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active 2 days ago

Oleksandra Stefanyuk

I have been a professional in tourism for more than 14 years and I have had an opportunity to visit most of the incredible places in Argentina and Chile., where you may find beautiful landscapes: mountains, rivers, lakes, glaciers, and waterfalls; large and small charming towns; ancient culture and history; exceptional gastronomy. Each and every one of these special places will make you fall in love and will leave an indelible mark in your memory.
I look forward to sharing my own experience and putting together the perfect trip for you!

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Argentina, Chile, Uruguay: most of the tourist places in each country.
Classic tours, Off-road and adventure activities, luxury and private tours, group tours, Antarctic Cruises, incentive tours. "

How did you get involved in travel?

"I moved to Argentina, to study and started to travel across the country, every time I had a possibility. The landscapes I saw, the culture, and the history I discovered were inspiring and I decided to share my experiences with travelers."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"My first visit to El Calafate and Perito Moreno Glacier. It was winter, but the weather was really great - very sunny. My friends and I were walking along the walkways of the National Park, enjoying the view of the glacier, talking, sharing our sensations, but we were startled when we heard a strong noise. It sounded like a storm was heading towards us accompanied by thunder. We all looked up but saw nothing but the blue sky, not even one single cloud. And then we realized where the noise came from and turned suddenly our looks to the glacier, just in time to see how a great part of the ice was falling down into the lake. We stopped talking for some time looking firmly to the Glacier and hoping to hear the "thunder" again, but Glacier did not want to put another show for us, unfortunately. Anyway, it is an experience I am sure I will never forget. "

Oleksandra is part of the following groups: Uruguay Travel Agents, Argentina Travel Agents, Chile Travel Agents
Seven colored mountain near Purmamarca, Argentina
12 Days in Argentina - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

With 12 days to spend in Argentina, you'll have plenty of time to explore more than one region of this vast and varied country. Head to the edge of the world and visit the penguins in Ushuaia, look down on the crashing magnitude of Iguazú Falls, feel the icy vastness of the Perito Moreno glacier, or snorkel with sea lions on these five unique itineraries that cover all of the country's highlights.

Wildlife experiences in Argentina
5 Best Wildlife Experiences in Argentina

Walk through a busy penguin colony, ride with wild horses in the Andes, or watch whales breach through the cold waters of the Patagonian Atlantic: Argentina's landscapes offer travelers an exciting range of wildlife experiences. Whether you're interested in sailing alongside dolphins or hiking with llamas, read on for some of the best options in the country.

3 Options for Crossing the Border Between Argentina & Chile
3 Options for Crossing the Border Between Argentina & Chile

Crossing the border between Argentina and Chile is a memorable journey in itself. There are three main crossing points, each with distinct scenery—and modes of transportation. After sipping wine in Mendoza, bus over the snow-capped Andes to Santiago. Cruise in a catamaran across glacial lakes from Bariloche. Or, cross the dramatic Atacama Desert, passing through a center of Argentine indigenous culture. Learn more about all three options below.

Atacama Desert Highlights - 6 Days
Atacama Desert Highlights - 6 Days

One destination that should be on any traveler's list of must-visit desert landscapes is Chile's northern Atacama region. It's an arid, high-altitude desert filled with incredible natural wonders, including salt flats, geysers, lunar landscapes, painted mountains, and towering volcanoes. This quick six-day itinerary covers the highlights, including stops in the remote colonial outpost of San Pedro de Atacama, tours of the Moon Valley, stargazing, visits to natural hot springs, and traveling to indigenous villages.

Contrasting colors in Purmamarca
Argentina's Salta & Jujuy Province – 5 Days

Discover why Salta is called 'La Linda' (the beautiful) on this 5-day tour of northwest Argentina. After arriving in Buenos Aires, you'll fly here and explore one of the best preserved colonial cities in South America. Then hit the road with an experienced guide and visit the giant salt flats and Humahuaca Gorge, as well as traditional Andean towns known for pre-Colombian history in the Jujuy Province. 

