Patagonia Camp is a luxury property located in the southwest corner of the park on the shores of Lago el Toro. The yurts are a nice size, heated, with electricity, and have a private bathroom. Some have a private jacuzzi, and there are family quad yurts. Food and wine are great. You can do the W-Trek in day hikes.
New, modern, and stylish hotel 2 blocks from the beach, restaurants, bars, and shops.
All rooms have A/C, ceiling fan, telephone, TV, hairdryer, free Wifi, safe, minibar, coffee maker, laundry available. They all have a deck or patio and a big closet. Ground floor rooms have an outdoor shower.
Jungle rooms have a garden view, Pool rooms have a view of the pool area, and yoga rooms include yoga mats and blocks. They have 1 king or 2 queen beds. An extra bed can be added for a child. The Surfer Suite has a kitchenette. The premier rooms upstairs and deluxe downstairs.
All water is filtered, and there are water dispensers.
There is a large saltwater pool, smaller pool with jets, and a kids pool with lounge chairs and pool bar.
They have a large open-air restaurant and bar with terrace and grass lawn. The bar has live music on Sunday and Tuesday nights.
Other amenities:
Gym (mostly for lifting) – included with hotel room
Yoga and Pilates classes ($15)
Ice Plunge Pool ($15)
Co-working space (extra)
Mountain bike shop, including rentals and tours
Spa (massages and facials)
2 Shops
Surf Club right at the beach (rentals, lessons)
2) Lagarta Lodge (Nosara)
This is a quiet and sophisticated hotel located on the hillside with amazing views (not on the beach). To get there, it is up a steep and windy dirt road. They have a shuttle to take you to town and the beach, so you do not have to worry about driving.
There are 2 pools and 3 jacuzzis (one is adults only). It has a lovely restaurant and bar overlooking the pool.
All rooms have A/C, ceiling fan, telephone, TV, hairdryer, free Wifi, safe, mini fridge, coffee maker, laundry available. There is a family room that sleeps 6.
3) Nammbu (Samara)
Located on Playa Carrillo 10 minutes south of Samara, and a 5-minute walk to beach. There are a few restaurants nearby, but you will have to drive somewhere if you don’t eat at the hotel.
It is modern and built on a hillside. There are 9 buildings with 7 rooms in each building (63 rooms total). The buildings have 3 levels with spiral staircases.
Deluxe Rooms have 2 queens, Jr. Suites have 1 king, Master Suites have 1 king and jacuzzi tub. There are no closets.
All rooms have A/C, ceiling fan, telephone, TV, hairdryer, free Wifi, safe, mini fridge, coffee maker, robes, laundry available.
It has a large infinity pool overlooking the beach. There is a pool bar that also serves lunch. It has lounge chairs, sun beds, and locker rooms/showers.
Breakfast is included. The restaurant also serves lunch and dinner. There is a separate bar area.
The hotel rents out boogie boards, paddleboards, and kayaks. There is a patio with yoga mats and dumbbells.
The Playa Carrillo beach is a long, lovely beach lined with palm trees (good for hanging a hammock). It has fairly calm water with very small waves. No services (or buildings at all) on the beach except for shaved ice.
4) Tree House Inn (Samara)
The only hotel right on the beach. It is very close to town center. The rooms are elevated (like a tree house).
There are 6 rooms (4 up/2 down). They all have 1 queen bed + 1 sofa bed (queen) for 4 people max. There is also 1 6-person room with 1 queen bed + 2 sofa beds.
All rooms have a full kitchen, A/C, floor fan, no telephone, no TV, hairdryer, free Wifi, safe, mini fridge, coffee maker, robes, no laundry available.
Every room gets a table, lounge chairs, and hammock in the shade. Everyone gets beach chairs and umbrella.
Most people visiting Botswana go to the Okavango Delta. If you are starting or ending in Victoria Falls, you should include Chobe because you can drive from there to Vic Falls. If you have more time, add more areas. You need 2-3 days in each location.
Okavango Delta
Described as ‘the jewel of the Kalahari’, the Okavango Delta – a tranquil and isolated oasis set in the harsh and arid surroundings of Botswana’s bush and desert – is widely regarded as one of Africa’s best safari destinations, with its rich diversity of fauna and flora.
The Moremi Game Reserve is situated in the eastern part of the Okavango Delta, on the south-western border of the Chobe National Park, and covers almost one-third of the Delta.
