Patagonia Eco Domes

For what they are, the Eco Domes are fantastic. When we arrived in the afternoon and the rooms were warmed by sunlight I was totally impressed. The room is attractively decorated, the beds were very comfortable, and the bathroom was really impressive given that we were essentially in a highly structured tent. I really enjoyed our breakfasts and dinners there, as well as the packed lunches to go. The location is phenomenal and was just what we were looking for as we wanted to be as immersed as possible in Patagonia. The problem, and why I only gave it 3 stars, was the sleep quality. Once the winds start howling, which they will, the soft covers of the domes start flapping loudly and sometimes frighteningly. Even with earplugs it was disturbing. Our first night we opted for a fire in the stove which certainly warmed the room initially, but overwhelmed us with campfire smell which made it hard to breathe/sleep. We did not tend the fire at night because we wanted the campfire smell gone and of course were exceptionally cold once we got up in the morning (the beds were comfortable and warm). I hardly slept at all that first night. The next night we opted for no fire, which means we were even colder in the morning. As much as I wanted to love these Eco Domes, it was not a comfortable stay.

We stayed for 3 nights earlier this month. The experience was one of the highlights of our 4 week travel in Argentina. Allan and Pedro both contributed to our experience in that they were both helpful and knowledgeable and so pleasant. Allan in particular seemed to be the go to guy. The domes were very comfortable and the views spectacular. Access to the Fitz Roy trail was on site. Not having internet access I believe was a key to the connections we made while there. The socializing we did with the other guests contributed to our positive experience. The only disappointment was the food. While it was adequate I had expected it to be outstanding. We were there for 3 dinners, two of the nights were beef and while there was always a vegetarian option the variety could have been better. The steak we had one night was over cooked such that we didn’t enjoy. In spite of this I would recommend Patagonia eco domes to anyone who can afford this option while in the area.

This is a unique experience and probably not for everyone. This is an example of "glamping", somewhere between camping and a traditional hotel. The domes are spacious and each has a view of Mt. Fitz Roy. The bathrooms are basic although they have all the necessities. Heat is provided by a wood stove. The staff gets the stove burning while you are at dinner, but you have to get up in the night and put more logs on the fire to keep it going. The staff are great, friendly and helpful. The restaurant is very good and breakfast had everything you would want. The site is convenient to numerous hike trails. We did the Mirador Glaciar Piedras Blancas hike, which was not hard.