At the tip of South America lies Torres del Paine National Park, one of nature's last stands of virgin wilderness. Its white cubical facade contrasts sharply with the green grasses that surround it and the blue waters of Lake Pehoe which it overlooks. It seems as if the architect wanted visitors to remember that this is not their natural habitat. However once you enter the Explora, this feeling recedes into your memory.
The inside of Explora is warm yet airy. Its open modern design is given warmth and character by the extensive use of cypress and other woods. Especially cozy is the bar, where these light woods meet marble and form the perfect place to recount the day's adventures. The hotel's thirty rooms are spacious and appointed with plush carpeting, wicker, imported linens, and goose-down comforters. The bathrooms have floors of Bolivian slate and walls of a variety of cypress that gives off a soft aroma when wet.
When it comes to activities, Explora is not for the sedate. Though you do not have to be a tri-athlete to enjoy Explora, you should enjoy outdoor activities that require some amount of exertion. Explora offers fifteen different excursions. Each of these is rated either easy, medium, or difficult and lasts either a half-day or full day. For example, an "easy" expedition would be a short half-day hike to the peninsula of Lago de Grey. On this hike, you take a suspension bridge to the peninsula where you'll wander through forests and view icebergs as they drift pass the beach. "Difficult" explorations last a full day and require more hiking over more demanding terrain. However, whichever explorations you choose, you will be treated with views of a magnificent landscape that includes mountains, glaciers, icebergs, and the sea.
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