Patagonia Camp

Rooms

As you drive towards Patagonia Camp, you'll spot the 20 white yurts peeping out over the lenga forest: looking rather like space pods. Once inside, you'll find your circular yurt is a very pleasing space. Tall, wide and airy; the triple skin walls are well insulated, lined with white fabric and wooden lattice work and decorated with local weavings. The furniture is all specially commissioned and handmade from local wood, such as polished, rustic headboards and beautiful bedside tables. Beds are very comfortable (all yurts can be either kingsize or twin) and are positioned so that you can enjoy that magnificent view as you lie back on the pillows. Each room has a small writing table by the wide windows, and a terrace with seats so you can sit in privacy outside.

Slate bathrooms are in a separate hut adjoining your yurt and are well equipped with a shower, a small bath tub, a toilet and a sink. With bathrobes, fluffy towels and heating this is not camping as you know it.

Yurts are connected by open wooden walkways, which lead down from the Salon, a welcoming airy space that has a raised lounge area with dark brown leather sofas, the dining area and reception.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• WiFi

Eating

A perhaps unexpected delight about staying at Patagonia Camp is that the food is superb. The young resident Chilean chef, Brian Espinoza, creates really imaginative gourmet food from fresh local ingredients. Dinner is included in the rates and there’s a limited set menu every evening, though those with special dietary needs can always be catered for. The style reflects Patagonian traditions - such a wonderful barbecue of lamb, asado al palo, or local fish such as hake turned into ceviche.

Patagonia Camp is partly owned by the Matetic family, whose vineyards produce some award-winning wine, so the wine list is well-chosen, and the house wines are superb (and included in the rate). The Corralillo Reserva 2006 was sublime. We found the puddings to be particularly impressive - we loved the trio of chocolates.

The dining room is part of the airy high ceilinged Salon - a lovely light space, where you can have a drink before dinner, or sit out on the terrace. Dining tables are right up against the huge picture windows, so that you can gaze at that magnificent view as you eat - an uplifting experience at the buffet breakfast, whatever the weather. Expect a selection of tea, coffee, cereals, fresh fruit and juice, different varieties of freshly baked bread, jams and a cooked breakfast of eggs and bacon. The waiting staff are charming and extremely professional, giving Patagonia camp the feel of a smart restaurant, in the middle of nowhere!

Features include:

• All meals included
• Bar
• Restaurant

Activities

• Staying at Patagonia Camp enables you to ramble around the ample land around the lake. Set off on an easy, self-guided hike in the nearby nature reserve or choose from several walking excursions available including Torres Base (8 hours), Laguna Azul (8 hours), Lake Grey Beach (2 hours), Ferrier Viewpoint (3 hours) and Lake Toro Peninsula (1 hour). The walks are suitable for walkers of varying levels, and you could also ask for a lift one-way. Enquire for details
  
  
• There are mountain bikes you can borrow, to try out the local trails
  
  
• Kayaks and canoes are available to take out on the lake: the bay is sheltered and blissful to explore from the water
  
  
• Fish for salmon and trout (resident, not introduced) in nearby lakes and streams
  
  
• Torres del Paine National Park is obviously the main reason you're here - the park entrance and administration is just 30 minutes' drive away. Ask Heather and Ian to organise treks inside the park with local tour operators
  
  
• Take a boat cruise (3 hours) around the lake on Grey II, organised by the camp, which will allow you to fully appreciate the dramatic landscape
  
  
• Local estancias (traditional sheep farms) offer a wonderful insight into Patagonian culture. You can visit for the day and go horse riding with gauchos and taste that asado al palo (so much more than a barbecue) with locally reared lamb

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Fishing
• Glacier visits
• Hiking
• Horse riding
• Kayaking
• Mountain biking
• Plantlife / flora
• Rafting
• Swimming
• Trekking

Kids

Only kids aged 10 and older are permitted, and Patagonia Camp is ideal for tweens and teens. One extra bed can be put in each yurt.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Patagonia Camp is located in southern Chile on the shore of Lago Toro, directly to the south of the Cuernos del Paine. It's an hour's drive from Puerto Natales and 15-minutes from the entrance to Torres del Paine.

By Air:
You'll need to get a flight to Punta Arenas (330km away) from Santiago or Puerto Montt. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
Transfers from the airport are included in your package, or you can request a private transfer to the camp (4-5 hours' drive, enquire when booking).

By Bus:
There are several buses a day from Punta Arenas (and its airport) to Puerto Natales. There are also daily buses to the Argentine town of El Calafate, for visiting the famous Perito Moreno glacier. From Puerto Natales you'll need to arrange a transfer for the final 1-hour drive.

By Car:
If you're travelling independently, and not doing one of Patagonia Camp's itineraries, you might find it useful to hire a car for getting around the area - see our car rental recommendations.

Alternatively, you could drive here from Argentine Patagonia. Fly from Buenos Aires to El Calafate (4 hours, several flights daily), then see the glaciers, and hire a car to drive over the border into Chile. The journey time is roughly the same as from Punta Arenas, the landscape is stunning, and you’ll find services and infrastructure better in El Calafate than in Punta Arenas. Arrange car hire 24 hours in advance and warn them you will be taking the car into Chile.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com

More on getting to Chile and getting around