We visited the newest luxury adventure lodge in Patagonia in March and April, at the end of their season as the leaves were changing. Soon they closed up for the winter and will be back open again in late October. So we took our time getting our review posted of the spectacular Explora El Chalten resort near the famous Fitz Roy peak and hiking trails.
Explora El Chalten is about a 15-minute drive from the town of the same name that’s favored by hikers and rock climbers, down a bumpy gravel road with spectacular scenery. We felt like we were heading into the wilderness, away from everyone, and it sure felt like that during our stay.
The eco-friendly lodge sits on its own with a panoramic view of the Electric Valley, the Marconi Glacier, and the mountains of Patagonia that often have snow on the top. It’s hard to get tired of that view and it changes thoughout the day as the sun moves across the sky.
You can take it all in from the main dining, drinking, and lounging area that’s one large open room. No matter where you sit, you can look outside at nature’s splendor. Or take a soak in a hot tub after a tough day of hiking with whatever you want to drink in hand. The rates here are all-inclusive. Take a tour with us and check it out:
You probably will spend most of your waking time outside in nature or in that communal dining and drinking space. There are a few corner junior suites with more space and furniture, but as with the other Explora lodges in Chile and Peru, the rooms are meant to be restful and low-key, places to get some sleep between more active pursuits. There is a surprisingly good internet signal if you need to call someone or fire off some e-mails though. You get some pampering touches in the way of robes and slippers, an extremely comfortable bed, and turndown service with some Argentine chocolates.
Ample bathrooms have hot showers that feel great after a day of activity and two vanities for getting ready at the same time. There’s even a towel warmer for you.
While management hasn’t yet worked out how to use renewable energy to power the place instead of fossil fuels, this is a plastic-free, sustainable project with behind-the scenes efforts like local sourcing, renewable materials, composting, LED lighting, and minimal waste. Each guest gets a quality branded water bottle with their name on it to fill up and reuse. Explora is a carbon-neutral, certified B-corp company based in Chile.
The bilingual staffers are enthusiastic and friendly and the cuisine at this Explora lodge vastly exceeded my expectations. I had some of the best meals I’ve ever experienced in Argentina. On top of that, there were more vegetables than meat slices, which can also be rather rare in this country of carnivores. Between the healthy meals and the daily hikes, for once I actually lost a pound or two while at an all-inclusive property.
See our detailed review of Explora El Chalten and check out some more photos of the public areas and rooms. Later we’ll be posting a feature story about the excursions in the area, which are certainly worth flying all this way for!
