This post was first published in 2017 but has been updated in 2019 with the most recent information on the hotel Las Torres, Patagonia
From the moment we entered Las Torres Hotel, we knew this would be a hotel experience unlike any other. The staff, dressed in traditional gaucho attire, greeted us with a smile, ushering us into the bar while they prepared our room for early check-in. We didn’t mind waiting.
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Bar Pionero reminded us of a family’s living room. It was filled with comfy couches and packed with travelers chatting about their adventures over cocktails. It looked like a perfect place to relax and take in the beautiful views of the Torres del Paine massif that towered right outside of the bar’s huge windows.
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“Buenos Dias, amigos,” said, a jolly waiter, handing us a sturdy menu. “Que quieres?” What would you like? “Drinks, snacks, or maybe a meal?”
We soon learned that his name was Javier, but that his friends and other staff member called him “Manzana,” an endearing nickname that we, too, found ourselves using over our time at Las Torres. Javier didn’t mind.
Bar Pionero became our favourite spot in the entire hotel Las Torres, Patagonia. We are not sure if it was Manzana’s contagious enthusiasm, or Federico’s incredible cocktail making skills, Maximiliano’s witty jokes, or chef Cristian Urrutia’s incredible lamb and cheese spread that kept us coming back for more.
The truth is, it probably wasn’t any single one of those things. It was the taste of the true Chilean hospitality and we couldn’t get enough of it.
How did Las Torres hotel come about and what makes it such a special place?
History of Las Torres Hotel
We learned that Las Torres Hotel dates back to 1979, when Antonio Kusanovic Senkovic, son of Croatian immigrants, acquired Cerro Paine Ranch located at the base of the majestic “Torres del Paine” mountain range. This eight thousand acre ranch served as his family’s home and a place where he began his cattle breeding business.
In the early 90s, as more and more visitors became drawn to the beauty of Torres del Paine National Park, Mr. Kusanovic and his wife, decided to build nine additional rooms and a small restaurant to welcome some of the visitors passing through the ranch en route to the park. They named it “Hostería Las Torres,” a place where they can share the warmth of the people and customs of Patagonia with others.
The Essence of Las Torres
Today, almost 30 years later, Mr. Kusanovic is no longer with us but his wife and children continued his legacy, developing the hotel into one of the region’s most unique accommodation options, well beyond the initial bed and breakfast concept.
The essence of Las Torres is the reason behind our love for this special place. From the bell boys to the restaurant staff, the guides, and the gauchos, the staff at Hotel Las Torres del Paine are part of one big happy family and it really shows. They are on a mission to share their home and their local traditions with every single traveler that comes through the doors of Las Torres Hotel.
All-Inclusive Stay at Las Torres Hotel
Most guests at Las Torres hotel, us included, choose to experience the hotel’s offers and amenities via their All-Inclusive program. The program includes:
- Transfers IN/OUT from Punta Arenas or Calafate
- Visit of Cerro Negro Ranch en route from Punta Arenas
- Entrance fee to Torres del Paine National Park
- All meals
- Open Bar (not including premium spirits)
- All excursions inside the National Park
- Bilingual guides Spanish/English
- WI-FI
- Accommodation in superior room
- A 20% discount for spa services
It’s an incredible package that allows you to fully experience everything the hotel has to offer and get immersed in the hotel’s incredible hospitality in a way that other Torres del Paine hotels won’t.
Las Torres also offers a Bed & Breakfast rate, which includes a room of your choice with a free buffet breakfast. It’s a slightly more affordable option, but it doesn’t include any excursions, meals, transfers, and other benefits.
What’s even more interesting is the fact that the Bed & Breakfast price at Las Torres is just slightly more than the shared dorm room at the nearby Refugio Central, where most travelers stay before departing for their W trek. It’s definitely worth paying a small premium for the luxury of a private room, with a private shower and an amazing buffet breakfast!
Rooms at Las Torres Hotel
The hotel consists of 72 rooms and two suites, spread across three different buildings. We stayed in the Ciprés wing, the newest building that was added to the hotel in 2008. Just like the rest of the hotel, our room was bright and spacious, full of unique touches, with a mix of modern luxury and old gaucho style.
The massive windows opened up to the Organic Garden and offered stunning views of the mountain range. We loved waking up to the first rays of sunshine, drawing the curtains opened and watching the sun paint over the Paine Massif.
Food & Drink at Las Torres Hotel
Our full-board stay at Las Torres Hotel included unlimited meals and drinks at Bar Pionero, buffet breakfast as well as lunch and dinner at the on-site Restaurant Coiron, which offered a unique blend of modern flavours and traditional regional recipes from Chilean Patagonia.