Savute Region
The Savuti Channel has a fascinating history of flooding and drying up independently of good rainy seasons and flood levels elsewhere – a mystery that has intrigued geologists and other researchers for many years.
The zebra migration typically comes through Savute November-December and February-March.
The Chobe Riverfront
The Chobe National Park is located in the Northern part of Botswana and lies along the Chobe River, which borders Botswana and Namibia. The Park is the second largest in Botswana and is known for its superb game viewing all year round, as it has one of the largest populations of game on the African continent.
Makgadikgadi Pans National Park
The Makgadikgadi Pans National Park stretches away from the banks of the Boteti River, through its hinterland of scrub and grassland. The river and the nutrient-rich western grasslands supply the essential water and sustenance for the herds that inhabit the park.
The zebra migration comes through here in the green season (Dec to Feb). A salt pans sleep out is offered during dry season (mid-June to Oct).
Okavango Panhandle and Tsodilo Hills
This region is the major tributary river system that leads into form the Okavango Delta. The panhandle channel winds its way through tall papyrus thickets and interspersed with beautiful lush islands. To the west of the panhandle the stark dry contrast of UNESCO World Heritage listed cultural site, Tsodilo Hills.
2) What To Do
Activities in Botswana include:
Game drives
Motorized boat safaris
Mokoro excursions (canoe)
Guided bush walks
Fishing
Cultural excursions
Helicopter flights
Sleep out
Let us know which activities are most important to you to make sure we book the right camps!
3) When To Go
Peak season in Botswana is June-October, which is also the most expensive. Shoulder season is November, April, and May. Green season is December-March and is the cheapest time to go. September-October can be very hot.
For Victoria Falls, November-December have lower water levels. This is not the best time to see all of the falls or for river rafting, but it is a good time for the Devil’s Pool.
4) Getting To and From
Most people fly into the airport in Maun, Botswana (MUB) and then fly out from Victoria Falls. You can also do this in reverse, or skip Victoria Falls and fly into and out of MUB. There are daily flight to MUB from Johannesburg (JNB) and Cape Town (CPT).
Remota Lodge is north of town towards the Singular Lodge.
There are 72 rooms in 2 wings and 2 floors. All rooms are the same with either 1 king bed or 2 twin beds. There are no triples. Rooms have a large picture window looking towards the water, a desk, a large shelve area which is nice organizing, tub/shower combo, and rain shower. They have robes, slippers, a telephone, hairdryer, and safe. There are no TV’s or minifridge.
In the rooms, you are given a metal water bottle, neck buff, and candy treats the first night.
There is a spa area with a long, narrow warm pool. There is a men’s and women’s dry sauna. The jacuzzis are closed for repair. Massages are offered for an extra fee ($80 for 50 minutes).
Meals are included with the Soft Package or Adventure Package. Breakfast is 7-10am, Lunch is 12:30-3pm, and Dinner is 7-10pm. Breakfast is buffet. Lunch is typically a box lunch on your excursion (order sandwich night before). Dinner is off a menu.
Breakfast: buffet (at table during low season) Eggs, fruit, yogurt, granola, bread, pastries, cold cuts and cheese, bacon, orange or mango or strawberry juice, latte
Dinner from menu: Salmon ceviche, pumpkin soup with coconut, grilled salmon, lamb shank, chocolate mousse cake, citrus cake like key lime cake, homemade ice cream
When you first arrive, you will immediately meet with your guide to discuss activities for your stay. If you arrive before you can check in, you can see if you can do an afternoon excursion, use the spa, have lunch, or explore town.
Remota Lodge will provide transfers into town if there is a vehicle and driver available. Alternatively, you can take an Uber for $2-3 or a taxi for $5-6.
Excursion groups are 6-8 maximum per guide. They provide hiking poles, water, and snacks.
2) Singular Hotel (5-star)
This is a 5-star hotel just outside Puerto Natales (near the airport). You can book just a night B&B or a multi-day all-inclusive package with all meals and excursions.
It is housed in an old cold packing plant for lamb originally built in 1905. It is now a museum for this historic local industry.
There are 57 rooms on 3 floors (long hallways). The Singular rooms can be 1 king bed or 2 twin beds. There are also 3 suites and 1 handicap room. They can add a roll-away bed for kids. There are no connecting rooms
Rooms have desk, sound system, minibar with free soda and water, coffee service, robes, slippers, and toiletries. They also have a telephone, TV, hairdryer, and safe. There is free WiFi throughout the hotel.
