TRAVELER REVIEWS

There's no better way to learn what a trip is like than from the firsthand experiences of your fellow travelers, and our Traveler Reviews are the real deal—unbiased and unedited—giving you an honest appraisal of the experiences that await you on this trip.

South America Adventure: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay

We chose this trip because it contained four “things” that were on our collective travel bucket list: Easter Island, Iguassu Falls, wine tasting in Chile, and Rio de Janeiro.

This was an experience-packed trip that started with the optional trip to Easter Island - Rapa Nui. The island was just as amazing as the pictures of the Moai and documentaries suggested that it would be. Our guide, Nicolas did an EXCELLENT job. We can’t say enough positive things about Nicolaus. On our picnic dinner night Nicolas’ mother, Sonya, a recognized archeologist with credentials, provided more background and history of Rapa Nui. She was an unexpected and very positive addition to the agenda.

We enjoyed the incredible variety of cuisine presented on the trip especially the home hosted lunch at the vineyard with Cota, as bubbly and entertaining a personality as you will ever meet. There were no bad meals, and we NEVER left hungry.

Our experience blending/making our own wines from three standard varietals was outrageously fun. The groups’ marketing presentations are burned into our memories. We have been to countless wine tastings, but this was a first, and a highlight of the trip.

The trip included a good exposure to art, from street art (Valparaiso), local art (La Boca neighborhood), and the pre-Columbian museum in Colonia de Sacramento). The tango lessons were fun but humbling, and redeemed by an outstanding tango performance. The City of Samba tour and learning about Carnival was a highlight.

We want to give special thanks to our Director, Nadia Gibson. All of Vantage’s tour directors have been top notch, but on this trip Nadia exceeded our expectations. Not only is she incredibly knowledgeable, personable, and well-organized, but she took such good care of us! Never before has a guide retrieved our boarding passes, and shepherded us through all of the airports right up until we’re on the plane. Nadia is a Vantage Treasure.

South America Adventure: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay

This was my first time in South America and my first group travel experience. Everything about this trip greatly exceeded my expectations!! Our lead guide, Nadia, was excellent - as were all of the local guides. They were all extremely knowledgeable, caring, and fun! The trip was paced well for everyone in the group. We accomplished so much with little effort on our part - due to the hard work and detailed planning by the guides and Vantage. I would highly recommend this trip!!! Thank you for the wonderful introduction to Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil. Fabulous!!

South America Adventure: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay

Excellent itinerary with good variety of stops and things to see and do. Well planned. Our tour director was outstanding, knowledgeable and caring. The individual guides were very good. I would recommend this trip highly!

South America Adventure: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay

Thoroughly enjoyed our South American adventure, which also included Rio de Janiero. There was a perfect mix of guided tours along with free time to explore on our own. We had an excellent, experienced travel leader in Nadia Gibson, who was very knowledgeable, professional and personable, and worked very well with each of the local guides like they were old friends entertaining new friends. Wine lovers that we are, we enjoyed experiencing the Carmenere wines in Chile, Tannat in Uruguay and Malbec in Argentina, along with samplings of steaks, beef, empanadas and other local delights. We had previously been to Niagara Falls, Victoria Falls and Angel Falls, so adding the wondrous Iguazu Falls to our list completes our worldly waterfall experience, and a grand experience it was. Particularly recommend the newly included optional tour of Buenos Aires. We signed up at the last minute and were so glad as it really rounded out our appreciation of the city's open-spaces, history and grandeur. We've also seen many pictures of the Christ the Redeemer statue but it was still an amazing sight to see in person and also to experience how visible it is throughout the huge city of Rio. All in all, an informative, inspirational and enjoyable travel experience!

South America Adventure: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay

We very much looked forward to making this trip. We were not disappointed! It is a wonderful combination of sightseeing and "people seeing." The people throughout the trip were friendly and very interested in us and from where we came. We feel that, as much as a traveler can in a short time, we felt the depth of the culture in every area we visited. Of the 5 countries we visited, Peru was our favorite as a total package: natural beauty; cultural wonders; and people who were warm and friendly. We enjoyed every aspect of Chile, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil, also. But Peru felt very special.

