Singular Patagonia

The Singular offers a more easily accessible Patagonia base in a former slaughterhouse turned industrial-chic boutique hotel. It is located outside of Puerto Natales, a two-and-a-half hour drive from the popular Punta Arenas airport, but only ten minutes from the Puerto Natales airport, which now offers limited commercial flights between Santiago during high season.

• Range of excursions, particularly the boat trip through fjords to nearby glaciers and a private estancia
• Easier to reach and a good starting point before venturing into the Torres del Paine
• Historic setting in a former factory

Many of Patagonia’s most renowned lodges are located either within the Torres del Paine National Park or right outside of it. The Singular sits around an hour and a half’s drive away, outside the coastal town of Puerto Natales. Although this may seem like a drawback, the location has a host of advantages: not only is the lodge more easily reached from the local airports, but it also offers visitors a broad variety of excursions not available within the park. Its coastal location makes adventures on the water some of the most popular, from kayaking through fjords to fly-fishing to sailing through the Last Hope Sound to a private reserve. Full-day hikes through the Park, treks to the ancient Mylodon Caves and cycling are also highly recommended.

The Singular is built within an historic meatpacking facility, and elements of its past - a Victorian engine room, a tannery - are still uniquely on display. The fifty-four rooms and suites sit in a modern wing, each with floor-to-ceiling picture windows overlooking the fjords. While the decor is minimalist, it has traditional Chilean accents such as wooden writing desks, oversized armchairs and historic photos of Patagonia explorers. And, unlike at some of the other lodges, rooms also have satellite TV. There is also a small spa with a steam room, dry sauna and indoor/outdoor pool, as well as a buzzy restaurant with an award-winning chef. Families have flocked to the Singular due to its convenient location as well as its excursions that suit children too young for serious trekking. Although there aren’t interconnecting rooms, rollaway beds can be brought in for smaller kids and adjacent rooms reserved for teens.

Couples or families looking for a perfect launch pad into the Patagonia region or those in search of a unique hotel offering modern amenities with a traditional Chilean twist. It’s worth spending at least a night here to break up travel to the lodges closer to the park.