Argentina

Mi novia y yo pasamos un día con Merlín en el Cerro Madsen. Ella es nueva en el alpinismo y él le dio la confianza para lograr algo único y emocionante. Estuvimos en el momento de la caminata completa y terminamos queriendo volver para algo más desafiante la próxima vez. Verdaderamente una experiencia de primer nivel. Volveremos para esquiar en breve.

Great experience, merlin is a climbing guru!

We wish we could have Simon as our guide on every trek we do. His mountaineering experience and extensive knowledge of the area was impressive and definitely enhanced the trek for us. On top of this, we got along great with Simon and appreciate his easy going personality and sense of humor. We will definitely request Simon as our guide for the next hike we do from El Chalten!

A tough but thoroughly rewarding hike. The challenges of the trek are matched by the stunning views, unique flora, and wonderful people you meet along the way.

It was a true life experience. I enjoy every moment of it. Our guides were excellent and inka facilities for this journey were up to par with what I expected.

Recientemente fui guiado en el circuito de Cerro Huemul por Luis, quien era un guía muy experimentado, experto y profesional. Ayudó con los 2 cruces de tirolesa, la parte de la caminata que requería caminar sobre el glaciar, y significó que nunca tuve dudas sobre dónde llevaba el sendero. Merlin organizó a la perfección toda la comida, el equipo y la transferencia de retorno desde el final del camino. Debido a que toda la experiencia transcurrió tan bien, y Luis hizo que mi caminata fuera tan cómoda y agradable, definitivamente recomendaría esta compañía. El sendero en sí era hermoso, con muchas vistas impresionantes y estoy muy contento de haberlo experimentado. Entre los puntos destacados se encuentran los Campos de Hielo de la Patagonia Sur después de escalar sobre Windy Pass, así como los cóndores al otro lado del paso Huemul y las vistas desde el último campamento.

Merlin was an exceptional guide - safety first & lots of instruction. Climbed about 10 sport routes with him from 5.8 to 5.9. The rock was great, route choices great! What could be better than rock climbing with Fitz Roy looming in the background! Merlin’s professionalism added to the experience. Oh & he will take you to eat lunch at the best empanadas in town :) I will return to Chaltén & Merlin has earned my trust to go into the big mountains and do a multi day ascent!

Ascensione di un giorno al Cerro Madsen, giornata perfetta. Partenza ore 4 sorseggiando del buon mate, ascensione perfetta con una giornata di pieno sole ed arrivati in vetta il Fitz Roy che si è mostrato del tutto nella sua bellezza! ottima esperienza, professionalità e simpatia con Merlin, giornata conclusa davanti a una buona pizza e una birra fresca in paese! consigliatissimo!

He hecho varias escalas de nieve en los Estados Unidos, pero no tengo mucha experiencia. Cuando venía a El Chaltén a caminar para ver a Fitz Roy, noté que había algunos picos menos técnicos que uno podía alcanzar, y vi que Merlín había recibido críticas muy favorables. Me gustaría agregar a todo eso y decir que ninguna de estas críticas es exagerada: realmente está obteniendo una de las mejores guías. Claramente, no solo es un excelente montañero, sino que también tiene un gran conocimiento sobre la zona, su flora y fauna, y ha estado guiando en Chalten desde 2001. Además de eso, es amigable, paciente y un gran motivador. Realmente aprecié sus consejos para mejorar mi técnica de crampones, y la seguridad siempre fue una prioridad número uno. En la mañana tuvimos nieve en el camino, pero Merlín se mantuvo optimista y marcó un gran ritmo en la pendiente. Nubes despejadas en la cumbre para vistas fenomenales del glaciar Piedras Blancas, el macizo Fitz Roy y el valle abajo. Realmente divertido ascenso de crampones con unos cuantos movimientos de rock de 4ta clase en crampones cerca de la cima, y ​​una divertida carrera alrededor del bloque de la cumbre para ver el glaciar. Definitivamente me empujó un poco fuera de mi zona de confort, pero siempre me sentí segura. Éramos los únicos en la montaña ese día, y tan cerca de la caminata de la Laguna de los Tres que está repleta de otras personas, nos sentimos como las únicas personas en el paisaje prístino. Esto fue fácilmente el punto culminante de unas increíbles 2 semanas en la Patagonia chilena y argentina (incluido el W trek, Glaciar Perito Moreno). En serio, no podría recomendarlo lo suficiente a cualquiera que visite el área de Chalten, ¡incluso si eres un novato como yo! Si tiene más experiencia o va a esquiar, estoy seguro de que el viaje sería aún más épico. Él te llevará a una aventura que nunca olvidarás. Lo encontré y este viaje a través de explorar - compartir. com

