OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD OUTBACK
Patagonia is widely celebrated as one of the most beautiful places in Latin America, a fiercely wild and unsullied region that is shared by Chile and Argentina. It is home to dramatic jagged ice-capped mountains, plains that stretch to infinity, lenga forests that grace the slopes and stunning glaciers that carve into icy lakes with a resounding roar. Driving through a landscape dotted with flamingo-filled lagoons and red foxes that dashed into the bush, we watched the condors with their 3m wingspans soar and glide above us in search of carrion. We had opted to stay in two different properties, The Singular Patagonia and Tierra Patagonia to best experience all that Patagonia has to offer. The Singular Patagonia is located on the shores of Puerto Natales and is one of the unique lodges on the planet. Descendants of the original pioneers resurrected the former cold storage plant as a sleek luxury hotel that remains true to its rugged roots. Past the utilitarian, industrial facade where several cars were neatly parked, our SUV pulled up beside a glass wall-clad warehouse hidden within. Entering the warehouse, we descended to the reception on a slow and utterly charming funicular ride. A brushed-cement ceiling, 200-year-old machinery and unheated walkways through expansive boiler and storage rooms promised a stay at a museum, while the mood in the spacious room was thoroughly modern with 6m-wide windows looking out to the craggy Patagonian fjords. An excursion to the Torres del Paine National Park is undoubtedly the highlight of the region. The affable guides from The Singular drove us to Rio Serrano Lake and onwards to explore the national park. Camera at the ready, we walked the shores of Grey Lake capturing the vivid blue floating ice, gasped at the beauty of Lake Pehoé’s emerald waters flanked by twisted mountain peaks,