Profile photo for Paul Jones
1458 messages
active 1 day ago

Paul Jones

Originally from Bristol in the UK, I have lived and worked in Peru for 15 years. My wife is a Latina, my children mestizo and my dog German! Latin America is a destination full of exceptional and fulfilling travel experiences. Over the years I have been fortunate enough to travel to the far reaches of the continent, experiencing just about everything these magical lands have to offer. My favorite destinations are Machu Picchu, the Galapagos Islands, Iguazu Falls, Buenos Aires, and Patagonia. For me, travel is about gaining a new perception of the world around us. Each time you travel I believe the experience should broaden your mind, teach you something new, connect you with local people, places, and nature, be fun and safe, but moreover it should leave you yearning to travel more.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Latin America as a whole is my area of expertise. Whether you want to discover the endemic animals in the Galapagos, hike in Torres del Paine, or experience exploding geysers in San Pedro de Atacama, I can help. I also specialize in multi-destination trips that combine several countries. I love the outdoors, and have hiked, biked and rafted as much of Latin America as possible. Therefore, if you are like minded then I know I can advise you well on the best things to see and do. Of course, after living in Peru for so many years, there isn’t much I haven’t experienced, tasted, hiked, discovered, visited or lived through. Use my knowledge to help create an exiting and rewarding trip just for you."

How did you get involved in travel?

"On a wet and windy British day during summer, a childhood friend of mine sent me a picture via email. He was sat on a beach on Australia’s Gold Coast. I knew at that moment that I had to escape my daily routine and travel the world. After backpacking from New York to Peru, I soon realized that speaking Spanish was not my strong point. On arrival at the Inca Capital of Cusco I decided to sign up for Spanish classes. I never left. With my passion for travel, I soon found myself working at a local travel agency. A few years later after getting married, I decided it was time to set up my own company. Needless to say my Spanish is much better now, but I could probably brush up on my past tenths a little."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"As our skiff gently parted the vegetation ahead of us, the vast expanse of the oxbow lake became apparent. This remote natural wilderness was just breath-taking. The black mirror like water gently rippled away from the boat as blue and yellow macaws flew overhead. The tranquility of this surreal setting was a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of my typical daily life in Cusco City. It occurred to me that this was one of those special life moments – this was a connection with mother-nature that I had never experienced before. This moment was a highlight of my visit to Peru’s Amazon Jungle, if not one of my top travel experiences ever."

Paul is part of the following groups: Uruguay Travel Agents, Argentina Travel Agents, Chile Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice

Favorite experiences

Hike Torres del Paine National Park - The French Valley

This excursion involves a visit to one of many iconic areas of Torres del Paine National Park: The French Valley. Led by an expert guide the adventure begins at the Pudeto Ranger Station, which is located on the shore of Lake Pehoé, which sits beside Lago Grey and is fed by the Paine River. From...

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...

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...

Atacama Desert: Tatio Geysers & Machuca Village

The Atacama Desert abounds with geologic wonders, and discovering them is why travelers visit this region of northern Chile. You'll find one such gem, the Tatio Geysers, located about 1.5 hours from the town of San Pedro de Atacama. At an altitude of 4,320 meters (14,173 feet), these are the...

Gaucho Experience in Argentina

Just as North Americans have their cowboys, Argentines have their gauchos. This frontier culture is strongest in the Pampas (prairies) immediately surrounding the capital, as this is where the country was first settled. Gauchos are national symbols in Argentina, whether it's the real-life...

Full-Day Buenos Aires Walking Tour

To properly experience Buenos Aires, you must do so on foot. The city is a European-inspired metropolis with beautiful sights and hidden secrets nearly on every street corner. This excursion involves visiting the main points of interest in Buenos Aires aided by an English-speaking guide. The...

Recent trip reviews for Paul

good experience
Chile | Feb 4 - Feb 16, 2024

Ingrid
Ingrid W.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Feb 23, 2024

Jason (and later Paul) at Kimkim did a nice job planning our itinerary, accommodating specific scheduling needs, and answering questions. We appreciate them. The tours we did in San Pedro de Atacama area were pretty much on the "standard list" of tours, so it was not really unusual or personalized. Guide Nicolas was notably good.

