Dear travelers & explorers:
Here are some testimonials and reviews of our travel services. Thanks to all and of course
we welcome all your comments.
Come see us!
Sincerely,
Andres & PaslexChile Team
Texas Gulf Coast, Texas
“OK just select Andres to help with your vacation in Chile!”
Reviewed May 4, 2017We are 4 Texans. We have been traveling all over Europe for the past 25 years and decided to head south – really south. Andres made the experience so much easier. We discussed options with Patagonia SouthernLand Expeditions for months prior to trip earlier this month.
Started with Cecilia Cabas in Santiago, wine country and Valparaiso. They arranged everything with Veramonte Winery and Emiliana Vineyards. They also arranged lunch at Casas del Bosque Tanino. TRY IT — you will love it. THANKS Cecilia!
PSE took us to and picked us up from the airports. That takes taxi concerns away. Now we headed to Puerto Montt on SKY. SKY worked well. We purchased – on line – the 2nd lowest fare on SKY. Don’t know why we selected the 2nd cheapest but whatever we purchased worked well.
Andres took us on a half day tour of Lago Llanguihue and Volcano Osorno. The next day we went on a full day tour and hike of the area. Including – the market in Puerto Montt. Love local markets, including fish. FYI we ate at La Marca Restaurant and loved it. We stayed at Hotel Cumbres — also loved it. The nicest of our trip?
Have Andres take you to La Buenas Brasas in Puerto Vargas for lunch. Arguably our best meal in South America. The US equivalent is country cooking. If you like some spice in your food – try the Papas With Salsa Brava. The BEST potato dish I have ever had. Also, if you like spicy foods, buy some Merken (Mapuche spicy chili). Amazon also carries. Andres was nice enough, after we had returned to Texas, to get me the recipe.
HIGHLY recommend Andres (and Cecilia). Thanks for making our time in Chile memorable.
PS We took Cruce Andino from Puerto Varas to Bariloche. Long day but will never be forgotten.
Los Altos, California
“Thorough planning and excellent execution on guiding our group”
Reviewed April 3, 2016For months Andres worked with one of our group to plan and re-plan the details for our visit to Chile. All this was done via email; he was very timely in responding to emails and his English, both written and spoken, is excellent.
From the moment he picked us at the airport in Puerto Montt midday on Saturday until he delivered us back to the airport a week plus later on Monday morning we enjoyed our trip.
We spent two days exploring Chiloe Island and the wooden churches plus a boat trip to see penguins. We then stayed in a hotel in Puerto Varas for 5 nights during which Andres had arranged various activities of interest to us. One day he took 4 of us on a nearly 12 mile hike close to one of the snow covered volcanoes and ending near a gorgeous lake. This was NOT a hike you could tackle on your own because there were not clearly marked paths but he knows the area inside out. It was great being out where we encountered very few other humans but lots of interesting views.
On another day a shorter hike in very different, more jungle like terrain. His knowledge of birds, animals and insects is amazing. He has contacts everywhere and when 2 of the group expressed interest in sea-kayaking he was immediately able to arrange that for one of the upcoming days. He also was a great source of restaurant recommendations within Puerto Varas and we were happy to share with him our own discoveries.
Andres and his team seem capable of handling any size group and simple or complicated logistics. I have already recommended them to others considering a visit to Chile.
“Amazing tours in northern Patagonia”
We spent four unforgettable days with Andrés in northern Patagonia, more precisely in the beautiful Lake District around the town of Puerto Varas and the amazing island of Chiloé. During these marvelous days we made a trip around the Llanquihue lake and the Osorno volcano, a trekking-tour in the Alerce Andino national park, and a two-days trip in the island of Chiloé, where we followed the patrimonial route of the churches of Chiloé and visited the penguin’s colony of Puñihuil. We were able to plan and book our itinerary easily in advance from our hometown. Nevertheless, Andrés adapted the daily tours according to our individual wishes on site. Moreover, it is hard to find a guide in Chile, who is as knowledgeable as Andrés. He knows almost everything about the nature and culture of Patagonia and even of Chile as a whole. Andrés is not only a sound guide and a pleasant person, he also successfully runs his own travel agency. This makes traveling much easier and is a big advantage compared to other agencies. As we continued our journey to the south of Chile, Andrés helped us a lot by booking buses, hotels, and tours, since he works with guides all over Chile. If anyone is planning a trip to the Chilean Patagonia, we can only recommend to contact him.
Brian R
Sacramento, California
“Terrific Day Around Lake Llanquihue”
Reviewed June 15, 2015
My wife and I booked a day tour with Andres at Patagonia Southern Land Expedition at the last minute in May. The booking/payment was easy and the customer service was top-notch. We flew in to Puerto Montt and received transfer service to our hotel in Puerto Varas. This was great because we had the opportunity to meet our guide and discuss the options for the tour the following day. On our tour, we relied on the guide’s local knowledge of the weather to adjust the route to maximize the best sightseeing opportunities. The trip was fantastic and Patagonia Southern Land Expeditions exceeded our expectations. We would highly recommend to anyone that values local knowledge/experience.
Donna V
Chicago, Illinois
“Patagonia Extraordinare!”
Reviewed May 14, 2015
Patagonia has been a destination that I have dreamed of for many years and my experience was so much more than expected. We had exceptional guides that were very informative and well versed for each area we travelled. Easter Island, Santiago Puerto Montt and Patagonia. The seafood, hotels and upbeat guides made this one of my best holidays. So look forward to coming back!
Karelin S
“Andres: Best Guide Ever In Chile!”
Reviewed March 3, 2015
Our group of 9 senior citizens visited Chile for 2 wks in February. The trip was booked through Patagonia Southernland Expeditions, operated by Andres Oyarzun.
He personally was our guide for most of the time we were in the Lakes District. I have traveled all over the world but have never had a guide as outstanding as Andres. He really went out of his way to make sure we had everything we needed and were enjoying ourselves. I especially appreciated his flexibility, knowledge, and great personality.
When he wasn’t personally with us (like in the other parts of Chile), he was calling daily to make sure that all the arrangements he had made for us were working okay and that we were happy with them.
It was a GREAT trip and Andres played a big part in making it so!
DrBea
Texas, USA
Level 
Contributor
“Fantastic Chile experience with best guide”
Reviewed February 28, 2015
I was responsible for planning a 2-wk. tour of several locations in Chile for a group of 9 senior adults. After much research, I settled on Patagonia SouthernLand Expeditions, operated by Andrés Oyarzún.
In the planning phase, Andrés was easy to work with, thorough, knowledgeable, and made great suggestions. Once we agreed on the itinerary and budget, he arranged for transportation, accommodations, activities and local guides.
We visited Santiago, Valparaiso, and Vińa del Mar; but most of our time was spent in the Lakes District where Andrés himself was our guide. Wow! He was by far the best guide I’ve ever had (and I’ve traveled extensively world-wide). He’s extremely personable, entertaining, flexible, considerate, knowledgeable, and very proud of his country and his people. Our whole group was very pleased with him.
In the other locations we visited, all arrangements were just as we had agreed upon, and he called almost daily to make sure we were satisfied.
Whether your need is for a half day excursion or for an extended stay, I can recommend Andres and his company without reservation.
Washington DC, District of Columbia
“Like Having a Good Friend in Patagonia”
We had the great fortune to have Andres Oyarzun Gonzalez, from Patagonia SouthernLand Expeditions, as our guide in August, 2014 in Patagonia, Chile. He was incredible! If you want a guide who intuitively senses the interests and the tempo of his clients, and constantly reminds you that he’s willing to be flexible to accommodate any requests, then Andres is the guide for you. He is extremely knowledgeable about Patagonia and was able to (impeccable English speaker) answer our questions about everything from architecture, horticulture, wildlife, foods, wines, music, local folklore and other adventures we might want to enjoy in the area.
One of the nicest moments was when Andres stop our SUV to hop out and talk to a local farmer who was walking along the road with two big oxen yoked together pulling an old fashioned wagon. Andres then said to us; “You got to get out and talk to these guys and listen to their stories. They aren’t going to be here much longer.” So when Andres says he’s a “country boy” take him for his word because he has a heart as big as Patagonia!
