Patagonia National Park
Witness a rewilding project in progress in the Patagonia National Park. The fences of this old estancia have been taken down and guanacos, pumas, birdlife and huemul deer have …
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Why we like this hotel
- Located in the Chacabuco Valley, in the heart of the Patagonia National Park: a fascinating rewilding project.
- Explora Patagonia National Park has been built by craftsmen with incredible wooden carvings, hardwood floors and deep armchairs where you can disappear with a book.
- The hiking nearby is fantastic: head up to a ridge to take in the panoramas, gaze at condors, and weaving lakes or down to the confluence of the Baker and Chacabuco rivers, to marvel at the volume of water drained off the northern ice field.
- The wildlife is very evident with guanacos on your doorstep; there are also chances to see pumas, huemul deer and nandu if you go looking for them (and are very quiet).
- You can witness the work of the Tompkins Foundation firsthand—with its pioneering conservation impact.
Explora Patagonia National Park
Explore the grounds and the changing seasons
Plan your adventures from the list of excursions
Enjoy the calm and spacious communal areas
Pick from a number of luxury rooms at the hotel
Growing produce at the Explora Patagonia National Park hotel
Savour the authentic (and exceptional) Patagonian cuisine
Guanacos in the hotel grounds
Guanacos in Patagonia National Park
Laguna views from the trails, Patagonia National Park
What our customers think of Explora Patagonia National Park
Lagunas Atlas hike was beautiful and solitary - only saw one other couple all day.
Travelled: March 2017
Sarah Tilley - UK
Review:
Excursions
Every evening of your stay, assisted by a trusted Explora guide, you will choose from a variety of options for your next day's experience. Below is just a sample:
4x4 Trip to Paso Roballos
Travel along the Chacabuco valley to the border with Argentina passing lakes, stopping to take photos of the birdlife, guanacos and even cave paintings along the route.
Lagunas Altas Hike
This 20km hike that starts and ends at the lodge climbs to a ridge through lenga forests and then winds its way amongst some lakes along the ridge with views of the northern ice field, San Valentin and San Lorenzo mountains and looking across the beautiful Chacabuco valley.
Aviles Hikes
Transfer to the trailhead: a one hour journey from the lodge to the Casa de Piedra trailhead. From here you will follow the Aviles valley until you cross a magnificent high footbridge above the river and hike back again crossing another footbridge. This hike is not very challenging and gives you the chance to see all sorts of different flora.
Visit the confluence of the Baker and Chacabuco rivers
After driving to the Carreterra Austral you will hike 1.5km (1 mile) downhill to the confluence of the Baker and Chacabuco rivers. The volume of water in the Baker river is vast and the colour of the glacial melt will transfix you.
La Vega Trail
This easy hike will take about 1.5 hours: a loop on the valley floor from the Chacabuco lodge, enjoying spotting condors and guanacos as you go.
About Explora Patagonia National Park
Setting
The Explora Patagonia National Park hotel, Chacabuco Valley
Formerly the Chacabuco Lodge built by Kris and Doug Tompkins, the beautifully crafted lodge is located on the floor of the Chacabuco valley under towering cliffs where condors swoop and guancos graze nearby.
The lodge is a cosy building with magnificent wooden carvings of mountains, pumas and condors and the feel of a luxury mountain cabin.
The lodge was taken over by Explora, opening under their management in October 2021 and has helped continue the legacy of Doug and the Foundation.
Spa
Guests at the hotel can enjoy the purpose-built spa, just a few steps from the accommodation.
There are three outdoor hot tubs and two massage rooms.
The spa offers a great opportunity to disconnect after a day of exploring, all the while soaking up the surrounding nature.
Spa at Explora Patagonia National Park
The National Park
The park consists of three areas: Jeinimeini, Tamango and the Chacabuco Valley, where the Explora is located.
The national park was created in 2018 from the Jeinimeini and Tamango nature reserves and the privately owned and managed Parque Patagonia created by the Tomkins Conservation Trust.
The park consists of Patagonian steppe, wetlands, glaciated mountains and deciduous lenga forests.
