Nui & Steve returned in November from a trip to Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National Parks. Here they tell us about their experiences on the trip and in booking with Swoop and our local partners…
‘Chloe, Luke & Sally were really helpful. We would recommend Swoop to our friends looking to have such a great experience like us’
How were Swoop’s local partners in Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares?
Both of your partners were great. We really impressed with one of the Torres del Paine team who picked us up at the bus station in Puerto Natales with Justin (our guide) and also dropped us off at the bus station afterwards. After arriving, we had a meeting with Justin at the restaurant across from our hostel, and straight away knew we were going to be in good hands.
How did you enjoy your itineraries?
Our itinerary was awesome! I’m glad that we started the first leg in Torres Del Paine. The part that we loved the most was our second day hiking Oggioni Pass. Swoop’s Torres del Paine partner provided an additional guide for us- it was the hardest day but it turned out to be the most memorable of our entire trip.
How were your guides?
Our guides for our first few days in Chile were Justin and Niko- they were the best ever. They were extremely safe and knowledgeable, and assisted me with some scary river crossings by helping me with my pack, and reassuring me. For the remainder of our trip, we had a guide called Justin who was also very accommodating. My boyfriend has dietary restrictions, so he ended up cooking food in two batches every time we stayed at the campsite, which was very helpful.
Is there anything you would have changed about this part of your trip?
Yes, we would love to change one thing; take four days off the beaten path and skip walking on Viedma Glacier. The boat ride was fun, but it was too touristy which is not our cup of tea.
What was the highlight of your trip?
I can’t really pick one highlight because they were so many 🙂 Everything was so memorable; stunning views, drinking refreshing glacier water, seeing Glacier Grey after reaching the summit of Paso John Gardner, seeing Viedma Glacier after Paso Del Viento, a gorgeous day at the French Valley…
Do you have any tips for other people planning a trip?
Be prepared to hike in very strong wind conditions, and accept not being able to predict the weather. Make yourself physically fit for what you have signed up for, ensure you bring the proper gear.
Did you manage to visit anywhere else in Chile or Argentina?
Yes, we spent 3 days in Buenos Aires before flying back to the States, there are tons of good restaurants there!
Thanks a million to Chloe, Luke, Sally & the rest of the Swoop staff for helping us organise such a memorable trip. We can’t wait to go back to do more trip like hiking across the glacier!
