Explora Torres del Paine Patagonia

I stayed 6 nights during a solo trip around Patagonia. This was the end of my trip as i wanted to finish at Explora TdP which is somewhere i wanted to visit for many years - the mountains and the lodge. I had a fantastic time on this leg of the trip. The weather was fortunately very mild, the views incredible and i accomplished all the hikes that I wanted. I also experienced some terrific guides and service. The discussions i had with Marisol the guest experience manager were also very helpful - she is incredibly passionate about the hotel and the guests. Elements of this review however reflect what i would expect in certain areas - in particular given the price paid and my experiences in similar “remote” location luxury resorts. Location Simply incredible. Astonishing views of of the TdP massif. Constant changes in sun and clouds mean its hard to take your eyes off it. Note you are not that remote…the campsite is up the road and there is a public parking and walking area at the entrance. But as you are in the park and have the hotels own private boats to take across Pehoe then its a huge advantage. Room I was in a cordillera suite (45) on the more elevated part of the building away from the restaurant. The view from here is probably the best. The room was well sized - its a junior suite in reality with a seating area. Lovely place to sit and relax - though i didnt give myself much time for this The room is dated - but they are making major upgrades during a 3 month closure this May which sound like they will address most of the things i found surprising/frustrating Excursions/Guides Summary I did several challenging hikes - which was the purpose of my trip and which i hugely enjoyed. I mostly ended up in small groups which was a good way to meet some like minded and very interesting people. But i did have a couple of days solo/guide only which i enjoyed. The guides in general were excellent - Mav and Gato with whom i had a few walks both were knowledgeable, expert, caring, friendly and fun - but one occasion i thought another guide could have been more helpful to one of the group who was really struggling. The guides are the primary customer service channel for the hotel and as a group of young, not that experienced local staff they do pretty well. Note that all trips are booked on arrival. You sit with a guide and go though your wishes, the weather forecast and plan each day. This worked extremely well. Then at the end of each days activity you convene with whatever guide has taken you in the afternoon and reconfirm (or adjust) the following day as well as lunch preferences. This works well, but on first day i had to wait 30 mins before being spoken with…when all i wanted was a shower. From then on i just either did immediately or went away and came back. Excursions Detail On all days i was lucky with weather (ex ferrier) so views and experience amazing. At no point in my stay were there issues with the wind preventing the boats running on Pehoe but i understand that it is not an infrequent issue. I also understand that on one day the base of towers hike was abandoned due to clouds. So if you want to do specific hikes take extra days stay (as i did), work with the guides who have great weather forecast tool, and get lucky with weather! Mirador Britannico - wonderful hike. Long day and high pace on the initial section. The views at the top are amazing and its less busy and more beautiful at this point than at French viewpoint so worth the extra effort Base of Towers - a beautiful hike. The last section up the moraine is a grind but worth it as the Towers appear. It can be busy at the top and there is not a lot of good shelter from the wind to have lunch but its spectacular. Note that on way down likely you have to stop frequently to allow trains of hikers to ascend Guardas - the extended walk past grey glacier. Again a high pace to be able to get up and back for the boat at 1.30. Note the swing bridges on the last section not for all! Views of glacier are good. Boat trip a great tourist experience with lovely views of all 3 tongues of the glacier and the scoured valley sides. Was so exciting a view that a young Chilean proposed to his girlfriend on our trip. Thanks Mav for a terrific days hiking and conversation. The 2km walk over the beach at the end is also very beautiful and a fun experience. Cerro Castillo - this is a walk out of the park (c 1 hr 15 mins away). An absolutely astonishing hike. Fortunate that this was just a Guide and myself but was a joy to find our own trail and the views at top across 360 degrees of the mountains and ice fields (not just the tdp massif) are amazing and provide a great sense of the scale of the area. Standing on the first summit with a condor swooping past maybe 5 metres away was perhaps the highlight of my whole patagonia trip. Thanks Gato for a great day. Ferrier - the only rainy experience of my whole 2 weeks in Patagonia. A steep hike with a few rocky parts. Views from top are lovely over to glaciers and surrounding mountains. It was windy but worth it. Thanks Mav for leading us Nordenskjold - this is an easy hike to a waterfall and then a beautiful close up view of the horns across the lake. I was fortunate to do this on my own on a very sunny afternoon which was great Horse Riding Intro - i did this on my last morning. Having last been on a horse c 15 years ago i was nervous but it was a very peaceful way to spend my final hours in the park. Food The food and drink js OK. I would have expected a better ambience and better food quality along with a bit more service polish. Dinner - There are up to 100 people in the hotel and the restaurant is not that large so it gets noisy and there is a bit of a push to get guests in and out. It feels a bit like a canteen and not super relaxed. The food is OK. Portions are not massive so if you have had a lot of hiking dont be shy to ask for 2 starter and 2 main as I did. Breakfast - this starts at 6.30 which when you are meeting at 7 for a 7.15 departure doesnt leave a lot of time. This is apparently for employment law reasons but you can grab a coffee outside. Buffet is small but ok. I dont eat eggs so didn’t try the hot options (also for time) Bar food - i ate this a couple of times when i was tired and/or just in need of big carbs. Burger was very good. The pizza is small but was ok. I had sandwich and soup at lunch which was fine Arrival/Departure Arrival was a little chaotic. Came on a shared van from El Calafate with a separate couple. Would have expected someone at the door to come meet us and welcome and offer to help inside. When inside had to go asking for someone to say id arrived as there were people milling around arriving back from a trip and also as there is no reception desk as you come in…the most prominent thing is the shop. Then me and the couple jointly taken on tour and shown to our rooms by same person (i walked off to my own room as he was doing the tour of their room). Not very polished introduction to the hotel at all Departure smoother - i had a late check out which was hugely appreciated as it was my birthday. Trip to airport relatively short. Note to premium or status passengers that there is a separate short line inside …the general queue was outside the building so not sure what that would be like on a windy/rainy day! Asks Starlink…the wifi is super slow but surely there is a way to get faster? Whatsapp - the offer of a whatsapp concierge doesnt work. Responses super slow or not at all. I just went to the front desk for help. Conclusion I had a brilliant finale to my trip - location, weather, hikes and some special service from several staff I would recommend - as long you know what to expect then you realise what you are paying for. Speaking with other guests who have been to other explora, i understand that the experience elsewhere in these smaller and recent lodges is more intimate and higher end and i will definitely come back to an Explora elsewhere with family on travels in 2027

Totally amazing. The fact that this level of service and comfort can be in that location is amazing. Highs: location, views, guides, and facility (rooms nice especially suites, hot tubs and pool and sauna nice). Lows: food is not the best and menu repeats every 4 days and small selection and portions. BUT they have a “normal” bar menu (pizzas, burgers, steak and rice) and you can get as much as you want of whatever you want. Pro tip: pay extra for suite (size and view) and private guide (so you can do what you want). Overall A+.

Of all the Explora properties, the one inside Torres del Paine is something else entirely. The location is unbelievable — arguably the most beautiful room view I've ever experienced anywhere. What Explora does best is balance: genuine comfort, warm hospitality, and best-in-class guides who actually know how to get you deep into the landscape. There's no better way to immerse yourself in Chilean Patagonia's wildness. Rooms are well-sized, the food and wine selection is excellent, and there's a full spa — everything you'd expect from a five-star, but without the stiffness.

A truly outstanding experience from start to finish. The guided excursions are exceptional, with different difficulty levels so your group can stay together or split up and do different activities — something for everyone regardless of fitness level. A special mention to Joaquin, who helped us pick the right activities for our levels and guided the hike to Campamento Britanico in the French Valley creating memorable experiences. The hotel staff were amazing, going out of their way to set up a special dinner for our celebration, which made it extra memorable. The food struck a great balance — you can try authentic Chilean dishes or keep it simple with the bar menu. Our room was comfortable with a stunning view straight out to Los Cuernos del Paine (The Horns) — absolutely breathtaking. If you get the chance, don’t miss the BBQ at the conservation area. It’s a must.

Explora has a wonderful location! You almost don’t need to hike: the panorama from the hotel is magnificent! The hotel offers variety of guided hikes and tours (included in the price - which is not cheap…), half-day, full day and overland. And the staff is so nice and friendly and careful! It was hard to leave…