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Jesse Barrera

Hi! I specialize in creating unique trip itineraries for all those keen on visiting the narrowest and longest country in the world: Chile. I believe travelling should be for everyone and can help in adjusting your trip to your budget while assuring the best quality.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"I specialize overall in Chile, including Easter Island. I adjust trip activities based on the travellers profile and preferences. I'm also vegan so I know the importance and difficulties of assuring meals while on the road!"

How did you get involved in travel?

"I believe money and time is best spent when making memories and living new experiences! My dream is to travel around various parts of the world while getting to know about its people, culture and ways of life."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"On my honeymoon I went to the Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve. Imagine an enchanted forest where you can choose to stay either in a cabin deep into the forest, a hotel that's shaped like a mountain or up in treehouse-like refuges. I'm not a very adrenaline-seeking person but we chose to go rafting on the Fuy River and it was amazing. We were in luck (atleast that's what the guide told us!) because the currents were very strong which meant a more adventurous journey down the river! We travelled downstream for about 2 hours in total, stopping in between to drink some refreshing water from a small waterfall and jumping in to the river from high up on the bank. I have never felt so energized before and would definitely recommend it to anyone and everyone who has never done rafting of any sort."

Jesse is part of the following groups: Patagonia Travel Agents, Chile Travel Agents
Top itineraries and travel advice

Favorite experiences

Isla Magdalena & Penguin Colony Boat Tour

Located on the Strait of Magellan, about 18 miles (30 km) northeast of the Patagonian city of Punta Arenas, is Isla Magdalena. On this island is Los Pingüinos Natural Monument, a protected area home to Chile's largest colony of penguins. A half-day boat excursion to Magdalena involves first...

Boat Trip to Laguna San Rafael National Park & San Rafael Glacier

47 miles (77 km) west of the Patagonian lakeside town of Puerto Río Tranquilo lies Bahía Exploradores (Explorers Bay). This bay sits at the western end of Valle Exploradores (Explorers Valley), which is situated at the confluence of the Exploradores, Oscuro, and La Teresa rivers at Laguna San...

Boat Excursion to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers

Head out on a 7-hour boat excursion from Puerto Natales to the southern end of Bernardo O'Higgins National Park, home to the Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers. During this scenic ride, you can enjoy panoramic views of native forests and sea lion colonies. Next, you may leave the boat for a short...

Recent trip reviews for Jesse

Birthday trip to Chile and Argentina
Chile | May 11 - May 22, 2024

Lauryn
Lauryn G.
North Port, FL | Reviewed on May 23, 2024
Jesse planned a very last minute trip for myself, my husband, and our one year old that was wonderful for our family! We felt like we got to see a lot during our 12 day trip but the pace was not so rushed that we were exhausted. I would highly recommend visiting Chile and Argentina, they are beautiful countries with very friendly and kind people. Jesse was there to answer all of our questions and had a very quick response time when we needed a last minute change. We felt confident traveling... Read more

Jesse planned a very last minute trip for myself, my husband, and our one year old that was wonderful for our family! We felt like we got to see a lot during our 12 day trip but the pace was not so rushed that we were exhausted. I would highly recommend visiting Chile and Argentina, they are beautiful countries with very friendly and kind people. Jesse was there to answer all of our questions and had a very quick response time when we needed a last minute change. We felt confident traveling with the itinerary she planned for us and would do it again in a heartbeat!

Hotel Reviews
Renaissance Santiago Hotel
Santiago

Very nice hotel with a great location and friendly staff.

Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Amerian Park Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires

This hotel is in desperate need of room upgrades. The door to our room looked like it had been kicked in with marks and debris on the floor and a broken/missing doorstop. We did request to change rooms however the other room the staff showed us looked very similar. The tub/shower was falling apart with pieces of tape across the tile and a moldy and cracked shower handle. Breakfast was included with our stay however the options were very limited and of poor quality. The location very central and the lobby is very modern and up to date which is why I did not give this hotel a one star review.

Location
Cleanliness & Comfort
Very small beds with only one pillow per person. Room needs upgraded and deep cleaned.
Calafate Parque Hotel
El Calafate

Small hotel with a great location for downtown walking and a great breakfast. We did not have a chance to use the jacuzzi/sauna but loved that it was an option.

Hotel Costaustralis
Puerto Natales

Stunning hotel with beautiful waterfront view. Our room looked out over the water and we loved that we could open the window to catch the sea breeze. Breakfast was delicious and the staff were very kind and helpful to us.