The spa has a warm indoor/outdoor pool, dry sauna, and steam room — all with a wall of windows to the water. For an extra price, you can use the private jacuzzi and get a massage including hot stone and couples massage. The entrance is on the first floor mid-way down the hallway of rooms. The entrance is underground, with view of the water.
Breakfast is a buffet with eggs to order. Lunch and dinner are off the same menu. The bar has light meals (cold). 4-7pm is tea time for $38 for 2 people including tea/soft drinks/sparkling wine and savory + sweet snacks. Breakfast is 6-10:30am, Lunch is 12-3pm, Dinner is 7-10pm.
The lunch/dinner menu has lamb 8 ways, steak, hare, king crab chube and salad, salmon, ceviche, scallops, octopus, salads, soups, and a large selection of desserts.
There is a separate BBQ restaurant in the old blacksmith shop. It is open 3-7 days a week during high season and is an extra $50/person. There are 3 tables in the blacksmith room and a long family-style table in the next room.
Breakfast has homemade yogurt, toppings including chia, linseed, dried fruits, lattes, eggs to order, avocado.
If you are interested in using the TV, Netflix, and/or the sound system, have a staff member show you how to use it.
There are bikes to use for free. It is an easy ride into town, but be prepared for a strong wind coming back. A taxi to town is $5-8 one-way. An Uber is usually around $2-3.
It is now open all year except for June.
If you arrive before it is time to check in, you can see if you can do an afternoon excursion (even the Cold Storage Tour is an interesting way to spend an hour), you can relax at the spa, have lunch, or bike/Uber into town.
Cold Storage Tour:
1-1.5 hours
Boilers
Blacksmith
Engine (train)
3) Hotel Costaustralis (4-star)
This is one of the oldest hotels in Puerto Natales. It is located right on the waterfront. It might look a little tired outside, but it is pretty nice inside. There are no hotel signs outside, but it is an iconic hotel that is easy to identify.
There are 110 rooms. Standard rooms have a city view. Superior rooms have an ocean view and are a bit larger. There is 1 suite which has a sitting area with sofa. There are 6 triple rooms, and Superior rooms can be a triple. 4 rooms are interconnecting.
Rooms have a telephone, TV, hairdryer, and safe. Half of the rooms have a tub and shower, and half have a shower only. The decoration is pleasant neutral colors, but hallways are a bit dark.
Breakfast is a buffet 6-11:30am and dinner is 7-11pm. The bar is open 4-11pm.
Past the bar is a lovely library, map room for planning excursions, and 2 computers. There is a lounge area by each elevator and water dispenser.
There are bikes which are free for guests.
4) Noi Indigo (4-star)
There are 41 rooms on 4 floors. 5 have a city view and the rest have an ocean view. All rooms are 1 king or 2 twin beds. They have Deluxe, Jr. Suites, and Suites. The Jr. Suite and Suite can be a triple. There are some Jr. Suites that are interconnecting.
Rooms have telephone, TV, and hair dryer. They do not have a safe or mini-fridge. They use a UV lamp for cleaning the air in the rooms.
There is a large restaurant and bar. The second floor has great views out. Breakfast is a buffet and then eggs to order.
The Spa is on the top floor with a glass ceiling. It has 2 small warm pools, a dry sauna, and a massage room.
There are bikes free for guests. Some floors have fun hanging chairs. Each floor has a water dispenser.
5) Kau Lodge (3-star)
The Kau Lodge has 9 rooms. 5 of them can be 1 king or 2 twin, the other 4 rooms have bunk beds for 2 people. There are no triples.
Rooms are very simple, but Wifi is available throughout. They have no telephone, TV, for mini-fridge. You can ask the front desk for a hairdryer.
It is on the waterfront on the edge of Puerto Natales.
The coffee shop/bakery is very popular. Breakfast is included and is served 7-10am. Dinner is served 7-9pm. Wine and beer are also available.