South America Adventure: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay

We had a wonderful time on our South America adventure. We visited elegant cities, met charming people, ate delicious food, saw beautiful beaches and a fabulous waterfall. Our guide, Nadia Gibson , was amazing. From the pre-trip email and phone call to the post trip information and pictures, she did everything possible and more to make our journey the best it could be. By the end of the trip she wasn't just a tour guide---she was a friend.

South America Adventure: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay

Carol and I do not travel to the extent many of our fellow travel companions have traveled, however, this trip was an experience that will likely never be duplicated or equaled. Our travel companions were courteous, respectful and enjoyable. There were 25 individuals in our group and there was not a single incident of which I am aware that would be considered unpleasant. We did have one companion who fell and broke her elbow but even with that injury, she continued to interact and enjoy her trip.
If you have never traveled to South America I would highly recommend this trip to experience unsurpassed beauty and a culture that is historically rich and whose people are pleasant, respectful, and welcoming. I felt like I was a South American for 15 days and experienced entertainment that was as informative as it was enjoyable. The food was delicious and abundant; I gained 8 lbs and achieved, or exceeded, my Fitbit step goal of 10K steps on 10 of the 15 days of travel. Though the food was abundant, my will-power was nearly non-existent; thus the 8-pound gain. Thank you, VANTAGE, and thank you Tour Director, Nadia Gibson.
If you do not make this trip, you will have missed a beautiful culture, beautiful geography, and a beautiful and lasting memory. To Jim and Nancy, Jean, Sarah and Harry, Don and Karen. To Tom and Connie, Gary and Carolyn, Benny and Nancy, Hal and Sandy, Lynne and Jim. To Bes, Gary, David and Janice, and Bob and Judy and “Jack Daniels”; from the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being a part of our lives for 15 wonderful days in beautiful Chile, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil, South America. To Nadia, Christian, Pilar, Carla, and Marise … til we meet again; SALUDE!

South America Adventure: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay

Across the board, we checked quite a few sights and experiences off our list. The trip was well planned and our guides knowledgeable and affable. The extension to Machu Picchu was well worth the time and cost. We did have some issues with members of the group being physically unable to keep up with the tour and thus impairing our ability to do and see some venues. The tour guides, Edson and Nadia did their best to accommodate the needs of these members but I think that group participants should be screened more closely for their ability to participate especially in the high altitude and rough terrain of Cusco and Machu Picchu. All in all, a great experience.

South America Adventure: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay

Our vantage pre-adventure to Manchu Picchu and the sacred valley was exceptional, all due to our tour leader Jesus. His knowledge of the Inca’s, Peru and its unique history made for an enjoyable 5 days. Jesus is an exceptional asset to the company with his professionalism, leadership and his warm personality. He provided us a comprehensive bound booklet of what we had seen each day. I encouraged him to someday run for President when he became old enough, because he has all the attributes to become a national leader and politician. His love of country and detailed knowledge made our adventure extremely enjoyable and a lasting memory of our travels to Peru.

After a long plane ride from Lima, we arrived in Santiago to start our South American trip with the rest of our travelers. Wladimir Cifuentes was waiting for us at 3:30am in the morning to take us to our hotel. The next 14 days Wlad became family for us and the entire group. Since he was from Santiago, his knowledge of the city and surrounding area was extremely useful. His enthusiasm and professionalism showed on the very first day. Soon he knew everyone by name, and was there for any questions on anything. He was there to make sure we all had our attraction tickets, hotel keys, transfers and airline tickets as the trip progressed. My wife and I looked forward each day to his smile and information on the day’s events. Usually, he provided us a 3 day advance schedule of what we would be seeing or doing.
Vantage’s scheduled and or planned excursions were wonderful in each country and added to our overall experience, with the exception of Buenos Aires. We would suggest something be added, other than a walking tour of older historical buildings. It is such a dynamic city that there must be other things to do and or see. Our hotel accommodations were exceptional in each country as well. My wife and I had a fantastic time and would highly recommend this tour to anyone wanting to visit South America.