Booking with explore-share was so easy, Lupe was fantastic and despite it being so close to my trip date, very helpful and extremely responsive. Merlin was the perfect guide: knowledgeable, competent, patient, motivating and upbeat. We had snow on the ascent of Madsen but the clouds cleared for really excellent views of Piedras Blancas glacier, the valley below, and Fitz Roy. Thanks for the highlight of an incredible two weeks in Patagonia!

Juan was very informative and offered a well-rounded trip; would definitely do it again!

I thoroughly enjoyed my trip with Luciana! She is a great, knowledgeable guide with decades of experience. I felt extremely comfortable with her and she easily adapted the trip based on my experience level. Highly recommend!

I’m writing this short review as I’m often asked by climbing friends who shall I climb with on Aconcagua? Let me tell you !hand on my heart INKA is the best on the mountain.! I have climbed across the globe Alaska, Andes, Himalaya and in the Karakoram in Pakistan. I have have utilised INKA on two occasions and I believe they have the best knowledge and logistics on the mountain. Their staff care about YOU.. as you are their number one priority. They will ensure your time on the mountain is safe and you return safe even if you don’t reach the summit. So many times I have watched operators in other countries guiding clients to the summit when they should have been turned around, this has been with drastic results. That is why I always use professional companies and word of mouth . Trust me INKA are the best. Aconcagua is a tough challenge high altitudes coupled by sometimes extreme cold , require you to be fit mentally and physically. I have in the past fell to AMS and had to turn around near a summit, that is the smart thing to do.! Better to go home and re plan , the mountain will always be there. I’ve lost friends on mountains and speak from experience. INKA guides are registered and highly experienced, they will watch you carefully and monitor your oxygen levels and general well being throughout your climb. There is an excellent set up at Plaza de Mulas where if you need a rest day you will be cared for. Many of my friends have used INKA and I will continue to recommend them for their expertise I’m writing this short review as I’m often asked by climbing friends who shall I climb with on Aconcagua? Let me tell you !hand on my heart INKA is the best on the mountain.! I have climbed across the globe Alaska, Andes, Himalaya and in the Karakoram in Pakistan. I have have utilised INKA on two occasions and I believe they have the best knowledge and logistics on the mountain. Their staff care about YOU.. as you are their number one priority. They will ensure your time on the mountain is safe and you return safe even if you don’t reach the summit. So many times I have watched operators in other countries guiding clients to the summit when they should have been turned around, this has been with drastic results. That is why I always use professional companies and word of mouth . Trust me INKA are the best. Aconcagua is a tough challenge high altitudes coupled by sometimes extreme cold , require you to be fit mentally and physically. I have in the past fell to AMS and had to turn around near a summit, that is the smart thing to do.! Better to go home and re plan , the mountain will always be there. I’ve lost friends on mountains and speak from experience. INKA guides are registered and highly experienced, they will watch you carefully and monitor your oxygen levels and general well being throughout your climb. There is an excellent set up at Plaza de Mulas where if you need a rest day you will be cared for. Many of my friends have used INKA and I will continue to recommend them for their expertise

the infrastructure supporting the expedition is perfect and the team very professional. Really Aconcagua Specialists!!

The guide was not Sebastian Tetilla but Javier Guiterez and Matias Hidalgo Nicosia

They totally rock! They made everything to be perfect. Best in town if you are thinking about Aconcagua. Professionals, they are passionate about what they do. Long story short: contact them and let the game begin!

