4.7 Stars (1139 reviews)
Excellent, the trip of a lifetime!
Patagonia Hiking Adventure, January 1970
4.6 Stars (56 reviews)
I wanted trees, high mountain lakes, undulating trails, waterfalls, kayaking and I got it all! I forgot to mention good food and wine. In January, the days are long and the stars and moon were beautiful. This trip needs to be promoted more with better pictures! I think some people are afraid of Patagonia because all they hear about is the W trek. Our guide, Mayra, was amazing and adapted to our every need.
Northern Patagonia Adventure, January 1970
4.6 Stars (56 reviews)
Beautiful countries . Our guide Mayra was an outstanding leader,
informational wiz of the environment we traveled to and had complete control of our itinerary. All guides and drivers were very professional and knowledgeable.
Northern Patagonia Adventure, January 1970
4.6 Stars (56 reviews)
Another AA trip. Another great adventure. After already having been to southern patagonia, I wanted to experience northern patagonia and see the difference between the two. Both are beautiful in their own way with the south having more towering big peaks and the north having so much water and volcanoes. As is always expected with AA, the trip leaders are awesome and fun to spend time with. I would highly recommend either adventure.
Northern Patagonia Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (1139 reviews)
The W-Trek was awesome -Los Torres, Los Cuernos, and the French Valle were all particularly spectacular and IMHO there is no substitute for seeing them in person. The day hikes to Lagunas de los Tres, Lomo del Pliegue Tumbado likewise were beyond description; and we were extremely fortunate that we reached the viewpoints as the weather cleared and could see them in bright sun light! Our tour guides were just awesome hosts in introducing us to this amazing land; they really brought everything to life while taking care of the needs of the group. And it was fun to experience the area with our fellow tour group members. The trip was challenging as described- much of the trails are rougher than those normally those encountered in the western US – they go straight up rather than constructed with switchbacks; and were very rocky- having trekking poles was critical for going up and down these. The wind was persistent and challenging at times; trekking poles helped with balance during exposed stretches such as Windy Pass on the Las Torres hike. Expect to have some rain; we had at least a little rain each day, but only two days where we it was windy and wet for a few hours. The refugios are what you expect – very basic, somewhat cramped, but generally the rooms are clean and bathroom facilities are good, normally cleaned twice a day. We visited during high season and the refugios were pretty crowded, especially Refugio Las Torres and Vertice Paine Grande. They added some of their own interest to the adventure, and it was interesting talking with other visitors. Everything added to a great and memorable experience.
Patagonia Hiking Adventure, January 1970
4.7 Stars (1139 reviews)
This was an amazing adventure. All of our guides were fantastic - friendly, well informed, capable and genuinely wonderful people. In particular, our trip leader, Cem Inal, was a true gem. We have made a few suggestions as to lodging, gear and one accomodation, but would recommend this trip highly to anyone. A true life experience.
Please see our comments in the other fields. This was a fantastic trip, but also costly. To be fair, we suggest a refund/trip credit for the unnecessary rented sleeping bags and cancelled kayak activity. I am happy to chat on the phone if you like.
Patagonia Hiking Adventure, January 1970
4.6 Stars (56 reviews)
If you get a chance to hike in Patagonia, consider yourself one of the lucky ones. The beauty of the area with the mountains, lakes, forests, volcanoes and glaciers left me in awe. According to our guides, we were blessed with good weather as Patagonia can get very windy requiring certain revisions to be made on a day’s itinerary.
Speaking of itineraries, the itinerary posted on Active’s website for Northern Patagonia needs some serious updating. There was a couple of hikes that changed but not reflected on the website. People book these trips based on the itineraries, so needless to say, there were a couple of moments of disappointment for me during the trip.
For the most part, I enjoyed all the hikes. We went during their summer season so we encountered a lot of visitors along the trails. One of my most memorable hikes was Cerro Goye (not on the itinerary). It was a technical hike, cliffy and sandy while gaining elevation. As we were hiking the peak, we saw 3 Andean condors flying above us, it was surreal. Once you get to the peak, you are rewarded of a 360 view of the mountains and lakes. I personally would have appreciated 1 or 2 more technical hikes on this trip.
I loved our main tour guide, Mayra. She was friendly, funny, patient and accommodating.
If you enjoy red wine, do not pass up the opportunity to buy some while you’re in Argentina. They have great Malbec. Enjoy a glass or two in your hotel room at the end of the day (don’t forget to pack a wine bottle opener!) Also if you are a beer drinker, you will find yourself in IPA heaven. lol
And if you enjoy fish, do not pass up the opportunity to try the trout and/ or the Chilean bass. Delicious!
Argentine pesos: you can get them when you arrive at the airport in Bariloche or take a walk from Las Marianas Hotel to Mitre Street (the Main Street for shopping) there will be solicitors on the street for currency exchange but if you go that route, it’s preferred that you exchange large USD bills ie $50 or $100 for a better rate exchange and I find it to be the same in shops too when paying in USD they want you to pay in large USD bills.
Lastly, I strongly recommend you arrive at least 1 or 2 days ahead not only for rest but the efficiency of the local airlines can be quite dubious. A fellow hiker “lost” his luggage at the Bariloche airport. If it wasn’t for his air tag, he wouldn’t have known that it was at the airport all that time in a storage closet. 2 days later, He ended up returning to the airport to get an airport personnel to help retrieve it. (I tagged along for moral support lol)He was initially informed that once his luggage was located, it would be delivered to his hotel which never happened. It was crunch time and he had all his hiking gear in his suitcase. That was a close call. There were two other hikers who arrived on the morning of the first day’s hike due to a flight cancellation, they looked tired, not a fun way to start the trip but we all survived. lol Prepare for possible travel glitches.
Northern Patagonia Adventure, January 1970
4.8 Stars (56 reviews)
Excellent guides, food, itinerary and route! The team felt like a group of old friends. I did not have to plan or manage a single detail. Perfect for myself, a solo, female, traveler in her 40’s.
New Zealand E-Bike Adventure, January 1970