EcoCamp Patagonia: A true dining experience
EcoCamp Patagonia: What to expect for food and drinks
If you are jumping in here, welcome! In this blog series I am sharing about our week long stay at the EcoCamp Patagonia, in Torres del Paine National Park in Chile.
Missed the first post? Check out my overview of the EcoCamp Patagonia by tapping on this link.
The EcoCamp is one of only a few hotels that are located inside the park. Despite it being a National Park, there is some private land within the borders and that is where the hotels stand.
My family and I spent two weeks exploring Patagonia both on the Argentinian and Chilean side and our final stay was at the EcoCamp in Torres del Paine National Park.
It was the perfect way to end our trip in this majestic and remote part of the world and this series is designed to give you an inside peek of what it’s like to stay on property.
We paid for this trip ourselves and were not hosted, so the opinions shared are 100% mine and not sponsored in any way.
The bar in the Community Dome at EcoCamp Patagonia
We’ve talked lodging, now let’s talk food!
In the previous post, I shared about the lodging features of the EcoCamp Patagonia and in this post, I wanted to share more about the food served and offered at the EcoCamp.
All meals are included in your stay at the EcoCamp as well as wine at dinner. Mixed drinks, beer and non-alcoholic drinks can be charged to your room. Meals at the Camp are seriously gourmet, with each dinner being a 5 star, multi-course meal.
Continuing in their focus of sustainability and eco-awareness, all the food served at the EcoCamp is grown locally and they work with local farmers to source all the food that they cannot grow themselves. Many herbs are grown on-site using the soil enhanced from their compost.
They even have their own greenhouse where they grow the lillies that decorate the dining room.
A sitting area inside the community domes at EcoCamp Patagonia. Where hikers and diners can gather to create community and learn about the next day’s adventure.
Let’s start when you arrive.
No matter which direction you came from, one thing is guaranteed, you will have a long drive on arrival day.
If you are planing to drive from El Calafate Argentina, be sure to check out my Instagram post about crossing the border and what all to expect about that process and how to make it as seamless as possible.
Likely you’ll be arriving mid to late afternoon. After your check in process, where you are escorted your dome, review the policies and systems of the camp and are briefed on your meeting times (more on that in the excursions post) you’ll have time to unpack and wander to the Communal tents.
The communal tents are where you will find the bar, outdoor seating areas and where you will eat all your meals.
Every afternoon there will be a snack offering that you can find between the first and second communal domes. Here you will find bite-size sweet and savory snacks to munch on before dinner.
As you arrive, I strongly recommend grabbing a drink, a plate of snacks and sitting outside on the main patio as you will find the camp is quiet because the other guests are still on their excursions.
You may even have time for a shower or quick nap before your group meeting and dinner.
A view from the outside of a community dome, with pillows in the foreground for outdoor seating as well.
Group meeting? Tell me more!
Every night before dinner, you will meet with your assigned group and have a meeting in the bar, lounge or dining area.
At this briefing, your lead guides will tell you about the excursions offered the next day and ask you to choose one of the three so they know how many guests to expect for each adventure.
Curious what excursions are offered? Check out this post all about EcoCamp adventures.
The reason I mention all this in the food focused bar is to encourage you not to miss these meetings. Yes, it’s fun to learn about what lies ahead the next day but the best part is, they serve the best cocktails and appetizers before the meeting. All of it’s included in your stay.
Your dinner time is also connected to your group so when you check in you’ll be told your group name and meeting time and if for some reason, you do your own thing one day, you’ll be kept apprised of the next day’s times.
A dining table inside the community domes. This is a table of 3, most seat 6 guests.
Starting off with the most important meal of the day: Breakfast.
Breakfast starts early at the EcoCamp and what time you go down all depends on what time your day hike begins.
I recommend planning to arrive at least 45 min before you are meeting to depart. Breakfast is always served buffet style and there are so many things to choose from.
Food at the Camp is very plant based focused and is a dream destination for vegans and vegetarians.
The only struggle is they don’t label the dishes so some of it is by trial and error but even things I was unsure of, ended up being delicious so in this case, my advice would be, when in doubt, try it.
At breakfast, there are two important things to know: you have to place your dinner order and you have to make your to-go lunch.
At your table (assigned by group or activity), you will find the menu for that night’s dinner. For each section, appetizer, main course and dessert, you will have 3 options to choose from. One of each is always vegetarian or vegan.
Don’t forget to do this before you go. Can’t find the menu? Ask your guide.
If you are staying over a holiday like Christmas or NYE, there is a special menu that night and choices are not available but I can promise the 7 course meal you will be served will be awesome.
The EcoCamp is also very good about accommodating special dietary requests. Likely they’ve asked you this at check-in but if anything comes up, a staff member will take care of you.
