Amazing Trip to Patagonia
Patagonia | Apr 15 - Apr 21, 2026

Amber
Amber S.
Minneapolis, MN | Reviewed on Apr 22, 2026

My friend and I just returned from a trip to Chile (Patagonia region). It was an amazing trip and unforgettable experience! We are both very seasoned travelers but decided to use KimKim to help plan as we were very unfamiliar with the area and not sure where to start. From the beginning Jimena and Jessica were very helpful. We changed several days of the trip and they were able to help out and accommodate our requests. The entire trip was done thoughtfully and we were never bored but had some downtime to explore and do some shopping on our own. Jessica was willing to see us several hours early for our local briefing and arranged for us to have hiking poles for all our hikes.

Highlights:
We really enjoyed spending a night in Torres del Paine park. It was a amazing being so close to all the trails and being able to stay at the Refugio Paine Grande was a highlight. Great food and a great place to rest up between hikes.
We absolutely loved the Kayaking tour in Eberhard Fjord. It was a perfect way to adventure while resting our legs. Our guide Vincenzo was so kind and patient. He inspired us to paddle hard and brave the strong winds. Being invited into Alecia's home was also and unexpected but amazing gift. She severed us fresh sopapillas and jam after kayaking. It was such a special day.

There were several minor hiccups with timing. I think it was due to the approaching winter season and tour times seem to change with the later sunrise. Overall, we would highly recommend KimKim. We would also strongly recommend Patagonia as a destination if you love nature, hiking and challenging yourself. Thank you!
Amber

Hotel Reviews
Pristine Patagonia Hotel
Puerto Natales

Clean and close to many restaurants. They provided an extra early breakfast for us when we had to leave at 5am. Rooms are small but comfortable and clean.

Authenticity & Character
Interesting decorations.
Location
Located on the edge of the city but within walking distance to restaurants and shopping.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Comfortable beds.
Refugio Paine Grande
Puerto Natales, Chile

This was a very pleasant surprise. Our room was ready when we got off the boat. Food was amazing and served up buffet style. They also provide packed lunch for to take hiking for lunch. There are wood burning stoves located through out that offer some much needed dry heat. We got there late so seating by the fires was taken but it seemed like a great place to hang out after a long day hiking. Rooms are small but beds comfortable and clean. There is a shared shower / bathroom that is basic. We also used the Refugio after we checked out while we waited for our boat. They provide bathrooms, a mini mart, hot water and shelter for hikers passing through. A cup of ramen never tasked so good! They give each person 30 minutes of free internet and after that you can purchase more time based on needs.

Authenticity & Character
Location
The views from this hotel are insanely beautiful.
Staff
Very helpful and accommodating to both guests and day hikers.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Clean and well maintained. Everything was freshly painted.
Hotel Vendaval
Puerto Natales

Very charming hotel. Clean and comfortable rooms. The decorations were modern and well thought out. Staff was very helpful storing our bags and answering questions. We loved the location as it was very close to the city square where there were so many restaurants and shopping. The breakfasts were very good. My favorites were the scrambled eggs, the coffee machine, and the calafate jam with local breads.

Authenticity & Character
Charming and clean.
Location
Very close to restaurants and shopping.
Staff
Helpful and kind.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Trip Briefing at Dittmar Adventures
Trip Briefing at Dittmar Adventures
Puerto Natales

We arrived for our briefing early and Jessica was able to adjust to this. We had been traveling for 24 hours straight and wanted to get to bed early that evening. Jessica went through our itinerary and helped to plan through issues like transferring bags from one hotel to the other. She gave tips on the trails and what to expect for the meals.

Quality of Experience
Welcoming and helpful with questions.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our airport transfer was 30 minutes late and we were told the wrong starting time for our Serrano Glacier.
Transport
Condor Watching
Condor Watching
Puerto Natales

We really didn't know what to expect for this but were hoping to see some Condors. We saw one but very far away. We were told it was an easy hike which turned out to be an hour hike straight up a mountain side. We climbed 1750 feet in 1.49 miles. It was manageable but we were not prepared for that type of activity. On a positive note, the views from above were stunning and our guide was energetic and fun. Biggest disappointment was not seeing condors!

