Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

I loved Torres del Paine; we walked up to a viewpoint in the park and took some glorious shots of the massif with clouds and lakes in perfect conditions - I would have ideally liked another day here to simply sit and stare; the hike up to the base of the towers the next day was strenuous but taken in three parts so that all could cope. The final pull up the moraine was easier than I had expected and the rewards at the glacial lake well worth the effort. The famous Patagonian winds were in evidence all the way - take sunglasses for protection from the grit constantly blowing in your eyes! The hike to Fitzroy was equally awe-inspiring; our two guides Mauro and Johnny were a great team even producing flasks of tea at the lunch stop, and the circular route gave us some stunning and memorable views. On Christmas Day itself, we walked in the Tierra del Fuego National Park, saw the end of the world and then sailed down the Beagle Channel to meet the penguins - an unforgettable and epic day. To finish off in BA on Boxing Day with a tango show was the icing on the cake (!)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Dennis was constantly on the go, checking optional excursion availability and the next day's arrangements, I'm sure he was completely exhausted at the end of the trip. But he always had a smile and a joke for us, and lots of information about the areas we were travelling through. He also very kindly took 4 of us up an unnamed mountain behind El Calafate on his day off, for which we are eternally grateful as it added some views of the Uppsala glacier we would otherwise have missed as well as a gathering of 14 condors above some weathered sandstone. Beautiful!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do it! Patagonia is an amazing place and you will remember the mountains until the day you die. We encountered no animosity (a la Jeremy Clarkson and friends) and enjoyed some truly inspirational scenery. One caveat; if you change your dollars for pesos in BA anywhere other than the banks (not a great rate) they will not change it back at the airport on departure - you need your receipt as evidence. Some of us got around this by touting our pesos to the bank queue and offering a favourable rate... probably not entirely legal.

Suggestions

I am so glad I went, travelling alone can be daunting but I met a great group of people and made some good friendships with like-minded people - and learnt a lot from the photographers and bird-watchers; thanks guys!

Most Inspirational Moment

A difficult one to answer but if I had to pick one it would be the walk to the base of Mount Fitzroy. The walk in starts in the forest with glimpses of the glacier through the trees. Then there you hear the noise of the glacier moving. After 3 hours you have the choice to continue a steeper climber to base or rest for 2 or maybe 3 until the rest of us return. If you do proceed it is well worth it and the guide has one further surprise for few extra strides. On the way down and the walk back the the town the views just get better at every turn. The walk is about 28k but don't let that put you off, it is well worth it and you have to walk past all the pubs before getting back to the hotel. As I mentioned it is difficult to pick one moment as there are other great days to accompany the Mount Fitzroy walk.

Thoughts on Group Leader

The tour leader was great: kept you well informed about the days activity; relevant facts about each area; practical information useful for all of us and there to help and resolve little problems when they arose, very cool and unflustered.

Advice for Potential Travellers

You do need to pack for all weather conditions but as experienced, you may not always need them all. Do pack your walking boots or shoes they will get plenty of use and well worth it. The full day walk in Torres Del Paine is where the moderate activity level of trip is appropriate the but don't bank on a good hearty meal of wholesome food in the evening at the refuge, bring what allowable food you can into Chile you quite likely to appreciate it to stave off hunger. Don't forget the alcohol either, wine and beer, you will save a fortune.

Suggestions

Very pleased to have chosen to go on this trip, no regrets but I would recommend taking note of the advice above to offset one of major talking points of the trip. Enjoyed the variety offered, at times I felt like I was on one of the walking holidays, but that's fine I really enjoy them as well. The scenery is some of the best I have seen in the world. I know I have mentioned the Malbec a few times, but I don't have a drink problem, I didn't spill a drop.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing Torres de Paine so close after the bit of a scramble to get to them.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic. One of the best that I have ever had. Knowledgeable and very personable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not under estimate the difficulty of the 2 treks- Fitzroy Paine and Torres de Paine. They are not gentle strolls!

