Erin Wiley
Travel simply makes people happy and I want to be a part of that. If I am not traveling myself then I want to surround myself with people who are.
Originally from Michigan, I grew up camping and adventuring along the shores of Lake Michigan from a young age. My love affair with South America started in 2006 when I took my first international trip to Peru. Since, I have been back and forth between my home in Michigan and South America, having spent considerable time both working and traveling across the continent. I am currently based in Puerto Natales, Chile where I am lucky enough to have Torres del Paine National Park as my backyard.
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"We specialize in trips in and around Torres del Paine National Park as well as Los Glaciares National park in Argentina.
I can help you organize anything from the standard ´W´ Hike to more exclusive and off-trail hikes in some of the parks hidden valleys. Would you fancy a 3-day camping and kayaking expedition? I can do that too!
Adventure, adventure, adventure! "
How did you get involved in travel?
"Around 2008 I began traveling to Peru each summer, organizing trips for a University of Michigan based sustainable development project. This initiative brought me back each summer and from there I discovered the world of backpacking (which blew my mind). After numerous trips and years spent in South America it became clear that I wanted to root myself here, and what better place than Patagonia. With over 10 years experience in the hospitality industry and a grand passion for travel and the outdoors I decided that a career in the adventure travel industry was the way to go, and here I am!"
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"I spent 4 days in a hammock on a boat floating (very slowly...) down the Amazon River."
Featured trips & expertise
Best of Southern Patagonia - 10 Days
With 10 days you can explore and enjoy some of the most incredible sites and national parks in the Southern Cone, that great expanse of Patagonia that covers both Argentina and Chile. This adventure is tailor-made for outdoor enthusiasts, as it involves visits to glaciers, mountain trekking, and hiking some of the most famous peaks in the region, such as Mt. Fitz Roy. Not only that, but you'll also get some relaxation in, and you can take this time to discover some of the more famous mountain towns in Patagonia.
Best of Chile - 15 Days
This tour takes full advantage of all that Chile has to offer. Begin in the urban center of Santiago de Chile, with its stunning backdrop of mountains and beautiful architecture. From there, explore the hinterlands of San Pedro de Atacama, spend a few days chilling out to your own itinerary on Chiloe Island, and trek through Torres del Paine National Park.
Explore the Atacama Desert - 4 Days
Explore the Atacama desert in the Antofagasta region of Chile, starting at San Pedro de Atacama, a laid-back oasis town on the edge of the driest desert on the earth. Revel in the stark beauty of the desert landscape and marvel at the dramatic scenery while enjoying the cozy hospitality and art in town.
Best Treks in Patagonia
The mountains, forests, glacial lakes and pampas of Patagonia offer tremendous long-distance trekking opportunities. Both Chile and Argentina are represented here, as the treks sometimes meander over the border of these two countries. In addition, a number of trails in Chile’s national parks are part of the Sendero de Chile, a network of trails that spans the length of the country. Below are the best treks in both Chilean and Argentinian Patagonia.
Adventure in Patagonia - 15 Days
Patagonia's vast unpopulated areas, impassable ice fields and history of exploration make it one of the most fascinating, legendary, and beautiful regions of Argentina. On this two-week long trip, you can discover all of the region's incredible landscapes at your own pace, making it an unforgettable experience for true pioneers.
Torres del Paine "W" Circuit Trek - 5 Days
Hike in some of the most stunning landscapes in the Western Hemisphere, located at the extreme of the South American continent. This itinerary will be sure to challenge even experienced hikers, and offers stunning views of sharply-defined peaks, azure lakes, and vast ice fields.
Recent trip reviews for Erin
Loved every part of it. Erin and team saved our holiday and made our trip to Patagonia unforgettable. THANK YOU!!!
Thank you, Matt!
You and Annelies were wonderful to work with and it makes me so happy that the trip was everything that you dreamed of! Come back anytime :)
Explore patagonia, Chile - Nov 21 - Nov 24, 2018
Amazing day with Juancho and Andres in Torre del Pine. Juancho is very knowledgeable and is happy to share his knowledge. Fantastic views and opportunities to take photographs of wild life. Totally recommended.
Another amazing day with Claudia, Christian and Pedro from Kayak Agua Fresca. Memorable moments watching the dolfins playing near our zodiac. Watching the sea lions and so many different birds. Claudia is an amazing guide who speaks very good English and Christian is a very experienced sailor. Totally recommended
Wow, Caroline these photos are incredible!!
It looks like you also had really great weather, how wonderful.
I will certainly pass along your positive feedback to our team and to your guides. I'm so glad that this worked out so well and thank you for giving me the opportunity to design such a unique itinerary. It was a pleasure to meet and chat with the both of you and cheers to adventure!
I worked with Emily and Erin in planning my solo hike through Patagonia. It was ane ady process and they were happy to answer all my questions. They even put my mind at ease when I voiced my concerns about my readiness to do this experience, having never hiked before and feeling a bit apprehensive about doing it self-guided. They were right though, it was amazing and I'm so glad I did it. Highly recommend Dittmar and the ladies for the care and professional service.
You killed it out there!
Thank you so much Loz for the kind review. I'm so happy that you enjoyed your time in the park and you are welcome back anytime.
Patagonia adventure tour, Argentina - Nov 2 - Nov 11, 2018
Erin and Emily from Dittmar adventures put together a superb and well-organised itinerary for us. Every day was memorable, from our trip to Estancia La Peninsula, to the W trek, to kayaking down the Serrano River and at the foot of a glacier. We will be sure to use KimKim again, and would particularly recommend the wonderful local specialists.
Steve & Heather,
It was such a pleasure to work with the two of you! Thank you for trusting us with your trip and for giving me the opportunity to craft such an exciting multi-sport adventure itinerary. We're thrilled that you had such a great experience and really appreciate your feedback. Best of luck in your future travels!
Mid-october torres del paine/puerto natales with small children, Chile - Oct 12 - Oct 18, 2018
I can't say enough about how effective and awesome Erin was -- and everyone I interacted with at the local guiding company Dittmar Adventures. Erin was very fastidious with her correspondence, always answering quickly and thoroughly, from our very first exchanges, when I was outlining what we wanted to do, and what our budget was. She tweaked the itinerary to suit our, quite unique, needs. Because our situation was pretty unusual -- in that I was traveling with a 3-year-old and a... read more
Wow, thank you so much for the kind review!
Julie, it was such a pleasure to work with you on planning this trip. I really enjoyed the challenge of tailoring a custom trip for you and your children. I'm so happy that you had a wonderful time and that the trip was everything that you had hoped for.
Your kind words really mean the world to myself and my team. We enjoyed working with you every step of the way. I only wish that I could have been there to meet you!
Wishing you all the best and thank you again :)