Customer Reviews

It is difficult to single out just one highlight as every day brought new things to marvel at. The magesty of the mountains, the awesome glaciers, the variety of birds, the characterful range of animals, the ever-changing vistas, the charm of the different cities and towns and the ever-present friendliness of the people we met en route. One of the many images that will stay with me is the magical sight of Andean Condors soaring above our heads on the thermals at Torres del Paine. Also the reflections of snow capped mountains in the glass smooth water at Rio Serrano, the towering wall of the Perito Moreno glacier as we sailed closer and closer and the comical antics of the Humboldt and Magellanic penguins on the Isolets de Punihuil off Chiloe. Even the torrential rain, complete with thunder and lightning, that we walked through at the Iguazzu Falls and which left us all soaked, literally, to the skin despite waterproofs was an experience to remember !

The stay at the Explora Patagonia Salto Chico Lodge and the adventures had in Patagonia were absolutely exceptional - The service provided by Swoop to confirm details of the trip with me were helpful planning the trip, in an area I was not familiar with. We left with confidence that all the details planned would come to fruition, and they did. We were seeking an incredible over the top experience with this trip and it exceeded our expectations!

I honestly enjoyed the interactions with the guides and the other team members that I met during the trip. There was no one moment for this, it was throughout the trip. Each location had its own experience to make it unique but the memories from the friendships made will be most memorable.

Every day of the trip was unbelievable. The highlight was definitely the W trek. The landscapes were beautiful and we were able to see many rare sightings of native animals such as huemul and puma. We met many like-minded hikers who were passionate and excited about experiencing Patagonia. The guides and locals were all extremely friendly and welcoming. Every time someone asks me how my trip was, my first response is "YOU HAVE TO GO!"

So many memorable moments of our Patagonia trip - dramatic crossing of the Pollone river in full flood, reaching the Circo de Los Altares to view Cerro Torre - an amphitheatre of iconic mountains, 30 minute exhibition by 20 Condors for our personal benefit, climbing Mount Madsen in the shadow of the Fitzroy Massif, crossing the Andes by boat and bus retracing the start of Che Guevara's famous motorcycle expedition, relaxing in Valparaiso and a biodynamic vineyard for a few days prior to our return. All our guides were excellent and wonderful company.

Highlights includes the view from the base of The Towers, viewing icebergs from the ferry, the eco-domes and meeting new friends.

Hard to state as one wonderful event followed another. The Estancia Cerro Guido was spectacular. But, the beauty of the Patagonia Camp was without equal.

The hikes and overall beauty of Patagonia was definitely the highlight. But the hotel and people we met were a close second. Everyone working at the hotel, from the staff, to the bar tender and waiters to the guides, were all so accommodating and gracious. We really could not have asked for a better trip.

Overall my trip was incredible. I honestly don't know if I can think of a highlight - the group was amazing, the guide was fantastic and the views were just second to none. I couldn't have asked for a better group, we all got on so well and the guide (Armando) couldn't have been better.

Awasi was a great resort and the very knowledgeable guides made it a wonderful experiences.

I would not say that the people working in the refugios were particularly friendly, but wow the people we met along the trail were all so unbelievably friendly! Almost everyone we passed said Hola, and it felt like we were all friends sharing this great experience together. The landscapes were unique and breathtaking, something new around every corner. We were fortunate enough to have good weather, as I think that would be the biggest cause for disappointment for most trekkers in Patagonia. The most magical moment was when we reached Mirador Britanico... impossible to describe the feeling of being in such an overwhelming place. Much like the first time I looked down into the Grand Canyon. The biggest surprise was how beautiful Los Cuernos were in person; photos do not do them justice. But Mirador Las Torres was the real reason for the entire trip to Patagonia, and despite the huge amount of people there and on the trail, it was one of the most spectacular things I have ever seen.

It's hard to choose a single, most memorable moment. But certainly the opportunity to walk amongst a colony of wild penguins was the most joyful experience. Sharing the accomplishment of reaching hard-to-reach hiking overlooks with my hiking companions is a close second.

Successfully finishing a challenging hike through Cerro Castillo.

Meeting and interacting with the Chilean people. Experiencing the wildness of the country. Reveling in the vast unspoiled back country. And so much more.

Our trip was amazing! We only wish we could have stayed longer. Patagonia Camp was superb. The service was exceptional and the yurts were very comfortable. We enjoyed the community there and meeting fellow travelers. It was a highlight each night to come back and enjoy good conversation about the days adventures over delicious wine and beautiful views.

El Chalten/Mt Fitzroy

There are so many memorable moments that it is hard to choose. A funny one was when the kayak leader at Lago Desierto told us to put on the special waterproof outfit. I wasn't expecting that. The leader served us cookies and coffee when we took a break on land in the middle of the trip. Then there were snow flurries as we neared the end. It was a great experience!

Swoop and JLA prepared me well. Just enough to ensure I took the right stuff and had realistic expectations but not too much so no spoiled surprises. Everything surprised and delighted me. I hope it doesn’t sound self-centred to say that most of all I surprised myself. I was petrified of holidaying alone as I didn’t know what to expect but I seemed to cope with all the challenges. On reflection I think that my enjoyment of the holiday was largely due to our group leader who successfully built and managed the group dynamic so well, ensured super smooth administration of the arrangements without any fuss and was always mindful of our needs.

Cape Horn on the Ventis Australis

There were so many to pick just one is an almost impossible task! However, the view from the Lazo Weber viewpoint on a stunning, clear day was spectacular.