Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
Located in one of the last really pristine places on earth, we feel a great responsibility about our environment. We want to transmit this feeling to the guests at our Patagonia lodge & spa and hope they will carry it to their usual lives and homes. Although the lodge & spa is geographically a totally isolated place, we are proud to have become an integrated part of the local community.
If its possible we try to use services, and manpower from the region. But it’s not easy in the most depopulated area in Chile. Local community is involved especially in group and incentive activities. We usually support local fundraising in Puerto Puyuhuapi. Last time we donated money was for the first ambulance. Normally we participate on cultural events in the south of Chile. For example the “Semanas Musicales de Fruillar”.
We provide different excursions for our guest to the Queulat National park and Puerto Puyuhuapi, where we visit a local carpet factory with a unique handcraft. A local from Puerto Puyuhuapi provides transfer services for our guests. Our complete central heating system is working with geothermic energy from our hot spring. Hot water is coming directly from the hot spring. What we don't use goes directly into the sea. But we try hard to pollute as little water as possible.
Apart from the geothermic energy we have a hydraulic turbine but it is working only if the water pressure is high enough, being very sensitive if rain amount lowers. We use only energy saving lamps. We have not much electronic equipment in our lodge. There are no televisions, stereos etc in the guest area.
Recyclable waste is transported once the year to Puerto Montt for recycling. Non recyclable waste goes to the official landfill. Recyclable waste means paper, plastics, metal, etc. In our sales office in Santiago we recycle paper for charity - a catholic baby care organization.
For constructions we used mostly wood collected from the surrounded forest. In our rooms are some guidelines for general behaviour. Further our guides capacitate our pioneers (that's how we call our guests) during the excursions. This year we initiated a childcare on a small isle in front of our lodge, where children can degree as a “Protector of Patagonia”. They learn about history, plants and wildlife of the region and will be skilled in ecology and recycling. Touristic development is very important in this area. The timber and mining industry is very strong in Chile.
We always like to work with local people. A lot of people from Puerto Puyuhuapi had their first job in our lodge and some of them stayed and became part of the family. Rodrigo Salas (head of guides) and Heidi Millalonco (head of administration) have started working here on their school holidays and are indispensable employees now. About 25% of the lodges employees are from Puerto Puyuhuapi. But it is not easy to get workers in an area that’s average population is 1 person per 2 km², as well as there is a lack of English-speaking people.
Our restaurant is specialized in local meals. A lot of fish and seafood is from the area. Rarely we serve tropic fruits, instead a lot of different wild berries etc. Further we have a Green house. But we can only produce a small part of what’s needed – mostly herbs, spices but also some vegetables as lettuce, spinach, etc. Gerardo, from Puyuhuapi, does our local transfers to the different areas of Queulat National Park. Eligio, from Puyuhuapi, does our plumbing work.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