Cathedral, Plaza de Armas, Central Market, Santa Lucia Market
Patio Bellavista:
Castillo Rojo:
DAY 2: Winery Tour from Santiago
Wine Tour at Cousiño Macul:
Wine Tour at Viña Santa Rita:
Santa Lucia Hill:
Lastarria Neighborhood:
Singular Santiago:
DAY 3: Punta Arenas
Fly to Punta Arenas:
Cabo de Hornos Hotel:
DAY 4: Punta Arenas Sights
Sights in Punta Arenas:
Nao Victoria Museum
Magellan Reserve
Fun restaurants
Whale Watching in the Chilean Patagonia. The whale watching season begins on December 1st and departs from Punta Arenas. You will enjoy a unique landscape surrounded by mountains, glaciers, lenga, and coihue forests, as well as marine life such as sea lions, petrels, cormorants, southern dolphins, and more. This service begins at approximately 4 am, lasts 13 hours, and operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
DAY 5: Puerto Natales Hiking
BenitezCondor Trek:
This is a great hike close to Puerto Natales with great views and condors. It is a 30 minute drive to trailhead, one hour hike up, 15 minutes at top with Tea, coffee, water, snacks, chocolate.
Hotels here do not have air-conditioning because it a colder area. If your room gets hot, you can open a window to cool off. Hotels here do not have coffee in the room. All rooms have a desck
1) Cabo de Hornos (4-star)
The Cabo de Hornos is located right on the Plaza de Armas. It has 110 rooms, and it will have 80 more by the end of 2024.
Each room has 1 king or 2 queen beds. There are 3 triple rooms with 3 queen beds, which can be made into a quad with an extra twin bed (8th floor). There are interconnecting rooms that are next to each other and then an outer door closes.
Rooms have a desk, telephone, TV, hairdryer, and safe. There is no mini-fridge but you can ask for one. There is no kleenex or coffee in the rooms. Get a room on an upper floor overlooking the plaza.
There is a small gym on the 8th floor with a few cardio machines and some weights in the closet.
There is a big open dining room and bar. There are chairs and tables on the side that you can use, and couches by the front the windows.
Breakfast is a buffet. It looks big, but isn’t very interesting. You can get eggs to order. Lattes cost extra.
2) Dreams Hotel (4-star)
The Dreams Hotel is a modern glass building right on the waterfront. The highlights are the enormous fitness center and the beautiful indoor infinity swimming pool plus jacuzzi overlooking the water. On the flip side, there are no social areas for lounging, and there is a casino.
There are 88 rooms on 8 floors. More rooms on the 11th floor will be open by the end of 2024. Rooms are big, lovely, and with great amenities (huge TV). They face the water or the city with either 1 king bed or 2 twin beds. You can also add a bed for a triple room. All rooms have a tub and shower. The standard rooms do not come with robes, but you can request them. Some rooms are connecting for families.
The restaurant is on the main floor facing the water. Breakfast is a buffet. They also serve lunch and dinner.
There is an ATM in the lobby and a coffee shop that is separate from the hotel. An art gallery is on the second floor.
3) La Yegua Loca (4-star)
Yegua Loca is a beautiful boutique hotel built in 1929 in old English style. They pride themselves on personalized service. Pronounced “jegwa”. If you like adorable and quaint with personalized service, you will love this!
There are 15 rooms total, 8 are in the original building and 7 are in a new part. It has WiFi throughout.
It has an amazing restaurant, so even if you don’t stay here, stop by for dinner on your way to the Mirador (viewpoint over the city). Breakfast is ordered off a menu. They also serve lunch and dinner. You should make a reservation for dinner as it can fill up.
Each room has a different theme based on a job-oriented theme from old times (and name, no numbers). They come in 3 different sizes, some are city view and some are ocean view (panoramic). The ones facing the water have a private balcony (separate but not private). There are 8 rooms in the original building and 7 in the new building. Rooms have 1 king or 2 twin beds. There are 3 rooms that can be triples. There are no TV’s in the room, but there are handmade slippers.
It is a few blocks up hill, and there are stairs in the hotel. There is no elevator but a dumbwaiter for luggage. The last bit of road is rough cobblestones. Coming back from dinner in the dark requires careful footing.
The Castillo Rojo is in the Bellavista neighborhood, and all the others are in the Lastarria area.
In general, hotels in Chile have:
All hotels have a/c, telephone, TV, hairdryer, free Wifi, safe, minibar, laundry service extra.
Some will have a gym, pool, and massages.
All hotels can be loud (especially on weekends), no washcloths, and dim lights in the bathroom.
