Located just a few kilometers from northern ice fields and surrounded by spectacular rivers and lakes, this Patagonian destination opens the doors to a magnificent yet virtually explored area. Located in a privileged site, the Explora lodge offers you an intimate and private atmosphere in this sector of Patagonia. Here you will be able to disconnect and tour the different hills and valleys. The lodge is part of a self-sustainable project, so its building materials were stones from local quarries, recycled wood, and copper for the roofs.
South America
Explora Patagonia National Park
4 Days. Contact for pricing.
Tailormade Adventures
Details
Overview
Itinerary Highlights:
- Discover the stunning Patagonian landscapes through treks, overland trips, ice hikes and even rock climbing
- Learn about the region's nature and history from expert guides
- Try local spirits and share your daily experiences with other travellers at the bar
- Be spoiled for choice with a Patagonian inspired menu, featuring various lunch and dinner options
Travelling with Eclipse
Peace of Mind
- Eclipse Travel is Australian owned and run, and an ATAS accredited travel agent.
- 24/7 emergency numbers and local contacts provided for support while you’re abroad.
- We provide all the information you need to organise your visas and vaccinations, making travel preparation stress-free.
- No currency surcharges. Once your deposit is paid, your price is guaranteed.
Specialists
- Our consultants are true destination experts, with firsthand experience and extensive travel in the regions we offer.
- Expect quick, professional responses and dedicated service from our knowledgeable team.
- We conduct regular checks on destinations, hotels, and services to ensure quality for every trip.
Authentic Travel
- Tailor-made itineraries designed around your unique requirements.
- Freedom to select your preferred style and standard of accommodation.
- Unique itineraries that take you beyond the major highlights, immersing you in each location.
- Committed to responsible travel: we reinvest in the environment and local communities across our destinations.
This vast territory is ideal for those explorers who want to enjoy nature and connect with its mountains, turquoise lakes, glaciers, lenga and ñirre forests, viewpoints, prairies and rivers. Travellers will also get to know a new way of exploring, following the legacy of the Tompkins Foundation, through the conservation and protection of nature.
Your stay includes a range of exploration options. The explorations provide travellers with an in depth experience of this austral territory, for which there are six different exploration zones, each with its own set of unique geographic, cultural and biosphere characteristics. Each exploration has been designed to gradually reveal the essence of the territory to be discovered, whether on foot, on horseback, by bicycle, overland, mountain, among others.
After a day of exploring you return to the lodge to relax in comfort. Join your fellow travellers at the bar, before enjoying a delicious dinner from two famous chefs: Pablo Jesús Rivero – owner of the restaurant “Don Julio”, 14th best restaurant in Latin America according to the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022 – and Guido Tassi, consultant chef to Don Julio. Travellers will enjoy a new type of dining experience, where the products of the day are the lead actors. Delight in a brunch that is an interpretation of the surroundings at their maximum expression, with a wide variety of vegetables, salads, stews, and proteins roasted in a mud oven. Meanwhile, at dinner, experience the rite of fire, very characteristic of the region and a tradition dating back to its ancient inhabitants. Travellers can enjoy the cut of meat the day barbecued on a wood fire, handmade sausages, empanadas baked in a mud oven, and different local seasonal vegetables.
With several lodges in Chilean and Argentine Patagonia and others in multiple positions across the continent, explorers can combine more than one destination in a single journey and craft a truly original and broad exploration experience. Reaching these remote lodges can be difficult however there are two private flight options available for Explora guests to save time on lengthy road transfers. Guests arriving in Balmaceda can skip a 6 hour drive with a short 45 minute flight to Cochrane, at the entrance to the Patagonia National Park. Travellers looking to connect their stay with Explora Torres del Paine can take advantage of a private flight from Cochrane to Puerto Natales, saving hours in flight connections.
Please contact us for dates
About the Hotel
Located just a few kilometers from northern ice fields and surrounded by spectacular rivers and lakes, this Patagonian destination opens the doors to a magnificent yet virtually explored area. Located in a privileged site, the Explora lodge offers you an intimate and private atmosphere in this sector of Patagonia. Here you will be able to disconnect and tour the different hills and valleys. The lodge is part of a self-sustainable project, so its building materials were stones from local quarries, recycled wood, and copper for the roofs.
