Laura McAfoos
I am originally from the USA, but have been living in Puerto Natales, Chile for the last 12 years. I have been helping people visit Torres del Paine since 2008 and love the park as though it is my home. During my time in Chile, I have traveled around getting to know other parts of the country and the southern part of the South American continent. Now that I have spent time exploring this part of the world, I am happy to plan an itinerary through the best parts of it for all of you!
What places and activities do you specialize in?
"We specialize in trips in and around Torres del Paine National Park as well as throughout most all of Patagonia!
I can arrange any of the standard hikes in Patagonia to more exclusive and off-trail routes in some of the most wild and remote parts of Patagonia. Apart from hiking I am happy to fill your days with kayaking, horse riding, mountain biking, etc. We love to design complex multi-activity itineraries in all parts of Patagonia in both Chile and Argentina.
Adventure, adventure, adventure!"
How did you get involved in travel?
"I fell in love with traveling before finishing high school... My first trip out of the country was to France during my Junior year in high school. After that I began planning more trips out of the country, during university I did an exchange program to spend some time in the UK and finally after finishing university I left for South America. I love getting to know new places and cultures."
Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.
"Tubing down a cold river in Columbia with knee pads and a helmet hoping I would making it to the bottom alright!!"
Featured trips & expertise
Wonders of Chile: Patagonia, Lake District & Santiago - 14 Days
Take in rugged mountains, pristine fjords, and lush wine country on this diverse 14-day journey through Chile's greatest highlights. Start in the country's far south, where you'll hike through the wilds of Torres del Paine National Park, visit penguins on the Strait of Magellan, and horseback ride across a traditional Patagonian estancia. Head north to kayak and climb through the spectacular scenery of the Lake District, then wind down with a final three days in Santiago. After a trip filled with activity and adventure, enjoy a change of pace as you explore the vibrant capital and take relaxing day trips to the nearby wine country and colorful villages of the Pacific coast.
Torres del Paine National Park: Self-Guided "W" Trek - 7 Days
Conquer Chile's famous "W Circuit" trek on this 7-day self-guided excursion for experienced hikers and the adventurous at heart. Starting in the trekker's paradise of Puerto Natales, you'll set out into Torres del Paine National Park, following the w-shaped route through some of Chilean Patagonia's most spectacular scenery. Pass towering mountains, vast glaciers, and turquoise lakes as you hike the rugged and rewarding 35 miles (56 km) to the base of the magnificent Glacier Grey.
Patagonia Winter Adventure: Ushuaia & Tierra del Fuego - 6 Days
Experience winter at the end of the world on this 6-day guided Patagonian adventure. With the southernmost city of Ushuaia as your base, you'll set out to explore the otherworldly landscapes of the spectacular Tierra del Fuego. Trek to icy lakes, hike through ancient forests, and try your hand at skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling against the magnificent backdrop of the Andes Mountains.
2 Weeks in Patagonia - 4 Unique Itinerary Ideas
With two weeks in Patagonia, you could stick to one side—Argentine or Chilean—or visit both. On these four unique itineraries, you'll trek on glaciers, see penguins in the wild, dine on fresh seafood in the southernmost city in the world, camp under the stars, and hike in South America's finest national park.
Recent trip reviews for Laura
Nara arranged the trip, which was smooth and ...
Chile
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Dec 27 - Jan 13, 2023
Nara arranged the trip, which was smooth and timely. Our guide in Iguazu was Marco and he was so kind and patient with us and knew all the best views. Nori in Ushuaia took us to see the penquins and we also went to Laguna Esmerelda with her and she was also so kind and patient with us. They both knew english very well and explained everything to us. read more
Gina,
I am so glad to hear that everything went so well for you on your trip! We really enjoyed having you come to Patagonia also. Hopefully you ate some calafate berries and come back some day!
Thank you so much!
Laura
Bucket List trip to Patagonia for our Honeymoon
Patagonia
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Nov 1 - Nov 15, 2022
We had an absolutely amazing time. Chile and Argentina were lovely places to visit and all the hard work from KimKim and Dittmar did not go unnoticed. It was truly a once in a lifetime trip and we are glad we did it. There were a few hiccups and those were annoying but that kind of thing happens.
The structure of this tour was set-up to maximize the places we were able to visit and that was wonderful. For our part, we had hoped for more hiking and less time traveling between destinations.... read more
Jocelyn,
I am so glad to hear you had a fantastic time! Thank you for your kind words. I will take what you suggest in consideration for future young and active clients. However, I unfortunately cannot control strikes by Chilean government employees and sadly they resolved the strike just a few days after you left.
All the best!
Laura
I think Ndudi covered most of what I would li...
Chile
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Nov 14 - Nov 26, 2022
I think Ndudi covered most of what I would like to say about the trip however we had some issues at that last hotel.
There was a minor issue too but this was the main one. When checking out the clerk at the desk kept insisting that our room was not paid for and we needed to provide a credit card to pay for the room. He didn't have any idea of how the rooms where booked and who was responsible for payment. He said he needed to wait for somebody to Call and confirm that our room was paid... read more
Sam,
Thanks for the comment. I am glad you had a nice trip!
Unfortunately with the pause of the pandemic there was a lot of turnover and many employees are new to their respective companies in all areas of tourism in Chile and Argentina. We are very watchful that all client reservations are paid in the periods required by the operator, but we have noticed that the internal systems of some companies haven't become well oiled machines quite yet.
I expect these sorts of situations will... read more
We worked with Laura to customize a two week ...
Patagonia
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Mar 25 - Apr 7, 2022
We worked with Laura to customize a two week trip and it occurred flawlessly. Despite still some COVID restrictions, she helped plan many details we would not have been able to execute on our own with such ease.
Every pickup was on time, every detail perfectly managed. Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, El Chalten, El Calafate, Bariloche, Villa LA Angostura, St Martin De Los Andes and back to Buenos Aires with many treks, kayak trips and activities along the way.
Highly recommend letting the local... read more
Made it easy to do a bit more of an adventure...
Patagonia
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Mar 2 - Mar 12, 2020
Made it easy to do a bit more of an adventure than the normal vacation.
Patagonia Highlights
Patagonia
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Feb 9 - Feb 16, 2020
Overall we had an amazing trip to Patagonia. Laura and Julia were extremely responsive when we needed their assistance throughout the trip. We usually plan our trips and navigate countries on our own, so this was a new experience for us. Not having to think about anything...and just being picked up at the airport and hotels was great. Our experiences with the various guides and drivers and most hotels were all positive.
Such a beautiful part of the world!
The only reason I can’t give 5... read more
Patagonia Trip
Patagonia
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Dec 23 - Jan 5, 2020
We enjoyed all our time in Argentina and Chile. The itinerary was super detailed and we experienced no issues during the trip. The local guides and hotels were all great.
Chris, I am so happy to hear that you all had a great time!