Ten Day Chile Itineraries

We had a marvelous, unforgettable trip overall, including visits to Santiago, the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Easter Island, Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, Chile, and finally Antarctica. We experienced a great variety of Chile's vast geography and ecology, from the beautiful central valleys, to the northern desert, to the tropical Polynesian island of Rapa Nui (Easter Island), to the forests and mountains of Patagonia. The lodges and excursions they provided in each destination were well organized, with knowledgeable, English-speaking guides. We visited Antarctica and it was spectacular. The tour operator offers expedition travel for people who want to experience the polar regions firsthand. Our expedition, 14 days that went below the Antarctica Circle, featured expert guides who enjoyed sharing their considerable knowledge of geology, glaciers and ice (!), mammals, birds, and plants, to name just a portion, and excursions twice daily on zodiacs to sail among glaciers and whales and seals and walk among penguins and skuas. It was not a leisure cruise, but an expedition for folks who want to experience and appreciate the Antarctica up close. That said, the ship was extremely comfortable, with a remarkably hospitable staff and delicious, copious food.

Our travel company was excellent in helping us to conceptualize, plan, and organize our trip. They offered many useful suggestions about where to go, how much time to spend in each destination, and which options to consider for hotels/lodges and the Antarctica expedition. We greatly appreciated their advice and assistance in putting together our trip. All of the hotel and transit reservations were made, and that part of the trip went smoothly.

However, there was a persistent problem with our air travel in Chile that was unnecessary, and which caused us needless aggravation. For our internal flights (to/from Calama/Atacama, and to Puerto Natales), our travel company purchased the cheapest LAN tickets that did not include baggage allowance. I discovered this a month before we were set to travel, when I was carefully reviewing the reservations (and about 5 months after they purchased the tickets). When I informed the travel company in early January 2018, I said we of course had baggage (especially cold weather gear for Antarctica) and needed the 23 kg allowance. After I informed them of the problem, they did work to correct the problem, telling us they had purchased baggage allowances for those flights that didn't originally have them. We got a receipt from them for baggage for one of those flights (to Puerto Natales), and were told it was resolved for the Calama flights but LAN couldn't provide a receipt. When we did check in for those flights, the baggage allowance was covered, but our concern before each flight could have been avoided if they had bought the correct tickets. 

This problem became more apparent, and more aggravating when we were checking in to fly from Atacama to Santiago, and then on to Easter Island. We were told we could not check our bags all the way through to Easter Island because our tickets for the two flights that day were not on the same record. (This was due to the fact that two different priced tickets had been purchased. The Easter Island tickets were regular, economy tickets.) So we had to check in our bags to Santiago, retrieve them from baggage claim at Santiago Airport, and then return to the Departures area of the airport and check them in for the flight to Easter Island. Santiago Airport is a huge, crowded, messy airport, and this process of literally running around the airport took us 1.5 hours (of what was a 2 hour layover). We arrived at our gate for Easter Island just as people were boarding. This was not what we planned for or expected—and it could and should have been avoided if the travel company had bought the proper air tickets from the start.

This agency arranged a wonderful trip for us to Argentina and Chile (Buenos Aires, Mendoza, El Calafate, Torres del Paine, Santiago and San Pedro de Atacama).  The itinerary was prepared with our input and budget considerations though a very easy interactive process with their team. The accommodations and tours were as promised and we had a wonderful vacation that included city tours, wine tasting and some more adventurous outings in Patagonia and the Atacama Desert.  I can certainly recommend them for your travel needs without any hesitation.  A big thanks to our travel planners and the rest of the travel team.

My wife and I recently returned from 3+ weeks in Chile and Argentina. We started in the Atacama Desert area of Northern Chile, (staying at an all-inclusive), then on to Torres del Paine (staying at the Atacama's sister hotel), then to Estancia Christina, then to El Calafate (staying at a chateau), then to El Chalten, Mendoza (staying at a Wine Lodge), and Buenos Aires. Our primary objective was to experience the rugged beauty and hiking through Patagonia while enjoying a true first-class travel experience. WE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE THRILLED WITH THE TRIP. IT WAS PERFECT IN ALL RESPECTS. Our trip planner and his travel team delivered the most amazing experience imaginable. If you are thinking of traveling in Patagonia, you MUST stay at the all-inclusive in Atacama and Patagonia. Five-star service, food, rooms, guide services, and more. We hiked over 100 miles in the 12 days of hiking and enjoyed gourmet meals and exquisite rooms/service.

Not only did this travel team do a superior job planning our trip, but they also followed up with us every day or two to ensure we were thrilled with our trip. Every transfer went off without a hitch. The trip planner and his team are totally committed to delivering an incredible experience. I give them the highest recommendation. You will NOT be disappointed!

Finally, a word of praise for Zicasso. We have used them 3 times to assist in matching us with in-country trip planners: Australia/New Zealand, Vietnam/Cambodia/Laos, and Argentina/Chile. We have had consistently superior experiences as a result of their guidance! I recommend using them to plan your next high-end private tour.

Our trip started on November 7, 19 with our first stop at Santiago del Chile.  Our guide (from a local agency) spent two wonderful days with us. Even though our visit at Valparaiso had to be cancelled due to some street riots, the travel specialist has secured a visit at a winery in Casablanca Valley, as well as a winery where we had a tour, vine testing and a very good lunch.

Our next stop was at Puntas Arenas, from which a minivan had taken us to the Hotel in the Las Torres Del Paine .  The hotel and the staff were wonderful, very attentive and provided all services with big smiles.  Our first hike to Las Torres took us a whole day but what a view we did experience ... we will never forget the Las Torres view and excellent guides hotel had provided.

From Las Torres the minivan had taken us to El Calafate where next morning we were met by our guide - a wonderful lady, very experience and knowledgable tourist guide - we highly recommend her services. We spent a day visiting Glaciar Perito Moreno.  We spent two night at a Boutique Hotel, a very classy yet modern hotel.

From El Calafate we took a short flight to Ushuaia, where we stayed at a hotel.  Our trip to see the penguins and other water animals was very well organized (the captain of the boat could wear a more professional cloths but then he was a captain......).

From Ushuaia we traveled to Iguazu via Buenos Aires.  The Suites Hotel was spectacular; it was situated literary in the middle of jungle with lavish green vegetation in front of our balcony.  The Iquazu Falls are impossible to describe, one needs to see them from both Argentinian and Brazilian sides. Our private guide was superb - extremely intelligent, knowledgable, resourceful and very helpful - we highly recommend his services.

Our last stop was at Buenos Aires where we met our guide, a very educated city guide.  We had a wonderful time with her and  highly recommend her services as well.  The Tango Show was superb, not to mentioned a very tasteful meal.

We, Peter and I have planed this trip for a long time and with your help it was the trip we will never forget.

In Buenos Aires we met with our travel planner from this travel company; she was interested in our comments and suggestions with regards to provided itinerary. It is always better to provide more details rather than less or information which is  not quantifiable.  For example: "At appropriate time."..... rather than around 3 pm the van (it is important also to specify what van?) will pick you up from the airport.  This example is for the Puntas Arenas airport where nobody was waiting for us......

Overall, our trip was fantastic and we will always remember it.  Thank you for making it happen.

I have already reached out to your office for the itinerary for our next trip to Japan in September 2020.