If you fancy a break from the comfortable but pretty basic hostels and refugios of Torres del Paine, the boutique Hotel Indigo in Puerto Natales has 29 rooms and lies some 10 feet away from Last Hope Fjord, a great place to do some kayaking.
Although Indigo is located on the fjord, it’s also pretty much in the centre of town as Puerto Natales centre is quite small. It’s a 3 minute walk to the shops, cafes and restaurants where you can stock up on food and necessities for your trip. I went to Hotel Indigo for the day whilst stranded in Puerto Natales and from outside, Indigo definitely looks different to other hotels, it’s façade is made out of black wood and it’s attached to a welcoming bar and restaurant called Mama Rosa. Whilst I was there I had a delicious (though slightly small) pizza and saw other travellers enjoying a glass of red wine in front of the fire on comfortable arm chairs. The menu changes daily at the restaurant, and is only open to the public in the evenings, after hotel guests have eaten. Amongst its tastiest dishes, Mama Rosa serves fresh king crab the fjord served with avocado, beef from the nearby estancias and lamb in chickpea sauce.
The hotel is arranged in a very modern fashion, with lots of staircases shooting of at different angles leading to bedrooms, a landing with hammocks to chill out on and the overall feel is one of calmness and relaxation, perfect after a tiring hike. The core of the hotel is open plan but everything seems slick, service is good and the materials are of high quality, in reception there are big arm chairs where you can relax.
So, now for the all important bedrooms. The majority of them aren’t huge, but there is a feeling of space, perhaps because the shower is in the bedroom, (part of the open plan philosophy), with a screen in front of the toilet. Karina, the Sales Manager that showed me round the hotel and rooms explained that the hotel was designed by the Chilean architect Sebastián Irarrázaval, who wanted to create contemporary, rooms with straight lines (hence the bridges, ramps and staircases in the hotel) and he’s definitely achieved this. Each room has a big window with a view of Torres del Paine or the fjord, a sculpture and a stove to keep you warm. In my opinion, they’ve managed to create a very modern hotel that has kept that cosy, Patagonian feel.
Finally, the pièce de résistance: the spa. Karina kindly let me use the spa for a spot of relaxation. It’s situated at the top of the hotel where there are about 8 single and 2 person bed-style loungers, a triangular shaped sauna, 3 outdoor jacuzzis and 2 massage rooms. You can even buy a swimming costume for 15.000 chilean pesos if necessary. I spent a few hours in there, reading my book and relaxing in the jacuzzi whilst the wild Patagonian wind blew over me! In addition to the free wifi, excellent food, friendly staff and souvenir shop, the spa just makes Indigo stand out as the best hotel in Puerto Natales and as a great way to reward yourself after a challenging trek.
If this sounds like the right hotel for you and you’d like to book your stay, visit our page about Hotel Indigo.
For our other recommendations of Hotels in Puerto Natales…