Ray and his friends returned a week ago from a trip to Patagonia where they embarked on a W Trek in Torres del Paine. Here Ray tells us about their experiences…
‘My friends and I had a blast. Thanks for the excellent service.’
How did you find the trip?
We had an amazing time with some amazing people. Our guide Lucas was amazing, and we are so happy to have had two others join our group of 4. All 7 of us (including Lucas) connected instantly and enjoyed each other throughout the days.
The hiking was amazing and the rich knowledge Lucas had was astonishing at such a young age.
We were very surprised with the level of comfort at the refugios we stayed in, and we even coined it… “5-star hostel glamping”!
Did you visit anywhere else in Patagonia?
We also visited Santiago and were a little underwhelmed. Punta Arenas was OK, but we did wish we had had more time in Puerto Natales.
In retrospect, we would have liked to have known more about what was on offer in Punta Arenas and Puerto Natales beforehand, and skipped Santiago altogether.
What was the highlight of your trip to Patagonia?
The hiking was easy to moderate overall, but the scenery and landscape was amazing. And, of course the people we trekked with made a huge difference!
Do you have any tips for other people who are planning a trip?
Bring lotion for the super dry air and wind.
No sleeping bags required… accommodations are immaculate.
TIP YOUR GUIDE. They work hard and deserve it.
You can pack pretty light and reuse clothes since it was pretty chilly (perfect for hiking). A mid weight wool shirt is thickest thing you’ll need under your jacket ever.
How well did Swoop Patagonia do helping you plan your holiday, and finding the best trip or operator for you?
Everything was well arranged. Our only wish is there had been more insight offered on other areas of Chile to consider (such as the two smaller towns mentioned above).
How was the operator Swoop introduced you to, and your guides?
Lucas was amazing! Cannot say enough good things… humour, knowledge, empathy,… only improvement would be to have brought more avocados!!! JK…. Great guy!
Was there anything that you wish had happened differently/or not happened at all?
Hot water at the last refugio (Cuernos)… but that is just because we were spoiled at the other two. Also, the hot tub never worked in our cabana place.
