim, and Angel was very helpful right from the start. His communication was impeccable. It was winter in Chile, and they were having a lot of rain. The weather caused some unforeseen and unavoidable disruptions to our trip itinerary, including a cancelled airline flight. Once again, Angel was answering my questions and rearranging our plans so... Read more

My two teenaged sons and I traveled to Chile - Santiago and Puerto Natales. I did not know where to begin in planning this kind of trip. I found Kimkim, and Angel was very helpful right from the start. His communication was impeccable. It was winter in Chile, and they were having a lot of rain. The weather caused some unforeseen and unavoidable disruptions to our trip itinerary, including a cancelled airline flight. Once again, Angel was answering my questions and rearranging our plans so that we could still make the best of the trip in spite of the glitches. He also made calls to the airline on my behalf to help us figure out what was going on and what we could do. Besides his unwavering communication, he also had the inside knowledge to schedule us with tour guides in Chile who were really top notch. These folks - Jose, Felipe, and Jose Luis - were just so amazing and knowledgeable about Chile and their specific regions. Angel turned out to be our guardian angel in Chile! We gained a great trip, a new appreciation and fondness for Chile, and great family memories! Mil gracias, Angel!

Local specialist: Angel Gutierrez
Angel
Angel Gutierrez
Local specialist in Santiago & Quito | Replied on Jul 03, 2023

Hi Kristen!
I'm so happy to read this!!
Thank you very much for all your words, me and my team appreciate this so much :)
I know you or your kids will be back soon in Southamerica since you told me your family Loved Chile! We will be waiting for you.

Gracias a ti Kristen, por muchos viajes más!

Best,
Angel

Great trip to Atacama and Uyuni
Chile | May 18 - May 28, 2023

Steve
Steve P.
San Fernando, CA | Reviewed on May 30, 2023
Overall, the trip was wonderful and amazing. The experience of a lifetime. Angel was great to deal with from start to finish. In planning the trip, listening to my wants and needs, and then providing tours accordingly. During the trio he was readily available and responsive whenever a question came up or problem occurred. The big thing for me which would have made the trip go more smoothly and be more enjoyable as a result is more communication ahead of time about what’s next. Whether... Read more

Overall, the trip was wonderful and amazing. The experience of a lifetime.

Angel was great to deal with from start to finish. In planning the trip, listening to my wants and needs, and then providing tours accordingly. During the trio he was readily available and responsive whenever a question came up or problem occurred.

The big thing for me which would have made the trip go more smoothly and be more enjoyable as a result is more communication ahead of time about what’s next. Whether that would be in the form of a much more detailed itinerary before departure, or at the very least, detailed information the evening before each tour. This should include vouchers for lodging and tours, tour operator names and contact information, pick up times and locations, what to bring, required park admission fees, etc. I felt like I was flying blind on several occasions throughout the trip. Maybe this is not unusual, but it hasn’t been that way for me on other international trips, including ones to Chile.

The other thing which could have really been a problem but fortunately wasn’t, was the lack of advance information provided to me about the border crossing from Chile into Bolivia for the Uyuni Salt Flats tour, where I was notified late of some requirements and not told about $160USD tourist visa (which I did don't have when I arrived at the border). As my travel agent, KimKim should have known necessary requirements for a client who is a US resident who is traveling between Chile and Bolivia. This problem could and should have been avoided.

There were other smaller missteps along the way, including problems with transportation to and from SCL to my hotel, some inaccurate tour descriptions (for example, the hike to Puribore Hot Springs - they’re not really hot springs and the water is not even hot), concern for safety as well as comfort on the ride back from Uyuni to San Pedro, miscommunication or lack of communication from individual tour operators about pick up times and/or what to bring. I have provided Angel with detailed explanations of all of the above.

In the end, despite the fact that this was without question the trip of a lifetime, and Angel was there whenever I needed him and responded right away, I am not sure if I would book another trip with KimKim as I definitely feel many of the problems I encountered along the way could have easily been avoided. If I were to book again with KimKim I would at least know going in what potential problems to be on the lookout for.

Hotel Reviews
Hostel Villamar
Uyuni

By US Hotel standards this would probably be considered a one-star hotel. It is a hostel, though, and was clean and comfortable with hot water and decent food. That's all we really needed.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Diego de Velazquez
Santiago

Hotel was fine. It was clean and centrally located in a good neighborhood.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Diego de Almagro San Pedro

One should not go to San Pedro expecting 5 star accommodations. This hotel was fine. It was clean and spacious and located only minutes from the center of town. It is a big property with a pool (though water was cold and I didn't see any one swim during my 6 day stay). Food in restaurant was good. Staff helpful and generally bi-lingual.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Colcha K hostel
Salar de Uyuni

This hostel was actually nicer and seemingly newer than Villamar. It was clean and comfortable with a nice dining room.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Astronomical Tour -  Atacama Desert
Astronomical Tour - Atacama Desert
San Pedro de Atacama

One of the highlights of the trip. Highly recommend.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guides were very knowledgeable and spoke good English for those who didn't understand Spanish. Only reason I didn't rate this a 5 is because the driver got lost en route to the desert while trying to locate guests who weren't where they were supposed to be. We wasted a lot of time (like about 30 minutes) driving around at night on narrow dirt roads in a bus.
Transport
Goodbye Atacama transfer to Rea National Park - Uyuni Tour Day 1
Goodbye Atacama transfer to Rea National Park - Uyuni Tour Day 1
Bolivia

The tour itself was great and the sites along the way to Uyuni amazing. The reason for my lower rating is because of border crossing issues which I detailed in my general review comments.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
David Cruz, our driver and guide, was fantastic. Especially at the Salt Flat. He knew exactly how to set up "perspective" pictures and brought a lot of toys along which made the experience extra special.
Transport
As noted in my general trip comments, transportation from Uyuni back to San Pedro was cramped and was the only time on the trip where I felt somewhat unsafe due to driving off road at night in the middle of nowhere with no cell service.
 Petrified City and Altiplanic Lagoons - Uyuni Tour Day 2
Petrified City and Altiplanic Lagoons - Uyuni Tour Day 2
Bolivia

Felt like we were building and building to the climax of reaching our final destination - the salt flat itself. Sights along the way were all good.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Uyuni Saltflat and Cactus Island - Uyuni Tour Day 3
Uyuni Saltflat and Cactus Island - Uyuni Tour Day 3
Bolivia

This was the reason for the whole trip. It was pretty great. We spent too much time in Cochoni Town at the end of the trip and would have liked to spend more time in Uyuni itself. Train Graveyard was fine, though nothing special.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Uyuni to San Pedro Atacama Day 4
Uyuni to San Pedro Atacama Day 4
Bolivia

This was really just about the return trip, sitting in the back of a Toyota Land Cruiser and a two hour border crossing. It would have been great to have more information ahead of time to know what to expect.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Very cramped, no AC in our vehicle.
Visit the Tatio Geysers - Morning tour
Visit the Tatio Geysers - Morning tour
Chile

This was one of the highlights of the trip. Our guide, Carolina, was terrific. Very knowledgeable, moved people along so we could get to the "best spot" just as the sun came up, spoke good English for those who did not know Spanish.

Quality of Experience
I've been to Yellowstone Geyers and this was better!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Carolina A+
Transport
Guatin Trek & Puripobre Hot Springs
Guatin Trek & Puripobre Hot Springs
Chile

This tour was a bit of a letdown. I've done a lot of hikes in the US and around the world, and as a hike it was fine, but nothing special. The description made it seem like a real great place - a "must do" type of activity. It was not. Also, the hot springs were not hot. They not really even hot springs, but rather pools in a river that is a combination of a thermal and a mountain river, which is why the water is only Luke-warm. For my needs on this day, a regular hike was fine. But I had expected it to be much more.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guide didn't really offer any insights into the region. He seemed to be there only to tell us where to go.
Transport
Half Day Tour - Baltinache Hidden Lagoons
Half Day Tour - Baltinache Hidden Lagoons
Chile

This was a nice tour at an off-the-beaten-path site. It is definitely not a "must do" but I'm glad I got to see it. The water was very cold, and it was a cool morning, so I (and many others on the trip) did not end up floating in the salt water.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Afternoon Visit to "Valle de La luna "
Afternoon Visit to "Valle de La luna "
Chile

