With views to the Electric Valley and the Marconi Glacier, Explora El Chaltén opens its doors in 2020. 17 km away from El Chaltén –in the Argentinian Patagonia– the lodge is a headquarter from which to explore a world-renowned destination by those who love nature and trekking.
Patagonia is not a country, nor a place. It is a vast territory shared by Chile and Argentina, whose remarkable geography –shaped by mountains, glaciers, lakes, and rivers– offers countless exploration opportunities.
Rooms
The hotel has 20 rooms, of which three are suites. The rooms offer views to the Eléctrico Valley, the Marconi Glacier, and the area’s mountain range, perfectly anticipating the landscapes and explorations that Argentinian Patagonia has to offer.
Food
Argentinian Patagonia is the inspiration for our menu, offering different lunch and dinner options that change to highlight the region's specialties on a daily basis.
Spa
The hotel provides a full service spa for our travelers to refuel their energy after a day of exploration. We have hydromassages, a sauna, and a massage room specially designed to enjoy the views of our unique locations.
Store
Explora's store carries all the items necessary for your explorations, along with local artisanal goods and books featuring the Patagonian region.
Our explorations provide travelers with an in depth experience of this austral territory, allowing them to become immersed in its unique characteristics and go deeper into what makes Patagonia unique. In order to do so, we have outlined four different exploration zones, each with its own set of unique geographic, cultural and biosphere characteristics.
EXPLORE BY AREA
LOS HUEMULES CONSERVATION RESERVE
The future of conservation depends on shifting our role in the world: from mere observers to custodians – active protectors of the places we explore and are part of who we are. It is rare to find a place on Earth in which so much is packed into such a relatively compact area. The Los Huemules Conservation Reserve, where the Explora lodge in El Chalten is located, encloses features that cannot be easily found elsewhere in Patagonia. This allows travelers to set off on exploration routes from the very doorstep of our lodge, thus minimizing transport and road time. The ecosystems it hosts are as varied as the climates it can witness. A place for introverts, its privacy means you can walk for days without ever seeing another person, walking side by side with nature itself.
PARQUE NACIONAL LOS GLACIARES
The Los Glaciares National Park is an area of exceptional natural beauty, with rugged, towering mountains and numerous glacial lakes scattered within its borders. This area allows travelers to explore a part of the park, encountering the many ecosystems it hosts within. Home to fauna from the sub-Antarctic steppe and woods, the park is a bird-watcher’s paradise, with over 100 species – from the Andean condor to the white-throated caracara – inhabiting the forest and steppe.
LAGO DEL DESIERTO
Once a center of conflict between two neighboring countries, the Desert Lagoon (Chile) or Desert Lake (Argentina) is a wildlife enclave around which numerous Patagonian ecosystems can be observed and explored. Framed by lush forests of lengas and ñirres, as well as two minor mountain ranges – the Vespignani range and its hanging glaciers to the west, and the Bosque (Forest) range to the east – this coveted fresh water source spreads over 10 km. from north to south, and approximately 1 km. from east to west. In addition, it’s fed by the Diablo River as well as numerous streams that replenish and maintain the purity of its waters. Naturally, the site attracts substantial wildlife and irrigated varied ecosystems within a relatively small area.
CAMPO DE HIELO SUR
More than 60 glaciers extend outward from it, the most famous of which is the mighty Perito Moreno – one of the few glaciers in the world still in advance.
The sheer magnitude of this inland ice mass affects the Patagonian landscape, wildlife and climate in a multitude of ways. Not only does the cyclical melting of ice create a network of brooks, streams, lakes and rivers around which life unfolds and thrives, but it also lowers the average temperatures and humidity levels in the surrounding area significantly. Explorations in this zone take travelers throughout the territories most influenced by the ice fields, as well as areas where the glaciological legacy is most evident.
EXPLORE BY ACTIVITY
HIKE
We hike throughout our locations. Walking at your own, committed pace, immerses you in the natural and cultural landscapes we explore, varying in intensity –beginner or advanced– and duration – half day to full day.
OVERLAND
These are van-led explorations interrupted by short-duration hikes along the way. The combination allows travelers to access areas of particular beauty and ecological significance.
CLIMBING
Rock climbing is a form of exploration that can be found throughout the world. At Explora we see it as a way of truly encountering the territory’s essence, which is why we facilitate it on different.
SELF GUIDED
The company and knowledge of one of our guides, is available for you to discover unique locations in the areas surrounding our lodge – either on foot or bicycle. For further information approach our exploration team.
EXPEDITION
Through our expeditions we are able to access remote locations of great beauty and ecological significance, setting up a temporary camp away from our base lodge for one to two nights.
HIGH MOUNTAIN ASCENT
We strive to introduce our travelers to truly remote locations – and mountains are one of them. Each one has its own different demands and rewards, yet they all guarantee a revitalizing experience for mind and body alike.
I could not be happier with my Adventure Life experience, from beginning to end. I travel a lot, and I think your company and personnel do an outstanding job. I truly appreciate your professionalism, attentiveness, and flexibility. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend your company and would be happy to serve as a reference.
