EcoCamp Patagonia

a relatively attractive mid-priced option

Set in an elevated position just outside Torres del Paine National Park, EcoCamp Patagonia is a relatively simple and outdoorsy property.

Cited as being the world’s first geodesic dome hotel, the lodge is centred on four larger domes which contain the various public areas.

The camp is owned by a group of environmentally conscious Chilean friends, Yerko Ivelic, Javier Lopez and environmental steward Nani Astorga, who have been operating outdoorsy and adventurous trips into this area since the 1990s.

Very much focused on delivering really authentic experiences, the guys are particularly proud of their team of fun-loving, environmentally-conscious and extremely knowledgeable trekking guides.

Two of the four main domes house a yoga studio and a wellness area.

The property is almost always booked on an inclusive basis, with a range of packages that focus on different types and levels of activities.

Rooms

Guest accommodation is in around 20 relatively simple geodesic domed rooms, all of which have composting toilets.

Please note that rooms only have private bathrooms, power outlets (for charging electronic equipment), heating and hot water where noted.

The rooms come in four specifications …

• Standard Domes : 10 sqm / 108 s qft
  shared bathroom, no heating, no electricity
• Superior Domes : 23 sqm / 250 sq ft
  private bathroom, propane heater
• Suite Domes : 28 sqm / 300 sq ft
  private bathroom, wood-burning stove, hot water, best views
• Suite Loft Domes : 37 sqm / 398 sq ft
  loft mattresses for two children, private bathroom, wood-burning stove, hot water

Activities

EcoCamp Patagonia offers a wide range of outdoor activities, some of which are included in the room rate.

• hiking
• vehicle safari
• horse-riding
• puma tracking
• kayaking

The Torres del Paine area is usually visited in combination with the Los Glaciares region of southern Argentina, the two areas being connected by means of a long road journey.

These areas can be combined by air with various other locations in Chile and Argentina.

EcoCamp Patagonia is usually visited for 3-4 nights, occasionally shorter when combining with other lodges in Patagonia, longer if guests are up for the full range of outdoor activities.

Seasonality

The best time to visit Torres del Paine is generally considered to be during the Oct-Mar southern spring-summer-autumn period, with March tending to be the best all-round option for most people.

Deciding when to visit can be slightly complicated, since there are several distinct and often contradictory factors at play. The answer will very much depend on your sensitivities and the range of activities in which you are interested.

Getting there

Torres del Paine is usually accessed by air from Santiago to Punta Arenas, the most southerly city in Chile, which is around 250 km further south. From there it’s a road transfer of around 4-5 hours up to the reserve, mostly on good sealed roads.

There are sometimes also occasional flights from Santiago to Puerto Natales, which lies just 50 km to the south and from where it is a road transfer of just 90 minutes into the reserve.

The reserve is also often accessed by road from the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, which lies immediately to the north, across the border in Argentina, which is in turn accessed by air from Buenos Aires or Bariloche to El Calafate.

a great range of outdoor activities