February Reviews

Overall, Not only I could see a lot of great landscapes but also, I enjoyed sharing time with other members of group tour coming from variety of countries and having nice local foods like ram and nice local wines. Staying in Refugio was the most impressive things for me. There I could totally keep myself out of my works, e-mail and smart phone etc. And by guides and other group members I could complete over 100km hiking for sure.

We had a very lovely guide from Antares, Phillipe, who did a great job showing us around. My sons were particularly impressed by seeing the puma having her morning breakfast. The landscapes were impressive, and I enjoyed seeing the wildlife. The Pampa Lodge was particularly nice. I really enjoyed the quiet and the view from the lodge itself. Everyone we interacted with was very nice and friendly. The only confusion was in arrival from El Calafate. Apparently, the Always Glaciers company does not have the right to go in to the bus terminal, and we arrived a bit later than Antares was anticipating. In the end it was fine, and I have no hard feelings with Antares for that. It was a simple mix-up and they did offer an additional dinner as compensation for the confusion. We did really enjoy our itinerary with them -- I'll say it again... puma!

Overall a magnificent trip. A wide variety of experiences, both urban and rural, varying landscapes and activities. Chile and Argentina fishing lodges were both wonderful. They were different but would recommend each of them. The owners and staff of each lodge were amazing, as was the food and level of attentiveness and service - we felt like well treated family members at each. We also met some other travelers that we enjoyed spending time with in the evenings and at meals. The fishing in Chile was more difficult than in Argentina but the water in Chile was unbelievably beautiful - an amazing shade of blue. Flying by helicopter over the Chilean Rivers was one of the magical parts of the trip. We were in Santiago and Buenos Aires for a day each and were glad we stayed a night on the way in and out of South America. The boutique hotels were both lovely and we were happy to be in smaller properties.

Reaching the towers, (Torres de Paine) with our group. It was a challenging day but very worth it, we all felt great at the top, and the view and scenery were amazing.

Reaching Torres

What awed me the most has been the stunning, sheer beauty of the mountains, besides the wonderful landscapes and the infinite open range horizons. Also, the wildlife is amazing, we got to spot a puma, too (and condors, caracals, llama, guanacos, red and grey foxes...). I’ll teach my grandchdren the respect for such a special, unique place like Patagonia.

Standing on the tip of Cape Horn on a beautiful cold sunny morning, with a nearly calm sea, and being the southern most people on any continent on the planet (except for Antarctica !) And another one...walking up close under Mount Fitzroy, again in stunningly clear and beautiful weather And another one...the absolute drama of Perito Moreno Glacier And lots more !

Great weather and views of Torres from Patagonia Camp

Beagle Channel and Isla Martillo as well as Perito Morino

Memorable - the 100km winds on the John Gardner pass! Favourite - the moving clouds and frequent rainbows in the TdP.

Patagonia Camp - fantastic place to stay. We also enjoyed the hikes in Torres Del Paine and El Chalten.

Crossing a raging river on a zip line. Seeing the Torres. Seeing Mt Fitzroy.

Standing on the viewpoint looking out at the pristine landscape. No jet trails in the sky. No roads cut into the landscape. No buildings, power lines, or other visual impact from humans. Inspiring to see the land the way nature created it.

An unexpected highlight was the other hikers in my group. We had a wonderful time getting to know one another during our walks. The landscapes and wildlife were breathtaking. John Gardner Pass was probably my favorite day. This trip will be highly recommended to any family/friends interested in a wild, wonderful adventure

The story I tell first is the unsuccessful attempt to climb Laguna de los Torres because of the sideways wind, rain and cold. Just to take off my raincoat to add a down jacket was quite an experience.

Hiking to the base of the towers.

Reaching the summit in the fossil hike. The description was underwhelming but the hike was an exceptional mix of forest, pasture, and barren mountain top with incomparable views. It would also be helpful to mention it is a 600 meter vertical climb.

There was a moment where we had spent about an hour hiking on our third day. When we reached the top of a ridge, we got our first view of the valley and it was utterly breathtaking. Patagonia is so beautiful that it does not make sense.

Lunch breaks on the viewpoints with the group.

Too many! Lunch at a glacier watching an avalanche, celebrating my birthday and my best friends birthday with a specially made cake by the Serrano camp staff, getting about a foot away a wild Guanaco, our talks with our amazing guide Anne. Too many to name.