EcoCamp

Torres del Paine, Patagonia, Chile
Book from GBP Book from £295 per night

EcoCamp

Torres del Paine, Patagonia, Chile

A dome with a view! An ecological base for superb hiking adventures in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park

A dome with a view! An ecological base for superb hiking adventures in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park

If you want to hike the spectacular trails in the heart of the Torres del Paine but don’t fancy hauling your tent, EcoCamp is the comfortable alternative. Choose from various trekking packages of all lengths and levels, with excellent bilingual guides, and meals, drinks and transfers included. The friendly young staff take great care to make both hiking expeditions and your stay at the camp well-organised and welcoming.

Congregate around the wood-burning stove in the large dining dome for drinks before dinner. Then retire, with a hot water bottle and a lamp, to your geodesic dome: wooden floors, real beds with lots of warm bedding, and a window in the roof to see the stars. EcoCamp has minimal impact on the environment, but eco-bathrooms with loos and hot showers feel like the real thing. Feel the wind and hear the birdsong, and in the morning when you open your tent flap, it’s a miracle to see the Torres right there, lit by the morning light, beckoning you to get out there and hike.

Highs

  • Fabulous views right from your tent flap, and you can see the stars through a window in the roof
  • Excellent hiking in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park without having a long drive beforehand
  • The guiding is first-class, and back at camp there's a warm, friendly atmosphere created by the excellent staff
  • A very environmentally friendly set-up, both in the building and the way EcoCamp is run

Lows

  • Most stays at EcoCamp need to be booked as part of a package, though B&B is offered occasionally when there's availability
  • Though comfortable, bear in mind that the standard tents share toilets. These tents are also unheated, so you’ll need to wrap up warmly to go to the shower block
  • EcoCamp tents are designed to be stronger than the usual tents, but they can be noisy when the wind blows

Best time to go

The geodesic domes are built to withstand even the fierce Patagonian wind, and the camp is open from September to early May. It’s wise to avoid the peak summer months of January and February, since the trails are particularly crowded at this time. Early summer (November) can be lovely, and in late summer and autumn (March) the colours of the lenga forest are stunning.

At any time of year, Torres del Paine National Park has its own microclimate: unpredictable.

Our top tips

You'll need a fair amount of equipment for the tours you'll be doing so should bring a day backpack, waterproof trekking boots, jacket and trousers, a sun hat, sun screen, hiking socks, sandals (for after hikes), a bathing suit and sunglasses. You might also like to pack some walking poles and a torch or headlamp would probably be a good idea.

Great for...

Eco
Family
Great Outdoors
  • Tented Camp
  • 33 rooms
  • All inclusive
  • Over 6s welcome
  • Open all year
  • Pool
  • Spa Treatments
  • Beach Nearby
  • Pet Friendly
  • Disabled Access
  • Car not necessary
  • Parking
  • Restaurants Nearby
  • WiFi
  • Air Conditioning
  • Guest Lounge
  • Terrace
  • Garden
  • Gym
Room:

Rooms

Your room is a geodesic dome, inspired by the circular dwellings of the region’s native Alacalufe people.

There are 13 standard tents, 16 Suite Domes and four Superior Domes. This small number of tents not only limits environmental impact, but creates an intimate feel - far from the overcrowded atmosphere in the rest of the park’s campsites.

Standard Tents come with composting loos and are well spaced out over open ground so that you have plenty of privacy. They’re connected by wooden walkways to both the dining room tent and the shared bathroom block. Inside, they are spacious and tall enough so that you can stand comfortably: 2m high, and 4m in diameter. There are wooden floors with sheepskin rugs, and sturdy wooden beds with lots of warm linen: fleece sheets and feather duvets keep you snug, despite the lack of heating. But as with normal camping, you’re still exposed to the elements.

The bathroom block is divided into male and female communal areas, where there are hot showers and flushing toilets. Environmental credentials are impeccable: no fossil fuels are used to heat the water, and the block uses an ecological waste management system.