Gaston Oyarzun is obviously an excellent climber/mountaineer, but he lacks a great deal of organization/logistics. This applies to all aspects of the expedition, from food to itinerary.

Everything about the experience was perfect - Sebastian was an amazing guide, the trek was incredible and every detail from the food to the equipment could not have been better. Absolutely unforgettable experience.

Just one thing; Ivan don\'t understand my need in base camp when I ask for a single tent at this place. I think with a single tent that was more easy for me to sleep. But In generally Ivan and Juan Pedro are good boys. It\'s diificult for me to rate Guide and Trip. I didn\'t finished. I can rate only for the half trip.

Great and lovely people !! Everything was very professional. We had a great time in our treeking. We hope see you soon. Special tks to Fer Palacio and Ariel. Abraços do Brasil!!

Extremely happy with the whole experience. These guys will go an extra mile to help your dreams come true. You can book it with full confidence!

Mi marido y yo fuimos a El Chaltén como parte de nuestro viaje de luna de miel a Chile y Argentina. Somos escaladores en Colorado y realmente queríamos hacer algo de escalada en nuestro viaje. Merlin llevó para algunos deportes pitch escalada individual en la mañana y luego nos guió hasta un impresionante multi-tono en la tarde. Merlin es conocedor, hábil y tan divertido que subir! Él tomado nuestro día escalar el mejor día de nuestra luna de miel. Recomendaría Merlin y montañismo Patagonia a cualquiera (de cualquier nivel de habilidad) buscando obtener fuera del increíble montañas que rodean El Chalte

I enjoyed the previous rock climbing trip so much! We had a fantastic time climbing, it has been an awesome time in Patagonia.

Merlin and his team worked with us to customize our trip to ensure we had an amazing time during our week in El Chalten. We completed a fantastic trek and climbed Cerro Madsen. The changeable weather in Patagonia means that you need to be flexible and Merlin\'s suggestions and his willingness to tailor his services to suit the conditions really enhanced our experience. The friendly, experienced and knowledgeable guides ensured we always felt safe and secure even when operating outside our comfort zone!

Merlin took us for half a day of rock climbing in El Chalten. We initially had to reschedule our climbing however Merlin was extremely accommodating. Merlin\'s climbing knowledge and attention to detail made us feel safe, even though it was our first time climbing. We climbed at two different sites in El Chalten. Thank you Merlin for the amazing experience!

Subimos al mojón Rojo con Merlin y no puedo decir suficientes cosas buenas. Fue una experiencia excepcional. Merlin es un excelente guía (ES certificado) con mucha paciencia, liderazgo, y atención a la seguridad. Por no mencionar, que es muy buena! Incluso nos servía café caliente en la cama (bueno, bivy sacos) cuando nos despertamos a las 4:00 am comienzo alpino. Merlin hizo un gran trabajo de elegir el derecho subir para nuestra capacidad. Era difícil y gratificante. Él claramente delineado expectativas antes empezamos, así que no sabíamos qué esperar. La subida en sí estaba fuera de este mundo - algunos de los paisajes más increíbles que he visto. Recomiendo encarecidamente una subida de Mojón Rojo durante su visita a El Chaltén!

It was a real pleasure to spend two amazing days with Lucas. Really nice to spend time with him and most important Lucas is really a good guide. The trips were amazing with a fantastic scenario. Even if snow conditions were not the best, the panorama has played a key role in making this trip unforgettable

We came to El Chalten late season (mid to late May) and wandered into Merlin\'s office hoping to find an open climbing guide. We discussed options with him given the upcoming weather and our abilities and ended up doing a day of sport climbing and a day of mountaineering on Cerro Madsen. Through both adventures he was knowledgeable, friendly, and safe. He encouraged us through the entire climb and even brought some treats for the top. I would highly recommend Mountaineering Patagonia if you are in search of a guide.