Iguazu Falls
Argentine Culture & Waterfalls Experience - 8 Days

Take in the beauty and complexity of Argentine culture and natural landscapes on this 8-day journey. First, learn all about the history and people of Buenos Aires, also known as porteños on a full-day walking tour. Next, head just outside of the city to experience the culture of the gauchos, the traditional counterpoint to the modern porteños. Then, travel north to the iconic Iguazu Falls, the largest waterfall system in the world. Top it all off with a trip back to Buenos Aires to enjoy a traditional dinner and tango performance.

Favorite experiences

Buenos Aires Culinary Experience

While Argentina's cuisine may be defined by its beef, a closer inspection reveals a more eclectic array of dishes. And being the hotbed of activity that it is, the capital of Buenos Aires is the perfect place to learn about this culinary heritage in a fun and entertaining way. This is where the...

Atacama Desert: Lagoons & Salt Flats

This full-day excursion includes visits to some of the most incredible natural wonders in the Atacama Desert. The first destination is Laguna Chaxa, a desert oasis lagoon located 50 km (31 miles) from the town of San Pedro de Atacama. Chaxa is situated in the middle of the Atacama Salar salt...

El Calafate to Los Glaciares National Park - Perito Moreno Glacier Trek

Los Glaciares National Park, located in the Santa Cruz province of southern Argentina, covers nearly 1.5 million acres and is home to the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. It's a Unesco World Heritage Site that draws hundreds of thousands of international visitors each year. They come to view some...

Cafayate Full-Day Tour and Wine Tasting

The Calchaquí Valley, in northern Argentina's Salta Province, is known for its high-altitude deserts and stunning natural red rock formations. But it's also a prime grape-growing area. The growing conditions here are so optimal, in fact, that it is a wine region to rival even Mendoza, in central...

Trekking & Canoeing in Tierra del Fuego National Park

Tierra del Fuego National Park is one of the most frequently visited places around Ushuaia, the southernmost city before Antarctica. It's close to the city and isn't expensive to enter, which means it's wide open for locals and visitors alike. It covers a sizeable 155,000 acres, so this...

Buenos Aires City Tour, Dinner, and Tango Show

There's no better way to get to the heart of a metropolis as complex as Buenos Aires than on a jaunt around the city. This three-hour walking tour provides an overview of Buenos Aires as well as insight into Argentina’s history and culture. It begins with a visit to the Retiro neighborhood as...

Recent trip reviews for Oleksandra

Oleksandra did an amazing job of planning our...
Argentina | Dec 24 - Jan 2, 2023

Sarah
Sarah B.
Denver, CO | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2023

Oleksandra did an amazing job of planning our trip. Everything she planned was perfect and just what we wanted and needed. The shows she arranged for us were a lot of fun. All of the transportation she arranged was on time and easy to use. The hotels were perfect for our family and were clean and well located. The tours and tour guides were very informative, friendly, and interesting. read more

Oleksandra did an amazing job of planning our trip. Everything she planned was perfect and just what we wanted and needed. The shows she arranged for us were a lot of fun. All of the transportation she arranged was on time and easy to use. The hotels were perfect for our family and were clean and well located. The tours and tour guides were very informative, friendly, and interesting.

Hotel Review
Yvy Hotel de Selva
Puerto Iguazú

It was well located and a lot of fun!

Authenticity & Character
Great character
Location
Being in the forest was fun!
Staff
Very friendly
Cleanliness & Comfort
Comfortable and clean
Activity Reviews
Dinner at one of the Restaurants
Buenos Aires

Great dinner!

Explore the Argentine Falls
Puerto Iguazu

Our guide, Regi, was very friendly, knowledgeable, and made it an amazing visit!

