Zicasso Travel Stories: The Epic Scale of Chile and Patagonia

Probably one of the biggest things about a Zicasso trip is that every time I’m blown away by the levels of detail and care, and what the agents can do. If you ask, most likely it can be arranged!

My partner and I are low-key types. We’re not big askers, but our trip to Chile was about enjoying two of our favorite things – exploring, talking about, and understanding wine and the winemaking process, as well as nature.

I live in beautiful Colorado, and during our trip, we met people who kept describing the state as “amazing”, yet to be in Patagonia! Another thing I loved about the region was how isolated it was. We hardly saw anyone, except for our guides and our small hiking groups.

The wine valleys in Chile were about service and care. The moment we arrived, the manager came out with the porters and greeted us by name. They immediately tried to understand our likes and dislikes, without being intrusive.

That day, we had several wine tastings, but the first was glorious – sitting on the veranda with a park in the distance, a personal wine guide who knew so much, and the ability to just sit there for, I don’t know how long, with the wine, a charcuterie board, and the view!

The next day, the hotel packed a picnic for us with wine. We had small bottles, red and white, and sat in the park. We ate lunch underneath a Portuguese cork tree. It was very serene, a good moment to connect. We had a space to relax, look out over the greenery, and take a deep, unburdened breath.

We didn’t take a cooking class – the hotel probably had one, but we were there for such a short time. But the food was still incredible everywhere we went. Fresh locally sourced ingredients— one resort had a set four-course meal with wine pairings. They sourced ingredients from their own garden and even had an apiary. The most remote property we stayed at also had such a focus on quality food. The flavors and pairings only added to the wonders of the scenery.

We would eat, drink wine, and hike. That was the focus of our attention. Everything was magnificent! The scale of everything, the waterfalls; it never ended.

Even tangents felt like fate. Our van got a flat tire. It was right by Lake Pehoé, with that classic view of Patagonia that you see all the time. We hopped on a trail while the van was fixed and hiked up with that classic view of Torres del Paine. It was unexpected and completely unforgettable.

Initially, I didn’t want to go to the Atacama Desert. Our original trip was canceled due to Covid and Atacama was not on the itinerary. Then the James Web telescopic photos came out and we decided to add it to the list.

We did the Dark Sky experience, visited the telescope, and saw those vibrant stars far from any light pollution. You realize your insignificance in the vast scope of existence, which puts all the minor issues you tend to complain about into perspective as pretty ridiculous.

Being outdoorsy, Patagonia has always been on my list, but I never thought it would happen. Even when thinking about traveling with Zicasso, it didn’t pop into my mind right away. But Chile – it was our trip of a lifetime … so far!

Denise and her partner found epic grandeur and intimate encounters in Chile and Patagonia with the help of their Zicasso travel specialist. Whether wine tasting, hiking, stargazing, or exploring the ends of the Earth, you can craft your soul-stirring vacation with a local travel expert who will help curate meaningful experiences to match your interests.

Find inspiration with our Chile tours and vacations or our Patagonia tours. You can also discover the magic of South America’s southern frontier, with its timeless landscapes, rich cultures, and more, with our Chile travel guide and Patagonia travel guide.