Travel connections
From Balmaceda Airport you can take a 45min flight to Cochrane every Monday, Thursday and Friday and then a 25min transfer to the lodge. Passengers can take a soft suitcase up to 20kg, plus 5kg of hand baggage. The price per person (one-way) starts at USD $900 and is dependent on a minimum of two passengers staying four nights in Explora.
Alternatively, you can take a 6hr transfer from Balmaceda Airport along the Carretera Austral to the lodge. This operates every day and has no additional cost for those on all-inclusive programs. It's now possible to fly from Puerto Natales to Balmaceda every Monday.
You can connect trips between Explora Patagonia National Park and Explora Torres del Paine. It’s just 1hr 30mins on the lodge-to-lodge flight which operates every Monday. Passengers can take a soft suitcase up to 20kg. The price per person for this one-way flight starts at USD $1,700 and is dependent on a minimum of two passengers staying four nights in each lodge.
Conservation
During your stay, you can learn about the park's vital conservation efforts. The knowledgeable guides at Explora, many of whom have volunteered or worked with Rewilding initiatives, are well-versed in the park's conservation endeavours and will be keen to share this insight with you.
Furthermore, a trip to the on-site Museum is highly recommended. Located within the grounds of Explora, the museum offers an exploration into the Chacabuco Valley's history, the pressing issue of climate change, and critical environmental efforts being undertaken. This educational aspect ensures that your adventure is not only about breathtaking landscapes but also about gaining an understanding of the environment and the importance of preserving it for future generations.
Peter says
There is a family of puma living in the valley near the hotel. When I went on a walk, searching for them, one strolled past the dining room window, making themselves right at home.
Peter StanleyJones Patagonia Specialist
Stay at Explora Patagonia National Park with these trips
Discover the unspoilt region of Aysén while based at the best (and only) Luxury Lodge in the heart of Patagonia National Park. Home to roaming Guanacos and native Pumas, thanks to the Rewilding efforts of the Tompkins Foundation, you’ll enjoy…
- 5 Days
- $3,838
Rooms & Pricing
Standard room
Suite
There are eight standard rooms and five suites. All have fantastic views to the Tamango and Tamanguito hill and across the park.
Standard rooms range from 25-32m², whereas suites are from 35-42m². All have a king-size bed, heating, hair dryer and are non-smoking. Some rooms have an interconnecting door for families and space for an additional bed for a child.
2023/24 season. Prices per person, based on two people sharing a standard double room for four nights:
- Mid-season (Oct 2023 & Apr 2024) - from USD $3,496
- High Season (1st Nov to 23rd Dec 2023 & 1st Jan to 31st Mar 2024) - from USD $4,142
- Holiday Season (24th-31st Dec 2023) - from USD $4,750
2024/25 season. Prices per person, on the same basis as above:
- Mid-season (Oct 2024 & Apr 2025) - from USD $3,838
- High Season (1st Nov to 23rd Dec 2024 & 1st Jan to 31st Mar 2025) - from USD $4,560
- Holiday Season (24th-31st Dec 2024) - from USD $5,244
Aysen
Remote, beautiful and with one of the most famous road-trip roads in the world, Aysen is a destination for those seeking the best of Patagonia without the crowds.
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Marble Caves
Drift between pure marble columns, through smooth, milky white arches that have been carved out over thousands of years. The water beneath is an almost luminescent turquoise, and …
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San Rafael Glacier
The last thing you'd expect to find in the middle of a rainforest, San Rafael Glacier is the most dynamic and actively calving glacier on the Northern Ice Cap. The lagoon at the …
Discover MoreReady to plan your Patagonia adventure?
1
Listen
We'll spend some time listening to your aspirations, then discuss the kind of experience that might suit you.
2
Match
Next we'll discuss the options, shortlist the best trips for you and present you our impartial recommendations.
3
Reserve
We'll place a 24 hour hold on your preferred option - without obligation - whilst we talk through the details.
Whatever your budget, group size, length of stay, preferred activity or appetite for adventure, we can help.
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