Kimkim Trip Reviews

Paul from Calafate is an excellent guide. Besides his English is excellent and no communication issue, his caring and attentiveness to the group is perfect.

Hotel Reviews

Hotel Lago Grey

Torres del Paine

The room view was spectacular. Room was clean and bed was comfortable. All staffs including front desk, housekeeper, bell boy and the Resturant staff were wonderful and friendly and courteous. Love the Resturant food and services. Lots of wine selection. The only complaint is no WiFi in the room and we all need to go to the lobby area to get WiFi, but then there’s an opportunity to meet and chat with other hotel guests

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Sierra Nevada

El Calafate

The location of the hotel is very convenient. The room needs to be remodel or upgrade a bit. It was a warm days when we stayed in the hotel so we tried to open windows to get some fresh air. There were no screens for the window and lots of mosquitoes came in. We ended up with closing all windows and it was hard to sleep. And the breakfast did not have good selection. Very little choice. We stayed for dinner for the first night and the food was not good, needs improvement

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Weskar Lodge

Puerto Natales

Good location has good views from each room. We ate in the Resturant twice and one night was good and one night was bad, so inconsistent. Wonder if there were different chefs! The waiter/waitress in the Resturant need to have more training. Room is clean and bed is comfy. Each room has different unique design as I compared the rooms with other people in my group.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hotel Poincenot

El Chalten

Location is excellent for some of us wanted to hike at Lago. Plus easy to walk to the supermarket and restaurants. We had the downstairs room and it faced the parking lot. Think it feels safer if there’s a fence built in between. We had to have the shade down and the window closed for the entire time. The breakfast was good. Staff was nice. We got to leave early like 430am and thanks for the breakfast last to take care of us before leaving. Big thanks

Authenticity & Character

Location

Convenient

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore the Wildlife of the Magellan Strait

Punta Arenas

Love the breakfast Resturant environment. Suggest they should reduce the limit of people in the boat. We have over 20 people in the boat and not much room to move around. 15/16 CAP based on the boat size. The boat ride was very rough that day and hardly saw any creatures. Everyone was all wet and some got seasick. Special kudos to the owner to make a stop for bathroom run. It wasn’t easy to park on shores and we were appreciated

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Isla Magdalena Penguin Colony

Punta Arenas

Just okay. We basically just arrived to the island and walked in the circle to look at all these penguins in the island. Not much action

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the La Leona Petrified Forest, Transfer to El Chalten

Patagonia

We didn’t think watching the stones can be so informative and interesting. Thanks to our tour guide Paul is an experienced and excellent tour guide. He brings the tour very interesting. Kudos to him.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

I had an absolutely fantastic experience with this trip and the tour operator, Mint. The booking platform was exceptional—intuitive, seamless, and incredibly helpful at every step. It made the entire process of booking, communicating, and checking details so easy, which really set the tone for a stress-free trip.

What I appreciated most was how they took the time to understand exactly what I wanted to do. They used that as the foundation to design an itinerary that perfectly brought my vision to life. The attention to detail and thoughtfulness in planning made the entire experience feel tailored and personal.

The detailed notes provided were incredibly helpful, making it simple to know exactly where to be and what to expect throughout the journey. I truly appreciated how organized and thoughtful everything was.

The trip itself was incredible, and all the guides and drivers were absolutely wonderful. They went above and beyond to ensure I was comfortable and well taken care of at all times. Their professionalism and friendliness really enhanced the experience.

Although I didn’t meet Mint personally, the coordination and effort behind the scenes were outstanding. If I’m ever in Southeast Asia again, I wouldn’t hesitate to book with them. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a smooth, well-organized, and unforgettable adventure!

Hotel Reviews

Nak Nakara Hotel

Chiang Rai

Brilliant location, massive room, great service and good gym & pool.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wienglakor Hotel

Very very tired hotel on the edge of a main road. Needs some TLC. Good size room.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wa Lee Phuchifa

No heater which was a shame in winter, also leaking shower. No toilet paper either.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

De Chai The Deco Hotel

Great location, massive room, great staff service, very clean and modern. Basic gym, but still usable..

