Reflections Of A BP Traveler: A Seamless Tour Of Patagonia & Chile
Nestled at the southern tip of South America, Patagonia beckons discerning travelers with its rugged beauty, untamed landscapes, and awe-inspiring vistas.
Beyond the region’s most famous hiking trails and iconic natural wonders are hidden gems and insider travel experiences. From custom-made outdoor adventures across the Torres del Paine National Park to gourmet private culinary experiences in spectacular natural settings, Patagonia envelopes its visitors in a world of exquisite experiences. What’s more, Patagonia’s luxury accommodations blend seamlessly with the natural environment so even time at leisure transcends the ordinary.
In an attempt to shed light on this captivating region, we interviewed one of our recent travelers, Maria Caldwell, to find out more about her experience with Blue Parallel and her bespoke luxury tour to Patagonia…
How Did You Hear About Blue Parallel?
Planning a trip to Patagonia felt like a daunting task. It is a once-in-a-lifetime journey, and this trip was a celebration of my 60th birthday, so we wanted it to be special. Therefore, I knew straight away I wanted to work with an expert travel company.
I was researching online, looking for luxury tours to Patagonia that included the accommodations and activities I had in mind, and I found three companies that appealed to me, including Blue Parallel. I actually contacted all three. In the end, I preferred Blue Parallel’s itinerary to Patagonia and believed they have the best access to hotels and experiences.
How Was Working With Blue Parallel Different From Your Experience With Other Luxury Travel Companies?
I have worked with other tour companies in the past and have also planned a lot of my own trips too. What I really enjoyed about working with Blue Parallel on our tour to Patagonia was that I had one point of contact who worked to ensure that all the hotels, restaurants, activities and transfers were addressed.
I didn’t have to worry about anything. Normally, I take on the role of “mum” and have to know and manage what we’re doing and the logistics of it all, but that was all meticulously organized by Blue Parallel and the amazing on the ground contacts. I could truly be on vacation and enjoy the time I had with my husband, sister and brother-in-law without worrying about what was next on the itinerary.
Another positive was that our trip was uninterrupted. We could tell Blue Parallel staff were working hard behind the scenes to ensure everything was as seamless as possible, and they did so by contacting our guides, drivers and hotel staff directly; all of our interactions with our local guides, drivers and hotel staff focused on the Patagonian experience and not the organizational details that are part of any successful trip.
DOWNLOAD OUR BESPOKE PATAGONIA JOURNEY PDF
Please Summarize Your Blue Parallel Experience In 5 Words/Phrases…
I would use the following the words and phrases to describe our travel experience with Blue Parallel:
- Efficient
- Outstanding experiences
- Fantastic guides
- Seamless travel
- Accommodating
How Did You Find The Pre-trip Experience With Your Personal Travel Expert?
Blue Parallel understood what we wanted from our journey to Patagonia and really listened to our travel preferences. They shared helpful information and expertise during the planning stages and customized our tour to our desires. It was a very efficient process from start to finish.
Did You Feel Supported By The Blue Parallel Team During Your Trip?
Blue Parallel were on top of communication throughout our trip, but they liaised with our guides and hosts to not bother us. We knew they were there and were always a phone call away, but it was all very low key and in the background which we appreciated.
Can You Share Your ‘Wow Moments’ Of This Trip?
It is hard to pick just three! However, I would pick:
1. Perito Moreno Glacier, Los Glaciares National Park
We knew we wanted to visit this iconic landmark and were offered the choice between kayaking or ice-trekking. As really active people who love adventure travel, we requested both and Blue Parallel accommodated this. We spent the morning kayaking around the glacier, then we walked along the boardwalks and then we took a boat to the ice trekking activity.
We spent the entire day at the glacier and it was sensational. The best part is that we witnessed a huge piece of the glacier calve and fall into the water which caused some of the icebergs to move. It was a truly unforgettable experience.
2. Horseback Riding, El Calafate
The scenery in El Calafate is breathtaking and expansive, and being able to explore this on horseback was wonderful. We enjoy hiking and walking, but this was a unique experience and offered a different perspective. I would describe it as beyond beautiful.
3. Immersed In Nature
We were constantly witnessing nature in its natural habitat and felt completely immersed in our surroundings and the local wildlife, which was truly special. During one hike, we even watched a guanaco jump over a fence just a few feet from us on the trail and it was an incredible moment.
What Were Your 3 Favorite Accommodations?
We loved Mari Mari on the Chilean Coast. Staying there was an incredible experience, and I would say it was the most spectacular place we have ever stayed. The view, the service and the food were all incredible. We even got to meet the chef which was a special touch. Every night I would take a blanket outside and admire the night skies. There were shooting stars each night and the milky way was beautiful!
The Explora gave us a true sense of what Patagonia is all about, while Eolo was like living in a screensaver. The views from every room were stunning and the sunrises were incredible.
Did All Of The Guides Meet Your Expectations?
Yes, all of the guides were fantastic in their own way. Natalia in Argentina was so spectacular, I don’t think anyone else could live up to her; she had a wealth of knowledge and funny anecdotes for everything which we loved!
Explora’s guides were also remarkable. They were really high quality and friendly and because the guides were assigned based on the activities, the overall experience was really elevated.
How Valuable Was The Team’s Insider Knowledge And Experience?
Blue Parallel’s connections, knowledge and experience were invaluable. We were able to stay at all of the hotels we wanted and had access to all of the landmarks and activities that interested us and more. This journey really exceeded our expectations.
DOWNLOAD OUR BESPOKE PATAGONIA JOURNEY PDF
Do You Think The Team Created An Itinerary That Was Ideally Suited To You?
Blue Parallel listened to our desires and created a custom itinerary just for us. For example, we wanted to have as much time immersed in Patagonia’s breathtaking landscapes and didn’t want to spend too much time in the cities and our itinerary was tailored around that request.
We visited regions with stunning scenery and were taken on adventures that allowed us to spend as much time outdoors as possible.
Is There Anything You Would Have Done Differently?
Our accommodation in the Chilean Wine Country – Viña Vik – was beautiful and the location and amenities were great. However, if we were to return, we would prefer to stay closer to Chile’s best wineries and remove the drive to and from the accommodation and give us more time at the bodegas.
What Do You Think Makes Blue Parallel Special?
I think the people make Blue Parallel special. Everyone we engaged with throughout this experience was so nice and very knowledgeable, including the travel experts, the guides and our drivers. It is clear that Blue Parallel thoroughly vets their team; everyone is wonderful.
Contact one of our Travel Experts today and discover how Blue Parallel can help you create an unforgettable tour of Argentina and Chile.