Dinner & Tango Show
Buenos Aires

This was a great show and an excellent dinner

Local specialist: Oleksandra Stefanyuk

Oct/Nov in Argentina
Argentina | Oct 23 - Nov 5, 2022

Kelsey
Kelsey S.
Madisonville, LA | Reviewed on Dec 26, 2022

Oleksandra helped us to plan our 2 week honeymoon trip to Buenos Aires, Calafate, and Ushuaia. It made planning so much easier to have her available for questions & recommendations. Communication leading up to and during our trip was responsive. All of the airport transfers and excursions were smooth. We even made some very last minute changes to our itinerary (while on the trip!) which Oleksandra helped us to make happen. Thank you for everything, Oleksandra! read more

Oleksandra helped us to plan our 2 week honeymoon trip to Buenos Aires, Calafate, and Ushuaia. It made planning so much easier to have her available for questions & recommendations. Communication leading up to and during our trip was responsive. All of the airport transfers and excursions were smooth. We even made some very last minute changes to our itinerary (while on the trip!) which Oleksandra helped us to make happen. Thank you for everything, Oleksandra!

Hotel Reviews
Hotel Patagonia Queen
El Calafate

This was our favorite hotel of the trip! Most comfortable bed, hot shower with great water pressure, perfect location on the edge of town so still easily walkable everywhere, delicious breakfast including freshly made eggs upon request, and the owner was so hospitable. We would definitely recommend and would stay here again ourselves should we have the opportunity to return.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hosteria Senderos
El Chalten

Great location on the edge of town and super friendly staff. Comfortable beds and great breakfast. Offer boxed lunches for a fee for the hikes. Very conveniently located near the bus station if you're taking the bus in/out of El Chalten.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Los Acebos Ushuaia Hotel
Ushuaia

Stay here for the views. It's designed so that every room has a great view. While the shuttle to/from the city is a nice option, we only ever used it to go into the city in the morning (never a problem regarding it being too crowded), otherwise just easier to get a taxi. Not the most convenient location from a walkability perspective (to restaurants, etc.) but the views were great. The lobby felt new but the rooms felt a bit old/outdated. Front desk staff was available via Whatsapp which we found extremely helpful for random questions about the hotel and town.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Review
Walk with Penguins on Martillo Island
Ushuaia

Totally worth it! While it is a long drive, it's scenic and the guide shared lots of history on the way out (in both Spanish & English). So cool to see wild penguins up close. Felt like the guides were very respectful of the penguins' and their environment, prioritizing the penguins over tourist enthusiasm. When we were there in early Nov, it was their nesting season.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Oleksandra Stefanyuk
Oleksandra
Oleksandra Stefanyuk
Local specialist in Buenos Aires | Reviewed on Jan 02, 2023

Hi Kelsey,
Thank you very much for your comments! I am glad that you enjoyed the trip!
Also, very grateful for the comments regarding hotels and activities, we will take them into account in order to improve our services in future!

Happy New Year 2023!
Oleksandra

Argentina November - excellent stress free trip
Argentina | Nov 22 - Dec 3, 2022

M
Miranda G.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Dec 05, 2022

Oleksandra did a great job organising our 12 days in Argentina with brief stops in Brazil and Chile. She packed in as much in as she could without it feeling too rushed, though we did move about a lot and everything went very smoothly, pickups, flights and excursions. The excursions were well chosen and well run. Often we were on our own with a guide just for 4 of us which was fantastic, though we weren’t expecting it and I guess it was just how it worked out on the day.

The guides were... read more

Oleksandra did a great job organising our 12 days in Argentina with brief stops in Brazil and Chile. She packed in as much in as she could without it feeling too rushed, though we did move about a lot and everything went very smoothly, pickups, flights and excursions. The excursions were well chosen and well run. Often we were on our own with a guide just for 4 of us which was fantastic, though we weren’t expecting it and I guess it was just how it worked out on the day.

The guides were very good especially Lorena, a local guide in Iguazu who was charming and knowledgeable. Dante in Puerto Madryn was also excellent - very keen to please and knowledgeable.