1) Castillo Rojo (4-star)
This is a historic 100-year-old boutique hotel in the Bellavista neighborhood (slightly north of the other hotels) with antiques and lovely architecture.
It has 20 rooms from fairly small to spacious suites. The lounge on the second floor offers coffee and tea 24 hours, and wine hour 5-6pm. Breakfast has a small buffet of fresh fruits, yogurt, cereals, breads, muffins, and sandwiches. Eggs are made order as are espresso drinks.
Just 1 block down is the Patio Bellavista, which is an outdoor square with dozens of restaurants, shops, bars, ice cream, and coffee shops. This spot is worth a visit no matter where you are staying — so cute and fun!
The other great thing about this neighborhood is its proximity to San Cristobal Hill. You can take a funicular or cable car up and down, or it is an easy hike to the top if you want to stretch your legs after a long flight. It has amazing views of the city and the mountains beyond, and the Sanctuary at the top has a lovely white statue of the Virgin Mary.
2) Cumbres Lastarria (4-star)
Cumbres Lastarria has 70 rooms on 8 floors. The main floor has a large lounge area with 24-hour espresso machines. There is also a large outdoor patio and a wine store area that is a hotel sitting area.
Rooms have 1 king bed, 2 twin beds, or triple. They have a large shower, coffee, and slippers (no robe).
The restaurant is on the top floor, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is a buffet. It is a large restaurant with extensive windows and open kitchen but only 2 tables outside.
The pool is also on the roof top, and there is a fitness center.
3) Ismael Hotel (3.5-star)
The Ismael Hotel is next to the Parque Forestal (Forest Park) on the north end of Lastarria. It has 9 floor with a deck and pool on the rooftop. It has a hip, modern feel.
There are 44 rooms, all the same but either city view or garden view. They have desk, balcony, microwave, coffee, and 1 robe. Rooms have either a king bed or 2 twin beds — no triples. There is 1 suite with a large bathtub and 2 balconies.
The restaurant serves a breakfast buffet including eggs. There is also room service with a simple menu.
4) Magnolia Hotel (4-star)
The Magnolia Hotel is a historic building built in 1929 (check out the original floors and walls). It is located on the west side of Santa Lucia Hill, so it is a 2-block walk to the Lastarria restaurants, but it is in a quieter neighborhood.
There are 40 rooms — Superior, Deluxe (3 with Balcony), Junior Suites (3), Magnolia Signature Suite (1). The first 3 floors are the historic building (stone walls), and the top 4 floors are new (wooden walls). It is worth looking at the other floors than where you are staying to see the architecture.
All rooms have tea kettle, coffee, robes, and slippers. The beds are all super-king or 2 twin. No triple rooms, but a bed can be added.
On the first floor is a large lounge area, but it is made into smaller, cozy nooks. There is a library, which is take-one-leave-one (organized by color). There is a free open bar in the library (limited), a full bar on the main level, and a beautiful rooftop bar.
There is a massage room and small fitness room.
The restaurant services breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is a buffet. The rooftop bar serves a full menu. When the hotel is near capacity, the rooftop bar is closed to the public.
5) Singular Santiago (5-star)
The Singular Hotel has 62 rooms with a comfortable, sophisticated feel. There are 4 types of rooms: Lastarria, Classic, Singular (some with balcony), and Suite.
All rooms have the same amenities, so they mostly differ by size, location, and balcony. Classic and Singular rooms can have king or twin beds, and they can get a rollaway bed for a child. Families can get 2 connecting rooms.
All rooms have a desk or table, comfortable chairs, makeup mirror, and washcloths. They also have a coffee station, complimentary water and soda, umbrellas, robes, and slippers.
There is a spa with a dry sauna, steam room, locker rooms, massages, and jacuzzi for couples. If you arrive early, you can use the locker rooms and shower.
The gym is open 24 hours. It has the largest gym of these hotels.
There is a dining room on the ground floor for breakfast. It is also open for lunch and dinner during high season.
The rooftop bar serves lunch and dinner. Guests have priority at the rooftop bar. The outdoor pool is also found on the rooftop.
Finally, the big day at Machu Picchu! Some people chose to hike Huayna Picchu first (optional). Some people spent the next night at the Sanctuary Lodge, which is located right outside Machu Picchu. Another option is to hike Machu Picchu Mountain.