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Welcome to Bangkok!

Bangkok

Quality of Experience

The guide was amazing, she was friendly, knowledgeable and attentive.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Phimai Historical Park!

Nakhon Ratchasima

Totally worth going off the beaten track to learn about this site.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Welcome to Chiang Mai!

Chiang Mai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lampang City & Temples Trip!

Lampang

This was an experience...

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit White Temple and Blue Temple!

Chiang Rai

White Temple totally worth it!.even men the artist which was extraordinary.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Guide was the best!

Transport

Hiking to Phu Chi Fa Mountain!

Chiang Rai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

The guide made the trip what it was, I will never forget him.

Transport

Half-Day Eco Elephant Care!

Chiang Mai

One of the best experiences of my life. Will never ever forget it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chiang Mai Cooking Class Experience-Small Group

Chiang Mai

Very skeptical about doing a cooking class, but 100% totally worth it! Brilliant teacher and small group.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Temple and Hill tribes in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai

Trip was a little rushed... But fine.... could have done with more knowledge on the history of the hill tribes etc.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

From the beginning to the end the planning and execution of our trip exceeded expectations. Our local specialist Renata was responsive and very helpful. Our guide, Felipe, was very thoughtful and very knowledgeable. He took care of the smallest details (booster seat for a child) and personalized the tour with our interests in mind. He was very responsive and quickly changed plans after an unexpected schedule change. Our favorite stops - Samba School, Christ the Redeemer, and the Botanical Garden. We also enjoyed Little Africa and the Selaron steps.

We visited three cities in Thailand and the Kimkim team did a great job with accommodation, transportation and tour guides. The drivers and guides were professional and friendly, and showed us the key spots that we had time for. We were able to adjust the tour planning to see what we wanted to and also stay in the hotels that we wanted. Our short vacation in Thailand was great largely due to our Kimkim team.

Our driver and guides throughout were great. Very knowledgeable and open and kind. Gave us a true glimpse into Morocco and its history and the culture everywhere we went.

Ana helped us plan the perfect adventure in Indonesia. Originally, we had only planned to visit Bali but after discovering our love of wildlife and nature, she recommended a stop in Flores and a boat trip to Komodo Island. Hiking Komodo island with a private guide right as the park opened allowed us to beat the big tourist groups and see eight dragons! We snorkeled with 6 ft manta rays and watched thousands of bats leave 'Bat Island' at sunset. Tony was an excellent guide and the crew on our private boat shepherded us safely from island to island as well as fed us well! In Bali, our driver Tut was the best. He patiently and safely drove us to our many adventures - white water rafting, Mt. Batu hike, hot springs, coffee plantation, beaches. Our one day convertible VW safari with Putu exploring the temples and waterfalls around Ubud was a fun way to see the area. KimKim was easy to work with, exceeded our expectations and provided great value for the money. We are traveling to Singapore for business this spring and plan to use thier services to plan a side trip to Borneo!

Had a great experience booking the trip with Kim Kim. Yuliana was amazing to work with. She was very patient as we planned with various options and extremely prompt in responding to our queries.

Our trip was very memorable. Kim Kim travel transportation partners were always on time and the guides were knowledgeable and ever so friendly.

Thanks to Kim Kim and the entire staff in making the trip memorable that we will cherish forever.

Also want to thank Graciela who responded promptly my questions during the trip and especially to accommodate our request to go to San Jose airport earlier to enable us to return back a day earlier.

Only feedback is to to set expectations for waiting for checkin at the hotels as 2 of the 3 hotels we reached earlier than 3 pm check in time and had to wait in the lobby and store our bags with reception.

Thanks again!

Hotel Reviews

Hotel & Spa Poco a Poco

Monteverde

Authenticity & Character

Location

Close to restaurants and shopping.

