# world's best luxury eco lodges : Aguas Arriba Lodge @Patagonia

A few months ago, while traveling in Patagonia, we discovered the Aguas Arriba lodge, a luxury wooden chalet nested into the woods, facing the Fitz Roy mountain and the beautiful lake del desierto. The lodge is located just a few miles away from El Chalten ; if you remember, in the last post about Patagonia, I mentioned El Chalten as well as El Calafate and Perito Moreno which are some must sees in this area. We felt so lucky to spend a few days in this authentic paradise, immersed completely amongst the incredible and wild nature..

Actually I wrote this post there, whilst settled comfortably on my cosy sofa, by the fire, enjoying a good cup of tea, looking out over the astonishing view of the mountains.. Just like in the movies ..

Spirit /

The Aguas Arriba Lodge is like a fantasy wooden hut by the water’s edge, lost in a wild part of the country, with wooden logs, old pontoons on the lake, and a wood burning fire and everything .. well you got the idea.. Except the fantasy does exists, it is in Patagonia wonderland and we got the 5 stars version 😉

Set the mood //

When we open the door, the smell of the fire and the ultra cosy atmosphere of the lodge envelops us immediately. All you want to do is to strech out on the sofa by the fire, wrap yourself in a big tartan rug, drink a cup of tea, and look at the nature through the immense glass windows in the living area.. We don’t feel like we are in a hotel in fact, but more in our home away from home..

The rustic chic and cosy trend prevails (as in all the recent luxury lodges that we have been to and had a crush on).. And if I had to summarize it in a few words, Aguas Arriba lodge is a little a mix between a Swiss chalet and a hut in Canada, with big plate-glass windows, open spaces, some wood, natural and local or recycled materials, a simple and uncluttered decoration, and lots and lots of good vibes… Everything is complemented and keeps to the theme throughout, in this luxurious eco lodge that feels like a cocoon, and where we feel completely and entirely at home… its safe to say that the decor is most certainly a success!

The rooms //

There are only 5 suites in the lodge.. They are simple, bright, comfortable, and we feel really good there.. All have a lovely view, out on the nature, a bathtub with organic products and the beds are great (certain rooms can host up to 3 people). They are spacious but not too big, it’s sufficient, especially if we are only there for a short stay, and it is actually more pleasant to take advantage of the communal areas for example, or simply to go off and explore the surroundings…

Food /

The cooking meets the rest of the high standards of the hotel.. Perfect.. Everything is home-made, delicious, products are fresh, organic, the portions are generous, and the meals vary every day. The head chef adapts to the needs and requirements of everyone.. He made especially for us some delicious and excellent vegetarian menus.. An absolute delight!! (Fortunately we had worked up an appetite during the day !!)

For who ?

Lovers, families, friends, writers, or simply people travelling alone in search of a haven of peace to collect your thoughts and be at peace. The one condition ? You must like Nature because it is all around 😉 So city lovers might not necessarily be frequent visitors here, although the beautiful landscapes could make them change their mind..

Activities

Apart from relaxing, reading, reconnecting to oneself and the Nature in this haven of peace, or spending time with your other half in this romantic setting, we can also go trekking, or on excursions to enjoy the magnificent surrounding nature, because seriously it is really worth seeing..

There are organized walks every day, for a few hours or for the whole day depending on how far you want to push your adventure (in this case the lodge supplies a picnic basket).. And if non of that grabs your fancy, you can also try fly fishing..

What we loved !

The wooden terrace which overlooks the lake ” lago del desierto ” with the astonishing view onto the mountain Fitz Roy (especially in the morning at about 6 am during the sunrise).. We were very lucky, the sky was clear and we were able to see whole Fitz Roy which is not often the case apparently!
The nature which surrounds the lodge and which is absolutely magnificent. I rarely saw such a beautiful place so untouched and unspoiled. The energy is incredible!!
The respect for the nature in Aguas Arriba, everything is made for the environmental protection, the recycling of water, the sorting of garbage, energy-saving.. Moreover there is neither WiFi nor telephone network in the lodge, the only link with the outside is a computer that is available for the internet addicts ! So this place is perfect for a digital detox (not easy at all in fact ^^)
The hospitality of the staff , and the conviviality of this place… we were only 6 guests in the hotel, and very quickly we feel at ease, at home and friendly with the staff.
The delicious meals with a view ..

How to get there :

As with all beautiful places, the access is not the easiest, nor fast but the lodge takes care of everything.. The simplest is to go to El Chalten. From there, a pick up is organised, and after a rather chaotic 2/3 hour road trip we arrive at the Largo del Desierto where the boat to take us to the lodge is waiting for us. 15 minutes later, we arrive in paradise 😉

The price :

Expect to pay between 450 and 520 dollars per person and per night depending on your room and the season.

The prices are ” all-inclusive” and include the transfer by boat, all the meals, the soft drinks and activities. Information and reservation: here

Conclusion /

One of the most magical and romantic places that we have seen so far… We adored this heaven of peace immersed in the depth of an outstandingly beautiful nature (I promise I am not exaggerating).. We would have stayed longer in our dream Patagonian chalet, but after 3 perfect days, it was time to get back on the road because we were pushed for time, and had so many other things to see in this huge country… Next stop and next post : Torres del Paine, still in Patagonia, but on the Chili side this time.
Kisses !

Big thanks to all the team of Aguas Arriba lodge for this unforgettable stay..

Translation @Natalya Paupe & Pics by @Peter soubbotnik