Chile and Argentina, ...

Patagonia | Dec 19 - Jan 30, 2023

As we travelled to both Chile and Argentina, we have broke our comments into two sections.

CHILE:
All told we are quite happy with our Chilean road trip, but if you are open to some points going forward,
here are my Chile notes and recommendations for future bookings.

-Santiago: quite happy with this our arrival and starting off point;
- Temuco: I would personally scratch the hotel stay here,as for the one night stay, it was constant 1 hr. traffic fight to go into the City and then the next day go back out the same way, once again passing the airport where we came in to then drive to Pucon, where I would recommend a two day stay there instead of one night in Temuco and only one in Pucon

- Pucon: beautiful spot;again saying two days here would have been better, as that way you could have the Guide there be able to do the tour to the Volcano, without the rush and having to pack the rental cars with the luggage, do the hike and then leave for Huilo-Huilo. As far the organized hike with Juan Paublo, you already got my report on using a rental car to go up the rugged mountain trail only suitable for 4 wheel drive jeeps and the problems that created.
- Hate to take business away from Juan Paublo, (JP) but I would suggest that hopefully JP or if not him or her another English speaking guide could pick up the customers in his or her 4 wheel drive Jeep to do the drive and hike, because we we’re very disappointed to miss that hike, due to the car unable to get up there.
- Huilo-Huilo: Magic Mountain: great experience,unique place.
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- Valdivia: Sorry again to take possible business away from JP, as he is very nice and speaks very good English,but again a little rushed, as it is a 3 hr drive to get there and then JP was waiting for us upon arrival and immediately we had to go on a drive and hike, with barely catching our breath and then again with an unsuitable car to do the proposed hike , we had to change locations and did a simple short hike, not the one planned
- Suggest: giving the first day of arriving in Valdivia after the 3 hr drive, just a chance to do a Self day to look around as we didn’t get much of chance to see Valdivia, as you also had a full day excursion planned for the next day with JP.
- Speaking of the next day, again JP was not really needed as we drove out with him to cross the ferry to Corral and then had to go to the National Ranger office, to pick up their guide and go in his Jeep on a very rugged trail to see the ancient larch trees. We could have driven there ourselves and met the guide without having to use and pay for JP’s services, as the local guide ( Edmundo) could have been booked and expected us at a given time frame. JP wasn’t even aware he couldn’t go up there himself and we had to use their guide. We couldn’t have gone up anyway, as there is no way our car would haven’t made it.
- Puerto Varas: everything good
- Ancud: as this was over the day before New Year’s Eve, New Years Eve and New Year’s Day, hardly anything open. Understandable and no way around that.
- However suggest add the trip out to the Penguin colony in Punihuil as the day trip, as this we found on our own and it was less than an hour away from Ancud and the highlight of the area.

Thank you for the Chilean experience;

Mike and Pat Chatwin
Comox, BC
CANADA

Argentina

I had previously sent a recap of our journey and travel through Chile , to Oleksandra. The following is our time through Argentina.

First though, we would like to congratulate and applaud the fine work that mainly Oleksandra and then Axel and the Tour Company Tangol put into our package. It was definitely not easy to come up with a 40+ day travel package that included both Chile and Argentina, that we would be happy with , including a large portion of it been a self- drive holiday, trying to cover the main attraction spots in each country and to make it even harder; over the summer and Christmas/New Year holidays. So, thank you so much for arranging this.