We were pleased to learn that a lot of the ingredients used at Coiron were sourced directly from the hotel’s organic garden which is opened to visitors on a daily basis. The hotel aims to one day be able to supply all of its fruits and vegetables, but for today, they estimate that roughly 30% of the ingredients are grown on site.
We ate dozens of amazing dishes while at Las Torres, but our favourites were the Organic Beef Steak with rhubarb compote served at Restaurant Coiron and the Patagonian Lamb served at Bar Pionero.
Bar Pionero staff are particularly fantastic at making cocktails. In fact, some of their cocktails, like “Aborigen” and “Indomito” have won a number of mixology awards over the years. Max was a big fan of the Indomito, a careful blend of Pisco Capel Double Distillate 40°, Artisanal beer, Giffard Elderflower syrup, and Barley water served in a unique glass made from recycled bottle as well as the Aborigen (Pisco Capel Doble Destilado, rhubarb, mango & melissa infusion, organic bitter, and absinthe syrup).
But they didn’t stop at the menu staples. One day, after a cold and long hike, we arrived back at Las Torres craving a warm drink.
“What would you suggest?” we asked Manzana.
“Un momento,” he said with a smirk and rushed over to Federico at the bar.
Within minutes we were presented with Guanaquero, a regional drink of mulled wine with orange peel, aged pisco, and syrup. It was exactly what we wanted and it tasted AMAZING!
Hikes & Excursions
One of the biggest benefits of Las Torres Hotel’s all-inclusive program that sets it apart from other Torres del Paine hotels is access to dozens of half-day and full day excursions around Torres del Paine National Park. The excursions are suitable for all fitness levels and range from easy walks ranging from 1-5kms (0.6 -3 miles) to strenuous 20-30km (12.5 – 18.5 miles) hikes.
If you are coming to Torres del Paine National Park in hopes of conquering the famous W Trek, Las Torres Hotel offers you an opportunity to do that from the comfort of the hotel. No tents and no dehydrated meals needed. Their “W in Comfort” program visits all three valleys which form the famous “W” Circuit: the French Valley, the sector of Las Torres with the Ascencio Valley, and the sector of Lago Grey, for no additional cost (included in the All-Inclusive programs).
Alternatively, if you are like us and want to conquer the W on your own, Las Torres also offers a number of other excursions around the park that offer a different perspective on the towers and allow you to learn more about the history and the cultural aspects of the area.
Our 3-night stay at Las Torres was jam-packed with activities. We got a chance to witness the Enduro Ecuestro event, did a half day tour to the Salto Grande Waterfall, and another half day tour called Patagon, where we traveled through the “Puma Restaurant” Valley and learned more about the ancient Aónikenk people.
At Salto Grande waterfall, one of the half-day excursions offered by Las Torres Hotel
But our favourite excursion was the most unique and exclusive trek, Huella del Puma, a combined horseback and hiking experience that took us through the Ascencio Valley, the lenga forest, and then onwards up a steep mountain path to the top of Cerro Paine. The weather wasn’t on our side, but despite the rain and freezing gusts of wind, the views from the top were breathtaking!
Sustainability Practices at Las Torres Hotel
Aside from the everyday sustainability practices that include the hiring of local staff, the protection of the natural and cultural heritage of the area, and a long-term strategy to minimize the environmental footprint of the hotel and the ranch, in 2004, the hotel established a nonprofit environmental organization, called AMA (Agrupacion Medio Ambiental).
AMA is involved in a number of activities designed to protect and restore the park, including management of trails and waste management and is fully funded by donations from the park’s visitors and support from Las Torres Hotel.
It’s just another reason that we have so much respect for hotel Las Torres del Paine.
The Bottom Line and Our Advice
We could continue raving about our time at hotel Las Torres, Patagonia but the bottom line is – it’s a beautiful hotel located right in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park that can turn your experience at the park into the most memorable trip of a lifetime. It’s not a cheap hotel. 2-night stay with the All-Inclusive package can cost as much as $2,565 USD, but we promise, your stay there will be worth every penny.
If you are traveling to Torres del Paine to complete the W Trek, consider Las Torres’ W in Comfort Program, alternatively, stay at the hotel the night before your trek (instead of staying at Refugio Central), and splurge for a few more days after the trek. You’ll love the luxuries of the hotel after spending 4-5 nights on the trail and be happy to celebrate the completion of your trek with amazing food and their signature drinks!
And if you can’t splurge on a stay at Las Torres, make sure you at least pop by for a drink and a meal at Bar Pionero, which is opened to the public 7 days a week. The hotel is located less than 10 min walk away from Refugio Central.
Check out the highlights of our stay in our video below!
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Have questions about our stay at Las Torres? Want further info about Torres del Paine National Park? Leave a comment below and we’ll be happy to help!
Disclaimer: Our stay at Las Torres Hotel was provided courtesy of the hotel, however all opinions expressed in this post are solely ours.