Alongside Iguazu, Mendoza was lovely with a highlight being a delightful lunch/ wine pairing in a spectacular location (Ojo de Agua) where we were given plenty of time to relax and enjoy it. Patagonia was a change and we did get to see some wonderful flora and fauna including whales and sea lions as well as penguins very close up.

We had a few minor a questions on the way which were dealt with promptly. Hotel choices were good and we specially liked Ivy de Selva in Iguazu. Some were a little more quirky than I had desired, but I think that goes with the territory here not the operators and nothing impacted the enjoyment of our trip.

I would use Kimkim again and plan to do so in the future.

Hotel Reviews
L'Hôtel Palermo
Buenos Aires

Sweet little hotel, fantastic location in a delightful area with many lovely bars, coffee shops, utterly charming staff, quirky plumbing (but very manageable).

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Yvy Hotel de Selva
Puerto Iguazú

Huge rooms, very clean, set in amongst the forest

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Casa La Galeana
Lujan de Cuyo

One of our more quirky stays. The rooms were huge and unique, decorated with local artefacts. The beds were very comfortable. The air conditioning struggled to cope, but we mentioned it as we were going out and the staff said they would open the windows while the outside was cool , but shut them later and we returned to find fans had been put in the room as well. So 10/10 for doing what they could to help. Layout is curious and one of the pools was out of use, but the other was fine. Again, the shower took some working out, but we got the technique. Sweet, attentive staff and a small, homely feel.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Quiet, but rather far from the main town
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Explore the Argentine Falls
Puerto Iguazu
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Clean, on time, comfortable
Punta Tombo Penguin Colony
Puerto Madryn

The penguin part of this trip was really good, but because of weather the boat element to see the dolphins we were really looking forwards to was cancelled. We weren’t told and it was only after rather further in the car than expected that we realised we were on a different trip than we thought. There was some confusion and we only then came to know that we had embarked on a different trip which replaced the boat trip with a cultural experience to another town. Given the choice up front we wouldn’t have done it and would have opted to do something else, so this was rather frustrating, but having set off and driven quite far at that stage we went with it. Somewhere along the line the communications had missed us out as obviously the cancellation due to weather couldn’t be helped.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
The guide, Dante
Transport
Whale Watching tour
Puerto Madryn
Local specialist: Oleksandra Stefanyuk
Oleksandra
Oleksandra Stefanyuk
Local specialist in Buenos Aires | Reviewed on Dec 09, 2022

Hi Miranda,

Thank you very much for the review. I am glad that you have enjoyed the trip! Also, thank you for all the comments, we will definitely take them into account in order to improve our services.

Thank you!
Oleksandra

I had great difficulty with the first local s...
Argentina | Aug 12 - Aug 23, 2022

D
Dianne W.
Winter Park, CO | Reviewed on Oct 18, 2022

I had great difficulty with the first local specialist assigned to book my trip. I did complain and KimKim Travel assigned Oleksandra to take her place. Once Oleksandra took over, everything was perfect. She went way out of her way to be helpful. She has a lot of experience and this was apparent in the ease of working with her. She anticipating what I would need before I even asked. I wanted to rent a car to drive in both Argentina and Chile. She arranged this and everything with the car... read more

I had great difficulty with the first local specialist assigned to book my trip. I did complain and KimKim Travel assigned Oleksandra to take her place. Once Oleksandra took over, everything was perfect. She went way out of her way to be helpful. She has a lot of experience and this was apparent in the ease of working with her. She anticipating what I would need before I even asked. I wanted to rent a car to drive in both Argentina and Chile. She arranged this and everything with the car went as planned. You need to have quite the array of paperwork in order to cross the borders. I saw other foreigners at the border crossings who did not have the required paperwork and they were not successful in crossing the border. Oleksandra continued to work with me during my trip. She was amazing to work with.

Local specialist: Oleksandra Stefanyuk

The planning went fine. Oleksandra was helpfu...
Argentina | Sep 5 - Sep 12, 2022

Rick
Rick H.
Rockwall, TX | Reviewed on Sep 22, 2022

The planning went fine. Oleksandra was helpful with her suggestions. The trip itself did not go smoothly. And communication with KimKim during the trip was extremely difficult. KimKim expected me to communicate in a WhatsApp that made no sense. Even my kids don’t know what that is. The emergency number didnt always answer and no one ever returned our calls. and Oleksandra told me she doesn’t respond to emails when she isn’t working. We were not informed of the difficulties exchanging... read more

The planning went fine. Oleksandra was helpful with her suggestions. The trip itself did not go smoothly. And communication with KimKim during the trip was extremely difficult. KimKim expected me to communicate in a WhatsApp that made no sense. Even my kids don’t know what that is. The emergency number didnt always answer and no one ever returned our calls. and Oleksandra told me she doesn’t respond to emails when she isn’t working. We were not informed of the difficulties exchanging currency and the hotels were not always as described. The hotel in Santiago was in a terrible and dangerous neighborhood, and the bar and restaurant were closed for the season so we had to venture out at night to find an open restaurant. It was very scary. It would have also been nice to know we were crossing the border on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere and had to pass a Covid test to get into Chile! What if we failed the test??? Also, our driver didn’t have National Park tickets we needed (they were delivered the next day) the hotel in Puerto Natale didn’t provide a box lunch for our day long glacier tour so we had to ask for food from other travelers. The hotel in Buenos Aires was nice but located in a bad area. Finally, it took 3 tries to get Oleksandra to respond about a refund for Tango tickets we could not use because of a cancelled flight. I am grateful she got a 50% refund but she could have been more responsive.

We used KimKim because of local knowledge and we paid a lot of money to KimKim for that. Patagonia was a marvel but would have been much more enjoyable without the stress of dealing with KimKim.

Local specialist: Oleksandra Stefanyuk
Oleksandra
Oleksandra Stefanyuk
Local specialist in Buenos Aires | Reviewed on Oct 05, 2022

Hi Richard,

Thank you very much for your feedback. It is a pity, we´ve done everything to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Some points to address:
- Entrance fees to the national park were not included, as was indicated in the itinerary you confirmed. However, we did include that as a complimentary service in Puerto Natales. As you confirmed the guide bring them to you on the day of the excursion.
- Box lunch: we asked the hotel in El Calafate to preaper a box lunch for you, as... read more

Hi Richard,

Thank you very much for your feedback. It is a pity, we´ve done everything to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Some points to address:
- Entrance fees to the national park were not included, as was indicated in the itinerary you confirmed. However, we did include that as a complimentary service in Puerto Natales. As you confirmed the guide bring them to you on the day of the excursion.
- Box lunch: we asked the hotel in El Calafate to preaper a box lunch for you, as it was your birthday and we wanted to simplify things for you, but it was not included in Puerto Natales.
- Boarder: If there was a test, we were not aware of that - we had updated information that all the requirements were canceled starting on Sept 1st.
Hotels in Santiago and Buenos Aires - we include options we know are offering a good service and are located in good zones. We had only very good reviews on both hotels, and both of them have great reviews on TripAdvisor.

Anyway, we definitely thank you for all your comments and will take into consideration some of the points for our next bookings.

Have a nice day,
Oleksandra

My daughter and I enjoyed a great trip to Arg...
Argentina | Apr 30 - May 12, 2022

J
John O.
Canada | Reviewed on Sep 20, 2022

My daughter and I enjoyed a great trip to Argentina and Brazil that we booked through KimKim. It was easy to work with their pre-set itineraries and customize as necessary. We had an outstanding trip and saw a great deal of Argentina in only 12 days and then enjoyed 3 days in Rio. On balance, we were pleased with the service and support we got from KimKim and their local agent in Buenos Aires. Patagonia was amazing!! This was the second trip I booked through KimKim (Morocco - highly... read more