Staff

Some were friendly but some not so much.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Clean, comfortable rooms

Hotel San Bada Resort & Spa

Manuel Antonio

A little dated hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Very friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Ac was very good

Volcano Lodge, Hotel & Thermal Experience

San Carlos, Alajuela

Very good premises and restaurant was excellent. Loved the thermal pool. Staff was very attentive and friendly

Authenticity & Character

Location

Secluded quiet rooms

Staff

Friendly

Cleanliness & Comfort

Slightly dated

Activity Reviews

Guided Hike in Arenal Volcano Park 1968

Arenal/La Fortuna

Excellent entertaining guide

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zip Lining - Hanging Bridges & Aerial Tram

Arenal/La Fortuna

Excellent experience. Was comforted with safety aspects

Quality of Experience

Food

The include lunch was very basic

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Coffee, Chocolate & Sugar Cane Experience (English Tour)

Monteverde

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve Guided Hike

Monteverde

Liked that the guide took the time to show the wildlife

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Damas Island Boat Tour

Manuel Antonio

Quality of Experience

T

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

We had a great trip to Mexico , Charlotte did a splendid job of organizing everything given the short notice of 4-5 days to plan & book our itinerary.

On arrival in Mexico City , our car with a driver was waiting for us at the appointed location, next day we took in the sights around the main square and cathedral with our guide, who had very in depth knowledge of area. In the afternoon we visited the

Almost everything was perfect with the trip, all the hotels were great. Enjoyed all the tours we went on except the kayaking, the guide was only ok

Activity Reviews

Damas Island Mangrove Kayaking

Costa Rica

The guide was not that good, he did not give us clear instructions were we were going and what we wanted to see. There was just me and my partner so there was no excuse for him not paying attention to us.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

All were great except the kayaking one

Transport

They came on time and got us to where we needed to go

Arenal Hanging Bridges & Hike to La Fortuna Waterfall

Arenal/La Fortuna

The guide was very good and the tour was interesting, my only complaint was it rained the whole time

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Whitewater Rafting on the Pacuare River - Transfer to La Fortuna

Costa Rica

Guide was excellent the instructions we get were very helpful.the trip was a blast!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Flor was great about helping us narrow the immense list of options in Patagonia to give us the trip we were looking for. She suggested many different types of hotels and helped us find really unique and fun places to stay that were off the beaten trail that helped us have a truly authentic trip. Her team arranged all transfers, gave guidance about places to eat and excursions, and even made dinner reservations for us while we were in country. Throughout, she was responsive, supportive, and accommodating as we changed our minds many times and moved around our budgets and dates. We would happily work with her again.

Guides were all extremely friendly and helpful, helping tailor or experience to make it impactful and comfortable. An added bonus was having a coffee with Chris after our arrival. We always felt very well taken care of. One example - we had some motion sickness due to the windy roads. Hilberto took us to a pharmacy. Two pills and two quetzales later we were back on our adventure. Without exception, knowledgeable and friendly guides and rides showed up on time ready to make our day the best. Activities were well tailored to our desires and abilities.

My wife Liz and I just returned from 18 fantastic days in Japan. We couldn’t be happier with our experience. We visited Tokyo, Hikone, Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Kanazawa and Kyoto. Every city had its own character, charm, and allure. We saw the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, but also the hidden gems like the Lion Cafe, and the wonderful TeamLab Borderless exhibit. We had Onsen in Hikone and stayed in a traditional inn with glorious traditional meals. In Takayama and Kanazawa we experienced the old historic districts with wooden buildings, quaint Restuarant’s and lots of charm. Shurakawa-go was a treat with the old thatched room houses, snow on the ground and views of the Japan Alps. Kyoto was a cultural treat— we enjoyed the tea ceremony, the Maiko performance, and of course the sake tour and tasting. Overall we had a trip to remember and we couldn’t be happier. This review only hints at the great sights and experiences we had but we are overjoyed with the trip.
In planning our trip we got so much assistance and advice from Kimkim and especially our specialist Sandy. We would not have had anywhere near the experience we did without the wonderful Sandy,. We went through several versions of itineraries and sights-to-see with Sandy. She listened to what we wanted and made all the arrangements. We enjoy a mix of days with guides and days on our own to explore. Sandy made this happen and the guides she arranged were all lovely people, so full of energy and charm, and completely aware of all the history and the lesser known places to see. Sandy made train arrangements and car transportation set up when we needed it. The car transfer from Tokyo to Hakone was great because we stopped by the lake near Mt Fuji and took the boat across the lake for wonderful Fuji views,
Overall it’s five star review for Kimkim and Sandy. (I’d give more stars if I could). Liz and I had a super trip and couldn’t be happier. Happy travels to all who read this review. Best regards from Art in USA.

