The Singular Patagonia, Puerto Natales

Location

The Singular Patagonia is a superb base from which to explore the Torres del Paine National Park. Not only does your peso go a lot further than with its national park counterparts, but this abattoir-turned-luxury-lodge makes a wonderfully unique way to break up the long overland journey from Punta Arenas. And, after travelling the some 300 kilometres north, it offers the chance to experience a relatively unexplored part of Patagonia. It's a destination that demands much more than a stopover.

Accommodation

As a former cold storage plant built in the early 20th century, this is an opportunity to stay in among Patagonia's history. However, The Singular is far from dated. Great glass banks frame heritage architecture while rustic chic interiors recall the region's pioneering past. There's even a museum – housed in a National Historical Monument – that showcases everything from a Victorian engine room to a blacksmith's shop. The hotel's spacious rooms and suites – measuring 770 square feet – are equally impressive. Housed in the only new part of the building, a long single corridor stretches away from the industrial main building to the modernist glass-cube lobby, museum and restaurant. This unusual, elongated design ensures that every room enjoys the same breathtaking view of the Patagonian fjords, a view further enhanced by huge, six-metre-wide picture windows. The choice of furniture – comfy Victorian-style lounge chairs and antique writing desks – creates a interesting juxtaposition to the sleek lines and modernist touches found in other parts of the hotel.

Dining

The hotel's restaurant, with incomparable views of Last Hope Sound and the jagged ridges of the Andes in the distance, is without doubt one of the hotel's highlights. Beautifully crafted dishes blend the freshest local ingredients to create an imaginative menu, inspired by regional specialities. Meals are accompanied by an extensive wine list, highlighting the very best of Chile's world-renowned vineyards. In addition to the main restaurant, the intimate El Asador, with seating for just 40 guests, is The Singular's new dining experience – a traditional wood-burning grill where a selection of meats such as lamb, guanaco, rabbit and beef are prepared along with distinctive local delicacies for a genuine taste of Patagonia. There's also a superb bar with comfy chairs and sofas, where guests can enjoy one of the barman's signature cocktails and share stories of their adventures through Patagonia.

Facilities

The hotel offers a comprehensive choice of excursions – there are over 20 available – affording the chance to experience the very best of this beautiful region of Patagonia with a selection of treks, kayak trips, horseback rides and cycle routes to suit all ages, abilities and interests. There are boats, too – the only hotel in the region with them – meaning you can enjoy the stunning vistas and nearby glaciers from a unique perspective. And, once you return, there's a spa on-hand, complete with treatment rooms, a hammam steam room, heated pools and a Jacuzzi. You won't find a better way to relax after a day's exploration of the Patagonian wilderness.