Activity Reviews
Full-Day Tour of Torres del Paine National Park & Surroundings
Full-Day Tour of Torres del Paine National Park & Surroundings
Chile

This was our favorite day of the whole trip with stunning views of Torres del Paine National Park. Our guide was Jhon Pineda and he was super friendly and helpful and took some absolutely amazing photos of our family. He truly went above and beyond to make sure we got the best quality photos and videos and we appreciate him so much. He made sure we were comfortable with our baby all day and always checked on us. This tour cannot be missed!

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Jhon Pineda is an amazing tour guide!
Transport
Alex was our driver and he made sure everything went smoothly for the entire day!
Dinner & Tango Show
Dinner & Tango Show
Buenos Aires

Amazing food and service with a tango show that was out of this world! The dancers, musicians, and singers are so talented I could have watched them perform for hours! Truly talented!

Food
Large menu to select from and very generous staff who kept the wine flowing!
Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on May 24, 2024

Hi Lauryn,

I'm so glad you and your family enjoyed your 12-day trip in Chile and Argentina 😊 I imagine it can be tough sometimes to travel with a baby so I'm happy to have been of help with the planning!
I apologize that the Amerian Park hotel wasn't up to standards, we will definitely consider using another hotel so that our travelers can enjoy comfortable accommodation in each destination while on their trip.

Don't hesitate to reach out in the future for another visit to our wonderful country - there's still lots more to see!

All the best in your future travels,
Jesse

We had a wonderful trip to Santiago , the coa...
Chile | Apr 19 - May 2, 2024

J
Jyoti J.
Los Angeles, CA | Reviewed on May 09, 2024
We had a wonderful trip to Santiago , the coast and wine country thanks to the amazing welcoming and caring by Dominique and Eliseo. They were real, authentic and so helpful, prompt and communicative. Dominique also went out of her way to make sure we knew our pick up times, etc for other outings. They both helped me celebrate my birthday in a special lovely way. Dominique is so knowledgeable and Eliseo despite our language barrier was so fun and caring for us. We had a blast and great... Read more

We had a wonderful trip to Santiago , the coast and wine country thanks to the amazing welcoming and caring by Dominique and Eliseo. They were real, authentic and so helpful, prompt and communicative. Dominique also went out of her way to make sure we knew our pick up times, etc for other outings. They both helped me celebrate my birthday in a special lovely way. Dominique is so knowledgeable and Eliseo despite our language barrier was so fun and caring for us. We had a blast and great introduction to Chile thanks to them both.

The trip to Patagonia was also amazing. KimKim did take care of all the details. Some additional descriptions about tour time pick ups and drives would have been helpful but in the end we had a blast.

Activity Review
Boat Trip to Glacier Grey
Boat Trip to Glacier Grey
Chile

This was a great cruise. I think it would have been helpful to have more of a description regarding the pick up time, the length of drive, and need for walk to the boat as felt somewhat surprised by the morning. The trip was fantastic though but could have had a better description of what to expect.

Quality of Experience
Beautiful!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Driver on this leg was not that communicative and the van did not heat up so we were Freezing!
Transport
Van did not work well in terms of heating so a cold drive first thing in the morning was challenging.
Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on May 09, 2024

Hi Jyoti,

It makes me happy to hear you and Amy enjoyed this special 14-days trip getting to know Santiago, Colchagua Valley and Puerto Natales! It was our pleasure to help plan something special for your birthday as well 🎉

I will pass on your kind words to Dominique and Eliseo, they contribute a great deal so that our travelers feel welcomed and cared for during their journey!

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you ever decide to visit Chile once again, maybe this time for a trip to the Atacama desert? 🏜

All the best in your future travels,
Jesse

Review of Chile Honeymoon
Chile | Mar 23 - Mar 30, 2024

Sophia
Sophia A.
Atlanta, GA | Reviewed on Apr 01, 2024
Overall, great experience. In hindsight, would have planned the trip for Patagonia first and then Santiago toward the end to break up the extensive traveling from Puerto Natales --> Punta Arenas --> Santiago --> Atlanta --> Knoxville. The international flight is our fault because it was cheaper to purchase a connecting flight. Additionally, the city tour of Santiago was good, but our tour guide did not give as great of a history lesson of Santiago as she could have in comparison to our other... Read more

Overall, great experience. In hindsight, would have planned the trip for Patagonia first and then Santiago toward the end to break up the extensive traveling from Puerto Natales --> Punta Arenas --> Santiago --> Atlanta --> Knoxville. The international flight is our fault because it was cheaper to purchase a connecting flight. Additionally, the city tour of Santiago was good, but our tour guide did not give as great of a history lesson of Santiago as she could have in comparison to our other tour guides who were excellent. Our favorite hotel was Bidasoa. Liked that all of our transfers were pre-booked for us. Saved us a lot of time and made the traveling seamless.

