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Staying at Ecocamp Patagonia was the largest spotlight of my monthlong honeymoon in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay. I fully adored this place, and it made my time in Chilean Patagonia extremely memorable.
Ecocamp Patagonia is residence to the world’s first geodesic lodge room. That’s proper, they have been first — and we will thank their affect for the a whole bunch of dome resorts which have sprung up all around the world!
However greater than something, Ecocamp is a sustainable resort that truly walks the stroll. Carbon impartial, utilizing good inexperienced expertise, and devoted to serving the local people.
One in all my readers beneficial Ecocamp Patagonia to me after loving her keep, and after I bought in contact with Ecocamp’s workers, we determined to work collectively. Altogether, Ecocamp provided me and Charlie three comped nights in change for some protection; we paid for a fourth evening out of pocket.
Let’s check out this really fantastic place.
This put up was revealed in February 2024, primarily based on a December 2023 keep.
Ecocamp Patagonia
Ecocamp Patagonia is situated near the guts of Torres del Paine Nationwide Park in Chile. It’s so shut, you may hike instantly from Ecocamp to the bottom of the towers, which I did in the future! (Extra on that beneath.)
And the complete place consists of geodesic domes: non-public domes for sleeping, group domes that home the eating and bar areas, a yoga dome, a therapeutic massage dome, and all of the domes the place the workers dwell!
Ecocamp walks the stroll on the subject of sustainability, far more than most sustainable lodging I’ve visited, and they’re dedicated to minimizing their environmental influence.
What does that imply? Ecocamp has been carbon impartial since 2007 and runs on renewable vitality generated by photo voltaic panels and micro-hydro generators from a close-by river.
Different sustainable practices embody utilizing composting bogs and a biofiltration system to assist replenish the soil; providing solely biodegradable cleaning soap and shampoo; and heating the domes via sun-exposed ceiling home windows.
After which there’s Ecocamp’s social dedication: they’re devoted to sourcing native produce, shopping for from their neighbors each time doable, and financially contributing to the preservation of Torres del Paine Nationwide Park.
In case you are vegetarian or vegan, YOU WILL LOVE THIS PLACE. Each evening, there are three-course meals, and every course has three choices, together with at the very least one vegetarian and at the very least one vegan. And the lunch buffet is fully vegetarian. I met a lot of vegetarians who selected Ecocamp for that reason.
Moreover, Ecocamp is a digital detox. There isn’t a wifi and no telephone sign, although there may be a pc with wired-in web for those who want it.
(Nonetheless, I ought to level out that wired-in web isn’t sensible these days — you may’t signal into most electronic mail suppliers anymore with out two-factor authentication, and if there’s no wifi, you may’t verify in your telephone that you simply signed into an unfamiliar laptop computer.)
Ecocamp can solely be booked via Cascada Journey, and you may e book right here. It’s a bit complicated, however the package deal I did and advocate is Patagonia Wildlife Safari — a customizable itinerary of 4-7 days with every day excursions.
Domes at Ecocamp Patagonia
Within the resort that pioneered dome lodging, after all you’ll be staying in a dome! There are three sorts of domes to select from: customary dome, superior dome, or suite dome.
Customary domes are the essential choice, with beds however no rest room (there’s a shared rest room), no electrical shops, and no warmth, however a lot of blankets that may maintain you heat all evening.
Superior domes have an ensuite rest room with a bathe, sink, and a composting rest room, in addition to electrical shops and a propane heater to remain toasty at evening.
Suite domes are high tier, together with an ensuite rest room and trendy low-emission wooden range, native decorations, and much more area. Some suite domes are loft domes, which may sleep 4 folks and are perfect for households.
Charlie and I stayed in a collection dome. Right here’s a have a look at it:
I used to be impressed by the ample scorching water and good water stress within the bathe, and the composting rest room was simple to make use of (although you do must maintain reminding your self to not throw rest room paper in it!).
Each evening after we got here again from dinner, there was a fireplace burning within the wooden range. So cozy — however at instances slightly too heat! By the third evening, we lastly timed it proper, protecting the home windows open till we went to sleep.
One downside: There was a LOT of sunshine within the morning from the facet home windows, which had no curtains. We visited in early December, when the solar rises at 5:30 AM (thanks, southern hemisphere). I used a sleep masks and advocate you carry one in every of your individual.
A Typical Day at Ecocamp Patagonia
Your day begins with a hearty breakfast, and also you’ll obtain your breakfast time the evening earlier than primarily based on the tour you’ve chosen. Most individuals eat round 8:00 AM. And for those who’d like, there’s an early yoga class you may be a part of.
After breakfast, you pack your lunch for the day. You’re given a reusable container to fill from the fully vegetarian lunch buffet — pastas, rice, quinoa patties, chickpeas and all types of beans, eggs, cheeses (together with vegan cheeses), breads, and greens.
Additionally throughout breakfast, you make your alternatives from the three-course dinner menu for that night.
After which it’s time to move off in your tour! You is likely to be mountain climbing, monitoring wildlife, or on a ship journey. Extra on the three excursions I did beneath.