Quality of Experience
More information about what to expect.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Guided Hike to "Mirador Base Las Torres"
Guided Hike to "Mirador Base Las Torres"
Puerto Natales

This hike! Wow. We were very limited with time for the hike as we needed to be back at trailhead by 16:00 to catch the last boat at 1700 to our Refugio. We had a super early pickup of 5:00. We started the hike by 7:15. It was dark and raining / sleeting. The trail conditions started out quite muddy but improved over the next few hours. The sunrise views were so amazing, even in the rain. We moved at a very good pace with no stops but after arriving at the Chilean Refugio our guide advised us that we should reconsider climbing the final rocks as it was snowing quite hard up there, he talked with others that were there and there was no view of the towers plus the snowy conditions would make the rocks very slippery and also make it so that we would really have to rush through the hike. We agreed to go to the alternative lookout spot and from that point stopped and took lots of pictures and soaked up the beauty of the hike. It is such an amazing hike with so many different perspectives from mountains, to rivers, to forests, to rocky cliffs. We really enjoyed the changing weather from rain to snow then back to sun. We made it down by 1530 and did not feel rushed at all. We missed the last scramble but feel like due to conditions, we made a good choice to slow down and enjoy. We ended up going to the alternative lookout but were not able to see the towers at all.

Quality of Experience
So worth the effort!
Food
Sack lunch from Refugio was nice.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Our guide took many nature bathroom breaks to the point we wondered what he was doing (vaping?). He seemed knowledgable about the trail and suggested alternatives to keep us safe and to make it enjoyable for us.
Transport
Boat Tour to Bernardo O Higgins National Park, Serrano & Balmaceda Glaciers
Boat Tour to Bernardo O Higgins National Park, Serrano & Balmaceda Glaciers
Puerto Natales

We were told to walk down and be a the office of this tour by 7am. When we arrived it was not open. I tried to call several numbers with no luck. We saw a note on the door that said something about winter hours. We were about to leave when two others arrived. We all waited until someone came to open the office at 7:30. This was our first tour after returning to Puerto Natales the previous evening at 22:30 so having an extra hour to sleep in would have been nice. We eventually were transferred to a boat and waited another hour for the boat to fill with other guests. The journey to the glacier was very beautiful. We saw some smaller glaciers, waterfalls, and sea lions. The hike to the Serrano glacier was easy and scenic. Guides there were helpful and answered questions about park and glacier. On the way back we stopped and and had lunch at a ranch. The food there was good. The boat serves coffee, snacks and whiskey with glacial ice cubes.

Quality of Experience
This is a larger group so things move a bit slower. It is an all day tour but they do a nice job of showing people lot of sights on the way and then offering a unique lunch.
Food
Glacial ice drinks were a nice touch. The lunch was unique and very good.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Check hours of operation especially in the fall and winter months.
Transport
Views from boat are impressive. There is so much to see.
Kayak the Eberhard Fjord
Kayak the Eberhard Fjord
Puerto Natales

This was one of the highlights of our trip. We were not sure what to expect and were so tired but from the very beginning our guide Vincenzo was amazing. He stopped along our journey out to the fjord to identify birds and let us get some pictures. We arrived at Alecia's home on the Eberhard Fjord and she welcomed us in to get changed. We were given ALL the gear from dry suits, to booties, to gloves for our hands. We were given some quick tips and set out in the sunny but very gusty water adventure. Our guide was so encouraging and patient. He made us feel so empowered and inspired us to kayak around the entire island, only getting snagged up once. We made two stops on the islands to stretch our legs. Vincenzo also took our camera and got some great pictures and videos of us in action. After the kayaking, Alecia invited us in for homemade sopapillas and calafate jam. She talked about her family and home and even took pictures with us. We felt very special and was a great way to end our tour.

Quality of Experience
It was so fun and unique.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Vincenzo was amazing! So patient and kind.
Transport
Local specialist: Jimena Pérez
Jimena
Jimena Pérez
Local specialist in Chile and Colombia | Replied on Apr 23, 2026
Hi Amber! Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It was such a pleasure helping you and Heather plan your Patagonian adventure. I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed the night at Refugio Paine Grande and the kayaking at Eberhard Fjord. I’ll be sure to share your kind words with Vincenzo and Alicia—they will be happy to know they made your day special! I'm so glad you got to enjoy those fresh sopapillas after your kayaking session. Regarding the minor timing hiccups, thank you for... Read more

Hi Amber!

Thank you so much for your wonderful review! It was such a pleasure helping you and Heather plan your Patagonian adventure.

I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed the night at Refugio Paine Grande and the kayaking at Eberhard Fjord. I’ll be sure to share your kind words with Vincenzo and Alicia—they will be happy to know they made your day special! I'm so glad you got to enjoy those fresh sopapillas after your kayaking session.

Regarding the minor timing hiccups, thank you for being so understanding. As you mentioned, the transition into the winter season often requires these small adjustments, and we truly appreciate your flexibility. It’s great that you were still able to find that perfect balance between adventure and downtime.

We would love to welcome you back to the south anytime! Thank you for recommending us, and I wish you many more unforgettable travels.

All the best,
Jimena