Profile photo for Riwal Le Derff
323 messages
active 9 hours ago

Riwal Le Derff

I'm from Britany (France). I started traveling on my own in 2007, and I visited more than thirty countries and had a lot of amazing experiences with people from everywhere. Iceland, Russia, New Zealand, Ecuador, Nepal, China... I love to share my knowledge of the world.
I'm now living between Santiago and Quito, where I established myself for 6 years.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

""Easter Island, Torres del Paine, Patagonia, The Atacama Desert & Uyuni, Santiago and the Wine Region, Puerto Varas, Pucon, Valdivia, "Carretera Austral", Buenos Aires, Iguazu, Ushuaïa, Lima, Machu Picchu and the Galapagos Islands, Paraguay,

Private Tours, Shared Tours, Food Tours, Extreme Sports, Hiking, Diving, Biking, Astronomical Tours, and Navigation Activities.""

How did you get involved in travel?

"After each travel, I just wished to project the next one, just an idea, an airplane ticket, and go for a new adventure. It's a way of life.
When I went for the first time to South America, in 2010, I fell in love with the lifestyle and felt so nice in my mind. I was sure I would come back.
Now I'm living there :)"

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"The hazard of life gave me the opportunity to live for 3 months with a Maori family during a 15-month trip to New Zealand. I learned a lot about myself and in exchange with other cultures. During this very big trip, I also made a lot of multiday hikes from 5 to 18 days in total autonomy in high mountains in very hard conditions. I have no fear of new experiences or of the unexpected, which is the most memorable during a trip."

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

Favorite experiences

Easter Island: Orongo & Ahu Akivi Tour

This excursion involves two half-day tours to Orongo and Ahu Akivi. The experience begins in the southwest corner of Rapa Nui and the remains of the village of Orongo. Located on the rim of an inactive volcano called Rano Kau, this area enjoys a special place in the island's history as it was the...

Excursion to Torres del Paine National Park

Embark on a day trip from Puerto Natales to the Torres del Paine National Park, known for its mountains, glaciers, and hiking trails. For this excursion, it's common to start by exploring Cueva del Milodón ("Milodon Cave"), home to a replica of a prehistoric sloth that once lived in the caves....

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...

Atacama Desert: Lagoons & Salt Flats

This full-day excursion includes visits to some of the most incredible natural wonders in the Atacama Desert. The first destination is Laguna Chaxa, a desert oasis lagoon located 50 km (31 miles) from the town of San Pedro de Atacama. Chaxa is situated in the middle of the Atacama Salar salt...

Isla Magdalena & Penguin Colony Boat Tour

Located on the Strait of Magellan, about 18 miles (30 km) northeast of the Patagonian city of Punta Arenas, is Isla Magdalena. On this island is Los Pingüinos Natural Monument, a protected area home to Chile's largest colony of penguins. A half-day boat excursion to Magdalena involves first...

Chiloé National Park Tour

The island of Chiloé is one of the more culturally unique and mythic regions of Chile. Located on the west coast at the doorstep to Patagonia, Chiloé is famous for its rolling green hills, colorful fishing villages, and rumors of witches that haunt the rugged coastline at night. It's also home to...

Recent trip reviews for Riwal

Chile/Easter Island
Chile | Apr 27 - May 3, 2025

L
Lisa G.
Phoenix, AZ | Reviewed on May 23, 2025

Angel and team fantastic!
Franchesca was great too.
Hotel Gormero - a bit dated but the beautiful lush grounds with warm and super helpful staff more than made up for it.
The only disappointment was not seeing any fish on our snorkeling excursion.

Local specialist: Riwal Le Derff
Riwal
Riwal Le Derff
Local specialist in Santiago & Quito | Replied on May 23, 2025

Hi Lisa,
Thank you so much for your review; all our team very much appreciates it.
Angel is our representative on the ground and our best guide :)
Sorry for the snorkeling, nature can be unpredictable.