After you come back out of your tour, you might need time for a therapeutic massage (which I like to recommend reserving upfront — slots go rapidly!). There may be additionally a every day eco-tour the place you may find out about how the resort operates behind the scenes and see their inexperienced expertise.
Simply earlier than dinner, it’s time in your every day briefing! Your tour leaders will let you know what time to fulfill locally dome, and so they’ll go over the three excursions out there for the next day. You’ll select tomorrow’s tour presently.
This additionally doubles as comfortable hour! You’ll get to take pleasure in a cocktail (Pisco bitter or calafate bitter!) and a few nibbles.
Then it’s supper time. The great factor is that you simply’ll be sitting together with your companions from the tour that day — so that you’ve already gotten to know one another a bit (and positively have stuff to speak about).
The dinner is three programs with three choices for every course (together with at the very least one vegetarian choice and at the very least one vegan choice for every course), and wine is served.
After which it’s time to move again to your dome for the evening. Should you’re staying in a collection dome like we did, you’ll come residence to a fireplace within the wooden range. And the it’s off to mattress, as a result of your physique wants relaxation after a day within the nice outside!
Excursions at Ecocamp Patagonia
I used to be at Ecocamp Patagonia for 4 nights and three full days, which was the right period of time to check out a couple of totally different excursions.
Every day has three tour choices, and there may be at all times one simple tour out there.
My three excursions have been: Lake Gray and Gray Glacier boat journey, mountain climbing to the Base of the Towers, and the Fauna Path.
Lake Gray and Gray Glacier Boat Journey
This was categorised as an “simple” tour at Ecocamp. We started our day with a two-hour drive to Lake Gray, stopping for images at a couple of scenic viewpoints alongside the western lakes, then stopping at a lodge for a espresso whereas the guides bought our tickets. (And…the lodge provides you half-hour of free wifi. FYI!)
We then set off for the boat on a protracted stroll throughout a gravelly grey seaside. We have been fortunate to see an unlimited blue and white iceberg within the water, which had damaged off the glacier earlier.
From there, we hopped on the boat to start the Lake Gray navigation, ate our field lunches, and loved a complimentary cocktail.
Alongside the way in which we picked up hikers doing the W Trek — this boat journey doubles as native transportation — and we sailed proper as much as the glacier. I’ve by no means been so near calving ice earlier than! We even bought to see some fairly waterfalls.
This tour was a very nice introduction to Patagonia, and although it was a simple tour, there was a surprisingly lengthy stroll throughout that vast grey seaside!
Is the Lake Gray tour value it? I feel it’s, for most individuals. Nonetheless, I ought to level out that this glacier doesn’t evaluate to Perito Moreno Glacier in close by El Calafate, Argentina. That giant glacier is way extra spectacular.
That, and earlier this 12 months I visited Eqi Glacier in Greenland by boat, which was much more placing — although I’m going to guess than 99.9% of holiday makers to Patagonia don’t go to Greenland earlier within the 12 months!
Hike to the Base of the Towers
Mountaineering to the bottom of Las Torres is essentially the most tough tour that Ecocamp affords. The hike takes 8-10 hours, it’s a 22 km hike out and again (13.6 miles), and has 1200 meters elevation achieve (4000 ft). Moreover, there’s no simple method out — it’s good to hike out the precise method you hiked in.
Even so, Charlie and I knew we wished to do it. That photograph of the tower base, the blue lake in entrance of the three jagged rock formations, is the last word Patagonia memento.
And man, this hike was TOUGH. There are such a lot of totally different levels.
There have been two Ecocamp guides with us, and we stayed collectively as a bunch for nearly the complete hike (despite the fact that Charlie and I, whereas not ridiculously gradual, have been behind the pack).
By the point we hit the refugio on the way in which again, aka the 75% marker, we cut up up into two teams and Charlie and I did a slower-paced hike again with our information Anaïs. This was the purpose the place my ft and knees actually began to harm.
Nonetheless, regardless of being the gradual ones, the hike altogether took us about 9 hours.
Total, am I comfortable I did the Torres hike? Sure. I’m grateful for the expertise, and happy with myself and Charlie for surviving it. However solely on reflection. It was actually powerful on the time, and if I had been in worse form, it might have been depressing.
Should you’re on the fence in regards to the Torres hike, speak to your guides about whether or not or not you must do it. They’re knowledgeable guides and so they gained’t power you to do one thing past your potential.
Fauna Path
This was one other “simple” tour from Ecocamp, and this low-key hike was the right restoration day after the extraordinary Torres hike. Altogether we hiked for only a few hours throughout “Patagonian flat” landscapes (light up and down).
All through the hike we stopped continuously to study in regards to the native natural world within the area from our guides. We even visited a rocky overhang with cave work relationship again greater than 6,000 years!
A few of the views on this hike have been completely stupendous. We noticed condors flying overhead, a lot of cool geese, and the guanacos posed for us like they have been in a postcard!