We’ve travelled in over 40 countries all over the world using private, local guides. We can say without a moment’s hesitation, Andres is one of the finest guides we’ve ever had the pleasure spending time with. You will too.
Bajonka
Poznan, Poland
Top Contributor
“Highly recommended!”
Reviewed April 2, 2014
We’ve just got back home after two-week trip to Chile (Santiago, Atacama, Patagonia, Easter Island) organized by Patagonia Southernland Expeditions and especially Andres Oyarzún Gonzales. We’re a small group of four friends with high expectations regarding quality of services and accomodation. From the very beginning, already at preparation phase, Andres was open to our suggestions or requests. For each location he gave us few options to choose. All hotels/lodges recommended by him were really great. His remarks (i.e. regarding flights) were always accurate and helpful. He was also very patient as we were changing dates few times. Moreover I valued very much his frankness – as we wanted to visit also Easter Island, he stated that he didn’t have any experience there but we could arrange everything by ourselves (what was true), at the same time giving few recommendations (many tour operators would use it to earn additional money anyway). During our journey everything was strictly according to what we agreed before. Andres was calling us from time to time to check if everthing was ok or to give some more details.
Visited March 2014
MiamiGS
Miami, Florida
Reviewer
“Flexible and Accommodating for our Family”
Reviewed March 29, 2014
As a family of four with two boys (8 and 10), it isn’t always easy to find someone who can be really accommodating for a family. Andres helped us find a great hotel ahead of time, picked us up at the airport, and took us on two different tours – the first one of the national park Vicente Perez Rosales (and a small, age appropriate hike up the Osorno volcano). The next day he took us around the lake and we explored the fish market at Puerto Montt – but he gave us choices based on the weather. We had initially wanted to go white water rafting, but let him know that our 8-year-old wasn’t ready for big rapids yet – so he was great at checking the weather and telling us that due to the rains, the water was quite high and probably not appropriate (so we substituted for the national park tour). He was flexible, quick to respond, and as a parent himself, thought of some of the things kids need (including bringing us all snacks for our longer tour). We really enjoyed his tours – and he was very knowledgeable about the area, flora and fauna. His New Zealand learned English is also fantastic. Knowing him, any of his staff are also very qualified to be excellent guides.
Visited March 2014
Meander2
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Senior Reviewer
“Thorough and responsive”
Reviewed March 4, 2014
When searching for a tour guide in Chile, we contacted Andres Oyarzun Gonzalez with Patagonia Southernland Expeditions. We found his responses to be prompt and understanding and accommodating to our needs. As we checked out some of his suggestions, we found them to be accurate, value appropriate and thoughtful. We would recommend working with him when you are planning a trip to Chile.
Visited March 2014
BonnieBBB38
Glen Ellen, California
“Excellent Chilean Lake District Experience”
Reviewed February 14, 2014
We thoroughly enjoyed our day with Carlos, a guide arranged thru Patagonia Southernland Expeditions. He promptly picked us up at our cruise ship and shared the beauty of the Lake District. We visited Puerto Montt, Fruttilar , and Puerto Varas – all with Carlos explaining the culture, geology, and lifestyle. He is a delight, and we loved the scenery we saw and all we learned from Carlos.
Visited February 2014
Patagonia Southernland Expeditions – Private Tours
travelgurudoctor
Montreal, Canada
Senior Contributor
“The Best Guide In Patagonia”
Reviewed January 27, 2014
Having literally stumbled upon Andres Oyarzun-Gonzalez at the entrance to the port of Puerto Montt, he immediately struck me as being erstwhile, honest and knowledgeable. His English is perfect and his background is impeccable – he is a certified tour guide who teaches Tourism in a local college. He spent 2 years in New Zealand on a government scholarship learning the trade.
He is extremely affable and very informative about all facets of Chilean life, history and geography.
He offered us a very personalized tour in his immaculate new (air conditioned) SUV of Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas, Frutilar and surrounding areas in 4 hours (that’s all the time we had) at an extremely reasonable price. The tour was super and he was just so good and so nice ! We saw and learned a lot.
He also does all kinds of other tours in Patagonia, including fishing and rafting expeditions, multi-day tours, etc.
