EcoCamp, Torres del Paine travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises, spa and resorts

The EcoCamp is an ecological retreat for superb hiking adventures in the heart of the Torres del Paine national park in Chile. Choose from various trekking packages of all lengths and levels, with excellent bilingual guides, and meals, drinks and transfers included. The friendly young staff take great care to make both hiking expeditions and your stay at the camp well-organized and welcoming. EcoCamp shared eco-bathrooms with loos and hot showers and compost loos in the suite domes feel like the real thing.

There are 15 standard tents in all – 4 doubles, and all the rest twin or triple – so ask in advance if you want a double. All tents are spacious and tall enough so that you can stand comfortably. There are wooden floors with sheepskin rugs, and sturdy wooden beds, with lots of warm linen: fleece sheets and feather duvets, keeping you warm in bed, despite the lack of heating. The bathroom block is divided into male and female communal areas, where there are flushing toilets and hot showers.

The food in EcoCamp is plentiful and delicious. Breakfast is an impressive spread, served on buffet tables in the dining dome: fresh fruit salad, fresh orange juice, home baked bread with local jams, cheeses, cold meats and scrambled eggs cooked to order. There’s even good coffee. Lunch is brought with you on hikes, and again, you can choose the elements you’d like from a buffet table after breakfast. Dinner is a cheery social event beginning with a gathering in front of the woodburning stove.

Torres del Paine is a hiking paradise. Since EcoCamp is in the middle of the park, there is lots of choice, and you’ll be led by expert guides who know the terrain well, and are trained in all aspects of first aid and safety. There are also horse riding packages, and sea kayaking trips in the beautiful fjords around the park.

Location: EcoCamp is situated in front of the Paine towers, close to the Hosteria de las Torres hotel and right in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park. It’s 75 miles (120km) from Puerto Natales, and 230 miles (370km) from Punta Arenas. When to go: The camp is open from October to April. It’s wise to avoid the peak summer months of January and February, since the trails are particularly crowded at this time.