Next important thing is to make lunch if you are going out on an adventure.
Back to the environment and sustainability focus, every lunch will be packed in reusable containers and you will take biodegradable, bamboo silverware with you. All of this can be packed in a reusable paper bag that you will re-use every day so do not throw it away.
You are welcome to make sandwiches, pile on sides, load up on fruit and of course, pick a dessert to bring with you. You’ll be out all day, exerting a lot of energy so be sure to pack enough.
No matter where you go the number one rule is “Leave no trace. Pack out what you bring in”
If you are staying on property for the day, let your guide know that at breakfast and the staff will make lunch for you on site. They will tell you what time lunch will be served.
If you are going out on your own adventure, outside of the EcoCamp organized activities, the Camp will likely make you a pre-packaged lunch to take with you. Just check with the staff to confirm that.
The healthy, delicious offerings of the EcoCamp taste even better after a long hike and as you are admiring the views of the Towers of Torres del Paine.
Lunch bags provided by EcoCamp Patagonia. Hikers in the background enjoying lunch after a morning hike.
Working up an appetite for dinner
Not matter how long of a hike you came back for, you’ll be ready for dinner and dinner at the EcoCamp does not disappoint. It’s truly a 5 star meal every night. I did not know what to expect for food and each night it far exceeded my expectations
I will say sometimes it felt a little fancier than I needed and on occasion the portions felt small but it was always good and in the end was plenty of food.
Bonus is that you can have as much red or white wine as you would like.
A side-note about the serving staff is necessary. They are phenomenal, as is the entire staff at EcoCamp Patagonia.
The staff at EcoCamp rotates every 11 days, for them it’s 11 days on, 4 days off. It’s a grueling schedule because it seems that they work around the clock but no matter what they are friendly, helpful, warm and engaging.
You will find that you get attached to some of them very quickly. They will greet you by name, get to know you and learn your favorites and habits to ensure you are taken care of at every turn.
I can’t tell you how many I hugged goodbye before I left.
What time to eat and where to sit
Each night’s dinner time depends on which hike you are on. Your guides will tell you about that during or immediately after the hike,
You should have plenty of time to go back to your dome, shower, clean up and head to dinner.
If you have extra time, I strongly encourage you to take a yoga class before dinner. There is something so healing about stretching after a shower and a long day of hiking. Your body will thank you the next day.
Yoga classes are offered at 6pm and 7pm each night and are open to all guests. This is very beginner level class, so don’t be shy.
sorry, got side-tracked…back to dinner.
Also depending on your activity, your seats will be determined for you. Each table will be listed with either your excursion name or your last name or departure day. It’s easy to figure out but if you have questions, just ask someone.
It’s quite possible that if you have open seats at your table that a guide will join you for dinner and this is an absolute treat. It’s a chance to learn more about them, the Camp, what’s ahead or to reflect on the adventure your shared together.
We shared two dinners with our guides and they were truly some of the most memorable moments of our trip, you make a connection over a meal that stays with you and makes a sincere impression.
Hikers and guides dining together after a long hike. This is a table of six ready to enjoy a gourmet meal at EcoCamp Patagonia.
Expressing gratitude. It’s important to tip appropriately.
The nice thing about meals at the EcoCamp is that they are a come as you are, relaxed affair, leave all phones and wallets in your dome.
It will be very evident, very quickly how hard everyone at the Camp is working and it’s important to tip them appropriately.
On departure day, you will be given the chance to pay gratuities to both the house staff and guides. Envelopes will be available for each and you can leave those at the front desk when checking out. If someone went above and beyond (likely to happen!), you can either tip them directly or leave an envelope for them.
Mingling and connecting in the common areas.
Something magical happens when no one has their phones, people connect, laugh, talk, play games and get to know each other. For those of us who remember life without cellphones, it’s these moments that you want more of.
Whether it’s before or after dinner, guests hang out in the common areas. Grabbing a pre or post dinner drink at the bar, playing card games together or preparing for a celebratory night such as NYE, groups and families gather around to spend time together.
Here you will make new friends, listen to experiences of adventures you have yet to go on and share stories about the day’s exploration.
Don’t skip out on this part—it’s one of the best parts of the Eco Camp.
My favorite part,the true highlight
While it’s hard to pick a favorite thing about EcoCamp Patagonia, for me, the guides are top of my list. We’ve traveled in many places and have had many guides help us along the way but the energy, passion and sincerity of the EcoCamp guides was unlike anything else we have experienced.
Continue this blog series by reading more about our experience with the Eco Camp guides and excursions.
Dreaming of your own trip to Patagonia? Check out my guide on ForaTravel summarizing our two-week bucket-list trip through Argentina and Chile. Ready to start planning? Use the contact form on my advisor page and we can get started today!
Celebrate good food, Explore EcoCamp Patagonia
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