Live regenerative travel in Las Torres Patagonia | News
Regenerative travel is shaping the future of tourism, and at Las Torres Patagonia, more than 30 years of family management have shaped every aspect of this estancia experience in Chilean Patagonia. From inviting guests to share the heritage and traditions of Baqueano cowboy culture and sample their multifaceted zero-waste mixology program, to their long-term conservation, volunteerism, community partnerships and NGO-led initiatives. Importantly, Las Torres Patagonia also celebrates the people who brought these efforts to life.
The Alchemist of Patagonia: A symbol of Las Torres Patagonia’s innovative spirit is Federico Gil, dubbed a “liquid conservationist” who leads the team at the newly redesigned Pionero Bar. Based on ingredients like Magellan barberry, ñirre (Nothofagus antarctica) and rhubarb, his cocktails celebrate Patagonian flavors through seasonal fermentations, smoking techniques with native herbs and house-made bitters. Beer and gin are distilled on site using glacier water, while a zero-waste cocktail, Andiperla, is served in an edible white chocolate cookie cup. Even the glassware reflects the ethos: Federico transforms discarded bottles into custom glasses using his own glass cutting machine.
Custodians of Culture: The Baqueano experience offers guests privileged access to Patagonia’s living cowboy culture. Led by horsemen whose families have farmed this land for more than a century, Baqueanos are the custodians of traditional horsemanship and deep territorial knowledge passed down from generation to generation. The original pioneers of the region, they once mapped out routes through snow-covered steppes and mountains. Today they guide guests along these trails and invite them to participate in their yerba mate ritual, music and stories around the campfire. “Being a Baqueano means being strong,” says Baqueano Jorge Gallardo, “but also finding peace in the silence. Working with animals. Getting away from all the noise.”
The Legacy of Quintero Don Tito: Half a century ago, Don Tito redefined what sustainable agriculture could look like at the edge of the world. The half-hectare biointensive garden he created in Las Torres Patagonia – now overseen by Catalina Rojas – remains a living laboratory for organic farming under extreme conditions. During tours, guests will discover compost made from kitchen scraps, coffee grounds and beer scraps; natural fertilizers brewed from compost-and-dandelion tea and horse manure; cinnamon used as a natural vegetable antiseptic; and natural pest deterrents such as distraction planting. Today the garden supplies approximately 20% of the lodge’s fresh fruit and vegetables, increasing to 30% during peak season. The product includes ‘traveler tomatoes’, a naturally segmented tomato that is an ideal hiking snack.
Craft Revivalists: Each season, Las Torres Patagonia spotlights local artisans whose work reflects the cultural and natural heritage of southern Chile. Recent additions include woven placemats and bread baskets from Chiloé craftswomen Patricia Catrilef and María Navarrete, whose practice celebrates traditional weaving techniques from plant fibers. Local blacksmith Victor Riquelme makes the knives that chef Joaquín Pitta uses at Coirón restaurant. These feature handles made from regional wood and are designed to pay tribute to traditional Baqueano knives. In the spa, essential oils are sourced from Puenta Arnas-based aromatherapy and skincare company AMMA, which uses 100% natural ingredients (including mint, eucalyptus, rosemary and maritime pine) with a focus on those from Chilean Patagonia.
’10 volunteers for 10 days’: Las Torres Patagonia has just welcomed the winners of the third edition of this successful global volunteer tourism campaign to the reserve. Participants will work with local communities to restore Patagonia’s crucial Base Torres Trail. With the first 1.5 km section completed as a sustainable trail, work begins on the second of three sections of the trail, located in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. More details about the campaign can be found here.
“Regenerative tourism starts where guests sleep, eat and explore,” said Josian Yaksic Kusanovic, CEO of Las Torres Patagonia. “Our reserve will be an experience classroom, demonstrating how hospitality can strengthen ecosystems, culture and climate resilience. This, together with our Climate Action Plan that takes us towards carbon neutrality by 2034, will help preserve the true quality of our estancia experience and our environment.”
These efforts are supported by Las Torres Patagonia Conservancy, their affiliate NGO. It is committed to protecting Torres del Paine’s fragile ecosystems and delivers conservation, research, education and sustainable tourism programs. Recent projects include Geoffrey’s Cat Protection, monitoring of Andean condor flights and educational activities focused on the orchids of Torres del Paine.
Las Torres Patagonia is open this season until April 18 and will reopen on October 1, 2026. Rates start from £1,755 pp for an all-inclusive two-night package, based on two people sharing a double room.
For more information, visit www.lastorres.com/en