Valle de La Luna was a highlight of the trip. It is a "must do" if you are visiting Atacama, but I found the tour (as did everyone I spoke to) to be a little bit of a tourist trap. You are on the bus most of the time. You stop, get off the bus, snap pictures and move on. While on the bus you are driving past amazing spots. I could have spent an hour at any one of them taking pictures and enjoying nature. The tour was described as 6 hours. It was 2 1/2 start to finish, including a snack break. I wish it had been longer. Felt like a little bit of a rip off. Tour guide Carolina, who was also my guide for the Geyser tour, was very knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full Day Trip- Red Rocks, Lagunas Altiplanicas & Atacama Salt Flats.
Full Day Trip- Red Rocks, Lagunas Altiplanicas & Atacama Salt Flats.
San Pedro de Atacama

This was a great day. I wish it had been sunny (we had overcast/cool weather) but the tour was good in spite of the weather. Only complaint is that I did not get any advance text or information from the tour provider about pick up time or what to bring. I (and others) had to purchase hat and gloves along the way, which I would have brought with me had I known we might encounter snow at the higher elevation.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Angel Gutierrez
Angel
Angel Gutierrez
Local specialist in Santiago & Quito | Replied on May 30, 2023

Thank you very much for all the details, Steve!
Our mission is to be better every day and this is so helpful to accomplish it :)
I am happy that this was "The experience of a lifetime"
My team and I are really grateful for all this!
Best Wishes,
Angel.

Our 14 day 5 overnight destination trip to Ch...
Chile | Feb 14 - Feb 27, 2023

Bill
Bill V.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Mar 03, 2023
Our 14 day 5 overnight destination trip to Chile, planned by Angel, was extraordinary. We experienced a very broad view of Chile and its citizens. We started with 2 days in Santiago & Valparaiso that are home to half the population with Juan. They are both attractive cities. But nature is the real distinction. We started with 3 nights in the extreme Atacama Desert in the north. This was fooled by 3 days in the spectacular Andes lake country around Puerto Vargas, a charming small city on the... Read more

Our 14 day 5 overnight destination trip to Chile, planned by Angel, was extraordinary. We experienced a very broad view of Chile and its citizens. We started with 2 days in Santiago & Valparaiso that are home to half the population with Juan. They are both attractive cities. But nature is the real distinction. We started with 3 nights in the extreme Atacama Desert in the north. This was fooled by 3 days in the spectacular Andes lake country around Puerto Vargas, a charming small city on the largest lake in Chile. We chose to drive around on our own. The highways were very adequate and in excellent condition.Puerto Nogales followed with two boat cruises through spectacular fjords to a working sheep “estancia” (the best fresh grilled lamb ever) with both a horseback ride & a hike and then to a glacier. The 3rd day was to the Torre des PainesNational Park. It was just rated as one of the six best np in the world outside the US. A scenic 21/2 hour drive brought us to Punta Arenas and its 9,000 penguin colony. All the guides were good. Even the taxi driver to PA, Jose, was informative. The 3 hour flight back to Santiago that ended our voyage was over the the heart of the rugged Andes.
We selected economy lodging. They were all clean and relatively small without big crowds. The owner were usually there.
We learned much about Chile. We actually prefer them to large impersonal hotels.
I would highly recommend Chile with Angel as a trip adviser.

Hotel Review
Hotel Alma Sur
Punta Arenas

Small place with comfortable rooms and good breakfast.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Convenience to city
Activity Reviews
Private Tour - Estancia Visit or Grey Lake Navigation.
Private Tour - Estancia Visit or Grey Lake Navigation.
Chile

Beautiful catamaran ride. Horseback ride and lamb bbq. Founded in 1892z

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The trip there & horseback ride
Transport
Torres del Paine National Park - Private Panoramic Tour
Torres del Paine National Park - Private Panoramic Tour
Chile

Unfortunately the peaks were in the fog-still scenic

Quality of Experience
The colored lakes
Food
Box lunch of mediocre qualuty
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Angel Gutierrez
Angel
Angel Gutierrez
Local specialist in Santiago & Quito | Replied on Mar 13, 2023

Thank you very much for your review Bill!
It was great helping you out planning this last-minute trip. Me and my team are very happy to read all this and I hope you will be back soon in South America! I hope everything is going great back in the US.
Best wishes,
Angel