After the hike, we drove to Cascada Rio Paine, an unlimited waterfall with the towers cheekily peeking out behind it, and loved an impromptu picnic, with tasty snacks and native beers along with our packed lunches.
Is the flora hike value it? I might need been a bit underwhelmed if this was the one hike I did, nevertheless it was the PERFECT exercise to do the day after an intense hike.
Different Excursions
There are many different tour choices at Ecocamp. You possibly can go horse driving at an estancia (ranch) close by; you may hike the difficult French Valley or the straightforward Sarmiento and Sarmiento Chico Lakes. You possibly can observe wild horses and even pumas.
And might you select to not do any excursions? Certain. One lady I met was nursing a light harm and didn’t wish to danger the Towers Base hike. As a substitute, she had a personal yoga session, bought a therapeutic massage, and did a sound bathtub.
What number of days at Ecocamp Patagonia is finest?
I stayed at Ecocamp for 4 nights, which allowed three days of excursions. Actually, I’d advocate that at least.
Ecocamp shouldn’t be the sort of place the place you must rush in and rush out — the magic is stepping into the routine, attending to know your guides and fellow vacationers, and having fun with the digital detox.
I met some company who have been staying at Ecocamp Patagonia for per week. That will ALSO be an superior alternative. You can mix 5-7 days at Ecocamp with 5-7 days in El Calafate and El Chaltén in Argentina, and that makes a superb Patagonia itinerary!
Methods to get to Ecocamp Patagonia
Ecocamp Patagonia will choose you up from the closest airports: Puerto Natales (two hours away, with restricted flights) and Punta Arenas (4 hours away, however with extra flight choices). They are going to carry you a field lunch to eat on the journey.
Charlie and I flew into Puerto Natales instantly from Puerto Montt (close to the place we had been staying in Puerto Varas).
Sadly, that is the place we had a snafu: Ecocamp was not there to choose us up. After no person confirmed up, we known as the workplace and so they mentioned the van was late. From what they mentioned, this seems to be a uncommon incidence, however I actually want they’d emailed or texted us to tell us.
Should you’re touring onward to Argentine Patagonia, you’ve got solely two choices: an early morning elevate to the bus station in Torres del Paine Nationwide Park (suppose round 6:00 AM), the place you may take a bus to the Argentine border and one other bus to El Calafate, or you may e book a personal switch that takes you the entire method.
Charlie and I booked a personal switch to El Calafate, and the value was extremely excessive (round $800 USD). From El Calafate, you may take a bus to El Chaltén, or fly to Buenos Aires or Ushuaia.
Kate’s Ideas for Ecocamp
Should you’re planning on visiting Ecocamp, listed here are a couple of ideas I’ve:
Pack the best mountain climbing gear. What do you want?
You don’t must carry mountain climbing poles — Ecocamp offers these.
Learn via the excursions on the web site earlier than your journey, and select them tentatively upfront. I discover it simpler to retain info from studying moderately than listening, and a number of the Ecocamp guides, although pretty, went on lengthy tangents about trivialities of the excursions moderately than sticking to primary info like the issue of the mountain climbing.
Get to breakfast a couple of minutes early, and pack your lunch first. We bought this tip and it was tremendous useful! So good to make your lunch earlier than it will get crowded.
In order for you a therapeutic massage, schedule one upfront. The slots go rapidly, and when you’ve got an extended tour, you could solely have the ability to make the ultimate slot of the day.
See for those who can fly into Puerto Natales. This may prevent two hours of driving moderately than flying into Punta Arenas.
Convey a sleep masks. This may enable you sleep when the solar rises at 5:30 AM!
Is Ecocamp Patagonia value it?
I feel Ecocamp Patagonia is immensely value it. That is the very best place Charlie and I stayed on our monthlong South American honeymoon, and we’ve been speaking it as much as everybody we’ve met since.
The nice: That is an extremely particular property that makes you’re feeling such as you’re experiencing one thing distinctive and memorable in the course of spectacular nature. They take sustainability severely. The meals is nice. And the workers are completely improbable.
What could possibly be improved: Communication with company over pickup delays. I want we had obtained a “We’ll be there in half-hour” electronic mail or WhatsApp. That, and I discovered it exhausting to schedule within the eco-tour and a therapeutic massage when so many excursions ran late. Some guides weren’t as clear as others when explaining the excursions. I feel having rentable sleep masks could be a terrific concept.
Worth for cash: Once you think about that that is an all-inclusive resort — frankly, you gained’t spend cash on something apart from cocktails within the bar, massages, or gear within the store — I feel the worth is extraordinarily excessive. You get a singular place to remain, three wonderful meals per day, and a full tour every day with transportation and educated guides — plus free pickup and drop-off at close by airports and bus stations.
Total, I adored my keep right here, and I’m recommending it to everybody planning a Patagonia journey. Should you dream of visiting Patagonia sometime, that is the sort of place that gives you a visit you’ll bear in mind endlessly.
Extra on Patagonia:
Extra on Chile:
Extra on South America:
Does Ecocamp Patagonia sound like your sort of place?