Hotel Review

Hakone Hotel Kajikaso

Hakone

The Hakone Hotel Kajikaso was wonderful. It is a traditional Japanese inn and a modern hotel combined, The onsen baths were wonderful and the traditional meals were so fun and delicious. The room was a futon bed experience and the beds were very comfortable. The town is love,y and the whole experience was quite memorable.

Authenticity & Character

Don’t miss the Mont Blanc dessert shop

Location

Near the old section of town, lots to see and good shopping

Staff

So friend,y and supportive

Cleanliness & Comfort

The onsen baths were extremely clean and enjoyable

Activity Review

Hakone exploration : Mishima Skywalk , The shores of Lake Ashi and Onshi-Hakone Park

Hakone

Loved the views and close feel to the natural landscape. The pirate ship ferry boat tour on the lake was amazing!

Quality of Experience

Beautiful natural surroundings

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mr Tony was super, lovely personality.

Transport

Nice vehicle, vert comfortable

Iceland truly left me in awe with its otherworldly beauty, and our trip was unforgettable in every way. The landscapes were absolutely breathtaking—rugged volcanic terrain, vast glaciers, and waterfalls at every turn. The highlight for me was the charming town of Vík, a place so picturesque it almost felt surreal. Nestled by the sea, Vík offered incredible views. Every corner felt like something out of a dream.

Our hotel was nothing short of spectacular. Located between two mountains with the sea infront ,it felt like we were nestled in the heart of Iceland's wild beauty. Waking up to those mountain views each morning was an experience in itself. The accommodations were cozy and modern, providing the perfect base for our adventures.

Throughout the trip, we were consistently impressed by the warmth and kindness of the Icelandic people. Every guide we encountered was not only friendly but also incredibly knowledgeable. Their passion for Iceland’s history, culture, and natural wonders shone through in every tour. We learned so much about the island’s geology, mythology, and wildlife, which made the excursions even more enriching.

A special thanks to Jenny for helping to book the trip. She was wonderfully patient, attentive, and extremely helpful throughout the process, ensuring every detail was taken care of. Thanks to her, everything went smoothly from start to finish, and we were able to experience the best of what Iceland has to offer.

This trip was an absolute dream, and I can’t wait to return to Iceland someday!

Activity Reviews

Blue Lagoon

Iceland

Quality of Experience

Northern Lights Hunt Super Jeep Tour

Iceland

Solheimajokull Glacier Hike

Iceland

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Katla Ice Cave Superjeep tour

Iceland

Whale Watching Tour

Reykjavík

This was our first experience using KImKim and it certainly won't be our last. All of the guides we worked with (Liz, Eddie, and Sofia) and their drivers were personable, knowledgeable and really helped us have a wonderful experience in Cartagena. We really appreciated Wendy checking in on us, even on our "free day" to make sure everything was OK. It was a great feeling knowing that we had some local folks looking out for us on our travels to a country we had not visited before.

I am very happy in general with the arrangements KimKim made for our self guided tour to Patagonia. Hotels, activity providers were adequate. There were some hiccups and miscommunications that caused us some trouble and were rectified and we completed all the activities as planned.

Regarding the activite I liked the least was "Wild Life Tour on Megellan Strait" in Punta Arenas. Our group shared with others on a small boat that was a little bit overbooked and we have difficulty sitting down comfortably. We were warned that "we might get wet" but the warning should have been "You will get wet" . We were soaped, so put on your waterproof clothes underneath the semi dry suit they provide if you so choose this acitivity.

Since there was no guide, you were your own guide, you had to know every acitivy and how they connected each other, including transfers, where to get lunch, what food to bring, ensure walking time to activities are reasonable etc. The travel document is a bit complex and took a lot of concentration and careful reading to see if everything matched up correctly. So if you are joining a Kimkim tour, I urge you to take the time reading them carefully to cross check everything.

Anyway I like my local specialist Erin and Nara, they did a good job to accomdate our needs and helped us a great deal with our trip. Thank you.

Cristina was my contact. She was always responsive and helpful. The local agency used were excellent. Eliana was an amazing guide. Fun, informativé, caring and doing everything to make things run smoothly. Frankie the driver was superb. Getting through terrain where others got stuck. We saw some stunning sites. Tayrona Park and our walk guide Nelson was excellent. Great to havé the wildlife pointed out to us.
Our big disappointment was that we spent the majority of our 3 day tour of Guajira in a 4 wheel drive. This was not reflected in the description of the tour. The least time we spent in a vehicle was 9 hours and the longest was 12. At no point was this made clear to us and if it had been we would havé chosen a different itinery. By contrast the limitions of the accommodation were made very clear and our expectations were managed well.
We appreciate the gesture of a free meal and taxi but it could not make up for the challenge of being thrown around the back of a 4 wheel drive for hours and days. (We expected some of this and were looking forward to it but not this much!) I think you also need to be clear when the trip is in planning stages because anyone with a bad back would not be able to do it (Even if they are fit otherwise).

Hotel Review

Minca Ecohabs

Minca

A totally gorgeous cabin and location. Friendly helpful staff.

Authenticity & Character

Location

The views and forest sounds.

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Loved the balconies and hammocks

Activity Reviews

Hike Tayrona National Park

Tayrona National Park

Amazing expérience made even better with our very knowledgeable and charming guide, Nelson. He enabled us to spot so much wildlife that we would never have seen ourselves. The pace was perfect , providing a balance between cardio, views and beach .

Quality of Experience

The views, the wildlife, the sounds.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Nelson was the perfect guide and adapted our day to only 17km as one of us had a broken toe. Having worked there for over 20 years, he was charming with us and all his colleagues

Transport

Juan Carlos was immaculate and professional as ever.

Uribía, Manaure Salt Flats and Cabo de La Vela (Day 1)

Colombia

Fascinating expérience with charming locals

Quality of Experience

The views and the best explanations

Food

Very little refreshments

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Knowledgable and positive

Transport

Franky was perfect as ever, but a long drive for such a short activity

Taroa Dunes and Punta Gallinas (Day 2)

Colombia

Fabulous sites. Our guide Eliana made it fun and interesting. We hadn't realised quite how much time we would be being bounced around in the back of a 4 wheel drive (about 9 hours). Our driver Franke was great.

Quality of Experience

Being clear about how much time would be spent in the car.

Food

There was some choice and Eliana made sure we were well looked after.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Mayapo Beaches (Day 3)

Colombia

We didn't have time to do any more than look at the beach because we spent 12 hours in cars that day.

Quality of Experience

Food

The lunch by the beach was wonderful. Thanks Eliana for recommending what to eat.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Very flexible and offered us time at the beach, but then we wouldn't have got to our accommodation that night until even later. As it was we were in the car from 7am to 8pm with a quick lunch stop and 2 coffee stops.

Transport

I went into kimkim and my local specialist Shona blind. I researched the site, hedged my bets, and took a plunge I'm forever grateful for. Shona helped me customize my trip to meet my interests and fit my travel style (experienced solo traveller, massive nerd). She answered all my questions and was wonderful to work with. The guides I met throughout my trip were really special people: Yumi, Takehiko, Tomoko, thank you so much! I loved getting to see Japan as a guest with locals giving me invaluable insight. I am so honored to have had this experience, and the next time I venture across the Pacific, I will absolutely use kimkim and Shona again.

Hotel Review

Shiba Park Hotel

Tokyo

Very cool book-loving boutique hotel in a quiet neighborhood that's still in easy walking distance of convenience stores and public transportation. Great breakfast.