Argentina

- We first travelled into Argentina by the experience of “Crossing the Lakes” . A series of : 3 Catamarans and 3 buses from Puerto Varas in Chile to Bariloche in Argentina. A very long 14 hr day , but definitely worth the experience.
- Bariloche: only down side to the Very touristy city of Bariloche was, we we’re there during the very peak summer season, so the population of the area triples during that time, which may have been the reason for some of the delays and hotel availability selections. In saying that, wouldn’t have chosen the Carlos V Hotel there, as it wasn’t on the drop off route for the buses and where we we’re dropped off, was a 4 block, uphill climb over uneven cobblestone roads, plus with a car rental arranged , the hotel has no parking spaces and it was near impossible to get parking anywhere near the hotel (3 blocks away for parking and extra 4,000 pesos for overnight, secure parking). Which , speaking of car rental there; as we didn’t arrive until 21:30, the arranged car rental office was closed, so would suggest not having the rental pickup arranged until the next day.
- **Both the El Chalten and El Calafate portions we’re wonderful . Great experience. Great hikes and extraordinary scenery. All transfers went well, no problems.
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- Ushuaia: : A definite highlight portion. Hotel in walking distance to the town and the tours arranged we’re very interesting. Points to note though: as mentioned for the hike out at the National Park, credit card was not accepted and had to borrow money from the guide for entrance. Should tell future clients to expect this and have 5,500 pesos per person ready for the entry fee.
- Hike was very nice, as well as the lunch and rafting.
- Penguin Island cruise was a good day, but again as mentioned; good thing we checked the new vouchers with the old ones, as the two excursions we’re flipped on each day.
- ** As mentioned: When your contact company makes changes to the original vouchers, they should send a * Change note to both us and you, as the excursion dates we’re flipped for each day and almost missed it. That goes for Hotel changes as well, from the original vouchers .
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- Mendoza : 3 days, there was plenty, as it was over a weekend,so a lot of places we’re closed; wineries, etc. But managed to get some driving sightseeing in and even a round of golf. Nice hotel.

- Salta: This was where it was too bad our original hotel (Marquis De Tojo) out in the country got changed to the one in the city of Salta ( The Inkai) , as we we’re to return here 3 different times and again very limited, to no parking and very busy area, with a lot of street construction going on. Thank you for changing the hotel on the last day.

- Purmamarca: Fantastic Mountain Village. Great hikesand dazzling coloured canyons. A ver interesting old western style town . Thoroughly enjoyed.

- Cachi: The Drive from Cachi was a sensational,long twisty road , with huge elevation changes that definitely kept you focused. The drive was the highlight , as by the time you got there, your pretty tired, and with only one night booked, not really enough time to look around ( two nights here would have been better).
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- Cafayate: Again, same as above; the Drive was the highlight, as only one night , would have preferred two), as a nice hotel at the Wine Resort. Be warned: The drive from Cachi to Cafayate,along Route 40 is a long washboard track that you are constantly driving at approximately only 20-25 km’s an hour as you are being bounced around.BUT; the scenery through the canyons was spectacular. If at all possible the car rental in Argentina should be a SUV or something similar.
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- Cafayate back to Salta: What could have been a spectacular , easy drive along the Canyon filled Route 68 , ended up due to a huge rainstorm and flooding the night before , being anything but relaxing. A 2.5 hr drive ended up taking 7.5 hrs and we we’re just lucky to even get through at all, with constant stops, flooded out roads and heavy eqpt working just to try to keep a small one lane mud path opened to let cars go through. Just back luck on our part, that the rains came when they did.

- Iguazu Falls: This is where once again where our hotel vouchers we’re changed from the original hotel to the Mercure Hotel. However, a nice change , as we we’re spoiled to be upgraded to this fabulous 5 star hotel.
- For the Excursions to the Falls; First the Argentina Side:
- Group tour with a guide that really a guide was not needed, nor the large group. As we had to leave early in the a.m. and got there at the same time as ALLLL the other large bus tours, which unfortunately put us ALL, on the same walkways, at the same time, causing turtle like walking and very limited opportunities to enjoy the view points. The guide doesn’t give any information of interest, just helps herd everyone.
- We would have rather gone out on our own for a 3,500 pesos taxi ride, later in the afternoon,when all the tour buses have departed and walked our own route, with far less people. Again credit cards did not go through, so ensure you have the 5,500 pesos per person for entry.
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- Brazilian Side: Obviously guide needed to coordinate the border crossing . Credit cards did work here for entry.
- Spectacular views from this side and although still crowded due to the Summer Season, did not feel as congested. Fantastic views.

- Buenos Aires: final stop and as not city folk and really not liking the concrete jungle of big cities, but we had to come here to be able to fly back home through the International Airport. Just our bias opinion, some would probably love it. We did visit a few historic sites and had some nice meals and of course the highlight of the city having you arrange the most spectacular Tango Show and Dinner for us.

Leave to go back to Canada on Monday, and want to once again; thanks to all for putting this South America package together for us.
Mucho Gracias;

Michael and Patricia Chatwin
Comox, British Columbia
Canada
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