Activity Reviews
Hike in Torres del Paine National Park
Hike in Torres del Paine National Park
Chile
Santiago City Tour - Private
Santiago City Tour - Private
Santiago

History lesson wasn't great. Very repetitive. Somewhat slow. Felt we didn't see as much as we could have.

Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Chile
Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island
Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island
Chile
Valparaíso & Wine Tour
Valparaíso & Wine Tour
Santiago
Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on Apr 02, 2024

Hi Sophia,

It's great to hear that your overall experience was a great one during your 8-day trip in Santiago and Patagonia 😊 That's one of the awesome things about booking with Kimkim, it really allows you to relax on your trip and concentrate on enjoying the sights instead of juggling all the reservations for hotels, excursions, transfers etc!
Don't hesitate to reach out in the future for further exploration of our beautiful country 😀

All the best in your future travels,
Jesse

Guides are superb!
Chile | Mar 19 - Mar 23, 2024

D
Diane S.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Mar 29, 2024
Our guide in Valparaiso Chile, Lautaro, was very informed and helpful. We asked him to take us to an empanada place and the waiters and empanadas were the best. He and our guide in Santiago, Hernan, his father, gave us such valuable educated and experienced information besides the sites we visited. They so enriched our experience and knowledge of Chilean culture and history.
Our guide for the mountain trek, Sebastian, also enriched our experience and knowledge of the nature and eco system....
Read more

Our guide in Valparaiso Chile, Lautaro, was very informed and helpful. We asked him to take us to an empanada place and the waiters and empanadas were the best. He and our guide in Santiago, Hernan, his father, gave us such valuable educated and experienced information besides the sites we visited. They so enriched our experience and knowledge of Chilean culture and history.
Our guide for the mountain trek, Sebastian, also enriched our experience and knowledge of the nature and eco system. His training as an eco tourist guide really gave us a depth of knowledge and appreciation. He was also very helpful with managing our group trek with our physical abilities. We appreciated his love and care with the delicious sandwich bag, which he made and the lovely little picnic at the end with native fruits. and wine to celebrate.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Boutique Acontraluz
Valparaíso

Stunningly beautiful location and rooms, delicious breakfast and very helpful and friendly staff.

Authenticity & Character
beautiful old building and architecture
Location
In artistic neighborhood, close to art murals, restaurants, shops. Stunning View of Valparaiso from rooms.
Staff
very friendly, helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
very clean and comforatable
Hotel Director Vitacura
Santiago, Vitacura, Región Metropolitana
Authenticity & Character
This was a new area as opposed to old Santiago. However, the restaurant was superb .
Location
We wished to be close to old Santiago, but realize it was probably a safer location and close to shops and parks.
Staff
Once the staff warmed up, they were very friendly and helpful. We enjoyed interacting with the waiters and a desk person.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Transfer from San Antonio Dock to Valparaíso
Transfer from San Antonio Dock to Valparaíso
Chile
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
San José Volcano & Andes Mountains
San José Volcano & Andes Mountains
Santiago
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Santiago City Tour - Private
Santiago City Tour - Private
Santiago
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on Apr 01, 2024
Hi Diane, It's lovely to hear from the majority of the group that they really enjoyed their 5-day trip in Valparaíso and Santiago 😊 I will definitely let all our guides know of your praises and how they helped make your journey a very fun, informative and cultural adventure! The observation of the hotel in Santiago is correct, we prefer to have our travelers stay in that area due to it being a safer area than downtown currently is. In any case, I'm glad you enjoyed the restaurant!
As I've...
Read more

Hi Diane,

It's lovely to hear from the majority of the group that they really enjoyed their 5-day trip in Valparaíso and Santiago 😊 I will definitely let all our guides know of your praises and how they helped make your journey a very fun, informative and cultural adventure! The observation of the hotel in Santiago is correct, we prefer to have our travelers stay in that area due to it being a safer area than downtown currently is. In any case, I'm glad you enjoyed the restaurant!
As I've told the others, please don't hesitate to reach out if you decide to explore new destinations in Chile, I would be happy to help again!

All the best in your future travels,
Jesse

The guides were wonderful.
Chile | Mar 19 - Mar 23, 2024

Catherine
Catherine M.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Mar 27, 2024
Lautaro gave us an interesting tour of Valparaiso. He even knew the best places to get something to eat and gave us recommendations of where to go on our own. Sabastian led us a on a memorable hike in the Andes. He was most patient and considerate of me and my limited abilities. Hernan gave us an insightful tour of Santiago since he was personally involved in some of its recent dark history. Ivan did a wonderful job piloting the bus, even getting us to the airport on... Read more

Lautaro gave us an interesting tour of Valparaiso. He even knew the best places to get something to eat and gave us recommendations of where to go on our own. Sabastian led us a on a memorable hike in the Andes. He was most patient and considerate of me and my limited abilities. Hernan gave us an insightful tour of Santiago since he was personally involved in some of its recent dark history. Ivan did a wonderful job piloting the bus, even getting us to the airport on time,

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Boutique Acontraluz
Valparaíso

This is a beautiful hotel with very warm, welcoming staff and spectacular views of the port of Valparaiso. I am sorry that we only stayed there one night.

Authenticity & Character
The beautiful interior
Location
The view of the harbor
Staff
They were so friendly and helpful.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Just a delightful place to stay
Hotel Director Vitacura
Santiago, Vitacura, Región Metropolitana

A modern hotel in an up-scale neighborhood within walking distance to a variety of shops. The breakfast that they provide is amazing in its diversity.

Authenticity & Character
This is a modern hotel with an excellent restaurant.
Location
Its proximity to a super market and an ice cream parlor
Staff
The staff was not overly friendly but they were quick to attend to any problems.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Spacious rooms
Activity Reviews
Transfer from San Antonio Dock to Valparaíso
Transfer from San Antonio Dock to Valparaíso
Chile

Lautaro gave us the highlights along with suggestions for further exploration.

Quality of Experience
Lautaro's knowledge
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Lautaro's personality and Ivan expert driving
Transport
Comfortable van
San José Volcano & Andes Mountains
San José Volcano & Andes Mountains
Santiago

Sabastian made this a wonderful experience with his knowledge and experience. He was very patient and accommodating.

Quality of Experience
Not everyone can say they went hiking in the Andes
Food
Sabastian made us a delicious lunch and had a lovely picnic for us at the end of the hike.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Sabastian was amazing, knowledgeable, and understanding of our abilities,
Transport
Comfortable van
Santiago City Tour - Private
Santiago City Tour - Private
Santiago

Hernan was able to tell us from personal experience about the history of the capitol city.

Quality of Experience
A personal, intimate tour
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Hernan and Ivan were great
Transport
Comfortable van
Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on Apr 01, 2024

Hi Catherine,

I'm glad you also enjoyed your 5-day trip to Santiago and Valparaíso along with the crew! Our guides really do make the difference when exploring this beautiful country and I'm happy they were able to contribute positively to your journey. Also thank you for sharing those awesome pictures📸
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you decide to explore new destinations in Chile, I would be happy to help again!

All the best in your future travels,
Jesse

Our local specialist put together an amazing ...
Chile | Mar 19 - Mar 23, 2024

David
David T.
Chicago, IL | Reviewed on Mar 25, 2024
Our local specialist put together an amazing experience for us. The local guides and drivers were punctual, knowledgeable, and caring. I would use Kimkim for travel again. Now that I have had the experience with Kim Kim, I think I would have the confidence to tailor the trip more to my interests. Everything Jesse planned for us was well executed with very few changes. Our pickup time was changed, in one case, to avoid traffic related to school schedules, and it was a wise decision. All the... Read more

Our local specialist put together an amazing experience for us. The local guides and drivers were punctual, knowledgeable, and caring. I would use Kimkim for travel again. Now that I have had the experience with Kim Kim, I think I would have the confidence to tailor the trip more to my interests. Everything Jesse planned for us was well executed with very few changes. Our pickup time was changed, in one case, to avoid traffic related to school schedules, and it was a wise decision. All the surprises were delightful ones

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Boutique Acontraluz
Valparaíso

Wow, just wow. The hosts were so gracious and caring. The views from the room verandas were stunning. The staff gave us maps to beautiful walking tours and there was nothing more we could have needed. Our only regret was booking only a single night. If you are coming to Valparaiso, book an extra day just to absorb the color and poetry of this neighborhood.

