Before Hub Patagonia had a name

My experience with Carolina was one of the most meaningful parts of my time in Patagonia.

At the time, Carolina was working in Sierra Baguales, and I was volunteering there, so I had the opportunity to experience Patagonia in a way that went beyond simply being a tourist. I worked alongside people, experienced life on the estancias and got to know the people who call Patagonia home.

I unfortunately never had the opportunity to meet Marcos, but I became quite close with Carolina. She was incredibly kind, emotional, welcoming and generous with her stories. She shared her own story with me, as well as the story she and Marcos had built together (truly out of a movie), and over time we became good friends.

One of my favourite memories was working with her on a tourist trip at Sierra Baguales. I was the assistant guide, and working alongside her was such a wonderful experience. It was one of those days where the work itself became part of the adventure, and I got to see her not only as someone helping visitors experience Patagonia, but as someone who genuinely cared about the place, its history and the people who came to experience it.

Another memory that has stayed with me was a morning when Carolina took me to see the Cueva del Milodón. She told me stories about the history of Patagonia and Puerto Natales as we went, giving me a perspective on the area that I could never have gained simply by reading about it. She had a way of making the history feel alive.

There was also a time when I returned from a work week at the estancia where I was volunteering and needed somewhere to stay for the night. I went to Carolina’s home and knocked on her door. Nothing had been arranged beforehand, but she immediately welcomed me in. That evening we laughed, drank her Colombian coffee and shared a wonderful dinner of ceviche. I was a young foreigner far from home, yet she made me feel completely comfortable and cared for.

Those moments are what I think about when I think of Patagonia.

Of course, Patagonia itself is extraordinary. The landscapes are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. But Carolina taught me that a place becomes even more special through the people who share it with you. She introduced me to stories, history, food, work and experiences that allowed me to see Patagonia from a much more personal perspective.

I travelled there at 17, fresh out of high school, and I honestly believe that the people I met — especially Carolina — influenced the person I have become. She showed me a kind of warmth and generosity that I will always remember, and our friendship became one of the unexpected gifts of my time in Patagonia.

What I would tell someone thinking of traveling with them

I would tell them to go with an open mind and allow Patagonia to surprise them.

I know that travelling to Patagonia at 17 might not be something everyone would recommend, but for me it was one of the most influential experiences of my life. I didn’t just discover a beautiful part of the world — I discovered new ways of living, working and connecting with people.

And I think that is what makes an experience in Patagonia so special. You can go for the mountains, the landscapes and the adventure, but the people you meet can become just as important as the places you see.

My experience with Carolina is a perfect example of that. She wasn’t simply someone I met while travelling. She became someone who influenced me, taught me things, welcomed me into her home and gave me memories that I still think about today.

Patagonia gave me the space to step outside everything I knew, experience something completely different and, in many ways, find a little more of myself.

I would go back in a heartbeat. And if I could give someone considering travelling with Hub Patagonia one piece of advice, it would be to leave room for the unexpected. Sometimes the people you meet and the moments you never planned for become the parts of a journey that stay with you the longest.

Since I was a child I dreamed of getting to know Chilean and/or Argentine Patagonia: visiting and traveling through its enigmatic places (national parks, fjords, glaciers, ports, and so on), reaching Tierra del Fuego, crossing the Strait of Magellan and finally coming to the place known as “the end of the world,” because of its extreme location at the southern tip of South America and because it was historically the limit of the known lands for most explorers.

I never imagined I could fulfill that dream in my senior years. The first vision that came to me when I stepped off the plane in Puerto Natales was nature in its pure, wild state. The landscape left me amazed, with its vast expanses of land, herds of singular animals and unusual buildings. And let's not even mention the weather, which is unpredictable… you can have sun, rain and intense wind in a single day, even within minutes. The wind at the viewpoints gives no respite.

Precisely, protecting myself as well as possible in this situation was one of the first recommendations I received from Carolina and Marcos: the type of clothing to use and how to use it according to the activities to be done. It seems trivial, but it is not. Skin protection, as well as things to keep in mind about hydration and food according to my needs… all of this was also part of the adventure.

What I would tell someone thinking of traveling with them

Simply put, my experience was spectacular. Totally recommended!!

I am grateful for the opportunity to get to know both Chilean and Argentine Patagonia, with many emblematic places visited and activities done in each of them, such as (just to mention a few): Puerto Natales (Chile), Última Esperanza Fjord (Chile), Milodón Cave Natural Monument (Chile), Torres del Paine National Park (Chile), Strait of Magellan (Chile), El Calafate (Argentina), Perito Moreno Glacier (Argentina), Ushuaia (Argentina), the fishing village of Puerto Almanza (Argentina). I fall short in describing everything I was fortunate to live, see and experience, safely and reliably, during my autumn 2025 vacation.

Thank you, Carolina and Marcos, for being such good organizers and hosts.

A spectacular trip, full of beautiful landscapes and experiences. Carolina and Marcos, the best hosts, with deep knowledge of the area and excellent service. We climbed up to Torres del Paine, shared a picnic by a fjord, experienced a Patagonian estancia, walked with them through caves with rock art, and as a gift from life, we saw a condor very close to us. Truly a spectacular family trip that we want to repeat.

What I would tell someone thinking of traveling with them

They are the best, very knowledgeable about the area, and their support and recommendations were timely and spot-on.