I am planning a trip to Chile in December. Have been talking with several companies but can't find many reviews. Does anybody have experience with chile travel tours?? Am also talking to Cascada but they're a little less responsive to my questions. These companies all seem to want payment by wire transfer, how secure is that?
Experience with Chile travel tours?
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You can contact them www.enaturchile.com are private travel specialist and they not ask for advance payments, you pay after you make your trip.
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Macarena, I just finished my trip and Chile travel tours did require advanced payment for everything. The entire trip cost hotels, flights, excursions etc. had to be paid fully in advance. for the most part things went fine. Did have problems with some meals not being provided as per the itinerary, etc, for which I'll need to follow up with Chile travel tours.
cmlong? .... anything further to add?
Or anyone else, I'll be visiting Chile in Nov-2013 and would like input on agencies/travel tours around the country. Am starting out in Santiago for several days(already have my international airfare), and then have ~ six days. Thinking of going up to Atacama and then perhaps a few days in Lakes District.
Suggestions? Ideas?
Thanks,
Just got back from 24 days in Patagonia starting in Santiago. Our guide service in the US was Jim at amazonadverntures.com he did a fantastic job with our private tour through Chile and Argentina, can't say the same about LAN airways. Our in country provider in Chile was Protours Chile, the guide to ask for is a young man by the name of Paul if you are doing Santiago/Valpo/Vina del Mar and he knows the Atacama well. Everything was flawless, highly recommended. We hope to set something up in a few years to go back and do wine country not only in Chile but in Argentina also using the same providers. Surprisingly you will find Chile more expensive than other SoAm countries.
rhbphoto -
Thanks for your input.
Chile has been an awesome experience!! really unforgettable!
This country is very outdoors. Amazingly scenic. This is something you dont see in others countries. This country has very affordable places to eat as well as Bed and Breakfasts by local families. It's named Hostal or Residenciales. What you paid is the quality that you get.
Please consider Chile as a VERY SCENIC country. Cities are major centers for your stay, the land around is there waiting for your adventure! Santiago Andes and Vineyards, Pucon hotsprings, Puerto Varas lake, The Old Valparaiso hills, Vina del Mar beaches, Concon seafood, San Pedro de Atacama Highlands!!!
After visiting Pucon's amazing hotsprings reports by the lake and the volcano forests (400miles from Santiago) . I took the Andes Lake Crossing in Puerto Varas (200miles further south). It was a wonderful and most exciting tour I have taken in my life! It goes from Puerto Varas to Bariloche towns! You cross the Andes mountain by catamaran! Well spent $250 USD! (lunch included!) Was the most unforgettable tour in my entire life!
Santiago thru Valparaiso-Vina del Mar multiplex is a beautiful coastal trip and cheap! Because you take the clean and unexpensive TurBus at the subway "Universidad de Santiago". Try Concon oceanfront as seafood lunch destination, its the top seafood town of Chile. I did visited every town in the coast , so Papudo Beach was my favorite, because its relaxing, charming , unexpensive and less invaded by tourists.
In Santiago, you can cheaply visit the world's famous cellar of the Devil at Concha y Toro winery at Pirque (entrance $25 with wine tasting included): Firstly go to subway station or Metro and go to "Plaza Puente Alto" and take a 5minutes taxi to "A Vinya Concha y Toro, por favor" ($8 per trip) and on your resturn tell to the taxi driver "A Metro Plaza Puente Alto, porfavor".
The Andes near Santiago has prime ski resorts in the austral winter (june thru sept) . I was in the chilean summer so horse-hiking in the Mountains of Maipo River basin was awesome experience. Check for buses firstly. I did rent a rustic cabin in Cascada De Las Animas park and Banos Morales (60min by bus ). By dawn, I enjoyed many hours of horse hiking thru the San Francisco Glacier! Made me feel I was in Himalayas! Beautiful.. and so close from civilization!
Northern Chile is magic. because there's the driest desert that look like Mars. Consider San Pedro de Atacama as the hub in the highlands. And Cavancha Beach in Iquique as the beach resort
In central Chile (Santiago area thru Puerto varas) is recommended to travel by bus because the land there's a strip of land of 700miles only. To Northern Chile, fly by Lan Chile.
2 weeks was like visiting many countries into one!
recommended!