South America Adventure: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay

This was one of the best trips we have ever taken and much of that is due to our tour guide, Nadia. She provided us with personal touches along the way that were not only fun, but gave us a better understanding of the countries we visited. Her warmth and vibrant personality melded our group of fellow travelers. However, it was the care and concern for our friend, who suffered a fall and spent a day in the hospital, that clinched our high regard for her. She spent the night in the hospital with our friend, which made her feel secure and protected. We could not ask more of a tour guide.

South America Adventure: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay

After 20 years of extensive travel, we found this trip one of the best. Thanks to our tour director, Nadia, we enjoyed many local experiences and were treated to an amazingly easy and enjoyable travel experience in 4 countries - not a small feat. Nadia made the difference by her attention to detail, handling of several special situations - she made it look easy although it clearly is not.

Nadia's experience and passion for travel added a dimension that made this a trip worth raving about

South America Adventure: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay

We had a terrific time on our trip to South America. It was the perfect balance of planned activities and down time to explore on our own. The hotels accommodations were well located and luxurious. A highlight of the trip was the local food opportunities we had through Vantage. Of course this was all possibly through our caring guide Nadia. She was always on the look out for Hal and ensured that all guests were happy and comfortable. She really went above and beyond to make the trip relaxing and run smoothly.

South America Adventure: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay

This was a wonderful trip.l Out guide, Nadia Gibson, was terrific -- caring, careful, organized, and knowledgeable. We have just got home from additional time we spent in South America for family matters. We have not seen a normal "survey" on our internet account, so we will have have to be it.

South America Adventure: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay

was our 2nd best adventure. #1 was Africa /Advantage.Our guides in both SA and Machu Peachu were great.After the 2 wonderful experiences we had / Vantage we booked our next adventure /Vantage to China.Vantage is 5 star in every way.

South America Adventure: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil

Our trip and pre-trip were outstanding. 'Nacho' is a superb guide, anticipating our individual and group needs and making everything happen smoothly and enjoyably. We would love to travel with him again.

South America Adventure: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil

An excellent adventure!

South America Adventure: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil

We were apprehensive about a "suitcase" tour, but shouldn't have been. This tour takes you to everything amazing about South America. You MUST do the Peru extension: Machu Pichu is a "bucket" experience!

South America: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil

This was perhaps the best trip we have taken with any agency. The Cruise Director was beyond excellent or as he would say every day when he asked how we were Execellante. We learned much about every place we went, we got to meet the people and the Director Nacho Gonzalez Eiras went out of his way to introduce us to the countries, the culture and the people. His insight, organization were beyond the call to duty. Nacho went far beyond with "treats from the country" that we got every day so that we could know that what we did and saw was not better not worse but different and thus understand. He arranged adventures for us and advised us where to go on our free time. The suggestion and arrangement for us in Rio to go to the Samba or cultural show was fantastic. The trip itself was eye opening as we saw everything from the eyes of experienced guides and we were travelers not tourists as we went from country to country and event to event. The chance to meet and be with the people and hear from them was just wonderful. Accommodations were excellent and the trip was as I said wonderful.
The optional tours were often a highlight and in particular the last one we took to the "slums" of Rio with a professional guide for these areas. We learned so much as to what, why , and how of these vibrant neighborhoods and we got to meet the people there, we came to understand how the government is making life better for those who are not wealthy.
We plan to keep in touch with Nacho and to go on another adventure in which he is Tour Director.

South America: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil

This is one of the best trips we have ever taken and this is because of our Travel Guide Ignacio Eiras . Nacho went well beyond the call of duty from the time he met us and referred to us as travelers not tourists to all the occasions he asked us to try a bit of the culture telling us "remember it is not better, it is not worse, it is just different" to arranging special trips for us, to having us meet his family. He gave up his own time to provide us with a morning walk through Buenos Aries on which we met his parents. There was never a dull moment and we never stopped learning; ask about the politics and we got an answer, ask about the culture and we got an answer, ask about economics and we got an answer. He always had time for those of us who were photographers and sometimes held the group up a bit. In addition the trip features in which we had the chance to go out and meet the people were outstanding. Hotels and meals were first rate.

South America: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil

This was, by far, the best land trip we have ever done due in most part to our tour leader, Nadia Gibson and her wonderful tour guides. Nadia went over and above what most tour leaders do for their group; she was always there to advise and help with any situations that came up, both before and during our trip. The different tours we took in each country were both informative and fun. We were impressed with the quality of the different hotels we stayed in during the tour. We look forward to doing another trip with Nadia in the future.

South America: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil

One of our favorite Vantage trips. Our guides were all well versed in there areas. The main tour guide was extra special. She went out of her way to help us enjoy orur trip to her part of the world. We have continued to correspond with her about this trip and possible future trips th South America.

South America: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil

This was, by far, the best land trip we have ever done due in most part to our tour leader, Nadia Gibson and her wonderful tour guides. Nadia went over and above what most tour leaders do for their group; she was always there to advise and help with any situations that came up, both before and during our trip. The different tours we took in each country were both informative and fun. We were impressed with the quality of the different hotels we stayed in during the tour. We look forward to doing another trip with Nadia in the future.

South America: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil

Silvina Fino was our tour director and we rate her excellent in every way! Unbelievable tour director. Everything was professional, on time, and always, she had a smile and a "surprise" for us. An A+++ rating for Silvina. We don't know how to rate the Peru pre extension. Eddy Perez and his staff did a great job as well.

South America: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil

Silvina Fino was our tour director and we rate her excellent in every way! Unbelievable tour director. Everything was professional, on time, and always, she had a smile and a "surprise" for us. An A+++ rating for Silvina. We don't know how to rate the Peru pre extension. Eddy Perez and his staff did a great job as well.

South America: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil plus Peru extension

The highlight of the trip was the Peru extension. Visiting Machu Picchu was an awesome cultural experience. In Peru life is more simplistic and very family oriented. Gotta love the llamas. Loved Chile especially the wine region around Santa Cruz. Enjoyed Buenos Aires and Rio. Our guide Pablo and all the local guides were full of interesting facts plus very personable. All the hotels and meals were really very,very much a plus. Great trip!

South America: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil

A wonderful trip and a real eye-opener for those of us with out-dated ideas about South America. The Program Manager and local guides did a fine job of informing the group about the cultures and political situations in each of the four countries visited. You must really like being in cities to fully enjoy this trip as most of your time is spent in Santiago, Montevideo, Buenos Aires, and Rio de Janeiro. But the trip to Iguazu was a real highlight. One downside for some members of the group was that there were three internal flights, taking up valuable travel time. But I don't know how else the trip could have been arranged.

South America: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil

A wonderful trip and a real eye-opener for those of us with out-dated ideas about South America. The Program Manager and local guides did a fine job of informing the group about the cultures and political situations in each of the four countries visited. You must really like being in cities to fully enjoy this trip as most of your time is spent in Santiago, Montevideo, Buenos Aires, and Rio de Janeiro. But the trip to Iguazu was a real highlight. One downside for some members of the group was that there were three internal flights, taking up valuable travel time. But I don't know how else the trip could have been arranged.

South America: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil

This was an even better trip than I expected - and with Vantage, that's saying a lot! Our program manager couldn't have been more delightful, the local guides (especially in Chile) were excellent, we had great weather, the hotels were all very good and well-located, the food was great, and the scenery, pace & sight-seeing were outstanding. I highly recommend this trip.

South America: Chile, Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil

This part of the world is probably our favorite. We enjoyed our program manager, Nadia. She took very good care of us and was very knowledgeable about the area. Her local guides were also excellent. Vantage always does a good job.