Patagonia is immensely seductive: wind-swept steppe, mountain peaks where condors soar, and vast stretches of nothing where you can dream and leave civilisation behind. Not quite. If you don’t want to rough it, it’s either a long drive to a sheep farm or touristy El Calafate. But now Eolo offers luxurious style, stunningly set in a remote valley, within easy glacier reach. A striking new building reworks traditional Patagonian zinc, creating an exclusive hideaway with just 17 suites arranged around a central courtyard. Huge space inside reflects infinite space outside, with windows framing unparalleled views of the valley rimmed by grand mountains, and even Torres del Paine on a clear day.
Interiors are designed with warm minimalism and impeccable taste, matched by perfect personalised service from the staff. You’ll be welcomed by your own bilingual host-guide who’ll help plan your excursions over tea and cake. Ride to find flamingos rising from a turquoise lagoon, walk on the glaciers, and return to a sauna, sophisticated cuisine and superb wines. You won’t want to leave.
Highs
- Huge, stylish rooms, with fabulous beds and gorgeous bathrooms
- Mind-expanding views over the untouched Patagonian steppe, with light playing constantly on massive mountains opposite
- Well away from touristy El Calafate (feel the silence, hear the wind), but with easy access to excursions as it's closer to the glaciers
- Wonderful staff - the best in the area: young, genuinely friendly and welcoming ‘host-guides’
- Comfort in quiet and exclusive isolation: a wonderful sense of having this vast landscape to yourself
- Rates include all meals, soft drinks, airport transfers and guides for activities in the surrounding area
Lows
- Eolo is a real taste of Patagonia, and suitably isolated - don’t come here if you want nightlife or to meet other travellers. However, El Calafate is only 25km away - staff are happy to take you if you want to buy or hire hiking equipment, and taxis are inexpensive
- No TV in the rooms; if you’re missing it, you’re probably in the wrong place. However, there are televisions in both the bar and another living room
- It’s expensive. There are some decent upmarket hotels in El Calafate, but what you’re paying for here are the space, the service and the real Patagonian landscape, which you would miss entirely by staying in town
Best time to go
December and January are high season and not recommended, since the glacier trips are busy - hardly the photograph you want of pristine nature. September, October and March are the best months: there are fewer crowds and days can still be beautifully mild. Bear in mind, though, that weather on the glacier is completely unpredictable, since the winds which come over the Andes, bringing humidity which precipitates as snow where the glacier is formed, are constantly changing.
In March and April the autumn colours are spectacular, as the lenga on the upper slopes of the mountains turns scarlet. The whole region is closed for winter from June to August, as the weather makes the area very inhospitable. You should bring warm clothes whatever time of year you come.
In March and April the autumn colours are spectacular, as the lenga on the upper slopes of the mountains turns scarlet. The whole region is closed for winter from June to August, as the weather makes the area very inhospitable. You should bring warm clothes whatever time of year you come.
Our top tips
The ozone layer is very thin here, so pile on the factor 50 sun cream and wear good sunglasses. A hat is essential for both sun and wind. Also bring a windproof jacket, walking boots (or at least sturdy trainers with ankle support), warm waterproof gloves (2 pairs are a good idea if you’re going on the glacier) and 2 pairs of walking trousers (in case one gets soaked on your first day).
- Luxury Lodge
- 17 rooms
- All meals included
- Only children aged 12 years and over are accepted
- Open all year
- Indoor Pool
- Sauna
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Concierge Service
- Bicycles Available
Rooms
The accommodation has been beautifully designed to give guests a real feeling of space inside. The rooms are deservedly called suites - 12 Superior (37 sq.m), 3 Premium (48 sq.m) plus 2 Corner Suites (also 48 sq.m) with windows facing in 2 directions. All have sitting areas with magnificent views, plus a couple of corduroy armchairs to sprawl in - the perfect place to drink a fine pot of tea served in pleasingly mismatched antique china after your expeditions.
All suites are designed in the same restrained luxurious style: good quality natural fabrics in simple neutral colours (greens, beiges and whites), plain white duvet covers and crispest Egyptian cotton sheets, with a soft, bold-coloured blanket lying over the top. Beautifully restored antique night tables sit well with modern lamps, and walls are adorned with a couple of striking sepia photographs of local wildlife. Nothing here jars with the fabulous nature outside.
Bathrooms in all rooms are the same: spacious and light, with good views. You get a blonde marble floor, a long counter with 2 sinks, a power shower and a huge double-ended bath: perfect for relaxing after your trek on the ice, in a room fragranced with relaxing oils. Toiletries are thoughtfully extensive and reassuringly expensive, with lovely soap and good bath salts - excellent for tired muscles. Bathrobes and slippers are provided, as well as hairdryers.
All rooms have fabulous views, but the 2 Corner Suites offer views to 2 sides - either steppe and lake (the best views in the hotel), or steppe and mountain. An additional bed can be put in your room if you’re bringing a small child.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Hairdryer
Eating
The food at Eolo is among the best in all Patagonia, with local ingredients used in imaginative ways. All meals are included in the rates.