This man is terrific and you cannot go wrong by hiring him ….. GUARRANTEED.
Visited January 2014
Carole Replogle, West Chester, OH, United States
Apr 10/14, 
Andres was a wonderful guide for our party of 10. Our only concern was the amount of shopping for which time was set aside. Our group only had 1 shopper so the rest of us would have preferred more sightseeing time. That being said Andres did take us on a walking tour of Puerto Montt & Puerto Varas which was greatly enjoyed by all!
Kathryn Hoag, United States
Mar 13/14
Andres is an wonderful guide. His knowledge of the land around Puerto Monte is excellent. When he learned that we were interested in birds and photography he tailored the excursion to match our interest. We were able to avoid the areas that were overcrowded with tourist on ship excursions. I highly recommend Andres.
Gilles Bourret, Canada
Feb 17/14
This is a very beautiful tour, the volcanos and the scenery are wonderful. We were fortunate to have Andres as our guide – he is very experienced, knowledgeable about the flora and fauna and the geology, and professional. The snacks were great. We would have loved to have more time.
Dale Winograd, United States
Feb 13/14
We have used Tours by locals for a few years now and the reason is because of people like Andres. “Top Notch” in every respect…..he knew where and WHEN to be at places to ‘beat the big tour buses”…..and this is very important. The scenery in Puerto Montt is breath taking and Andres made sure we saw all of it during our one day visit from our cruise ship. Thanks again!
James Hall, United States
Feb 12/14
Andres was fantastic! He picked us up at the cruise pier on time and gave us a wonderful,tour of the Petrohue Water Falls, Osorno volcano, Puerto Varas, and then back to Puerto Montt. This is a tour not to be missed, and Andres is the perfect guide to conduct your tour. He is very knowledgeable about the area, his English is great, and he even provides snacks!!!
Merton Rothman, United States
Jan 21/14
Andres was pleasant and eager to ensure that we would have an enjoyable tour. His English is good and he has a thorough knowledge of the area around Puerto Montt. I would not hesitate to recommend him to anyone planning to visit that part of Chile.
David Stoppard, United Kingdom
Jan 7/14
We had an amazing time and Andres was a really great guide. He is very knowledgable and gave us a fantastic day. We would highly recommend him. The itinerary was excellent.
Gary Perlin, United States
Jan 6/14
Andres is a five-star guide all the way. He shared his enthusiasm for all Patagonia had to offer by e-mail well before we arrived, and kept us updated on weather and plans as our cruise ship neared Puerto Montt. He provided snacks and made sure all entry fees were pre-paid. Andres made sure we had spectacular views of the Petrohue Falls, Osorno Volcano and surround areas. He then gave us a real feel for beautiful Puerto Varas and took us to find exactly the kind of local crafts we wanted. Great day
Irene Milin, United States
Dec 26/13
Andres was fantastic!. Excellent English and completely on schedule. We were a party of four and we sat comfortably in his vehicle which had a separate driver. Andres was then able to concentrate on touring and answering our questions. Andres truly loves nature and anyone wanting a special time could not find a better guide. My husband has food allergies and Andres did a great job finding us the right restaurant. The whole day was a dream come true in beautiful Patagonia.
Marti S., United States
Dec 24/13
Andres was on time to our meeting point. He was very accommodating and helpful to my 85 year old mother. We packed in a stop at the Petrohue Waterfalls, Osorno Volcano area, lunch at a local restaurant, as well as a little time to shop near the pier. We were able to adjust our schedule as the day flew by which allowed us to do as we wished. I would highly recommend Andres without hesitation. His knowledge of the history of the area was quite informative and kept us all captivated.
