Let me begin by saying that the hotel is located five and one half hours from the airport by van. If you do not believe that anything is worth that kind of travel, stop here.

For the record, had I known about the extended van trip I may have not come at all. I hate long car rides. I can honestly say, however, that it was worth the trip...oh did I mention that anything over 90minutes in a car and I will usually pass it up or take alternative transportation.

In this case the overall experience was worth the trip. The property is spectacular and had I just the experience of walking through the architecture i would have been happy. But it goes a lot further. The food is excellent. The service is fantastic. The staff is here to take care of you....and this comes from the management down. The staff is told that if one guest leaves unhappy it will have serious repercussions for the booking of future guests. Everyone takes it to heart. Everyone!!!

There are trips each morning and afternoon to various parts of the national park in which the hotel is located. There are also daylong trips. The guides are the best in all Chile hands down. This is because of the incredible vetting process that they go through from personal interviews through rorschach tests. The management is very serious about having a congenial, happy and helpful guide staff.

All the guides speak English quite well. This is because they have all either studied extensively or they have lived in the USA for a number of years.

There is no problem about seeing things. You hook up with a guide in the evening and he or she....they are evenly mixed in number makes sure that you like what you are doing the next day.

My wife and I stayed for four nights and five days. Of that, two days are spent getting or leaving here. But dont worry it is worth it. You can stay longer if you arrange it....and I probably would have chosen this had I known the setup. Another two nights and three days would have been perfect.

It is on the surface a bit pricy ie about 1000 dollars a day per couple.....but it is worth it....you will not find anything in the states that would come close to this level of service for this price. Everything is included.

Get a room with a view of the glacier and the mountains. Be open to meeting people from around the US and the world and you will have a terrific time. Seventy percent of the guests are from the states. The rest are from australia, brazil and chile. There is a tiny smattering from Europe.

If you are planning a trip and have questions...please send me a message.....I have no affiliation with the hotel....

From the minute we boarded the van from the airport until we again boarded the van to leave after 4 days, this trip was outstanding in all ways. Explora in Patagonia has to be located in the one of the most, if not the most, beautiful places in the world. What an experience.

I would agree that it is worth the time and travel distance it takes to get there. The van drivers were wonderful and pointed out many things along the way. Even the drive there was awesome!

Upon arriving at the hotel, everything was done first class until we left. The hotel is beautiful and the views cannot even be described. Everyone who works at Explora is happy to be there and well informed and friendly. From the guides, to the restaurant staff, to the wonderful Rosario, the main person in charge, all of the employees contribute to making this the trip of a lifetime.

The hikes, horseback riding, and activities were wonderful, and there is something for people of all ages and abilities to participate in. The food was wonderful and the people we met , from all over the world, were fabulous. The four days went by too quickly. We will return here again, after we try the Explora at Easter Island very soon. After experiencing the Explora way of travel, we would find it very hard to repeat an experience like this.

Another voice to the many here espousing about how great this place is. From the minute we walked in we were looked after in a completely relaxed but efficient way. The emphasis on exploration rather than who completes the trek first is perfect, and the structure allows you to meet some amazing people. Cannot recommend highly enough!

Its been said before and its true - if you look at it simply in terms of the visa card statement, Explora is not cheap. But if you are considering going, and love the outdoor life, please push yourself because its more than worth it in terms of value and the overall experience.

Location is supernaturally out of this world - splurge on a a room with a view if you can but you'll get to enjoy it anyway over dinner and in the bar.

If you are fit, you'll love it..this is serious walking (if you want it, there's more gentle walks if you don't fancy it) and you'll need the gear. Explora come into its own when it comes to the staff on these hikes - young, friendly, knowledgeable and natural - and when we finally reached Camp Britannico via the French Valley on the first day after a monster hike, the picnic..complete with gingham cloth, hot corn soup, fab sandwiches and Baileys from Gato's hipflask was a wonderful surprise. Little nuggets of geological and botanical info were also delivered along the way.

Activities can be packed in even on your first and last day you have half day options available. Having had a bad learning to ride experice in the UK I stayed clear of horseriding until a morning ride on my last day. Big mistake, I loved it - the stables & horses were immaculate and the gauchos welcoming. I wish I'd taken advantage on day 1 and done a lot more riding. Not sure about mate but I'm glad I had the chance to try it in context!

Rooms felt personal, tasteful and comfortable with big tubs (with a mountain view) and lovely lemony, minty bespoke toiletries. Its not the Four Seasons but it was all the better for it in my opinion.

Food and drink flowed freely, from the steak sandwiches at the lovely Welsh teahouse stop off on the way there and back, to 3 annd 4 course dinners every evening after canapes and pisco sours, finding food is the least of your worries. And it was good food, not excellent, just good but I might be grumbling slightly because the dining experience felt a bit fine at times - after a hard day in the hills, I'd sometimes have preferred a big steak frite with a glass of Malbec than risotto followed by salmon and and then an elaborate dessert. So slightly more hearty choices would be great if you are reading this, Explora.

An amazing travel concept with an environmental ethos and one I'm sure we'll see being extrapolated around the world very soon. It might not be everyone's idea of luxury but it exceeded my expectations in every way.