Authenticity & Character
This is an historical building whose character and charm is preserved but carefully updated to modern standards.
Location
It's just a beautiful neighborhood. A maze of amazing treasures. Anything you could need is within walking a few blocks.
Staff
SO gracious and accommodating. We could not believe our good fortune.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Several cozy common areas and comfortable seating in rooms and verandas
Hotel Director Vitacura
Santiago, Vitacura, Región Metropolitana

This is a lovely and reasonable hotel with good amenities. It is surrounded by fancy restaurants but we decided to eat in the hotel restaurant 3 of 4 evenings, for the convenience and the varied menu. This hotel is in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods and hence very safe, but also lacking in character.

Authenticity & Character
Location
This hotel was chosen by our tour planner. I would have chosen a different location closer to museums, history and local culture. Others in our group of 6 may feel differently. This was in a wealthy and cosmopolitan area, hence very safe but also uninteresting.
Staff
The staff was great, especially in the restaurant. We encountered one unfriendly desk clerk but others were welcoming and helpful. I guess it would be asking to much for the door/security person to smile.
Cleanliness & Comfort
Rooms were large and comfortable and cleaned quickly while we were out. Views on upper floors were great.
Activity Reviews
Transfer from San Antonio Dock to Valparaíso
Transfer from San Antonio Dock to Valparaíso
Chile

Our young guide was very knowledgeable and outgoing. He keyed in on our interests and gave us some awesome tours. He left us with a strong understanding of local culture that really helped us appreciate what we experienced on our own.

Quality of Experience
Plan to 2wlk and explore
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Punctual, knowledgeable and caring
Transport
Punctual and safe
San José Volcano & Andes Mountains
San José Volcano & Andes Mountains
Santiago

The drive was a bit grueling but our guide planned it to make it less so. We began our mountain trek on a small farm, surrounded by goats, chickens, sheep cows and horses. Our guide knew the locals and was very knowledgeable about everything. Sebastián is trained in eco-tourism and we traveled leaving only footprints on this beautiful mountain trail in the shadows of volcanoes and glaciers.

Santiago City Tour - Private
Santiago City Tour - Private
Santiago

Hernan is an older gentleman but very fit and capable. Chile has a very complex history and Hernan spoke genuinely from his own experience, making this a very rich and touching experience for us. He tailored the tour completely to our interests from start to finish.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on Mar 26, 2024

Hi David,

I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed your time here during your 5-day trip in Santiago and Valparaíso 🤗 It's awesome to learn our guides played such an important part in making this journey memorable and that they were able to share so much of their local knowledge with the group.
Please don't hesitate to reach out if you decide to explore new destinations in Chile, I would be happy to help again!

All the best in your future travels,
Jesse

Jesse was awesome and made our trip planning ...
Patagonia | Feb 12 - Feb 24, 2024

Paige
Paige S.
Tysons Corner, VA | Reviewed on Feb 28, 2024
Jesse was awesome and made our trip planning breeze. She was very responsive during the planning process and proactively asked us questions and shared draft itineraries. Everything was completely seamless during our trip and coordinated perfectly. Jesse was also very responsive during our trip whenever we had questions, and proactively provided her direct contact information in case anything came up. Thank you so much for making our trip unforgettable, Jesse! Read more

Jesse was awesome and made our trip planning breeze. She was very responsive during the planning process and proactively asked us questions and shared draft itineraries. Everything was completely seamless during our trip and coordinated perfectly. Jesse was also very responsive during our trip whenever we had questions, and proactively provided her direct contact information in case anything came up. Thank you so much for making our trip unforgettable, Jesse!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Eco Boutique Bidasoa
Santiago

Loved the location of this hotel and the decor.

Authenticity & Character
Loved the decor
Location
Safe and walkable location
Staff
The staff was excellent
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was spotless
Hotel Cabo De Hornos
Punta Arenas

Fantastic location. The rooms were a bit dated but very comfortable

Authenticity & Character
A little dated but very clean and comfortable
Location
Right in the city center
Staff
Really helpful
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was very clean and beds were comfortable
NOI Indigo Patagonia
Puerto Natales

Great views and location. Staff was very accommodating to early morning trekking schedules and making sure we were fed an caffeinated before pickups!