Maria Borges Bello, United States
Nov 18/13
Andres has been the most wonderful, knowledgeable and professional guide we’ve met. He made sure to give us the best tour of his beloved city and surroundings and went out of his way to make sure we were comfortable, attentive to every detail. Our tour toChiloe to see Penguins was an extraordinary experience. We toured around Lake Llanquihue, Frutillar, Pt. Octay, Mt Osorno, all rural towns and farms. Andres wanted to make sure we experienced all his culture and people. Just wonderful. Thank you Andres
Mark Hardy, Canada
Aug 11/13
We worked with Andres to create a 2-day custom tour around Puerto Varas and Punta Arenas. The first day was spent visiting the local markets that are far off the usual tourist itinerary. Including lunch at a local restaurant, and despite the weather being less than cooperative, the day was outstanding and filled with many memories. Day 2, volcanoes, waterfalls, and national parks. Andres created many great photo opportunities and the day was outstanding. A great guide and local expert. Well recommended.
Beverley Wright, Canada
Apr 11/13
We were on a cruise Apr.11 docking in Puerto Montt. We met our tour guide outside the container port gate as some guides are not able to go inside.Despite this being an area of high rainfall, we had a beautiful day. If you are looking for a guide, Andres is fantastic. His English is excellent. His sense of humour & personality, wonderful. Alex is a safe driver who allows you to enjoy the day. What more can we say other than thanks for a wonderful day.
Gary Hoffman, United States
Mar 15/13
Andres was AMAZING. He spoke English VERY well (I would consider him fluent in English). He was very friendly AND very knowledgeable. He explained everything available for our all day tour, then gave us options if we wanted to alter the excursion. He was prompt picking us up at port and dropped us off at the port entrance on time. I felt this was the best tour guide and excursion on our cruise (we took 5 private excursions).
Chicago3905, Northbrook, Illinois
“Guide -Andres Oyarzun G. Patagonia Southerland Expeditions – Chile”
Andres was an outstanding, knowledgable, and experienced guide for Chiloe Island, Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt area. He met us at the airport and guided us on a wonderful 3 day adventure and took us back to the airport. He could not have been more helpful and we really appreciated the depth of his knowledge about the area, volcanoes, penquins, plants, animals, forest, etc. He made it a great adventure and we were so glad we selected him to be our guide. He had a comfortable and newer SUV and knew other guides to check on weather and best timing and conditions to see penguins. I would recommend spending the night at Anchud and following his advice on accomodations, restaurants, etc. Every suggestion was thoughtful and I wish I would have known to trust his suggestions more when I was planning the trip. He paced the trip very well and planned things to meet our abilities. His English is very good and we thoroughly enjoyed his company and efforts to make it a great experience. The area is beautiful and I highly recommend a visit. I don’t think the internet info on Chiloe Island displays some of the beautiful areas we saw very well. Andre’s knowledge of the area, wildlife, and beautiful views were very helpful.
Peter Harle, Canada
Feb 18/13
Andres and his driver provided a very good excursion, from meeting our group as planned through his narratives of the various features we saw and visited. He presented the exceptional topography of this region extremely well and gave of some understanding of the culture and history of the region – tailoring the tour to meet our time limitations. The quality of the tour was undoubtedly enhanced by the clear skies and light winds. Thank you Andres for making our day so memorable.
Jeanne Stevens, United States
Feb 10/13
Our group of six enjoyed this tour immensely and thought Andres did a wonderful job. Andres walked with us on our tours and demonstrated excellent knowledge of the towns and area, and his English was quite good. I would not hesitate to recommend Andres or the tour to anyone seeking a more personal tour of Frutillara, Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt. Jeanne S.
Leticia Sanches, Brazil
Jan 28/13
Andres picked us up at the airport and took us to our hotel two hours away and, on another day, prepared a taylor-made tour for us.He was GREAT on both occasions!On the day of the tour,he offered to take us to visit a waterfall which was not on the plan. We LOVED the unexpected hike and he and his driver made sure we were all cared for (we were traveling with my elderly parents – who he was very attentive to, since we were walking on irregular ground – and my two young sons). He always had snacks for us!
Susan Noe, United Kingdom
Dec 21/12
Andres was charming and had a huge amount of local knowledge.his car was clean and comfortable and he drove smoothly. We had a fascinating tour and a very enjoyable experience.
Dale S., United States
Jan 19/13
Andres was very helpful when it came to some changes in our plans. His detailed knowledge of the area was exactly what we were looking for. During our brief visit we got to see more of the sites than we would ever have with an “off-the-ship-and-on-the-bus” tour.