Authenticity & Character

Their theme is books: every floor features mini libraries and guests are encouraged to peruse all the different selections to find something to take back to their room.

Location

Minato, Tokyo

Staff

Very polite and helpful!

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Half Day Samurai Ninja Museum and Kimono Tea Ceremony at Kyoto Maikoya

Kyoto

It's obviously a thing for tourists, but at no point did I feel like I was infringing on Japanese cultural practices. Rather I felt welcomed to share, learn, and participate in a respectful environment. Also, wearing a kimono is just cool.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Erin & Nara were so easy to work with in planning our W Trek. A very complicated trip to plan on your own: buses, border crossings, lodging in the park, hotel in Puerto Natales, etc. It was all done for us, and our itinerary was very detailed & planned to perfection. Our group of 4 really appreciated the pre-trek meeting with Nara. She answered lot of our questions. As a bonus, in addition to our W Trek, they were able to book us on a Walk with the Penguins tour in Ushuaia! Very responsive. Tolerated all our questions! :) I will be using KimKim again!

Moonika was super helpful and responsive the entire trip and would definitely use her services again in the future.

The trip to Provoo was a great day trip from Helsinki and our guide was great. Taking the train up to Lapland was a great experience. Loved the reindeer and husky tours, especially driving the sled myself for the husky tour.

I booked with Moonika and kimkim so that I didn't have to worry about coordinating anything and know that I was getting a quality experience and I was definitely not disappointed.

Hotel Reviews

Overnight Train

Had a room with bunk beds and bathroom. Small quarters so you have to take turns getting ready and work around you luggage but a great experience. I would definitely do this trip again

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Everyone was nice and helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Small but very clean

Hotel Fabian

Helsinki

Great location and within walking distance to a lot points of interest

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Arctic Light Hotel

Rovaniemi

Lovely hotel and in a good location

Authenticity & Character

The sauna onsite is a great amenity

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Porvoo Private Day Tour

Helsinki

The tour was customizable and the tour guide was super knowledgeable. Would definitely recommend this trip.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Having the tour guide meet us at our hotel and get us to the bus station was super helpful. Enjoyed taking the bus fun experience

Premium Husky & Reindeer Safari

Rovaniemi

Learning about the reindeer was fun and enjoyed the lunch that was provided. I didn't expect to drive the sled for the husky tour but it was definitely a highlight

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Everyone was super friendly

Transport

Korouoma Canyon & Frozen Waterfalls Adventure

Finland

Fun hike that is accessible for all levels

Quality of Experience

Food

Fun experience cooking our food within the park

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Tour guide was knowledgeable

