Explora Torres del Paine

Style

South American Scandi

Setting

No pleasure without Paine

Anchored to the shores of mountain-mirroring Lake Pehoé, luxury hotel Explora Torres del Paine hunkers down into the craggy landscape of the Torres del Paine National Park. It’s surrounded by a dramatic granite amphitheatre of jagged mountains. Stays here are an indoor-outdoor affair, on foot, horseback or in comfort of the hotel’s open-air Jacuzzis. You also have a front-row seat for views of Cordillera Paine and its hardy animal population: a brace of black-breasted eagles, or a lonely guanaco. Back indoors, roaring fires and Scandi-lite interiors ensure Explora’s brand of humble luxury softens the edges of this remote and rugged region.

Facilities

Rooms

49, including six suites.

Checkout

10am. Earliest check-in, 1pm.

More Details

Rates include all meals, drinks, transfers, guided excursions, and spa access.

Also

Wheelchair access is limited due to the terrain.

Free Internet Access

Spa

At the Hotel

Spa, boutique, stables, barbecue area, guides, and free WiFi. In rooms: a seriously impressive view and a hydromassage bath tub.

Our Favourite Rooms

Each of the rooms is a study in rugged luxury, with clean modern lines, softly curving blonde-beech walls and slate-tiled bathrooms. Interior design elements are somewhat secondary when the view is this good; there’s a band of windows wrapping around the full front of the building, bestowing each room with glorious panorama. Don’t be shy and keep your curtains open on the first night of your stay, so you’ll wake up to the view. Explorer Suites are especially blessed, overlooking Macizo del Paine; the Salto Chico Rooms have calming waterfall views. There are no TVs or air-conditioning, but hydromassage bath tubs in each room provide enough entertainment and relieve post-hike muscle soreness, and heating ensures you won’t get – ahem – chilly in Chile.

Poolside

The wood-clad, indoor heated pool feels like an alpine hideaway – it’s more of a lap pool than a spot for posing. There’s a mini fridge so you can enjoy champagne in the hot tubs, too.

Spa

An outside dash is required to reach the Ona spa, located 100 metres from the main building connected by a sloped wooden path. After a strenuous hike, there’s nothing more soothing than slipping into the waters of the heated, covered pool or warming tired limbs in the sauna. The four open-air Jacuzzis have views of the Paine River and massages with essential oils can be tailored to relax or energise.

Packing Tips

Look to rugged outdoorsy brands for gear that looks good and protects you from the elements.

Also

Don’t hold back on getting a thorough drenching in Patagonia’s famous four-seasons-in-one-day weather: the hotel has warming racks for drying gear so your waterproofs will be toasty the following day.

Children

All ages are welcome, though there are no facilities or menus for kids. Rather, bring older, outdoorsy kids for ‘guess-what-I-did-on-holiday’ bragging rights. One extra bed (for ages 12 and under) can be added to all rooms, on request.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

A ribbon of windows around the front of the hotel ensures all tables have a distracting view of the lake below.

Dress Code

Nobody’s judging what you’re wearing: chinos and a shirt for him and her will fit in just fine.

Hotel Restaurant

Despite being five hours from the nearest conurbation, the hotel’s fresh sustenance belies its isolated setting. Much of the food is locally sourced and dependent on the season, though lamb is a stand-out dish year-round. The ever-changing menu is packed with Chilean classics and all meals are accompanied by robust and full-bodied wines. If the weather permits, make sure you get your name down for the spit-roasted lamb, served alfresco at the quincho (an outdoor kitchen and barbecue). Share a mate with the gauchos and listen to their stories before tucking in.

Hotel Bar

The Explorer’s Bar is the place to congregate in the evening to discuss plans for the following day with guides and guests alike. Héctor Vergara – the only master sommelier in Latin America – can guide you through the Chilean wines, and there are local liqueurs, and cocktails to sip, including an especially piquant Pisco sour – make up the menu, with nibble-y bar snacks on offer. And as you’re in Chile, you can be certain that the vino is muy, muy bueno.

Last Orders

Dine in the restaurant from 7am to 10pm. Drinks are poured in the bar from 7am to 11pm.

Planes

Fly direct to Santiago, then catch a flight to Puerto Natales or Punta Arenas, the closest airports to Explora Patagonia. Our Smith24 team of travel experts are on hand round the clock to find the best flight for you and book your tickets.

Automobiles

Between November and March, the hotel offers free transfers from Punta Arenas Airport (a five-hour drive) and Puerto Natales (a two-hour drive) at set times. Distances in this part of the world are vast, but if you’re determined to drive you’ll need a four-wheel drive and brace yourself for bumpy terrain. You can break up the journey by stopping at the Milodón Cave (where you can learn about Patagonia’s prehistoric residents), about three hours from Punta Arenas and 30 minutes from Puerto Natales. Once you eventually arrive, on-site parking is free.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

When staying here, you’re five hours from the nearest town at the bottom of South America, but there’s plenty to do once you get there. Explora Torres del Paine offers more than 40 different activities to keep you occupied from dawn to dusk – there are no restaurants and cafés to distract here, just the great outdoors to explore on foot, horseback or by car. The hotel’s guides are bilingual and thought to be the best in the Torres del Paine, leading groups of no more than eight on gentle walks, horseback treks or hikes. Every evening they’ll discuss the following day’s plans with guests over dinner. Trek to the Grey Glacier; gallop through lenga trees and across the pampas with the gauchos (Chilean cowboys); explore the lake on board the hotel’s catamaran; or spot wildlife like guanacos, condors and pumas on a scenic stroll. There are excursions for all fitness levels, from soft treks to hardcore hikes, so you won’t find yourself too out of puff. On the conservation reserve, you can tour the stables, watch sheep get sheared and learn more about ranch-style living. Horse-lovers can enjoy the company of Explora’s 26 Patagonian steeds, each one raised on the Ibáñez family estate in central Chile and selected for their ability to traverse the terrain.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .