Awasi Patagonia — Hotel in Torres del Paine

My wife and I spent 4 nights in Awasi Patagonia this past March and we were blown away at how amazing this place was. We also then went to Awasi Atacama. That review is separate. I had done all the research for the trip not really telling my wife what exactly we were doing. She knew we were going to Chile and was actually hesitant to go as it's a long trip from NJ and she new there were going to be 8 plane rides in total. Surprisingly, given all the recent issues with airlines, all of our flights were basically on time and our luggage made it too. I used apple airtags to keep track of the bags. As we were staying in two different Awasi lodge for 4 nights each, included was 2 nights to use at a hotel in Santiago. We picked Le Reve as it was a small boutique hotel and had breakfast included. It was an excellent choice and about a half hour Uber ride from the airport. We stayed there the first day after arriving at 6am ( they held our bags while we took a tour of the city) and then again after Patagonia but prior to Atacama. There is a Holiday Inn right across the street from the airport in Santiago and we thought about staying there instead as we could save on the Uber and transferring back and forth especially with an early morning flight.....but went back to Le Reve anyway. Upon arrival to Puerto Natales, the bags come off fairly quickly as it's a small airport, our guide, Gute, was waiting for us. It takes about 1:45 mins or so to get to the lodge from there. Honestly, the lodge, the food, and the location are amazing, but what really makes Awasi special from the other high end places, and why I ultimately picked Awasi over the others, is the people, especially having a good private guide. Gute, despite being relatively young, was kind, patient, interested in what we wanted to do, and very knowledgeable about the area we were in. He drove us around everyday whenever we requested or he suggested. We wanted to see and do as much as physically possible so this meant spending less time at the lodge. We woke up in darkness 2 of the 4 days and went out for sunrise. We lucked out with relatively good weather and somehow managed to finish the French Valley hike which 14 miles round trip, the last 1000 feet or so up over rocks and uneven surfaces. Gute, always made sure that we were safe, and helped us get over some tougher terrain when needed. We used hiking poles which greatly helped take pressure off our legs and knees, especially the steeper downhill sections. You should be in decent shape to do some of the longer and steeper hikes but there are many other sites to see that only require minimal effort. Gute helped us spot a puma, Andean eagle, foxes, guanacos, a mini owl, giant woodpeckers, and other bird species. If you are a photographer and want to get some good wildlife shots, definitely bring at least a 400mm lens if you don't want to crop alot afterwards. The food and service at the lodge are excellent. Ok, it's perhaps served a bit, "foo-foo", after all it is Relais and Chateau, but the combinations of local ingredients used is super interesting and tasteful. Even the desserts had interesting mixes of flavors. If you want pizza and burgers, ( although they could probably make anything) this is likely not the place for you. Everyone from the managers to the servers were friendly, welcoming, and warm. We rarely saw the people that work behind the scenes but that only means that they are doing a great job. The cabin itself was spacious with a large tub and shower, fireplace, and wall to wall windows that looked out onto Torres del Paine. We would come back each evening and the hot tub would be heated as requested. We used it each night even when the wind was blowing like 30 mph. They used to not be able to light the hot tub on certain weather days but now have gas lines installed so that they can be heated almost anytime. ||Just a note about a recent negative reddit review of both Awasi patagonia and Atacama. I'm not sure what intention or agenda the reviewer had or a particular travel agent. I asked about the review and Awasi was well aware of it. There was a guide that had issues and has since been dismissed. The other guests that we spoke to all loved their guides. We can only say that at both Awasi lodges we only experienced first class accomodations, food, and especially service. We would highly recommend Awasi to anyone looking for a private experience in a magical...

My husband and I arrived at Awasi Patagonia with high expectations, and yet somehow, they didn't do justice to this exceptional place.||We stayed four nights during the shoulder season in early March. We lucked out with the weather – the foliage was just turning, and we had perfect visibility all five days. It was a beautiful time to visit the region, and following our guide's advice on trails and daily activities, we often felt like we had Torres del Paine to ourselves.||I highly recommend filling out Awasi's pre-arrival form well before your trip, so that the staff can prepare and tailor your visit to your interests as much as possible. Once we arrived, all of our preferences had already been carefully accounted for. ||The staff also recommended four nights as an ideal length of stay at our time of booking. While we were initially skeptical it was necessary, we have to agree that three nights would have been too short to enjoy the full experience, both of Awasi and of Torres del Paine.||I want to start by thanking our guide, Liti, who made our visit such a lifetime memory. He demonstrated deep experience, a love for his work, and most of all, total commitment to ensuring our vacation lived up to its promise. There were small things, like remembering our preferences for lunch and drinks, but there were bigger gestures as well that we'll always be grateful for. ||He set up a picnic for us with an unforgettable view. He made sure we saw the full scope of the park, while ensuring we had time to relax and enjoy at the lodge. He always remembered it was important for us to pause and enjoy the wildlife. And overlooking the base of the towers at the top of Cerro Paine, we were floored by intense Patagonian winds, and yet he still insisted on capturing the moment in photos for us.||We've been lucky to travel the world, but the food at Awasi was some of the best we've had at a hotel, city or country, anywhere – in part because the ingredients were thoughtful, in part because of the skill of the kitchen, but also because the service was so intimate and attentive. The restaurant staff comes to get to know its guests over the course of several days, and it makes the experience of returning to the lodge feel like a homecoming each day. We're thankful to Annie and others for such warm and memorable service.||It's also the ability to customize your meals that make them such a treat. On our last night, we had a tasting menu to try everything on offer. Each evening, we looked forward to a wine pairing orchestrated by Gabi, the sommelier, whose joy for her work was magnetic, and who got us excited to explore Chilean wines once we returned home. ||And we were blown away by the skills and knowledge of the bartenders, Ignacio and Patricio, who came up with inventive and precisely mixed cocktails customized to our tastes.||The entire trip was showered with small surprises that elevated the magic of our stay. The rooms were elegant – large, modern, timeless.||But none of this really does justice to the overall experience.||My husband has made a hobby of Polaroid photography, but was concerned he wouldn't find film in the remote regions of Patagonia. Awasi found it for him, and had it waiting in the room for his arrival. ||Before Awasi, we traveled to Punta Arenas to visit the wildlife, and my luggage was delayed on our way down at a U.S. airport. My attempts to get LATAM to deliver my bag down to Chile were lost in translation for a week, but Awasi took on the case, repeatedly contacting them to secure delivery. LATAM ultimately got the bag to Punta Arenas while we were at Awasi – over a four-hour drive from the hotel – and the airlines refused to deliver it any closer. So Awasi arranged to get it to our room at the hotel on their own, no questions asked. What other hotel would do that?||Our stay at Awasi accounted for four nights out of a two-week trip we took across Patagonia. There is nowhere else, on the Chilean or Argentinian side, that offers the privacy, hospitality, comfort, and beauty that Awasi provides.||Our only disappointment was knowing that we had visited a place so uniquely extraordinary, it will be hard for us to replicate such a wonderful experience elsewhere...

Wrote a month ago and finally posting!

I am not sure where to begin except to say that I am truly sad to leave Awasi today. I have never experienced the kind of hospitality that we experienced here. From the first moment of airport pickup to the very last goodbye, we felt thoroughly taken care of and welcomed, and exceedingly well fed. Every person in our stay was kind, courteous, and personable, with their own unique personality.

First of course, our guide Tomás was incredibly knowledgeable and dedicated, taking us to the best spots through insane snowy weather, sharing the geological and cultural history of the region, and looking fervently on every drive for that ever-elusive puma. He brought extra soup on our hikes, had an easy sense of humor, and was always early for every pickup. We felt very attached and sad to leave.

Then the lodge staff. Wow. I am sad to not bring them with me. Gabriela’s warmth and enthusiasm for teaching us about the wines of Chile was infectious. Fabricio always greeted us with a friendly smile, and Rafaelo’s friendliness (and awesome musical talents) were so lovely. Seriously Awasi should put Rafaello and his band on rotation at all their lodges from Patagonia to Iguazú to Atacama! Nacho’s cocktails were creative and balanced, and some of his cocktail pairing creations were frankly out of this world. And Annie, what an incredible server - you can tell she is the type that doesn’t suffer fools. We loved the managers as well - Zaith and her zest for life and self discovery, and Cata’s down to earth jokes and hospitality. I have never learned so many names at a place I stayed and it’s because each of them was so thoughtful and personal in their approach to making our stay comfortable.

The thing that makes Awasi a perfect stay is that they aren’t trying to do too much. So many places are trying to deliver ‘luxury’ with lots of over the top furnishings and instagrammable gimmicks. Awasi sticks to the fundamentals and does them exceedingly well:

1. Incredible service. It felt like little elves were always waiting to make sure our fireplace was lit, our bed was freshly made, and our every need and request was addressed.
2. Outstanding food. Every breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack was delicious. We have certainly tried our fair share of tasting menus and Michelin stars, and the flavors and creativity here definitely impressed us. Even the midday comfort menu salads and pastas were delightful — everything with excellent ingredients and prepared to perfection.
3. Beautiful room. Elegant lodge. The choice to go wherever you want rather than join a group tour. Everything Awasi focuses on is the right thing and they don’t bother trying to impress with frufru stuffy high-brow details that don’t matter. They focus on actual hospitality, where you feel warm, welcome, at home, and elevated whether you arrive in donning a designer outfit or are wind blown and ruggedly dirty from a day out in the park. The fireplace and hot tubs are lovely, individual needs tended. Awasi has added just the right extra things, and none of the useless fluff. You are there to enjoy the landscape, each other, and excellent food, and they deliver it all with friendly gusto.

I simply can’t speak highly enough of this experience - not only would I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone traveling to Torres del Paine, I would recommend that someone looking for an incredibly hospitality experience consider Torres del Paine simply with the goal of visiting Awasi. It is simply that good.

By the time you consider what you are getting - the private and well tended room with a view, a private dedicated driver and guide, multi course gourmet meals with unlimited wine pairings, the little luxuries, etc., we actually felt that that high cost is some of the best we have spent on any of our trips. We would make the long trek to the end of the world again simply to stay at Awasi - it was absolutely worth it.

With love and appreciation,...