Chile

The first trip we organised that crossed over the border into Chile was a historical adventure that retraced the hoof steps of General San Martín (one of Latin America’s liberators and greatest heroes) retracing what has become known as one of history’s most audacious and brilliantly executed military campaigns. It was a fascinating expedition to organise and the perfect introduction to the wild, exciting, ribbon-of-a-country that winds down the bottom half of the South American continent, squeezed between the highest peaks of the imperious Andes mountain range and the vast expanse of the Pacific ocean.

Despite appearing as only a sliver of a place on the map, Chile is home to a vibrant melting pot of cultures and a plethora of vastly differing, wildlife-filled habitats. From otherworldly, scorched, volcano-dotted, arid landscapes to an agricultural bread basket of rolling hills, famous for its wines, to the almost tropical Lake District of Northern Chilean Patagonia to the vast, imposing wilderness and awe-inspiring scenery of its Southern regions. And, the cherry on the top of this fabulous multicoloured cake of a country, is Rapa Nui Island (formerly known as Easter Island). This remote Chilean island, two time zones away from the mainland, has a Polynesian culture that is vastly different to anything found on the South American continent, and much of it still today remains a complete mystery.

Where to go & What to do

The Northern Atacama region: famous for its section of the Puna plateau, known for being the driest place on earth, is also home to a dizzying array of terrains, some of the clearest night skies in the world and a suprisingly wide variety of wildlife.
Santiago, Valparaiso and the central wine region: the economic centre of the country and one of the few places in the world where you can explore the coast in the morning and relish the clear mountain air in the afternoon.
The Chilean Lake District by a geographical quirk, is almost tropical and has tremendously verdant land. Fortunately, much of the region is tricky to farm so has been left to its own devices and retains a great deal of its original fauna and flora.
The Aysen region: the difficulty of linking Aysen to other regions and the time it takes to travel around the area, much of which is only coverable by long stretches on the road or by spending a lot of cash on chartering planes or helicopters, has meant it is one of the lesser visited regions of Chilean Patagonia, though, if you have the luxury of time or are happy just to explore one region, it’s a world in itself.
Torres del Paine National Park is one of the world’s most famous parks and, at times and in certain sections, it can be a victim of its success, bursting with visitors. However, it’s a vast area and, with a little inside knowledge, you can still find the magic behind’s its fame, even at the highest point of the Summer season.

Travel logistics

Generally, our favourite times to travel to Chile is Spring (End of October to the start of December) and Autumn (March to April) during which times you are out of the more extreme weather patterns and the times when the country is more crowded.
The above said, assuming you are not travelling for a seasonal specific activity, such as skiing, due to the length of the country, there is not really a bad time to travel to Chile. Nevertheless, Chile has wildly different climates and habitats, and it is not helped by the weather becoming increasingly more erratic so we always advise each of our guest on a case by case basis.
Wine harvest: February to April
Season to visit Antarctica: November to March
Due to it geography, Chile can be a tricky country to travel around, with few connecting flights. For example, to get to Atacama in the north to Torres del Paine in the South, it would be two 2 h flights, approximately 6 hs to get through the airports and a total of about 6 hs driving.
Over the years, we have found Chile works best combined with different regions of Argentina. Some examples:
- Driving from Salta and the Northwest over the Andes to the Atacama region of Chile,
- Taking a boat from Punta Arenas, south of Torres del Paine, to Ushuaia in the southernmost province of Argentine Patagonia.
- Mountain biking, hiking and boating through the Andes to combine the Lake Districts of Chile and Argentina.
- Combing the central wine regions of Chile and those of the province of Mendoza.
- Road tripping along part of Chile’s famous Carretera Austral (the great southern road) and over the border on to the renowned Route 40 of Argentina. This takes you from the Aysen region of Chile to the Argentine province of Santa Cruz (this is one of our favourite road trips though it is one for keen drivers only!).

Things to keep in mind

For those passionate on stargazing, Chile is a great destination though it can be unpredictable so the more time you can give it the better and it is very important to keep in mind the moon cycle when planning, we’ll talk you through the best options during the preparation of your trip, though the main thing is to avoid a full moon and the days previous or after.
Altitude sickness can be a problem and can affect anyone irrespective of physical condition, particularly in the Atacama region. There are a variety of ways that we can help you avoid it, number one: take it easy for the first few days to allow you body to acclimatize, though we’ll talk you through the precautions during the organization and run up to your trip.
Where to stay in Torres del Paine: many accommodations advertise as a Torres del Paine hotel, though it is a very large area and it is important to understand the distances involved depending on where you are staying.
Antarctic trips and the boat trip through the Patagonian Fjords between Punta Arenas and Ushaia are, for most people, unforgettable experiences, though both require a night in the departure city before embarking.
It is at least a 5 h flight from Santiago to Rapa Nui (Easter island) and, for logistical reasons, it is necessary to spend a night either side in Santiago city.

