What our travellers say

Accompanied by an enthusiastic guide, we climbed a steep mountain to catch a glimpse of the condors, and we were given a trip of our unique hotel. The Patagonian landscape, with its mountains, was simply stunning. We happened to be there during the flowering season of gorse, a striking yellow plant that grows in abundance in these areas. This added that little bit extra to the scenery and, of course, to our photos.

The beauty of the lake district

The Chilean Lake District – an area we hadn’t really looked into beforehand – also turned out to be surprisingly beautiful. The long day-long hike we undertook to the Osorno volcano was breathtakingly beautiful and unforgettable: the beauty of the surroundings, the solitude and silence, the stunning views. The Seven Lakes Route we drove along ran through the Argentine Lake District, just before the border with Chile. Here, we drove through a nature reserve dotted with enormous araucaria trees. At the foot of one such tree, overlooking a babbling brook, we enjoyed our lunch: an idyllic spot. In short, Patagonia and the Lake District, the accommodation and the activities fully lived up to our expectations.

The highlight: Breathtaking landscapes in La Puna, Argentina

We still had the north to explore! The La Puna region, between Salta and the Chilean border, is a marvellous area with volcanoes, salt lakes and colourful landscapes. It was this part of the trip in particular that we found most impressive. The highly experienced and lovely guide who accompanied us was invaluable. He knew the area like the back of his hand and led us to the most beautiful vantage points – places you wouldn’t normally get to see, or aren’t allowed to visit, as an ordinary tourist. The colours, the variety of the desolate landscape, the views, the many salt flats and lakes, the Titia geyser area – it was overwhelming. However much we loved Patagonia and the Lake District, this area stood head and shoulders above the rest for us. The long days and the long drives on unpaved roads without encountering a single soul or vehicle were admittedly tiring, but we wouldn’t have wanted to miss it for the world. We’ve rarely seen such a beautiful, varied region!

Not holidaymakers, but travellers

It was just as our guide said: a trip like the one you’ve taken shows that you’re not just holidaymakers but travellers. You don’t come for the tourist attractions but to seek out the soul of a country, of a region. We experienced that feeling to the full thanks to the excellent organisation, the structure of the trip and the unique places we stayed. All the hotels arranged for us were beautiful, each one in an even more stunning location than the last. Sapa Pana Travel fulfilled our wishes perfectly. This travel agency is staffed by knowledgeable people who have a keen sense of what their clients want and need. Our compliments to Johan van Rijswijck and his team at Sapa Pana Travel!