A swankier option is one of the Superior Domes, Suite Domes or Suite Dome Lofts. These are more spacious and come with full private bathrooms. All have propane heaters for warmth and the suites also have low-emission wood stoves. They are situated in the Lenga Forest, close to the standard domes but still far enough away to provide an intimate feeling.

Eating

Whether picnicking on a hike or dining at EcoCamp, you’ll find the food is plentiful and delicious. Breakfast is an impressive spread, served on buffet tables in the dining dome: fresh fruit salad, fresh orange juice, home-baked bread with local jams, cheeses, cold meats and scrambled eggs cooked to order. There’s even good coffee.

Lunch is brought with you on hikes, and you can choose the elements you’d like from a buffet table after breakfast.

Dinner is a cheery social event beginning with a gathering in front of the wood-burning stove. You’ll be served a cocktail, and homemade dips and nibbles are handed round while everyone chats and reflects on the day. Dinner is a 3-course meal every night, and all dietary needs are taken into consideration (let them know in advance). Expect soups, hearty stews and lots of rice and pasta to keep you going the following day. Our tarte tatin was particularly good.

Features include:

  • All meals included
  • Kids' meals
  • Vegetarian options
Eating: Community Dome
Activity:

Activities

  • Torres del Paine is a hiking paradise. Since EcoCamp is in the middle of the park, there's lots of choice, and you’ll be led by expert guides who know the terrain well and are trained in all aspects of first aid and safety. On longer hikes, you may stay overnight in one of the park’s well-established refugios, and in that case - porters will carry your pack. There are hiking packages of various lengths, with different hikes organised every day, and highlights include the stunning Grey Glacier, the Paine Towers and Laguna Azul

  • The park is rich in wildlife, and special wildlife watching trips can also be arranged

  • Other activity programmes include horse riding and sea kayaking trips in the beautiful fjords around the park.

  • Massages are on offer at the nearby Hosteria de Las Torres

  • One of the great pleasures of EcoCamp is that you’re already in spectacular scenery, so you could easily extend your stay in the camp, and spend time painting, reading or reflecting on the views

Activities on site or nearby include:

  • Birdwatching
  • Hiking
  • Horse riding
  • Kayaking
  • Plantlife / flora
  • Trekking
  • Wildlife

Kids

Children aged 6-12 years are welcome on the Wildlife Safari package only; EcoCamp is best for teenagers probably, especially for those families who believe outdoor activities should be enjoyed together. The Patagonian Wildlife Safari programme explores the Torres del Paine National Park and has soft and active excursions to choose from, ideal for families.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

A Suite Dome with an extra bed is the best option for a family of 3. Larger families should book one of the Suite Dome Lofts which can take up to 4 people. All are cosy with a wood stove.

Extra Beds Available, Family Rooms

Children's meals:

Special requests can be catered for with advance notice.

Kids Activities nearby:

  • Hiking
  • Boat trips
  • Wildlife watching
  • Micro Safari

Families Should Know:

Note there are no cots, babysitting or rooms with bathtubs. All domes are connected by walkways.

Distances:

  • Airport: 2.5-5.5 hours
  • Hospital: 2.5 hours
Kid Friendly:

Location

EcoCamp is situated in front of the Paine towers, close to the Hostería de las Torres hotel and right in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park. It's 75 miles/120km from Puerto Natales, and 230 miles/370km from Punta Arenas.

By Air:
Punta Arenas (315km) is the nearest airport, and is a 4-hour flight from Santiago. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
The packages include transfers, so all guests are met at the airport on arrival.

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 hour-long drive.

By Car:
It’s unlikely that you’d need a car for getting around the area, since EcoCamp will organise all your excursions and activities in the park for you. However if you do want to hire a car please see our car rental recommendations.

As an alternative to flying to Punta Arenas, 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 the services and infrastructure better in El Calafate than in Punta Arenas. Arrange car hire 24 hours in advance and warn them you'll 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

Airports:

  • Punta Arenas 315.0 km PUQ

Other:

  • Beach 200.0 km
  • Shops 74.0 km
  • Restaurant 74.0 km

Rates for EcoCamp

Arriving on: