When we became aware of this problem at Cascada Expediciones a few years ago, we decided to start a serious process of research and study of alternatives to hotels, one which would allow us to create a prototype solution to these kinds of problems in National Parks. The problem was: how to reconcile the care of thefragile environment of a National Park with the need to provide an infrastructure and level of comfort suitable for our visitors? Was it possible to apply the same design criteria as were used in cities in surroundings like a National Park? Would it not be reasonable to ask people visiting these remote places, so pristine and delicate, to direct their energies while they were there to preserving what they saw for others who would come later?

The answer which we arrived at for all this is what we have called the "Ecocamp": a solution which offers accommodation which is modern, comfortable, transportable and suitable for the rigours of the Patagonian climate; equipped with modern and environmentally friendly systems for the disposal of sewage and rubbish, with an efficient use of energy and the environment and at the same time aesthetically stylish. As well as this, those who visit the ecocamp, our guests, are key actors in our conservation mission: they have accepted the challenge of minimizing the impact of their presence, accepting that they will not have private bathrooms, reducing the use of energy and water and caring for the immediate environment.

We hope that this project, which we have been developing and constructing in the way of a pilot in Torres del Paine, can be taken to other similar places in Chile and will be able thus to respond to the ever increasing interest of visitors in remote places with the care and protection which those places need in order to preserve them for the future.

ECOCAMP LAS TORRES

Location:
• 120km/75mi from Pto. Natales and 370km/230mi from Pta. Arenas;
• Standing in front of the Paine Towers amidst a beautiful Lenga forest;
• 6-8 hrs walk from the domes to the foot of the Paine Towers;

Design:

The architectural solution that we adopted for this place arose from the old photographs of Kawesqar Indians, natives of this part: The huts which they constructed were of an igloo type covered with guanaco skins. Starting with that we realised that the domes could be the answer that we were looking for: they are semi-hemispherical structures formed by a number of isosceles triangles. This allowed the structure, when attacked by tremendous forces such as the not unusual winds of 160km per hour in this area, to receive the attack uniformly on the foundation part, reducing to a minimum the possibility that the structure might collapse. As well as this the round shape of the dome minimized its exposure to the wind. Finally, the semi-hemisphere gave the most internal space in relation to the surface and allowed us to be very efficient in the allocation of space and maintaining heat.

• The concept is being exposed to  nature as in a camp tent but with the comfort and  sophistication of a four star hotel.
• Designed and built interfering as little as possible with the environment. The whole hotel has been built over lifted wooden platforms eliminating the  need of foundations and cement floors. Animals and fresh air circulate underneath;
• Dormitories and common areas are contained on Geodesic domes inspired in  the native Alacalufe’s semicircular huts;  
• Geodesic form minimizes resistant to strong Patagonean winds and the exchange of temperature with the outdoors;
• Circulation areas consist in raised walkways open to rain, sun, and wind that allow guests to be constantly exposed to the surrounded nature. Not to roof the circulation area allow an important reduction of constructed areas and therefore huge savings on materials;
• Sunlight fills the domes minimizing the use of artificial light;
• Every dome has the necessary privacy for personal introspection;
• 30 people is the maximum concentration accepted at EcoCamp;
• Only renewable energy sources are used. Wind generators provide energy supply for illumination, solar panels heat the compost toilettes and gas supply is used for cooking and refrigeration.
• Insulation is passive and does not require the supply of energy. Domes are coated to minimize temperature exchange;
• Toilettes are designed to separate solid and liquid waste and to make compost on two heated chambers;
• Waste management system consider classification of waste, exportation out of the wilderness area and recycling.

Dormitory Domes:
These domes have vitrified wooden floors and are 2m/6.5ft high with a diameter of 4m/12ft, allowing plenty of space for sleeping comfortably. They are resistant to the strongest Patagonian winds, rains, and snow and come equipped with 2 single beds, fleece sheets, blankets, and feather quilts. There are round windows in the ceiling to observe the stars before falling asleep.
 
Dining & Living Room Dome:
The EcoCamp core is a giant dining & living room dome, 9m/ 30ft in diameter and 4.5m/13.5ft tall. It is equipped with a resting area, dining room, and kitchen. The space is bright and airy with a big panoramic window that brings dusk and dawn straight into the dining area.

Bathroom dome: the same size as the dining dome, this has showers with hot water and compost lavatories as well as washbasins and mirrors.

Power: we use solar panels to recharge the batteries which provide the electricity for the camp radio and the extractors in the bathroom. The light in the individual domes is provided by table lamps with rechargeable batteries. These are recharged at our base in Puerto Natales. Right now we are testing the possibility of installing an eolic generator.

UPGRADED CAMP PEHOE

In some of our camping trips we may also use a portable upgraded camp:it is a comfortable, welcoming camp designed to take up to 20 people. It is a camp which we put up and take down several times and for that reason it is lighter and more portable than the Torres Ecocamp.

Upgraded camp has: A dining dome: of 6 metres in diameter.

Tourist tents: designed for 4 people but used by only 2. Comfortable and equipped with inflatable mattresses, sleeping bags, and a lining sheet of polar fleece.

Cooking tent: This is a tent kept exclusively so that the cooks can prepare the dishes which you will enjoy each day. Bathrooms: we use the facilities offered at the camping area where we set up the Upgraded Camp. It usually have hot showers.