Authenticity & Character
Loved the look of the hotel and how it fits in with the special aesthetic of Puerto Natales
Location
Right on the lake
Staff
All staff that we met over our 5 day stay were great
Cleanliness & Comfort
Room was very clean. Didn’t like the rainfall shower as it seemed inefficient and the beds could have been a little more comfortable
Rochester Calafate
El Calafate

The staff at this hotel made the stay a pleasure. Rooms were comfortable and the hot restaurant was nice.

Authenticity & Character
Comfortable and clean
Location
A little outside of city center but that was okay with us. They also provide a regular shuttle into main part of town, but we ended up just walking back and forth because the weather was so nice and the walk was on 30 mins or so
Staff
The staff was lovely and so accommodating
Cleanliness & Comfort
My only gripe is that the hot water on the dual tap was really hot, so you had to be careful!
Activity Reviews
Private Dinner
Private Dinner
Santiago

This was one of our top two favorite activities of our trip, second only to our big ice excursion in Patagonia. Gloria is an amazing cook and their hospitality was unmatched. Such a special evening for us!

Quality of Experience
Unique, authentic experience. Outside of the typical tourist experience
Food
So good, and we loved the wine pairings as well
Guides, Drivers and Staff
It was like having dinner at a friend or family member’s. They were so warm, friendly and fun
Transport
Santiago City Tour
Santiago City Tour
Patagonia

Loved seeing the city sites, including the Presidential Palace. We also were very interested in the history leading up to and after Pinochet, and also in modern day Chile. Our guide was so knowledgeable and we appreciated his honesty and perspective. I also really liked learning more about Mapuche culture and history.

Quality of Experience
Lautoro was an excellent guide and we appreciated how open and honest he was!
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Interesting and honest
Transport
Great mix of driving and walking. We like to walk so this was perfect for us and allowed us to see more of the city by foot
Hike in Torres del Paine National Park
Hike in Torres del Paine National Park
Patagonia

This was such an incredible experience and one that I would recommend not missing if you’re able to do the 10 hr trek! It was challenging but so rewarding. Remember, there’s no bad weather just bad clothing (I.e. pack for all weather and wear appropriate trekking shoes!)

Quality of Experience
The trek was awesome, the guides made it even better
Food
We arranged a packed lunch through our hotel which I highly recommend doing
Guides, Drivers and Staff
They were helpful and very personable. Made the day even more fun!
Transport
Got us there quickly and safely
Trekking Torres del Paine Active
Trekking Torres del Paine Active
Patagonia

This was our favorite trek of the trip and one of the most beautiful parts of the “W”. If you are able to do this trek do it, but it is challenging. Again, no bad weather just bad clothing so pack appropriately as the weather is constantly changing during the trek. Also, wear proper trekking shoes as the trail gets challenging so it’s essential to have appropriate foot wear.

Quality of Experience
This was a awesome trek, made even better by the guides
Food
Arranged for packed lunch through hotel
Guides, Drivers and Staff
They were so funny and personable. They made the day even more fun!
Transport
They got us there safely and quickly
Perito Moreno Glacier Big Ice Excursion
Perito Moreno Glacier Big Ice Excursion
El Calafate

This was our top experience in Patagonia. Do not miss this, as it’s one of the most unique experiences you can have. This was challenging but so incredibly worth it. I also learned so much about the current state of Perito Moreno glacier and the lifecycle of glaciers. The guides are so passionate and knowledgeable

Quality of Experience
This was an amazing experience that I had I’ll reflect on for years to come
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Luis and Guillermo were knowledgeable and passionate about glaciers, trekking and Patagonia. Could t imagine better guides, they were amazing!
Transport
I loved that we saw the glacier from the observation decks by foot, from the ferry on our way to trek on the glacier and then from the glacier itself. This was an amazing experience
Valparaíso & Wine Tour
Valparaíso & Wine Tour
Santiago

We loved visiting the vineyard first and having the personal tour of their grounds to understand their approach to winemaking. It was definitely the most informative and comprehensive vineyard tour and tasting I’ve ever had, and I learned a lot. The murals were the highlight of the Valparaiso tour and it was cool to walk through the city and see how the art is incorporated throughout.

Quality of Experience
Our tour guide at the vineyard and Lauturo made this experience great
Food
Enjoyed the restaurant in Viña Del Mar
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Great guides
Transport
Comfortable
Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island
Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island
Chile

It was so amazing to see the penguin colony on Magdalena Island. This was definitely worth the trip down to Punta Arenas to do. We also saw an amazing amount of sea life on the boat ride to and from the island (whales, tons of dolphins, orcas feeding, a Sea lion…)

Quality of Experience
Seeing the penguins, sea life
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Boat was very well run and it was a comfortable trip to and from the island
Transport
Seamless transfer to the docks and to and from the island
Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Chile

This was some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen between the glaciers, waterfalls and mountains. It was also very cool to visit the ranch and see the horses and dogs. Lunch was also good!