Transport

Patagonia was a trip of a lifetime. My husband and I decided to celebrate our 50th Anniversary with a trip to Patagonia. We were interested in the beautiful landscapes; Patagonia and Erin did not disappoint. An important detail that was so crucial to us was the land transportation. Transportation to and from airports, hotel, excursions etc. was all arranged in advance. Dittmar Adventures provided "coupons" for each transport, hotel, excursion etc. These coupons were very helpful as many taxi drivers did not understand my level 3 Duolingo Spanish *). I could verify with them that we were going to right place by handing them the coupon with hotel address. etc. I learned to have these coupons at hand, and then it was always clear which excursion we were to be on. We started in Puerto Varas with a private tour to Mt Osorno. Loved the private tours we took through out as they allowed us to go at our own pace. Each tour guide was very knowledgeable about the flowers, trees and birds of the area. We loved hanging back and letting a tour bus load of people go in front of us, then we could just enjoying the trails and views to ourselves with our guide, staying as long as we liked drinking in the gorgeous scenery. I had two favorite places. Pumalin National Park was the 1st. We were blessed to stay in one of the very few cottages at the park. Our guide Marco was amazing. I loved touring the garden and information center at the park. Marco also arranged for a private boat up the "fiord" past sea lion colonies that was very interesting. Pumalin is a rain forest, so had those amazing giant rainforest ferns and trees. Trees, some of which are older than the Giant Sequoias in California. Marco pointed out the differences in the trees of Pumalin to the pines of North America. He also shared Mate with us at lunch, what an interesting tradition! I regret that we did not have more time on the trails at Pumalin. Punta Arenas was our next stop. Erin arranged a private tour out to the Nao Victoria Museum that has a replica of Magellan's ship, and a replica of the Beagle, the ship that Darwin was on, as well as other replicas. You can climb up into the ships and get a sense of the size and understand the bravery of the men that sailed the world in such vessels. There was time for a brief stop at the cemetery in Punta Arenas. I did not realize that it was so beautiful, and would have planned for more time there. On to Puerto Natales and the Bernardo O Higgins National Park and Torres del Paine Park, Stunning, breathtaking... words cannot describe. We stayed at Hotel Lago Grey. Our room had an incredible view!! This area is exactly what we came to Patagonia to see, it was my most favorite favorite place. Next was El Chaltén and then Laguna Condor Lodge. There are plenty of hiking trails right from town in El Chaltén. The Laguna Condor Lodge is a ways out of town with cute little cabins. Mt FitzRoy dominates the view from the lodge at breakfast. We enjoyed a couple of days rest away from hustle of travel and just relaxed or walked along the glacial river. The last days were spent in Terra Del Fuego, then home. Erin and her staff were very responsive to our wishes. Penguins? Yes. Hikes requiring tents? No. Large cities, museums, wine tastings? No. Outdoors, mountains, lakes, waterfalls, glaciers? Yes, yes, yes! Tour buses? No. Private tours? Yes!!! Chain hotels? No. Boutique hotels and cabins? Yes. The only things I would change is more time on the trails at Pumalin and another hour at the Punta Arenas cemetery. Dittmar Adventures included with their very detailed itinerary, maps of each town marking location of lodging and nearby restaurants. There was a very nice mix of cute little downtown hotels for exploring the locale to upscale hotels with stunning views. We have not traveled extensively outside the English speaking world, so I was very worried about taking taxis with my poor Spanish capabilities. Dittmar arranged prepaid taxi drivers who had my name on a card, to and from every airport. Sometimes this transportation was 20 minutes. Sometimes it was closer to 3 hours. The team was responsive to my questions. Checked with drivers then changed times when I was worried about connection time. Checked with tour guides when I had not checked the What's App and did not realize the tour time had been changed by half and hour. Airline strike in Buenos Aires... Ack!! They said they would keep tabs on that and help me where needed. (Strike was avoided at the last minute) The tour that Erin and Nara planned was exactly what we wanted. The trip went as planned. Thank you Erin, Nara and Dittmar Adventures!!!!

Hotel Reviews

Lodge Caleta Gonzalo

Staying at the Lodge Caleta Gonzalo was wonderful. The cabins were cozy and fit perfectly with the surroundings of Pumalín National Park. The hospitality and location added greatly to the experience of being in the stunning natural landscape.

Hotel Lago Grey

Torres del Paine

Hotel Lago Grey was simply fantastic. Our room had a breathtaking view of the water, glacier, and mountains. Even though I missed out on the glacier tour due to being sick, sitting and enjoying the view was a perfect experience. The setting in Torres del Paine is exactly why we came to Patagonia.

Hotel Albatros

Punta Arenas

Our stay at Hotel Albatros was disrupted by noise from construction work. In the windy city of Punta Arenas, the noise from corrugated metal roofing kept us up at night. Though I appreciate that they were working on it the next day, the timing was unfortunate as it hindered our nap to make for the sleep lost the night before. Once the construction is completed, I'm sure the experience would be better.

Laguna Condor Mountain Lodge

El Chalten

Laguna Condor Mountain Lodge in El Chaltén was simply beautiful. The lodge was perfectly situated and elegantly designed, offering a serene and stunning mountain retreat.

Activity Review

Multi-day Fly-in Hiking Tour of Pumalín National Park

Pumalín National Park

I absolutely loved the multi-day hiking tour at Pumalín National Park. The little cabin we stayed in was fantastic, and Marco, our guide, was amazing. We explored a small activity center about the volcano and the history of the area, which was fascinating. This part of the trip was truly one of my favorites.