Example Itineraries

Some examples of our favourite trips that we’ve organised over the years:

Long Adventures

Over 7 days

Short Breaks

Up to 7 days

What our guests say

May K

Lovely vacation Argentina and Chile. Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company: Perfect trip, it was lovely experience working with Paulo and his team very helpful in all ways and responsive for any questions or concerns he created WhatsApp group for fast respond that was very helpful, all the accommodation, he suggested it was perfect as far as location service kind from desk assistance very nice breakfast, and all the transportation was perfect on time and very professional. It was lovely, working with Paulo and his team and definitely we recommend his business for future traveler, thank you Paulo, and everyone for a wonderful trip we had an amazing time sending you our best regards from Los Angeles What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip? Everything was top-notch from beginning to end If you could take your trip again, what would you do differently? Actually everything was perfect. I wouldnt change anything Thank you so much for everything

Terry Tower

My experience with MacDermott's was wonderful. They set up all the ground transportation, hotels, and excursions for three locations in Argentina. I had different people meet me at airports with my name on signs for easy identification. The link to my own portal outlining my trip in detail was extremely helpful and comforting to my family since I was traveling alone. I was even met at my first hotel and given a booklet with artist sketches and maps for walking tours around Buenos Aires, and he wanted to make sure I was comfortable with my itinerary and to answer any questions. Thanks to MacDermott's my excursions were easy to join and I felt very safe. I went kayaking in El Chalten and ice trekking in El Calafate. The hotels were lovely and in good areas, so I never felt unsafe walking around. When I go back to Argentina, I will definitely be using this agency again to help organize my trip. I highly recommend them to all travelers.

Karen Mielke

We found MacDermotts through Zicasso and they planned our fabulous anniversary trip to Argentina. They listened to what we were looking for and found us unique experiences and awesome boutique accommodations. Highly recommended.

Alan L

Your overall comments on the trip and the travel company: Our trip to Argentina was absolutely phenomenal in a huge part due to MacDermotts and their careful selection of local experts! What were the most enjoyable or memorable parts of your trip? The hike down the mountain from Estancia Christina and the boat trip (captained by the boat brothers) from Llao Llao to Las Balsas were incredible, but truthfully, every single excursion was simply fantastic.

David Sprows

We spent a month in Argentina & Chile and it was a perfect trip !!! Hugh was a great partner helping us plan the best bespoke trip based on our personal preferences. They made all of our complex logistics completely stress free and arranged many unique experiences that we never would have found on our own. The hotels were all luxury and each one was unique which made the trip extra special. We would especially recommend all 3 Awasi resorts, Eolo and Jasmine (near Salta). We normally do our own travel planning but I am so glad we connected with MacDermott's to plan this amazing month. We will be going back and will definitely reach out to Hugh and his team again.

Lauren Marlais

My friend and I decided to plan a trip to Argentina. Argentina is a huge country with many sights to see, and we wanted to see as much as possible in the two weeks that we had alotted ourselves. We knew that our adventure would involve many hotels and airplane trips. We wanted our trip to be safe and comfortable and as efficient as possible. I spoke with several travel planners, but I felt most comfortable with Adriano from MacDermott's. He really listened to what my friend and I wanted from the trip. I could not be more pleased with how our trip worked out. We felt completely taken care of the whole time. We were promptly met at each airport ( we saw 5 cities all the way from the very north to the very south of the country) and brought to our accommodations. Each night we would get a text to let us know the itinerary for the next day and when we would be picked up. If we had a question, we would get a response from someone at MacDermott's within a few minutes. Each staff member went out of their way to make sure that we were completely comfortable. If I go back to Argentina again in the future, I will definitely contact Adriano, and I will definitely try to encourage anyone I know to use MacDermott's!

Jennifer Kidd

Mariana and her team at MacDermott's Argentina helped my family plan the perfect itinerary to Argentina! This was our first international trip as a family and we had two weeks to see and do as much as we could. Other than our flights to and from Buenos Aires, everything was taken care of by the Mariana. She coordinated our flights between Iguazu Falls, Bueno Aires and El Calafate with all the necessary transfers and hotel bookings. She selected the perfect tours and guides for all our excursions. She made certain we had excellent service every step of the way and was responsive and accessible for help or questions at any time during our stay. We never had to worry about anything while we were there and everything went so smoothly during our 2 week stay. There was clear and appropriate communication all throughout the planning stages leading up to the departure and throughout our trip. I can't say enough great things about this agency and how wonderful they made our experience. I would highly recommend MacDermott's Argentina to anyone looking for excellent service from a travel agency!

Claire Schoen

Cannot say enough good things about McDermott’s - Paulo organized a fantastic trip that took us to remote areas in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. Fabulous overnight in the salt flats! They did an excellent job working in a variety of experiences for us, based on our own interests. Highly recommended!

Tommy Heydinger

We could not have had a better honeymoon. From the day we arrived in Buenos Aires, to the trips to Mendoza and Bariloche, everything went so smoothly. Hugh planned out an incredible itinerary for us that was exactly what we were looking for. We had days where we had activities and were able to learn more about the culture and cuisine in Argentina, but we also had days where we could rest and relax. It was truly one of the most memorable trips we will ever take. Hugh and his team were also incredibly responsive whenever we had a question about any activity we were doing. I can't recommend him enough! The most enjoyable part of the trips for us was staying at Peuma Hue and Las Balsas. They were both beautiful properties and had no shortage of things to do. We loved having the opportunity to relax at both of these places. But, it was great to be able to hike at Peuma Hue and the meals we had there were unbelievable. We also loved the day we spent out on the boat. Our guides were amazing, especially with how accommodating they were for my wife. I am also so happy we were able to experience a Tango show. Although that is something we normally wouldn't do, it was great to experience the arts culture in Buenos Aires. In Mendoza, the property was absolutely beautiful and hanging out by the pool with a glass of wine was tough to beat. My favorite part of that was the cooking class! There is not much that I would change. Every domestic flight we took was so easy, with transportation to and from each airport, it really helped us feel comfortable in a place where we had never been. Every bite of food we had was exceptional. There truly is nothing I would change. I hope we are able to get to Argentina again, because there are so many other areas we would love to explore! We cannot thank Hugh, and everyone else, enough for making this a trip of a lifetime.

Gay Gasser

These guys managed to put together a memorable trip for 4 very different personalities! We gave them many challenges and were given just as many viable solutions. I can not imagine using anyone else when traveling to Argentina.