Quality of Experience
Beautiful scenery, transportation was really well run, the lunch was tasty and in a beautiful facility
Food
Very good, several options
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The staff on the boat and servers at lunch were great and very accommodating
Transport
Clean, well run
Free Day in El Calafate
Free Day in El Calafate
El Calafate

We ended up liking the outskirts of El Calafate better than the main downtown area. There were lots of restaurants and shops, but none of them seemed particularly unique or authentic as what we experience in the areas of Punta Arenas, El Chalten, and our favorite Puerto Natales. Downtown El Calafate seemed a little too resort for our tastes, but the places we visited outside of that area we liked better.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
All guides and staff in El Calafate were fantastic
Transport
Transport was great
Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on Feb 28, 2024

Hi Paige,

Thank you so much for sharing your awesome experience during your 13-day adventure here in Chile 😊 I strive my very best to make all of my travelers enjoy themselves to the fullest and I'm so glad you were able to experience that during your trip.

I will make sure to let all of the operators know of your praises as well since they're the heart and soul of all our adventures! Don't hesitate to reach out again for future exploring of our country (or neighboring countries).

All the best in your future travels,
Jesse

It was a great trip to Patagonia arranged via...
Patagonia | Jan 26 - Feb 3, 2024

V
Vineetha K.
Pleasanton, CA | Reviewed on Feb 07, 2024
It was a great trip to Patagonia arranged via kimkim. Jesse helped us with the itinerary planning, as well as suggested options that we could do based on our interest. She arranged for special meals that I needed. I really appreciate that. She made alternate arrangements when boxed lunch for one of our day trips was not dropped off as planned. The airport pick up/drop off and tour pick ups were very seamless, except at one place where the instructions were not provided in the itinerary to... Read more

It was a great trip to Patagonia arranged via kimkim. Jesse helped us with the itinerary planning, as well as suggested options that we could do based on our interest. She arranged for special meals that I needed. I really appreciate that. She made alternate arrangements when boxed lunch for one of our day trips was not dropped off as planned. The airport pick up/drop off and tour pick ups were very seamless, except at one place where the instructions were not provided in the itinerary to take the tour bus after the boat trip to the Glacier. We had a pick up come to our hotel in the morning so we expected to see a ride waiting for us, but no one was there, so we ended up having to Uber back to the hotel. This was a minor inconvinience. Other than that every thing was hassle free. We had a great experience. THank you for enabling us to have a memorable experience.

Activity Reviews
Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island
Penguin Colony on Magdalena Island
Patagonia
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Trek to the Peak of Mount Ferrier
Trek to the Peak of Mount Ferrier
Patagonia

Quite intense and difficult hike. It was very steep. Not recommended for those with knee issues

Guides, Drivers and Staff
Ramiro was a great guide!
Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Boat Tour to Balmaceda & Serrano Glaciers
Patagonia

Whiskey with glacier ice at the end of the trip was great!

Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on Feb 08, 2024

Hi Vineetha,

Thank you both for being such great travelers, it was my pleasure to plan this trip for you 😊 You survived all that hiking which was awesome and I'm sure you got to see some amazing views!

All the best in your future travels,
Jesse

Overall a fantastic experience
Chile | Dec 16 - Jan 1, 2024

Jian
Jian X.
China | Reviewed on Jan 31, 2024
This is the second time I’ve used Kimkim for a holiday. I normally do them myself but for harder destinations which require more research I find Kimkim perfect. We had a fantastic trip of a lifetime to Chile and Jesse was super helpful, always so responsive even when on holidays such as Christmas etc so that was something we really appreciated. We had given Jesse some feedback about some small things eg one of the hikes we went on in Patagonia was described as a half day walk in the blurb... Read more

This is the second time I’ve used Kimkim for a holiday. I normally do them myself but for harder destinations which require more research I find Kimkim perfect. We had a fantastic trip of a lifetime to Chile and Jesse was super helpful, always so responsive even when on holidays such as Christmas etc so that was something we really appreciated.

