The basic premise on designing the EcoCamp was to maintain the nomadic spirit of the ancient inhabitants that moved along the dismembered coast looking for food and shelter. This people lived in harmony with "Mother Nature" and built their huts out of wood, furs and leathers, all organic materials they found on site.
In Patagonia, from Golfo de Penas to the Strait of Magellan, these natives were called Kawesqar or Alacalufes, sadly nowadays the few remaining pure blood Alacalufes are no more than 10 and live in the remote village of Puerto Eden. Kawesqar people built their huts on a geodesic shape bending branches and covering the structure with guanaco and sea lion skins. When whale hunters and marines established bases on their domains they abandoned their traditional ways of shelter and adopted new materials and construction patterns.
Patagonia EcoCamp design was inspired on the traditional Kawesqar hut resembling and igloo and a dome at the same time. The instinctive engineering ability of the Kawesqar can be easily understood these days. The semi-hemispherical structure of the EcoCamp domes is formed by a number of isosceles triangles that provides uniform distribution of the stress caused by severe wind loads. Wind speed in Patagonia often surpasses 160-180km per hour which makes traditional straight and flat walls extremely vulnerable if the structure is meant to be light. Other significant aspect is that rounded bodies minimize the external surface in contact with the cold environment allowing less exchange of temperature with the warm interiors. Finally, semi-hemisphere gave Kawesqars the maximum internal space in relation to the surface they had to cover with valuable and sometimes scarce animal skins. Patagonia EcoCamp is a tribute to Kawesqar dwellings and way of life.
Patterns for Designing: The main concepts that we kept on mind when designing the EcoCamp were the followings:
- To be exposed to nature as in a camp tent but with the comfort and sophistication of a four stars hotel;
- Design and build interfering as little as possible with the environment. Our hotel is not meant to be seen. We are not interested on advertising our EcoCamp on site;
- Take advantage of the sight. EcoCamp gives sight to the Torres del Paine granite pillars right from the dinning room and from many dormitory domes;
- We feel to be innovative so it should be our design;
- The nomadic spirit should be brought alive, let’s make the hotel portable, so when we move very little tracks of our previous existence on site will be left;
- We should allow the terrain to recover after each season, let’s the grass grow, the animals graze, the sun shines and the wind blow all over the place. We remove the domes each winter.
- The wind is an active part of Patagonia, we want our guests to experience it, so the canvas that covers the domes will react to the wind. You will be perfectly comfortable on bed but aware that nature is outside knocking at the door;
- The skies in Patagonia can be spectacular at nights, let’s allow our guest to fall asleep looking at the stars above;
- Days in Patagonia are long from 5:30am to 11pm and the best light for photographs is at dusk and down. The domes let the light flood the interior warning you that day is on. Grab your camera and get out to catch the first lights striking the mountains;
- We came this far to be outdoors, let’s make the indoor’s amenities as little as possible;
- Our maximum capacity will be 30 guests so the feeling of intimacy, the idea of being in a Nomadic convoy will be kept even if the EcoCamp is full.
Property amenities:
* Dormitory Domes: These domes have vitrified wooden floors and are 2m/6.5ft high with a diameter of 4m/12ft, allowing plenty of space for sleeping comfortably. They are resistant to the strongest Patagonian winds, rains, and snow and come equipped with two single beds, fleece sheets, blankets, and feather quilts. There are round windows in the ceiling to observe the stars before falling asleep.
* Core Domes: The Ecocamp has 2 Giant Domes:
- The Dining Room Dome, 9m/ 30ft in diameter and 4.5m/13.5ft tall. It is equipped with a dining room, and kitchen. The space is bright and airy with a big panoramic window that brings dusk and dawn straight into the dining area.
- Living and Resting Room Dome of 6 m/19,6 ft in diameter were the guests can relax, read a book, talk the experiences of the day with the other guests, etc. Toilettes We offer comfortable shared bathrooms well illuminated, divided for male and female.
Both have shower with hot water, w.c., hand wash
- To collect waste in a central heated composting chamber.
- To minimize constructed areas.
- To avoid digging the terrain and to have more control of water consumption and heating.
Nearby attractions and activities:
In the heart of Patagonia we have created the EcoCamp which is located in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. Patagonia is a vast and diverse region, with scenery ranging from dramatic mountain formations and smoky volcanoes to flat barren pampa and expansive ice fields. These lands are crowded with glaciers, lakes, fjords, ancient forests and wildlife such as guanacos, flamingos, condors, ñandus and huemules and also offer some of the most magnificent trekking and nature in the world.
Location:
Puerto Natales, 120km/ 75miles south from the celebrated Torres del Paine National Park.
Policy:
All accommodations at the EcoCamp are in a sharing basis only. There is not single accommodation availability. The understanding we are aiming to develop within our guests is that by observing a sober and humble attitude in wilderness areas we are contributing to lesser the impact in the environment.
Providing single accommodation at the EcoCamp will mean that we will be forced to build more domes which will not be necessarily occupied all the time and which will create a bigger visual impact and a bigger consume of energy and materials at the construction stage. Our aim is to operate with the highest ratio of economy of resources versus a distinctive degree of comfort.
If we have odd numbers of males and females we will be then hosting one male and one female on a single basis unless we have triple room domes available. Despite of the above if at the moment of arrival at the EcoCamp someone shows up with a reasonable claim for single accommodation and the Camp hostess finds availability then exception can be made. We do not sell just overnights we sell programs that includes the overnights at our Ecocamp.
Regular Departures:
- Date of Cancellation Amount Payable
* 31+ days before Departure Date 0% of the Price
* 30-21 days before Departure Date 40% of the Price
* 20 - 10 days before Departure Date 60% of the Price
* 9 - 0 days before Departure Date 100% of the Price
Once the Organizer confirms a Reservation to Econatural on a Private Departure Trip the following penalties for further cancellations will apply.
Private Departures:
* Date of Cancellation Amount Payable
* 61+ days before Departure Date Deposit
* 60-45 days before Departure Date 40% of the Price
* 44 - 19 days before Departure Date 60% of the Price
* 18 - 0 days before Departure Date 100% of the Price.
Packages:
We have mostly programs of, 5, 7 and 10 days, the programs are listed on this web portal. they are called: 5d Torres del Paine Trek, 7d Torres del Paine Trek and 10d Torres del Paine Circuit. please ask for more programs!!!
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