Local specialist: Paul Jones

Lynch + 7 trip to Chile.
Chile | Jan 21 - Jan 26, 2024

Susan
Susan A.
Boulder, CO | Reviewed on Feb 02, 2024
Paul was excellent and the resulting itinerary was what the group wanted. However, when we arrived at some of the locations, the itinerary was not what we had planned with Paul. It would seem that local people did not get information from Paul or ignored information from Paul/Kim-Kim. Transfers were handled well except at Las Torres Hotel. Atacama: Thoroughly enjoyed the stay in Atacama. One of my favorite parts of the trip. Punta Arenas: Enjoyed the Magdalena Island tour from... Read more

Paul was excellent and the resulting itinerary was what the group wanted. However, when we arrived at some of the locations, the itinerary was not what we had planned with Paul. It would seem that local people did not get information from Paul or ignored information from Paul/Kim-Kim. Transfers were handled well except at Las Torres Hotel.

Atacama: Thoroughly enjoyed the stay in Atacama. One of my favorite parts of the trip.

Punta Arenas: Enjoyed the Magdalena Island tour from Punta Arenas. However, the hotel room was awful - small for two people in twin beds. Window did not open, AC did not work. Others on the trip had much better rooms. Also did not have good information on options for dining.

Patagonia: Long trip by van to Hotel Las Torres. This part of the trip did not go well. We had communicated with Paul about each of our desires for activities during our stay. But the excursions were not personalized according to each of our requests. The following were problems:
(1); Horseback riding for Martha was approved after many exchanges via email before we arrived. However, when we arrived she was told that she couldn't do horseback riding. Martha has been horseback riding for over 40 years, owns her own horse and rides every week. I had to get firm and somewhat aggressive with Chris and eventually Martha got her rides. But it was a bad start to the time we had there.
(2): Hikes and other excursions: Again, the group had worked together and each of us had our preferences for activities. However, I question the sensibility of assigning myself and Richard to two 13km hikes in one day for people who were 74 and 85 years old! While I can do a single 13 km hike - two in one day was not possible. That left me with a free afternoon and not much was offered in terms of activities.
(3): The transfer from Las Torres Hotel to Punta Arenas Hotel was initially supposed to be in late morning - providing us time for a leisurely breakfast and some exploration around the hotel (including an easy hike). However, at the last minute that morning we were told that we had to leave right away because another couple had to get to the airport. That left no time to enjoy the park that morning. In addition, the van was crammed full, a flat tire had to be repaired in route, and there was no plan for what we were going to do with the 6-7 hours we would have had at the airport. Fortunately we worked with the driver to get us transferred into town at a hotel that kept our luggage, provided an opportunity for a nice lunch, and found a van to take all of us back to the airport at the appropriate time. What frustrates me is that 7 hours could have been spent at Las Torres enjoying more of the area.
Overall I was disappointed with the arrangements in Patagonia.
Easter Island: Amazing! Great guide, interesting history, wonderful hikes. Great hotel. So glad we added this to the trip.
Santiago: Wine tasting tours were excellent and the Santa Rita tour of the garden was an unexpected treat! We arranged a separate tour of the city on our final day - great tour guide.

Local specialist: Paul Jones

The trip , accmodations amd guides were excel...
Chile | Nov 28 - Dec 9, 2023

C
Clark K.
| Reviewed on Dec 16, 2023

The trip , accmodations amd guides were excellent. Everything was well planned and service from Paul was first rate.

Local specialist: Paul Jones

Our two week trip to Chile was fantastic!
Chile | Nov 25 - Dec 9, 2023

D
Dana W.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Dec 16, 2023

Everyone who helped us with our two week trip to Chile went so smoothly. The hotels, guides and transfers were 5 star quality- kind, reliable, and excellent service.

Local specialist: Paul Jones

Paul was amazing!
Chile | Nov 25 - Dec 9, 2023

S
Sarah H.
Tampa, FL | Reviewed on Dec 10, 2023

Paul was amazing!

Local specialist: Paul Jones

Wonderful Chile October 2023
Chile | Oct 16 - Oct 31, 2023

L
Luisa B.
Canada | Reviewed on Nov 10, 2023
This was our first time contacting a third party to plan a long celebration trip. Traveling to Chile, was a dream come true, and Kim Kim, couldn't have planned better. First, they were extremely responsive and dedicated from the start, listening to all my requests and answering my questions in terms of schedule, sites and season to visit, all in a timely manner. Second , we were ready for our trip with enough time ahead, no concerns about bookings, internal flights, or schedule. Third,... Read more

