The explora hotel in Torres del Paine is closed, but may reopen soon as the park reopens. |
A massive fire in Torres del Paine National Park, a major Chile vacation destination, has disrupted travel plans for thousands as it affects more than 12,500 acres. But Chilean authorities are likely to reopen parts of the park this week, probably starting on January 4.
This is peak tourism season for the park, which is a haven for nature lovers.
Hotel Salto Chico, the explora Patagonia property located inside the park, stopped accepting reservations, but — according to a company spokesperson today — the property was waiting for the official announcement from Chile’s president about the park’s reopening, and expects to begin receiving visitors again as of January 10 (the hotel blog notes that no damage was done to the property itself). Reservations are not yet being accepted for other lodging within the park, including Vertice Patagonia.
Chile hotels and lodging located outside the park, in many cases, remain open. Both Hotel Rio Serrano and Cabañas del Paine, for example, are operating normally and accepting guests — so they could be a good option for Patagonia-bound travelers in need of accommodations.