Bill returned in March from a trip to Patagonia, during which he embarked on some fantastic hikes in Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares National parks. Here he tells us about his experiences on the trip and in booking with Swoop and our partners…
How was your experience of booking with Swoop?
The service I received from Swoop Patagonia was excellent. All emails were answered in a timely fashion and your staff responded very well to any questions I had. Further, you provided a number of options that I could chose from, in terms of activities, places to visit and making the best use of the time I had available.
How were Swoop’s partners who supported you in Torres del Paine and Los Glaciares?
The service I received from both partners was great.
The two different guides I had on the day hikes in Los Glaciares were excellent. They both knew the routes, had good knowledge of the geology, plants and weather conditions we encountered. Pablo (I think that was his name), who led the trek to Laguna de los Tres, had to make the decision to cut the trek short due to weather conditions (he thought we might run into heavy rain during the steepest part of the trek). I felt that he used good judgment in making that decision.
Regarding costs, I think the basic cost of the Self-guided W Trek was a little on the high side. I say that because this payment mainly covered transportation, and food/lodging arrangements at the refugios, and the boat on Grey Lake — no guide services.
If you were to do it all again, what would you change?
I would allow more time. Maybe two nights at Torre Central Refugio in order to improve the chances for getting some good views and photos of the actual Torres that are so iconic to any trek in Torres del Paine National Park. The day I trekked up to the “mirador” (where most people have their lunch and take in the spectacular view), on the 2nd day of the 5-day Independent W Trek, the “Torres” were shrouded in clouds and I couldn’t see much. My trekking companion had been up there a day earlier and had fantastic, clear, views and photos of the three rock towers. Weather can make a huge difference!
I also would have allowed another day in Argentina to visit the Perito Moreno Glacier. But I was unable to extend my flight itinerary due to the fact that I was using award miles for payment. Also, if I had booked the trip 6 months to a year in advance, I’m sure that I would have had more flexibility
‘Overall, I would certainly recommend Swoop Patagonia to friends, family or colleagues planning a trip to Patagonia. Thanks again for the excellent customer service that I received.’