The lodge, located in the Patagonia National Park, was built by the Tompkins Foundation and is in the Chacabuco Valley sector. It has 10 rooms (2 suites and 8 standard) with views of Cerro Tamango and Tamanguito and the park in general. Its sustainable architecture was designed to reduce interference with the natural surroundings and in that way be able to enjoy the over 300.000 hectares of parkland.
What's included?
- Transfer from and to Balmaceda airport on a preset schedule.
- Accommodations and guided explorations.
- All meals, snacks and open bar.
- Bike riding and kayaking gear and trekking poles.
- Tickets to nature reserves and national park.
- Access to the leisure areas.
- Wi-Fi.
What's not included?
- Air transportation
- Airport entrance/departure taxes,
- Passport, visa, and immigration fees
- Additional hotel nights
- Travel Protection Plan
- Laundry National and international telephone calls
- Gratuities
- Any items not mentioned as included
Notes
- Prices displayed are per-person on a double room basis for a 3-night/4-day stay.
- Solo travellers will incur a surcharge. Contact us for more information.
- Between 24 Dec 2024 - 31 Dec 2024, a minimum of 4 nights is required. Price displayed is for 4 nights.
Info Season 2024-2025:
Flights Schedule:
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Arrival: Arrive on the first available flight of the day, reaching Balmaceda no later than 10:40 am.
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Departure: We will take you to Balmaceda airport for flights departing from 2:30 pm onwards (as close to this time as possible to minimize waiting time at the airport).
Arrival Transfer:
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Van: The trip takes about 6 hours, along a mostly gravel road that is part of the iconic Carretera Austral. It operates every day between 9:40-10:40 and has no additional cost for all-inclusive programs. If travelers’ arrival times do not coincide with our transfers, we recommend they spend a night in Coyhaique and coordinate transfer to the lodge with us for the next day.
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Pick-up in Coyhaique: The pick-up time at the hotel in Coyhaique – between 08:30-09:30 – will be coordinated with travelers the day before. The van will then go to pick up the travelers who arrive at the airport before continuing to the lodge.
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Private flight: A flight to Cochrane lasting about 45 minutes, where we will pick you up and take you to our lodge in a 45-minute van ride. It has an additional cost and operates on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from October 3rd to mid-April. Pack light with a soft suitcase of up to 20 kilograms. Prices start at USD 1,368 per person one-way for a 4-night stay and USD 1,800 for a 3-night stay.
Return Transfer:
- From the Lodge to Balmaceda Airport: Leaving between 6:30 and 7:00 am, a complimentary shuttle service to Balmaceda airport is provided. A 6-hour journey is factored in, along with 1 hour for unexpected delays and 1 hour for airport waiting time, thus accommodating flights departing from 2:30 pm onwards. We suggest scheduling your flight not too late to minimize airport waiting time.
Price Assurance
At Eclipse Travel, our expert destination knowledge and decades of travel planning experience come at no extra cost to you. While many think booking through a tour operator is more expensive than planning a trip independently, that’s not the case. We’re paid by our travel partners—such as hotels, activity operators, and cruise providers—via commissions, not by our clients.
Our team negotiates the best rates for you and ensures you receive unbiased advice, with no preference for any particular supplier. In fact, where we secure higher commissions, we often pass the savings on to you, giving us a competitive price edge.
Additionally, we lock in exchange rates at the time of your deposit, ensuring no surprise costs when it’s time for final payment. You can rest easy knowing we’ll handle the details with our suppliers. The only exceptions are national park fee increases or fuel surcharges imposed after your booking, though these are rare.
Take advantage of our team’s expertise and let us help you plan the perfect holiday—hassle-free!
Destination: South America
The vivid sights and sounds of South America offer something for everyone. Stretching from the Caribbean to Patagonia, the variety of cultures, climates and landscapes has to be experienced firsthand to be believed. The memories you take home will leave you wanting more – we’re sure you’ll want to return again and again, just like us!
Downloadable travel guide
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