My daughter and I enjoyed a great trip to Argentina and Brazil that we booked through KimKim. It was easy to work with their pre-set itineraries and customize as necessary. We had an outstanding trip and saw a great deal of Argentina in only 12 days and then enjoyed 3 days in Rio. On balance, we were pleased with the service and support we got from KimKim and their local agent in Buenos Aires. Patagonia was amazing!! This was the second trip I booked through KimKim (Morocco - highly recommend!). The reason for the 4 star rating versus 5 star is two-fold. If I contrast the speed and specificity of responses I received from Oleksandra vs. my other trip it was not as good. The second point is it would have been good to have a heads up on the economic challenges in Argentina. We would have brought more US cash as trying to get local currency from bank machines was a continuing challenge and the government fee on withdrawals was up to 35% of the value of the transaction. There were also a lot of places that would not accept credit cards. Knowing this would have made a big difference in how we would have prepared for the trip.

Local specialist: Oleksandra Stefanyuk
Oleksandra
Oleksandra Stefanyuk
Local specialist in Buenos Aires | Reviewed on Sep 26, 2022

Hi John,

Thank you very much for your constructive feedback. I am glad you enjoyed your trip to Argentina and Rio.
We will also take into account the details you have mentioned in order to get better services from now on.

Thank you!
Oleksandra

In 40+ uears of global travel we have never u...
Argentina | Apr 14 - Apr 28, 2022

B
Brian B.
Canada | Reviewed on Apr 29, 2022

In 40+ uears of global travel we have never used an agent before but now we are sold. Our flights, car rentals and transfers worked like clockwork and Oleksandra was efficient and responsive.

In particular Oleksandra saved the day when our return flight (booked by us) was cancelled at the last minute and our hotel was full. Oleksandra contacted our airline when we could not and gave us alternative options. She also got us a very nice hotel at a good price for our extra night.

Muchas gracias... read more

In 40+ uears of global travel we have never used an agent before but now we are sold. Our flights, car rentals and transfers worked like clockwork and Oleksandra was efficient and responsive.

In particular Oleksandra saved the day when our return flight (booked by us) was cancelled at the last minute and our hotel was full. Oleksandra contacted our airline when we could not and gave us alternative options. She also got us a very nice hotel at a good price for our extra night.

Muchas gracias Oleksandra.

Hotel Reviews
Rendez-Vous Hotel Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires

This hotel is very well located in the heart of bars and restaurants of Palermo and is reasonably priced. The lowest priced rooms in this cozy hotel are snug and I would opt for an upgrade to a bigger room. The staff was exceptionally helpful and friendly and language was never an issue. Breakfast was good and the bed was very comfortable. When our flight home was cancelled at the last minute Marion was very helpful and sympathetic. Gracias.

Tips for future travelers

Upgrade to a larger room.

Authenticity & Character
very nice design
Location
Staff
personal touches and friendliness
Cleanliness & Comfort
Design Suites Bariloche
San Carlos de Bariloche

very nice hotel on the shores of the lake close to town. I would have given 5 stars if our room had a better view. The indoor/outdoor pool was very nice but is probably due for renovation and the ladies bathroom in the pool area was not up to the standars of the rest of the facility. The restaurant was very good and we had 2 dinners at the hotel. The room design was beautiful but the internet connection was a bit sketchy, we shifted to various netwoks several times during our stay.

Tips for future travelers

I would seek a room in one of the lower number building like 1 or 2 (we were in 4 and had a nice view of another building)

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
room was great pool shower for the ladies a bit gross
Activity Reviews
Walking Tour Premium
Buenos Aires

we learned a lot about the city and had a comprehensive tour by a very knowledgeable guide.

Quality of Experience
personal touch and great knowledge
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Dinner & Tango Show
Buenos Aires

we did not do this activity

Local specialist: Oleksandra Stefanyuk
Oleksandra
Oleksandra Stefanyuk
Local specialist in Buenos Aires | Reviewed on May 04, 2022

Dear Brian,

Thank you very much for your feedback. We are glad that you have had a good time in Argentina and hope that despite the inconvenience with your return flight you brought back with you good memories of our country.

Best wishes
Oleksandra