Customer Reviews

The scenery was amazing. The hikes were nice and the guides provided insight to the fauna and flora of the area. Walking with the penguins were a real treat. Visiting the colony of Magellanic penguins was definitely a highlight of the cruise. Traveling in the Strait of Magellan was a surreal moment. We had a great group at our table. Meal service was incredible, as was the bar service.

Patagonia camp was absolutely sensational, the excursions and everything there was impeccable.

Horseback riding in the Lake District

Connecting with fellow hiking group mates

Crossing the John Gardner Pass was the most memorable moment for me! We'd had a rainy morning and we actually had a pretty gorgeous snowstorm as we were crossing over the top. I always felt safe with our guide Emilio, but I could barely lift my eyes. I was just following the footsteps right in front of me. Once we passed the tallest part of the trek, we started walking back down, and what lay in front of us was one of the most stunning sights I'd ever seen - a HUGE glacier! That was the most memorable day because it was an intense experience and the visuals still stick in my mind.

My most memorable moment was arriving at the Towers at 83 years old and twenty years after my quadruple bypass heart operation. I had been climbing for six hours by myself with a gash in my hand that required four stitches, a sprained wrist, and cuts on my nose and lip from a fall at camp.

Patagonia camp

Hiking to the top of the Base of the Towers with our entire group and being mesmerized by the beauty and grandeur of this National Park.

Wow, It's incredibly hard to pick just one moment. We were so lucky to have a great guide and crew, fantastic weather. Just to mention something I'll say the hike to catch the sunrise hitting the towers. It was the last day, the sun only partly came out but we sat there in all of our puffy clothes, inside our sleeping bags for a few hours and it was a great end to a super trip

The great hiking coupled with the amazing food and drinks, a winning combination

The main highlights were seeing the glaciers, climbing to the top of one of the waterfalls and walking among the penguins. Patagonia is one of the most serene places we have ever been. It is truly a place where you can enjoy the natural beauty that the world has to offer. During one of our excursions, the guide asked us to take one minute to enjoy in silence the sites and sounds that Patagonia has to offer. In that moment, we were truly able to appreciate the landscape, as well as the sites and sounds of the birds and other wildlife. Our stay at the Barraco Lodge was also very unique. The hospitality of everyone at the lodge and the level of service they provided was truly amazing.

The highlight was walking on the Grey glacier. This is a totally different experience from hiking and takes some getting used to. Walking on a river of ice with crampons is daunting at first, but one soon starts feeling secure and can appreciate the amazing surroundings. Our guide, Anna, was fun to be with - she took great care of us and we thoroughly enjoyed her company.

Too many highlights. The landscapes are extraordinary. The Chilean were very welcoming, and all the other travelers I met along the way were super friendly. There were a few magical moments, riding into a rainbow, or experiencing a storm in Cape horn, or watching the pinguins.

The adventure tat Swoop organized for us was perfect in very respect. It was beautifully coordinated with the two major venues in our itinerary; The Ventus Australia’s Tierra del Fuego expedition cruise and the time we spent in Patagonia Camp. Both segments of the trip were of quality outstanding quality run by highly professional, safety conscious, warm and caring staff. Everything from the beauty of the glaciers to the surreal vistas 9f snow covered mountains is something that is embedded in out souls and or memories for the rest of our time here on the planet.

Honestly, after hiking all day in El Chalten, going to the Glacier Piedras Blancas, then arriving at camp to find our tents completely set up with sleeping bags ready and a lovely dome with snacks and drinks prepared! That was such a beautiful sight after a beautiful hike!

Getting to see pumas up close!

Pros: excellent scenery, guiding was fair to excellent, reasonable value, swoop organizers were helpful and responsive to issues. Cons: lodging was variable..refugios are not a highlight...some better than others, food options also variable, should have easy hikes first and move to progressively harder hikes instead of the reverse!!! If you can afford it, choose a better option...if not, grim and bear it!

Amazing! It's a land of immense beauty, I've seen nothing like this. We saw Fitz Roy in the best weather possible and it takes your breath away. Grueling hike to the base of the towers in Torres del Paine brings a magical moment of first seeing them in the clearing in the clouds and staying in full view.

The views of the mountains and lagoons. Each of the hikes were spectacular and every one of our guides were knowledgeable, friendly and accommodating. I was surprised at how much they knew about the flora and fauna. Particularly about the birds.

The 4 others we made the trek with (just 4 other people in our 6 person group) were fantastic. All from different groups but all shared a similar mindset for nature and adventure!!!