Choosing your Torres del Paine lodge

Secondary Categories: Chile, The Essentials

The Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia is one of the most naturally spectacular places you’ll ever go. It’s also home to some fantastic lodges – but which one is right for you?

Awasi – Exclusive luxury

Boasting 14 modern and luxurious villas - each with its own wood-burning hot tub, private tour guide and dedicated 4WD vehicle– Awasi is ideal for travelers looking for privacy, full flexibility and exclusivity. It’s located in a private nature reserve overlooking the national park, and features Relais & Chateaux gastronomy from award-winning chef Federico Ziegler. The lodge is usually open from September to April and there’s a minimum stay of three nights to ensure guests get the most out of the (truly exceptional) private guide experience.

Explora – All year luxury

This is the only Torres del Paine hotel which tends to remain open throughout the harsh Patagonian winter, so for some visitors it is the only option. The 49-room luxury hotel has an amazing location on the shores of Pehoé Lake and is renowned for its remarkably well-qualified guides who offer a huge array of hiking and horseback riding excursions for all fitness levels. While there’s no doubting the excellence of the service, Explora does have a ‘ski lodge’ environment where guests are encouraged to socialize and go on group tours, so it’s not for everyone. The lodge has a minimum stay of four nights.

Patagonia Camp – ‘Camping’ with a difference

This one-of-a-kind establishment gives guests the chance to sleep in traditional Mongolian yurts which have been adapted to offer all the comforts you’d expect in a luxury hotel – boasting en suite bathrooms, central heating and magnificent central skylights these are tents like you’ve never seen them before. The hotel is located within the national park and the yurts all have fabulous views of Lake Toro and the famous Cuernos del Paine. It’s a very sustainable, low-impact operation, which is usually open from September 15th to April 30th each year, and has a minimum stay of two nights.

Las Torres – Pocket-friendly privilege

This is the most affordable Torres del Paine hotel we work with on a regular basis, and although the traditional Patagonian architecture may lack the wow factor of some of the other establishments, Las Torres is still a very special place. The location in the heart of the national park is fantastic, the group excursions on foot and/or horseback come highly recommended, and the cuisine is both hearty and sophisticated. There’s a minimum stay of two nights and the hotel is usually open between September 15th and April 30th each year.  

Tierra Patagonia – Fly-fisherman’s paradise

Located outside the national park, this is one of the few properties that will arrange fly-fishing excursions (no fishing is allowed within the park) to the nearby lakes and rivers which contain bountiful populations of of salmon-trout, brown trout, Chinook salmon, Pacific salmon, Patagonian tooth fish, and rainbow trout. But Tierra Patagonia is by no means a fishermen-only retreat: the award-winning architecture will take your breath away, the spa is as indulgent as they come, and the views and food are pretty spiffy too. The hotel, which is generally open from October 1st to April 30th, offers an array of group excursions to suit every whim.

Further reading

Check out these blogs to find out more about Torres del Paine and Patagonia…

• 5 Unmissable Patagonia Highlights
• Northern Patagonia in Pictures
• An Introduction to Torres del Paine

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