Suggestions

Refugio at Torres de Paine- the food there needs to be upgraded to something edible. The bunk beds are very comfortable and the showers are clean and have lots of hot water so no complaints there. But the food! I have stayed in refuges doing the Tour de Mont Blanc so I have a comparison. There the food was simple but well cooked and delicious. Surely they could do better.

Most Inspirational Moment

Torres del Paine National Park - I'd love to return to do more walks in it. Perito Moreno Glacier - was spectacular The Malbec wine and huge steaks!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Xavier was a excellent guide. He was easy going and everything was very well organised. He was extremely informative and nothing was too much trouble for him.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take plenty of waterproof and wind proof clothes. Take lots of $, as the ATM machines are not very reliable and the banks went on strike when we were in Ushuaia! If you can afford the time, I would recommend getting to Buenos Aires a few days before the tour starts or after it finishes, as it's a great city to spend extra time in.

Most Inspirational Moment

Without doubt both Claire and I felt that reaching the viewpoint at Torres del Paine was wonderful.  We were lucky with the weather that day and, although the wind did blow, the sky was clear and the views were better than any photograph because we were there!  It was a longish day with the last hour being a stiff climb up across a boulder slope but that made the achievement even more worthwhile.  

Thoughts on Group Leader

Xavier was an exceptional guide.  Nothing was too much trouble and he had a great range of knowledge.  He was also an expert in recovering lost items that some of us left in buses, aeroplanes and hotels.  He allowed us to be completely relaxed because despite his easy going nature, his organisational skills were exceptional and this meant we always left on time and had no problems with any leg of the travels.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared.  Have proper footwear and clothing for ALL weathers.  We had sushine in Buenos Aires and snow in Ushaia.  Temeratures ranging from 28C to freezing.  And did I mention the wind?

Suggestions

Overall this is a fantastic trip and I hate to gripe but we thought that the food in the Refugio at Torres del Paine was poor although the accommodation there was OK.  Good job we brought plenty of wine.  Otherwise this trip can be highly recommended, especially if you are as lucky as us in having such a fantastic group of people to travel with.

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the Torres del Paine, which are so iconic, was terrific. Even though it snowed on the hike, it was still a wonderful day. Fitzroy was a close runner-up. And Magellan Strait, of course -- a very ordinary strip of water with such huge historical importance (and besides, Magellan was one of my childhood heroes).

Thoughts on Group Leader

Couldn't ask for a better leader than Xavier. When a trip goes smoothly, you know it is the result of a lot of hard work; and he did it. Great pride in his country and always happy to discuss Argentina with curious foreigners. We learned a lot from him. The local guides at various stops were uniformly excellent; they made the trip so much more interesting.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take plenty of layers; the weather really can change quickly. Take plenty of US dollars, get to BA a few days early and find a way to convert to pesos at a good rate, not the official one. Take binoculars or a good long lens for your camera; lots of wildlife to focus on.

Suggestions

The long bus rides, often on gravel roads surprised us, but the buses were very good, and the long rides are just a price you have to pay to cover the vast expanses of Patagonia. You wouldn't get that sense of the country through flying in or taking a cruise ship into places like Ushuaia. It's worth it.

