11 Best Hotels in Southern Chilean Patagonia, Chile

This is the Patagonian representative of the Altiplánico line of thoughtfully designed eco-hotels, and nature takes center stage: the hotel blends so seamlessly with its surroundings, it's almost subterranean. Natural materials cover the exterior, with roofs that are overgrown with grass and flowers; it looks like the hotel is cascading down the hillside, with only its windows peeking out from a green bank and completely submerging you into nature. If you are looking for TV and other technological accoutrements, choose a different hotel. Clean, comfortable, and well-designed rooms in a minimalist style all have great views of the Última Esperanza Sound. Slate floors, sheepskin bedcovers, and modern bathrooms give a chic tweak to the worthiness of the public spaces, which include a cozy living room with a log-burning fire. The dining area is bright and open, and the dinner menu, while small, is very good, and the buffet breakfast complete. A warm cup of coffee or tea is always awaiting you whatever time you return from excursions, and relaxing music and comfortable common areas are homey.

This old grande dame of Puerto Natales has been somewhat superseded by more modern, eye-catching hotels, but its peaked, turreted roof and distinctive architecture still dominate the waterfront. The whitewashed walls of the lobby are lined with leather and wicker chairs, sculptural Patagonian lenga logs, and chandeliers with freshly lit candles that stand guard on either side of the elevator. Rooms share the lobby's spare aesthetic, with wood-paneled entryways, thermo-acoustic windows, and Venetian and Czech furnishings. Some have a majestic view of the Seno Última Esperanza and the snowcapped mountain peaks beyond, a couple have their own balconies, and others have considerably less inspiring views out over the city.

There's no better location in the park than Hotel Explora: on top of a gently babbling waterfall on the southeast corner of Lago Pehoé with a shimmering lake offset by tiny rocky islets and a perfect view of Torres del Paine. Inside it doesn't disappoint either, with great service and an excellent spa. A dozen full-time guides tailor all-inclusive outings to Torres del Paine National Park. They're all fluent in English (some are expats), and they ferry you around in a fleet of imposing-looking vans. There is a minimum four-night stay, and the all-inclusive rate includes airport transfers, three meals a day, drinks, and excursions.

The panoramic view from the restaurant and bar, past the lake dappled with floating icebergs to the glacier beyond, is worth the somewhat difficult journey here. The hotel has made some renovations in recent years, and it's definitely worth splurging for their newer, superior–grade rooms, which are far nicer: they are modern, comfortable, and have the best views, with massive windows onto the iceberg beach. There is a restaurant on-site with good options at their breakfast buffet, but the menu for lunch and dinner is limited. The view—and it's one you're not likely to forget—can be enjoyed through the picture windows in the dining room. The hotel operates its own sightseeing vessel, the Grey III, for close-up tours to Glaciar Grey. Book directly with the hotel for the best rate. 

Don't let the dowdy exterior put you off—inside is a modern hotel with a good downtown location and simple but well-equipped rooms. It often fills up in high season. The hotel is named after an Austrian ethnologist who studied the native inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego. Rooms are decorated with wooden furniture, soft wool throws, and thick, dark green drapes. The exposed beams in the peak-roofed restaurant (open only for breakfast) hint at the region's frontier heritage but match the rest of the building's understated tone. In low season, prices drop by half.

A good value option among the pricey in-park lodgings, this grand hotel has great service and magnificent views of the entire Torres del Paine mountain range, with the Serrano River and windswept forest in the foreground. The rooms are comfortable, with knit carpets and large windows. It's worthy paying extra for a room with one of those spectacular vistas, especially if you can snag one with a balcony. The restaurant is a cavernous dining hall, with breakfast buffet and a set menu (28,000 pesos) for lunch and dinner. In the downstairs lounge and bar, they offer pizza and sandwiches, and the precious view from their high windows ensures you don't miss the sunset over the mountains. There's now a multilevel spa that offers massages and body treatments and has a large indoor pool and sauna. The hotel's daily excursions include a fun, half-day horseback ride (their horses and stable are on-site) that crosses a river and forests with impressive views of the Paine Massif.

Owned by one of the earliest families to settle in what eventually became the park, Las Torres has a long history and is the closest hotel to the main trails into the heart of the Torres del Paine itself. Originally an estancia, the property is now a full-fledged hotel that also has cabins and camping areas. The extensive lobby bar and restaurant have a metropolitan feel that belies the hotel's traditional exterior. Stretched across several vast fields, the location is perfect if you want to day-hike to Mirador Torres, one of the park's highlights. The path starts at the front door, and you'll pass a range of weather-beaten hikers finishing week-long treks. Don't forget to check out the informative mini-museum with the stuffed ñandú.

Chilean architect Sebastian Irarrazabel was given free rein to redesign this building along a nautical theme; inside, a maze of gangplanks, ramps, and staircases shoot out across cavernous open spaces, minimalist wood panels line walls and ceilings, and water burbles down a waterfall that borders the central walkway. Some of the rooms have amazing views down the Canal Señoret, stretching as far as the Mt. Balmaceda Glacier and the Paine Grande. Blankets are made of hand-woven wool, copper shower heads are comically large, but only the suites have stand-alone baths. On the fifth floor is an indoor pool and Jacuzzi, a sauna, and massage benches with a view. Downstairs, common spaces are filled with plush couches and hammock chairs. Ask for one of the corner rooms—they have windows along two walls.

The eye-catching architecture of Remota competes with stunning views over the Última Esperanza for your attention, especially at night when the soft orange lighting beckons. Every room and area is designed to take advantage of the views, from the diagonal windows and sloping mezzanines made of native lenga wood to the inviting spa area with a serene infinity pool and open-air Jacuzzis among the native grass overlooking the mountains and lake ahead. The restaurant also takes in the natural landscape not only with its sweeping views but with its menu filled with freshly foraged ingredients. For those on the full-board program, the friendly guides (including an on-site botanist) plan out your stay with expeditions into the park and the surrounding nature spots and highlights.

Inhabiting the former Bories Cold-Storage Plant, which used to process and export more than 250,000 sheep a year and practically built Puerto Natales as a town, the Singular may well be Puerto Natales's most luxurious and tasteful hotel. Today the history of the site is maintained with an atmospheric museum, which contrasts the harsh realities of living in Patagonia in the past with the supreme luxury of visiting this part of the world today—exemplified by the indulgent spa, refined restaurant, and 500-square-foot rooms featuring 20-foot glass-panel windows overlooking the Patagonian fjords. Brushed-cement ceilings allude to the industrial past, while the furnishings, spacious bathrooms, and free Wi-Fi keep the mood thoroughly modern. Guests can stay as either B&B, half board, or full board and take advantage of the exclusive menu of expeditions, tours, and activities in the heart of Patagonia, including private boat expeditions to see the nearby Balmaceda Glacier.

Weskar stands for "hill" in the language of the Kawéskar, to whom owner Juan José Pantoja, a marine biologist, pays homage in creating and maintaining this cozy lodge, which is high on a ridge overlooking the Última Esperanza fjord. Rustic fireplaces and several different lounge nooks are ideal when coming back from the windy and cold outdoors. The hotel also has a bar and a restaurant with a basic lunch menu and more elaborate dinner options. All rooms are simply decorated in log-cabin style but warm and welcoming with locally woven blankets—and almost all have stunning lake views.