Hotel Simple Patagonia, Puerto Natales

Inspected By Experience Chile

Introduction

The Hotel Simple Patagonia is more or less what the name alludes. It is a “simple” hotel. Nothing flashy, nothing complicated.

About

The local family behind the Simple Patagonia had the idea to create a property reminiscent of the traditional Patagonian estancias, which are known to be spacious, open, yet comfortable.

From the outside the building looks like absolutely nothing. In fact, its hard to believe that there is anything inside, because the exterior is so plain. It is covered by wood panelling with small spaces in-between each panel. This is typical of Patagonia estancia construction as a way to break down the wind.

However, once through the front door the scenery opens up into a spacious lobby area, with dining room and lounge area, the end of which are high floor to ceiling windows that open up the stunning Patagonian landscape.

The construction is a mix of cement floors broken by natural wood, and white and wood-panelled walls that create a sense of cleanliness as well as cosiness.

Hotel Weskar, Puerto Natales

Inspected By Experience Chile
Approved By Experience Chile

Introduction

This is a small, cosy lodge located just over 1km from Puerto Natales. Built on a hill side the rooms on the fiord side offer nice views of the Fiord of Last Hope and the mountains the other side.

About

The Hotel Weskar is a family-run, small lodge located on a hill side up from the water’s edge of the Fiord of Last Hope and about 1km from Puerto Natales.

Made entirely from native Lenga wood the ambience is one of a warm home. Rooms are cosy with each one being a little different to the other in terms of space and design. Some are in the attic sector; others are on the second floor and others on the ground floor. Some face the fiord and others face the back of the hill.

The latest and newest rooms are the superior ones located in a separate building to the main hotel.

The small restaurant serves breakfast and simple meals. The lounge offers a relaxing area to read a book or unwind.

If you like cosiness and a relaxed atmosphere, then this is the hotel for you.

Hotel IF, Puerto Natales

Inspected By Experience Chile
Approved By Experience Chile

Introduction

The Hotel IF, called so because the initials I and F represent the first letters of the owners Isabel and Fernando, is a well-thought out, small, modern 15-bedroomed, boutique hotel in the centre of Puerto Natales.

About

The Hotel IF is located in the heart of Puerto Natales, one block from the central plaza. The outside look of being a rather plain, squarish building belies its fresh, welcoming, and interesting interior.

With almost an entire side of the hotel being glass, natural light cascades into each floor. Connecting each floor is an interior, central staircase which is also bathed in the day light. There is no lift here.

Although the hotel is small, there is a sauna and outdoor hot tub for guests’ use as well as an independent restaurant next to the hotel which is also a property of the hotel owners. The restaurant, occupying five transport containers, not only achieves the incredible feat of dramatic surprise when entering, it also offers some of the best food anywhere to be eaten.

On the top floor of the hotel is an outdoor deck from where there are fabulous views of the Senoret Canal and Fiord of Last Hope, but also the snow-covered Mountains at the end of the fiord and the Balmaceda Glacier. You can also see on a clear day the Paine Mountain in Torres del Paine.

Hotel Altiplanico Sur, Puerto Natales

Inspected By Experience Chile
Approved By Experience Chile

Introduction

The Altiplanico Sur Lodge is a small 22-room hotel built into the natural hill side so as to be almost camouflaged out of site. The blended use of cement and wood work well to create a minimalist interior design that is both clean, cosy and refreshingly different.

About

The Hotel Altiplanico Sur is part of a family of Altiplanico hotels dotted around key touristic destinations throughout Chile. The French owners have a flair for creating a unique, refreshing ambience through their creative use of materials, design, colours and architecture.

The Altiplanico Sur comprises 22 rooms, each spacious, with views to the fiord and under floor-heated, en-suite bathrooms.

From the moment you enter the hotel higher up the hill the immediate impact is the sight of seeing the grass outside just above the low point of the hall windows. The main hall then descending through the ground as though it were headed into another dimension.
The hotel is built very cleverly into the hillside it occupies in such a way that it is hardly noticeable when looking from the outside.

The two levels of horizontal placed rooms have their roofs covered over with grass and that, combined with an exterior veneer of earthen bricks hides the hotel from sight and enables it to blend in perfectly with the natural landscape. If only all buildings could be constructed in the same way!

At one end of the room corridors is an exterior hot tub for those who wish to soak in hot water amid the freshness of the Patagonia wind.