Most Inspirational Moment

Enjoyed all - the treks to the base of Fitzroy (especially back to Laguna de los Tres which is very like the Cairngorm area of Scotland) and to base of Torres del Paine (in a snowstorm); the short walk in Tierra del Fuego, the 3pm cruise on the Beagle Channel to Penguin Island. But if I had to choose then the two best moments were: - *Trekking on the Viedma Glacier on a gloriously sunny but cold day with an excellent guide team who provided and fixed crampons on everyone and helped you see into crevasses –complemented nicely the following day in Los Glaciares National Park walking around the boardwalks surrounding the Moreno Glacier. * The panorama from the top of Cerro de los Cristales (1282M), Lago Roca on a beautifully sunny clear day seeing Lago Argentina, Glacier Perito Moreno, and Torres del Paine without any cloud in a brilliantly blue sky.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Xavier was a really nice, helpful guy who was passionate about his country and very conscientious in ensuring we enjoyed the holiday. He readily engaged in conversation and was very informative in that context. He was particularly great helping us to sort transport etc re climbing Cerro Cristales on our own. Could possibly have been more forthcoming with general information about Argentina and Chile to the group as a whole especially when on the long bus trips.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Take dollars – can exchange readily. We got some Argentinean and Chilean currency from M&S before we left at a good exchange rate. In Chile 19% tax is added if you pay for a meal in pesos rather than dollars. Safe airport taxi system –Taxi Ezeiza – in the middle of the airport lobby. You pay at the desk (can pay in dollars) and then wait till escorted outside to your taxi. We also used this system back to airport- our group leader booked for us, told us the price and we paid the driver (try to have right amount or round up). Be aware of pickpocket scam in Buenos Aires – walking up Belgrano we were sprayed by something that looked like birdshit from behind. A nice middle aged lady offered me paper/water to clean up. She had some mates. As you clean up however your gear is stolen. Fortunately my husband was wise to the scam (I’d forgotten about it) and shouted to me to walk on. We cleaned up at the Hotel Dazzler where they told us a client had had his wallet stolen by this method the previous week. It’s not an urban myth. Pack for Scottish winter walking in the Cairngorm using a layered system (so if its warmer than what we experienced you’re covered). We had beautiful weather in general (plus one snowstorm that was actually fun) but were grateful for warm gear. Buenos Aires was variable (windy and wet when arrived, sunny and warm when left). Trekking poles are really useful. Wi-Fi was available at the hotels we stayed at throughout the trip but was slow. If you don’t already use What’s App get it for texts and photos (free under wifi). Most of the museums in Buenos Aires only have Spanish captions. Subway system good and cheap though told to wear backpack to front on it. If you have extra time in Buenos Aires, a day trip to Colonia in Uruguay by ferry is enjoyable. We went by Busquebus, booking on a Sat for a day trip on the Sunday. We also went a day trip to the Tigre Delta which was interesting. Train from Retiro Station then commuter bus to Tres Bocas. Some short walks there and two restaurants. Tigre has an Art Museum housed in a beautiful French Style Building – worth seeing. At El Calafate Laguna Nimez Bird Reserve is worth visiting. However if you are into walking try to do the Cerro de los Cristales climb at Lago Roca (CalTur bus at 8.30 am returns at 6pm 200 pesos). Quite hard going but worth it for the views if weather kind to you. From Lago Roca private campsite walk up to junction turn left, walk by path to Rock Paintings on right then just before a road leading off on the left to the lake there are two posts (minus the signboard) on the right that mark the start of the route. About 40 yds from these into the walk you’ll see another marked signpost. Route is obvious till near top where there can be snow. Scree at top but it is ok especially if you have poles. Allow 7 hrs round trip. Watch the weather especially winds at the top. Foodwise: difficult for vegetarians but if you can eat fish its fantastic. Really enjoyed Ayres Patagonicos El Chalten (informal, good food good music), La Tablita, el Calafate and Hotel Las Torres in Torres del Paine.

Suggestions

We were lucky and had great weather overall. Recommendations are very much weather dependant.

Most Inspirational Moment

The mountain walks...so so dramatic.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lovely man but struggled coping with a large group with diverse needs.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Book this holiday on a basis of the core activities do not on a basis of Exodus being able to deliver the optios.

Suggestions

This is an expensive holiday and therefore one you wish to make sure you choose the right company to go with. Exodus have already taken onboard my feedback about the options not being available and the problems of the group leader handling such a large group. I have much respect for their request for feedback of this nature. I will therefore do business again with them in the future.