We came to El Chalten late season (mid to late May) and wandered into Merlin\'s office hoping to find an open climbing guide. We discussed options with him given the upcoming weather and our abilities and ended up doing a day of sport climbing and a day of mountaineering on Cerro Madsen. Through both adventures he was knowledgeable, friendly, and safe. He encouraged us through the entire climb and even brought some treats for the top. I would highly recommend Mountaineering Patagonia if you are in search of a guide.

We came to El Chalten late season (mid to late May) and wandered into Merlin\'s office hoping to find an open climbing guide. We discussed options with him given the upcoming weather and our abilities and ended up doing a day of sport climbing and a day of mountaineering on Cerro Madsen. Through both adventures he was knowledgeable, friendly, and safe. He encouraged us through the entire climb and even brought some treats for the top. I would highly recommend Merlin if you are in search of a guide.

We came to El Chalten late season (mid to late May) and wandered into Merlin\'s office hoping to find an open climbing guide. We discussed options with him given the upcoming weather and our abilities and ended up doing a day of sport climbing and a day of mountaineering on Cerro Madsen. Through both adventures he was knowledgeable, friendly, and safe. He encouraged us through the entire climb and even brought some treats for the top. I would highly recommend Merlin if you are in search of a guide.

Absolutely awesome, one of the best weeks of my life! Did the 6 day basecamp trek and the scenery cannot be compared to anything! Amazing guides who were so knowledgeable, friendly and funny!

Nuestro viaje por Cerro Madsen era increíble! Había una posibilidad de lluvia por la tarde de nuestro viaje, así Merlin y equipo hicieron alojamientos para dejar temprano en la mañana para tratar de superar la tormenta y estábamos tan contentos que ellos. Pudimos superar la lluvia en caminatas en la mañana e hizo la subida hasta la cima del cerro Madsen. Nuestro guía era excelente en nuestro nivel de habilidad y comprensión nos empuje en consecuencia! Sugeriría usando el montañismo Patagonia. Ellos son profesionales, ofrecen algunos de los equipo necesario, y asegúrese de tener un seguro de viaje. Gracias Merlin!

Our day trip up Cerro Madsen was amazing! There was a chance of rain in the afternoon of our trip so Merlin and team made accommodations for us to leave early in the morning to try to beat the storm and we were so happy they did. We were able to beat the rain by hiking in the morning and made the ascent up to the top of Cerro Madsen. Our guide was superb at understanding our skill level and pushing us accordingly! I would highly suggest using Mountaineering Patagonia. They are professional, provide you with some of the gear needed, and make sure you have a safe trip. Thanks Merlin!

We went canyoning to Arroyo de la Virgen. It was great; Cedric was personable, knowledgeable, and very professional.  He explained everything well and I felt very safe at all times.  It was our first time canyoning and  I only regret we didn\'t have enough time to go another day and try something more challenging. I would heartily recommend Cedric to others.

My friend Marc and I hired Inka for their logistics, know how, and reputation (we were self guided). Our initial email communication with Inka was very encouraging - extremely responsive, knowledgeable and helpful! They helped us plan our itinerary, execute it, and were always available for help. The Inka staff at Hotel Ayelyn, Confluencia and Plaza de Mulas were none other than amazing! We had an absolutely great experience, and I would highly recommend them to others - whether you are looking for a guided service or just logistical help along the way, give them a chance! A special shout out to Hilda (coordinator), who was extremely helpful throughout the entire process. Thanks! Aaron

The trip to Aconcagua with Gastón was really nice. Gaston was a great guide and we all learned a lot from him. In addition to his mountaineering skills he is an excellent story teller and we enjoyed his company a lot. It was unfortunate that we were not able to summit, but I was expecting that may be the case with weather so I was not disappointed. All in all, I was really pleased of the service, food, wine, company, mountain. I can not think of anything bad to say.

I have completed an expedition to Cerro Aconcagua with Inka Expeditions. Everything was very well organized and extremely well executed. Thanks to efforts of the people in the office, the gauchos, the friendly and professional staff at the Base Camp, strong porters and our excellent guides Vito Magni and Damien Colson, 4 out 5 of us were able to reach the summit on Jan. 30/17 in difficult conditions. If anybody wants his dreams to become true, should not hesitate to contact Inka expeditions.Thank you very much to everyone...

Great experience !!! Every thing was was perfect! From the people in the office, to the staff on the mountain and the very professional guide. Anybody did his best to give me my perfect experience!!! Thank you

Our initial arrangement with Merlin involved a 2.5 ascent of Cerro Solo. However, bad weather on what would have been the summit day sunk that plan - fortunately Merlin was extremely up to date on the weather forecast, and turned up at our hostel (only about an hour after we got into El Chalten) to propose an alternative plan: that we ascend Cerro Electrico (similar height but short approach) and then spend the next two days at lower altitude rock climbing.   This turned out beautifully. We had a fantastic ascent of Cerro Electrico, with Merlin a very conscientious and confident guide, educating us on glacier work and axe skills. The views were fantastic and the weather superb. Upon descending (after a tough 12 hour day), Merlin took us straight to a favourite pub for happy hour.   The next two days we spent rock climbing (there are some fantastic multi-pitch routes 5 minutes walk out of el Chalten). Throughout we felt very well taken care of, and particularly enjoyed Merlin\'s exposition of life in el Chalten - going to his favourite places for lunch and afternoon coffee and feeling wonderfully included in the life of this brilliant little town.   100% recommended. Merlin was also very helpful in planning our trip on the Huemul circuit, which we completed after our time in el Chalten.

We went to Mercedario in December. The expedition went extremely well - from picking us up at a different airport as originally planned, to the transportation to Laguna Blanca, the expedition, picking us up afterwards, the hotel \"El Aleman\" in Barreal (which is outstanding, with a fabulous German owner, and ideal after an expedition for many reasons) to dropping us off in San Juan. Everyone involved (including Anibal, who is a great guy and had also excellent information about Argentina in general) was very friendly, helpful and professional. The communication with Gabi was excellent and always prompt.   Weny is a very good and experienced guide, has been very concerned about our wellbeing, had always had good information about the weather and the ideal time frame to summit and made solid decisions. She is very friendly and helpful and made sure we know everything important to stay healthy and avoid altitude sickness. Her English is very good, she kept reminding us to drink enough, and did her best to provide us with good food, which was very important.    We would certainly not have been able to reach the summit without her guidance, especially as we would not have not know, how to best acclimatize and not having been able to judge the all important wind conditions on both highcamps and the summit day appropriately.

Fuimos a un 1. 5 - ascenso día a mojón rojo, lo cual es altamente recomendado como técnicamente fácil, pero summit muy gratificante. Merlin es un excelente guía, él mantendrá su espíritu de alta y asegúrese de que él comparte con la cantidad adecuada de conocimientos locales. Él es técnicamente muy cualificada y se realizará siempre en la manera más segura. Comida excelente y buenas vibraciones!

We went for a 1.5-day ascent to Mojon Rojo, which is highly recommended as a technically easy but hugely rewarding summit. Merlin is an excellent guide, he will keep your spirits high and make sure he shares the right amount of local knowledge. He\'s technically very skilled and will always operate in the safest way. Excellent food and good vibes, too!

My wife & I had an absolutely amazing experience climbing Cerro Madsen. We were put in touch with Merlin through Explore-Share & he was really accommodating in helping us plan the experience & chose a mountain that best suited our capabilities. Merlin, thank you for being so patient with us & answering about a thousand questions from me. You were always extremely helpful, friendly & flexible with us.   Also, a massive thank you to our guide, Sebastian, for taking us to the top of Cerro Madsen. Sebastian is a truly phenomenal guide & mountaineer. He is an extremely capable, knowledgeable, friendly & encouraging person who made us overcome all the obstacles to reach the summit. His constant motivation & encouragement made us overcome our own shortcomings / limitations & drove us all the way to the top without ever compromising our safety.   It was an absolutely breathtaking & out of this world experience & I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending it to anyone looking for a similar adventure. My wife & I have used many companies / guides all over the world in the past, but Merlin & Sebastian have definitely set a new benchmark for us that is going to be really hard to beat.