Weskar Lodge

Weskar Patagonian Lodge is opening next October 24 under an “eco-accommodation” concept, and some rooms are already reserved! The reason why both operators and cybernauts are interested in such product, even before its launch, is its privileged location - in Puerto Natales waterfront, and only few meters from the city. The most spectacular Patagonian landscapes may be sighted from the Lodge: views of the majestic mountain ranges, glaciers, channels and Última Esperanza fiord.

Juan José Pantoja, a marine biologist and advisor, with his wife, Maryerie Narváez, a business engineer with a diploma on cultural management and tourism marketing, decided to implement their idea of creating the Weskar Lodge (Weskar stands for “hill” in the language of the ancient inhabitants of the zone – the Kaweskar) by 2003, before the hotel investment boom arising in Puerto Natales, and after having enjoyed for three years the Patagonian sunrises and majestic sunsets in these lands. “This, added to other factors, made us decide to jump into tourism business, a project that was supported by CORFO for pre-investment studies, and in which we want to highlight our “eco-accommodation” concept with ethnical touches. This is an objective we expect to reach in the medium-term”, explained Pantoja.

This is, no doubt, another differentiating aspect regarding existing hotel offer, since it expects to recover heritage culture of the zone. “Our company is not only betting for sale of a good bed and a beautiful view, but for providing information to tourists on, for example, indigenous people who lived in the surroundings – the Kaweskar and Tehuelches- using audiovisual and written elements on local races”, said the businessman.

At the same time, they expect to obtain an eco-certification in the medium-term, since, as explained by Pantoja, they support the CPA policy (Clean Production Action).

According to the professional, personalized service is another aspect they consider important, “we expect tourists to feel as they were home and enjoy warmness and simplicity over sophisticated and classic style in our 12 comfortable rooms”. These rooms are distributed across the 480 m² which also lodge common areas (dining room, bar, living room, etc).

In relation to future projects, Pantoja explains that "once our lodging project is supported, we hope to develop excursion activities with specific purposes, inviting to know our biological and cultural heritage”.

On this respect, -the hotel businessman concludes - “we are privileged to live in the Patagonia . It is a privilege to feel energy when you breathe, purity and beauty of the environment. There are 10 years of experiences in this edge of the world”.

For further information visit www.weskar.cl

veronica@torresdelpaine.com