We had given Jesse some feedback about some small things eg one of the hikes we went on in Patagonia was described as a half day walk in the blurb but it actually turned out to be a full day walk (which is quite important to know when you are hiking as the distance/time is something which is important in terms of planning for food and water etc and also night activities afterwards) and some other things which she took onboard. But overall it was a good trip and I would book with Jesse and Kimkim again

Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on Feb 02, 2024

Hi Jian,

So happy to hear you enjoyed your trip 😊 It was my pleasure to plan and help out along the way. We know traveling can be a lot sometimes especially during holidays which is why we strive to make you feel accompanied every step of the way.

All the best in your future travels,
Jesse

The trip overall was a good trip. But pick up...
Chile | Dec 26 - Jan 3, 2024

C
Chun Esther y.
Seal Beach, CA | Reviewed on Jan 19, 2024
The trip overall was a good trip. But pick up and some detail communications were good on day 1 and 2 then dropped off to nothing. The pick ups were always late. More than half hour late. Guides often speak poor English. One Easter island excursion was cancelled last minute. I really think this kind of stuff should not happen. I hated scrambling all day to see what I can do and eventually I ended up with nothing. I should have gone swimming at the beach. Read more

The trip overall was a good trip. But pick up and some detail communications were good on day 1 and 2 then dropped off to nothing. The pick ups were always late. More than half hour late. Guides often speak poor English.

One Easter island excursion was cancelled last minute. I really think this kind of stuff should not happen. I hated scrambling all day to see what I can do and eventually I ended up with nothing. I should have gone swimming at the beach.

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Don Raul
San Pedro de Atacama

Extremely hot in the room. No ac and no fan

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Cordillera Refuge
Uyuni

The refuge charges for toilet papers, water and WiFi. Extremely dour in their expressions. They seem to really dislike tourists.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Nuevo Amanecer
Uyuni

Their smiles are appreciated. I could tell they are trying to provide comfort as much as they can. Having a little WiFi would have been nice, but there wasn’t any.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Easter Island Eco Lodge
Hanga Roa

Slightly far from the beach

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
They don’t speak english
Cleanliness & Comfort
Holiday Inn Santiago - Airport Terminal
Santiago

Comfy

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Valley of the Moon Tour
Valley of the Moon Tour
San Pedro de Atacama
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Too many pick up stops. Wasted too much time
Tour of Tatio Geysers
Tour of Tatio Geysers
San Pedro de Atacama

Not interesting

Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Cejar Lagoon, Ojos del Salar & Tebenquiche
Cejar Lagoon, Ojos del Salar & Tebenquiche
San Pedro de Atacama

Lagoons were interesting and floating in the lagoon was well organized.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Too many pick up stops
Uyuni Desert Excursion - Day 1
Uyuni Desert Excursion - Day 1
Uyuni
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Morning Tour to Orongo
Morning Tour to Orongo
Easter Island
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Uyuni Desert Excursion - Day 2
Uyuni Desert Excursion - Day 2
Uyuni
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Uyuni Desert Excursion - Day 3
Uyuni Desert Excursion - Day 3
Uyuni
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Uyuni Desert Excursion - Day 4 & Return to San Pedro
Uyuni Desert Excursion - Day 4 & Return to San Pedro
Chile
Quality of Experience
Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Afternoon Tour to Ahu Akivi
Afternoon Tour to Ahu Akivi
Easter Island

Wish the guide spoke better English

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Rano Raraku and Anakena Tour
Rano Raraku and Anakena Tour
Easter Island

Overall a good tour. Just the group is too big.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Jesse Barrera
Jesse
Jesse Barrera
Local specialist in Santiago | Replied on Jan 20, 2024
Hi Esther, Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. I'm happy to know that overall you had a good experience and you enjoyed the sights in Uyuni. I understand your frustration with what seemed to be delayed pickups. The driver has to pick up other travelers which is why a window is given, for some days that window can be up to 40 minutes as stated in the itinerary. I'm sorry you weren't able to enjoy the snorkeling session as planned, the weather wasn't ideal and I reached out... Read more

Hi Esther,

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. I'm happy to know that overall you had a good experience and you enjoyed the sights in Uyuni.

I understand your frustration with what seemed to be delayed pickups. The driver has to pick up other travelers which is why a window is given, for some days that window can be up to 40 minutes as stated in the itinerary.

I'm sorry you weren't able to enjoy the snorkeling session as planned, the weather wasn't ideal and I reached out as soon as I was informed of the cancellation.

We are currently looking to work with other accommodation options Uyuni so our travelers can have a more enjoyable experience during their time there.

All the best in your future travels,
Jesse