Kind regards,
Riwal

Unforgettable Journey
Chile | Apr 27 - May 3, 2025

Alexis
Alexis W.
Gilroy, CA | Reviewed on May 13, 2025
I recently had the pleasure of embarking on a remarkable adventure to Santiago, Chile and Rapa Nui (Easter Island), traveling with my mom. Our local specialist, Riwal, was a pleasure to work with from start to finish. We received impeccable service while crafting our personalized itinerary and every detail was seen to through our travels. Our questions were answered thoroughly and promptly and Riwal ensured our every need was met while we were traveling. We could not have asked for a better... Read more

I recently had the pleasure of embarking on a remarkable adventure to Santiago, Chile and Rapa Nui (Easter Island), traveling with my mom. Our local specialist, Riwal, was a pleasure to work with from start to finish. We received impeccable service while crafting our personalized itinerary and every detail was seen to through our travels. Our questions were answered thoroughly and promptly and Riwal ensured our every need was met while we were traveling. We could not have asked for a better local specialist. We also loved our tour guide in Santiago, Angel, and his team, made our visit very special. Angel consistently went above and beyond to make our experience extra special. He was very flexible in crafting our tours to our needs and interests. He was extraordinarily helpful in answering our questions, giving us tips and advise and even going out of his way to stop at a local craft market when we asked if there was one close by. Our food tour, trip to the market and our picnic was simply unforgettable! Angel's expertise and efforts made our trip extremely memorable and I cannot recommend him more highly. Finally, in Rapi Nui we cannot say enough about the Celebrate with the Locals experience, which was a sunset dinner on the beach prepared by a local family. We truly felt like part of the family and the food was incredible! You cannot miss this experience! Overall, we had a delightful trip and are happy with the service we received from KimKim.

Hotel Reviews
ICON Hotel
Santiago

Nice hotel, very clean with nice amenities. The staff is helpful. I appreciated that you can pay to check in very early in the morning and also to stay very late, if needed. It is helpful with the timing of international flights. The food and atmosphere in the rooftop restaurant is good and the drinks are also great.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Unknown - we were picked up for all of our tours
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hotel Gomero
Hanga Roa

The hotel is a bit dated but the owners and staff more than make up for it. They truly go above and beyond in their helpfulness and kindess.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Half Day tour - The Seven Explorers
Half Day tour - The Seven Explorers
Easter Island

Interesting tour. Tour guide was knowledgeable and helpful in answering questions.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Chilean Food Tour & Picnic with a View of Santiago
Chilean Food Tour & Picnic with a View of Santiago
Santiago

Awesome tour! One of the top highlights of our trip!

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Kari Kari Cultural Show and Dinner
Kari Kari Cultural Show and Dinner
Easter Island

Fun, local experience. Dinner was good. Appreciated having a front row seat and that the tickets included a drink.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
N/A no guides or drivers included
Transport
N/A no transportation included
Snorkeling Tour in Easter Island
Snorkeling Tour in Easter Island
Easter Island

Unfortunately, we did not enjoy this experience. There were literally no sea life to see on this snorkeling tour, which really defeats the purpose of snorkeling. We stayed only in one spot rather than trying to go to another location which may have had something to see. Disappointing.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Celebrate with the Locals – Typical Food and Music from the Island
Celebrate with the Locals – Typical Food and Music from the Island
Easter Island

We loved this experience. Truly a local experience involving an entire local family. We felt very welcomed and part of their family. They really went above and beyond and the food was incredible! The view was lovely.

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Tour to Cajón del Maipo: excursion to Embalse El Yeso from Santiago
Tour to Cajón del Maipo: excursion to Embalse El Yeso from Santiago
Chile

Enjoyable and interesting experience. Beautiful views.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our driver was fantastic and was also very helpful
Transport
Local specialist: Riwal Le Derff
Riwal
Riwal Le Derff
Local specialist in Santiago & Quito | Replied on May 13, 2025

Hi Alexis,
Thank you very much for your valuable review, really, really, really appreciate :)
I am so happy to read that you had such a memorable time in Chile. We always do our best for our travelers to enjoy Chile as much as possible. And so happy for your incredible experience in Rapa Nui :D Meet the people is the best.
Best regards, :)
Riwal