Breakfast is served from 6am to 11am in the smart, modern dining room, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows flooding the room with light and giving uplifting views of the valley and the glistening Lago Argentina beyond. Simple tables are well dressed in white, with huge linen napkins and antique chairs stylishly reupholstered with traditional Mapuche weavings. Giant paintings of simple bowls add style and mystery. You get a selection of very fresh fruits prepared in big chunks (melon, grapefruit, orange and kiwi), delicious fresh orange or graprefruit juice, a selection of cereals, good leaf teas and excellent coffee. Pastries and excellent homemade jams are also on offer, and eggs and omelettes are cooked to order.
Lunch is 12 to 3pm at the hotel, but is more usually a picnic on your excursion. Here you’re going to feel smug compared with others on your trip from different hotels, as you’ll have selected your sandwiches from a detailed menu the night before. There's a choice of breads and fillings with tasty extras like sun-dried tomatoes and salads. Tick the boxes for fruit and brownies too, and a flask of tea is highly recommended for the 'Big Ice' or 'Mini Trekking' trips.
Tea is a serious business at Eolo, and comes from the excellent Teaosophy line (created by Argentine Ines Berton). You get leaf teas of the highest quality accompanied by some sweet delicacies, served in charmingly mismatched antique china either in the gorgeous open sitting area or in your room.
Dinner, from 7 to 11pm, is such a pleasure you won’t want to go into town. Expect 5 or 6 choices for each course. Begin with an exquisite salad of smoked pears with blue cheese and walnuts on mixed leaves, or a pretty stack of grilled vegetables with a piquant tapenade. Mains are sophisticated and beautifully presented: Patagonian lamb is a must, and the duo of salmon and trout with delicate coconut rice and cheese mousse is highly recommended too. Vegetarians are catered for to order. Make room for dessert - perhaps a minestrone of fruits with delicious lime sorbet, or a moist orange pudding with chocolate and orange granite. And if you’re hoping to try the famous Patagonian asado (so much more than a barbecue), the chef offers this once a week.
Features include:
- All meals included
- Bar
- Restaurant
- Room service
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- On arrival, your host-guide will sit down with you to discuss your adventures and expeditions for the next few days. Unmissable excursions include the Perito Moreno and Upsala glaciers; all the usual trips offered from tour operators in El Calafate can be arranged and, since you’re nearer, you get picked up last and can have longer in bed!
- Two recommended trips with excellent guides take you trekking on the Perito Moreno glacier itself, as well as along walkways opposite, followed by a short boat trip across the southern face. The ‘Big Ice’ is a fabulous all-day affair, with 5 hours of trekking in crampons (provided) to sink holes, glacial rivers and vivid blue ice caves (only for the fit). ‘Mini Trekking’ is a shorter trip for those less fit and offers 1-2 hours on the ice, with a longer time on the walkways
- Go hiking or mountain biking on Cerro Frias, with or without your host-guide or the hotel dogs. The guide will explain more of the local flora and fauna. Mountain bikes can be taken at any time: just put on a windproof jacket and lots of sun cream, and set off into the grand valley. Guides can also take you out in 4x4s
- Saddle up and go horse riding up Cerro Frias or to the lagoons. This can be arranged exclusively for Eolo guests, so you’ll never be part of a big group. The horses are excellent, and you’ll be accompanied by one of the Eolo guides
- Bird-watch at the local lagoon - you'll see flamingos, geese, ducks and lots of other local species. There’s even a huge telescope in the bar so that you can spot condors in flight as you sip your gin!
- Afterwards, swim in the lovely indoor pool (kept at an appetising temperature all year round) and then relax in the sauna
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Birdwatching
- Boat trips
- Cycling
- Hiking
- Horse riding
- Mountain biking
- Plantlife / flora
- Private guided tours
- Swimming
- Trekking
- Well being
- Wildlife
Kids
Families with children over 12 are welcome - an extra bed can be added to all suites on request, and 1 suite has a big hallway where you can put 2 extra single beds (enquire for details). Activities can be tailored to younger teens, such as the 'Mini Trekking' excursion.
Best for:
Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
Extra Beds Available
Babysitting:
Babysitting is available by arrangement.
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Eolo is 25km from El Calafate in southern Patagonia and 50km from the airport.
By Air:
There are several flights a day to El Calafate from Buenos Aires (these can be subject to disruption, so be prepared to be flexible). In summer, there are flights to and from Ushuaia too, making it easy to spend a week between the 2 places. Click on the links below for more information.
From the Airport
Transfers to and from the airport (about 50 minutes' drive in a minibus) are included. If you're staying at another place within the area, transfers on to your next hotel can be arranged, too.
By Bus:
There are comfortable long-distance buses (as long as you pay the top rate for reclining seats in the coche cama services) from Río Gallegos, and from Torres del Paine in Chile, via the crossing at Cancha Carrera. Be aware that bus travel to this far south in Patagonia takes a very long time, however those with days to spare should consider a bus trip down the epic Ruta 40, which runs alongside the Andes from Los Antiguos to El Chaltén and from there to El Calafate.
By Car:
There’s really no reason to hire a car here, since all transfers are included and day trips are easily arranged.
Detailed directions will be sent to you once you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to Argentina and getting around.
Airports:
- El Calafate 50.0 km FTE
Other:
- Beach 400.0 km
- Shops 25.0 km
- Restaurant 25.0 km