This was our first time contacting a third party to plan a long celebration trip. Traveling to Chile, was a dream come true, and Kim Kim, couldn't have planned better. First, they were extremely responsive and dedicated from the start, listening to all my requests and answering my questions in terms of schedule, sites and season to visit, all in a timely manner. Second , we were ready for our trip with enough time ahead, no concerns about bookings, internal flights, or schedule. Third, once we got there, everything worked like a precision clock. The instructions were accurate, the transfers punctual, the hotels great, the guides and tours AMAZING!!!. This is definitely the best way to plan a once in a lifetime trip, or even a short one. Worth every penny. We had a taste of everything we wanted, it was an extremely busy trip with multiple internal flights and activities, yet we never felt overwhelmed or stressed. I also have to say that Paul went above and beyond when we forgot essential meds in our first hotel.
Thank you Paul and Kim Kim for a wonderful trip. You did a great job.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Cumbres San Pedro
San Pedro de Atacama

Beautiful hotel! All the amenities, wonderful spa, the gardens are so beautiful and the staff amazing.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Beautiful place to stay in san pedro de Atacama. It is a bit far from the city but they have a shuttle that runs all the time as you need.
Hotel Hare Nua
Hanga Roa

We felt welcomed and taken care of! The staff was wonderful. This hotel has all what you need in rapa Nui.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Hiking Excursion to Base of Torres del Paine
Hiking Excursion to Base of Torres del Paine
Puerto Natales

This was a long hike, challenging at times. The guides were so kind and patient. Helpful at all times. It made the experience feel safe and comforting. They were very responsible, attentive, kind. We had a wonderful time.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The most kind guides!
Transport
Local specialist: Paul Jones

It was great
Peru | Sep 15 - Sep 22, 2023

Rehema
Rehema B.
Oro Valley, AZ | Reviewed on Sep 24, 2023

It was great. I felt really supported by the team. Our guides Dennis and Roger were really knowledgeable and friendly. Paul checked in with us to make sure we were okay when our flight was delayed without being prompted. I've never used a travel service before but this was a pleasant experience.

Local specialist: Paul Jones

Excellent Trip to BA, Iguazu, and Calafate
Argentina | Apr 22 - Apr 29, 2023

M
Max H.
Norwood, OH | Reviewed on May 08, 2023
The Perito Moreno glacier was the highlight of the trip and the guide for that day so stellar. We enjoyed the trip immensely including and everything was planned and executed well by Paul and the local guides. We definitely felt like all the details were handled. Read more

The Perito Moreno glacier was the highlight of the trip and the guide for that day so stellar. We enjoyed the trip immensely including and everything was planned and executed well by Paul and the local guides. We definitely felt like all the details were handled.

Hotel Reviews
Palladio Hotel Buenos Aires—MGallery
Buenos Aires

The best hotel we stayed at by far. The rooms and service were excellent. Ask about joining the hotel rewards club as well to get early checkin which is so nice after a long haul flight

Authenticity & Character
Location
Walkable to key areas of interest.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Xelena Hotel & Suites
El Calafate, Santa Cruz

Rooms a little smaller and more dated than what you would find in Buenos Aires but still a great hotel. The Spa and Shuttle to town were great touches.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Mercure Iguazu Hotel Iru
Puerto Iguazú

Nice hotel with convenient chauffeur to town. Pool was excellent. Balcony with jungle view was a unique and fitting touch when there to see the falls.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Perito Moreno Glacier - Los Glaciares National Park
Perito Moreno Glacier - Los Glaciares National Park
El Calafate

The glacier was beautiful but what made it special was the incredibly knowledgeable and personable guide.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Safari Boat - Sailing Rico Branch
Safari Boat - Sailing Rico Branch
El Calafate
Quality of Experience
I
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Paul Jones

Our trip to Chile was amazing. Full of WOW m.
Chile | Oct 7 - Oct 28, 2022

H
Howard Z.
Wilmington Island, GA | Reviewed on Nov 13, 2022
Our trip to Chile was amazing. Full of WOW moments. Chile is a varied and beautiful country.
We started in Santiago, staying at the Cumbres Lastarria Hotel. Great location; terrific service from the staff. Highly recommend. Only drawback was that it was a holiday weekend (Columbus Day) and many restaurants and sights were closed on the Sunday and the Monday. Did a free walking tour with a very good guide - you tip what you would like at the end of the tour. Had a very good meal at...
Read more

Our trip to Chile was amazing. Full of WOW moments. Chile is a varied and beautiful country.
We started in Santiago, staying at the Cumbres Lastarria Hotel. Great location; terrific service from the staff. Highly recommend. Only drawback was that it was a holiday weekend (Columbus Day) and many restaurants and sights were closed on the Sunday and the Monday. Did a free walking tour with a very good guide - you tip what you would like at the end of the tour. Had a very good meal at Ambrosia.
We then took a drive to Valparaiso stopping at 3 vineyards along the way with tastings at the first 2 and lunch at the 3rd. I can recommend that. Valparaiso is visually very interesting - the way the houses are painted with art is great. Again took an informative free walking tour which was a little too long - 3 hours turned into 4. Again ran into trouble finding places to eat and a visit to Pablo Neruda house because of the holiday weekend.

Atacama was definitely a highlight of the trip. Spectacular! Stayed at the Cumbres Atacama which was a very nice hotel but the food was mediocre and repetitive night to night. First day went on excursions to Moon Valley and Cejar Lagoon. Moon Valley is spectacular and definitely feels like being on another planet. A lot of walking and some climbing. Cejar Lagoon is highly saline and you can swim/float there. Harriet did, I just waded in a little. Next day I had some difficulty because of the altitude so Harriet went without me to the Rainbow Valley which was also spectacular. In the afternoon we went to Chaxa Lagoon where there is a nice walk and wonderful experience with the flamingos who come back in the late afternoon to feed. We had wonderful guides for the two days, Sebastian and Rudolfo. We were supposed to go to the Geysers of el Tatio the next day which is located at 14,170 feet altitude. Because of my problem with breathing at altitude we opted out of that trip and went into San Pedro de Atacama.

From there a trip to Pucon whose primary attractions were being very close to the active Villarica Volcano and a trip to Conguillio National Park. We had a very helpful guide there, Daniella who went beyond the call of duty to help me deal with the local hospital and with an audiologist. The volcano was awesome to look at. Conguillio was a long drive but also beautiful scenery - lakes, waterfalls, a walk to a lagoon. The visit to the Termas Geometricas hot springs on our free day was also a nice experience, although again a long drive. Pucon itself was touristy. Food not very good. If you needed to shorten your trip, I would skip Pucon.

The next highlight was the trip to Rapa Nui. A never to forget experience. Our guide there, Martin Hey, was a major contributor to our enjoyment. He was very knowledgeable about the Rapa Nui history and customs, spoke excellent English (he had lived in the USA), and was just a pleasure to be with. We would recommend that you request him if you have an option. Note that it was necessary to have a Covid PCR test within 24 hours of going to Rapa Nui. This was well arranged by KimKim. No matter what you've read about the moai or the pictures you may have seen, seeing these huge sculptures in person is an amazing and perhaps spiritual experience. There was a fire the week before we went that damaged several of the moai at the quarry, Rana Raku, where most of them were created, but we saw no evidence of that when we visited that site. Perhaps our favorite site was Tangariki where there are 15 Moai representing important people from the different clans. We went back there on our own to commune with them on our own. We visited several other sites including Orongo, the site of the Bird Man culture and the beach at Anakena. Definitely worth spending 3 days on Rapa Nui.

Our last stop before returning to Santiago and home was in Patagonia, staying in Puerto Natales.
We spent a day in a group tour to the Torres del Paine National Park, stopping to see several lakes, flocks of guanacos, and a prehistoric cave. We stopped for a very nice lunch after which there was a scheduled walk, but because it was raining and we had met a couple on the tour we enjoyed being with, we stayed at the restaurant with them. We later took a nice walk to the cave. The next day we took the Glacier Navigation on a very comfortable catamaran boat to the Serrano glacier stopping to view waterfalls, condors, sea lions. To get to the glacier you had the choice of a 10 minute walk to view it from a distance or a one hour plus walk to get closer. In spite of the rain and the cold we opted for the long walk which was challenging but we were happy we did it. It was sad to hear that the glacier had receded 200 meters in the last decade. Afterwards we stopped for a good lunch of roast lamb and chicken. The hotel was basic but adequate. The food there was mediocre except for the steak which was good. We also ate in Puerto Natales.

We returned to Santiago for one night before flying home. We had a very good dinner that night at Bocanariz. Our last day before taking the flight home we spent with the cousins of a good friend in Savannah for a home-cooked lunch and the afternoon. Probably the best meal we had in Chile.

All in all, a trip to remember. The hotels were mostly quite good to excellent. The guides we had were excellent. We also met a number of people who were traveling in Chile from various countries that we became friendly with. I also want to compliment the service provided by Liane from CTS Turismo who answered all our questions and made some adjustments in the schedule in a timely manner. We would not go to Chile for a culinary experience as we found that outside of Santiago most of the restaurants we ate in were not very good.

Lastly, want to thank Paul for leading us through the many changes we made along the way dealing with the uncertainty of whether Rapa Nui would open up or not.

Howard Zabusky and Harriet Zabusky-Zand

Local specialist: Paul Jones