6 Best Hotels in Patagonia, Argentina

Choose between six guesthouses right on the beach (food and activities included), or one of the simpler five guesthouses off the beach on an accommodation-only basis; each of the beach guesthouses includes twin bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom, and a kitchen. There's electricity only between sunset and 11:30 pm. Activities include bird-watching, visits to a local petrified forest and archaeological sites, and boat excursions to the Malaspina cove, where there are sea lion colonies, plus penguin and seabird rookeries. Bahía Bustamante currently operates between September and March, with other months available but check in advance.

A luxury lodge on the road to Perito Moreno, Eolo offers full-board stays in handsome accommodations where you can take in the beauty of Patagonia's vast, empty lands and see Lago Argentino in the distance. The rustic-chic decor reflects the local style, with soft wool throws on the large beds and photos of Patagonian landscapes on the walls. Rates include in-ranch activities such as talks on local legends, horseback riding, guided walks, mountain biking, and bird-watching; excursions outside the estancia—including Perito Moreno and Glaciers National Park—cost extra.

Arriving at Estancia Cristina by catamaran on Lago Argentina past fields of ice and imposing mountains is just the beginning of a remarkable Patagonian adventure: on arrival you'll be treated to cozy accommodations, delicious cuisine, and unbeatable excursions to little-explored corners of the park. Fill your days with trekking, horseback riding, fly-fishing, bird-watching, four-wheel drives to see the glacier from above, and a visit to the lovingly preserved family museum in which you can discover the fascinating history of this remote estancia.

This well-designed boutique hotel on the outskirts of town, on the beach, is a good find if you want peace and quiet and don't mind being away from the city center. The prices are outstanding value for the quality of the rooms (all with sea views), breakfast, service, and decor. 

Right on the shore of the Beagle Channel about 8 km (5 miles) west of town, this resort is in a private community with privileged beach access and a nature hike that starts right outside your room. As well as an excellent spa, they have the only private boat excursions in Ushuaia, where you can enjoy the Beagle Channel from the comfort of a small luxury boat for hotel guests only. Pay the extra cost for a higher floor, sea-view room, as the sunrise and sunset are both a real pleasure to watch from your warm bed. Another fantastic viewpoint is from the heated pool, which flows from inside to outside and has an outdoor Jacuzzi, a rare treat in this part of the world. On the relatively cheap menu of the restaurant Reinamora, you will find the standard Patagonian lamb, rainbow trout, and a delicious king crab, and the extensive breakfast even includes a glass of bubbly.

These unique "eco residences" have an ideal location, steps away from the center of the tiny town yet tucked away on the oceanfront. Built just a few years ago, these are upscale, stylish suites with your own kitchenette and mesmerizing views of the sea (on the first and second floor, the ground floor view is blocked by trees). They are also eco-conscious, with a geo-thermal heating/cooling system and water efficient technologies. It's the best deal in town by a long shot.