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Field Guide EcoCamp
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Introduction
Dear EcoCamp Explorer,
Welcome to EcoCamp Patagonia! Our mission is to enrich
people’s lives through discovery of the exquisite biodiversity
and history of the area; creating memories for a lifetime.
We believe that traveling at EcoCamp and spending time in
the wilderness of Torres del Paine can be a transformative
experience - our Field Guide is designed to give you insight
into this very special place.
We hope you’ll enjoy re-reading your Field Guide back at home,
reminiscing about the Paine massif’s snow-capped peaks;
the Lenga forest where you saw a Magellanic woodpecker
couple romancing each other; or that Ñandu running across
the Patagonian Steppe.
Warmest greetings,
(EcoCamp Staff)
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Field Guide EcoCamp
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NAME
YEAR
COMPANIONS
MONTH
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ITINERARY
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Field Guide EcoCamp
The adventure starts here, in Punta Arenas, the capital city
of the Magallanes and Chilean Antartica region. From here
a drive of about 5 hours will bring you to Torres del Paine
National Park and EcoCamp. You have a long journey ahead,
but do not despair - you will be rewarded with some gorgeous
rest stops - and the views aren’t half bad!
Our staff want to take care of you, so please do not hesitate to
let us know of anything you may need on the way!
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Field Guide EcoCamp
EcoCamp Patagonia is the first geodesic dome hotel in the world
- and the first fully sustainable hotel south of the Amazon! The
hotel is located in Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia’s
finest National Park which is also known as “the eighth wonder
of the world”. EcoCamp was founded in 2003 by Chilean friends
Javier Lopez and Yerko Ivelic who had a passionate commitment
to creating a sustainable model which would serve to inspire
others in the region.
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EcoCamp has grown to 33 domes to accommodate our guests.
The Suite and Superior domes offer the highest level of comfort
possible whilst remaining ecologically sustainable. Standard
domes are slightly rawer and instill an extra level of adventure
in this untarnished environment.
At night travelers gather in the Community Domes: the perfect
spot to compare stories (or blisters) from a day out in the park
over a refreshing Pisco Sour and dinner! As for those who
want tranquility and relaxation, our Yoga dome opened its
doors in 2013.
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Field Guide EcoCamp
Green Tech
at
ecocamp
EcoCamp works to conserve the virgin wilderness of the
park, taking care of its diverse vegetation and protecting
fauna through the design and construction of its eco-friendly
domes.
Skylight Windows
Energy source
(40% of our energy is obtained
through Solar Panels)
Propane Heater
Recycling
Composting
Chamber
Semi-spherical structure
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Wood stove
Thick, Insulated Walls
Harmonious exterior
Raised Platform & open
Walkways
Renewable Materials
Suite Dome
Pinewood from plantations
Furniture made of wicker
All bed linen, rugs and curtains
made from natural fibres.
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Field Guide EcoCamp
S16
CONTEMPLATIVE TRAIL
MICROSAFARI
M A P
EcoCamp
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Fauna
checklist
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Field Guide EcoCamp
Cóndor
(Vultur gryphus)
Carpintero Negro
(Campephilus magellanicus)
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Puma
(Puma concolor)
Guanaco
(Lama guanicoe)
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Field Guide EcoCamp
Caiquén
(Chloephaga picta)
Cisne de Cuello Negro
(Cygnus melancoryphus)
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Ñandú
(Rhea)
Flamenco Chileno
(Phoenicopterus chilensis)
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Field Guide EcoCamp
Bandurria
(Theristicus caudatuss)
Chilla
(Lycalopex griseus)
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Flora
checklist
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Field Guide EcoCamp
Coihue
(Nothofagus dombeyi)
Lenga
(Nothofagus pumilio)
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Orquídea Porcelana
(Chloraea magellanica)
Mata Guanaco
(Anarthrophyllum
desideratum)
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Field Guide EcoCamp
Capachito/Tope-Tope
(Calceolaria biflora)
Mata Negra
(Junellia tridens)
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Calafate
(Berberis buxifolia)
Mata Barrosa
(Mullinum spinosum)
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Field Guide EcoCamp
Notro
(Embothrium
coccineum)
Ñirre
(Nothofagus antarctica)
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Geology
mountains &
glaciers
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Field Guide EcoCamp
Mountains
The Paine Massif is a striking mountain group with magnificent
peaks crowning the park’s heartland.
The 3 Torres (towers) are granite monoliths eroded by glacial
ice, leaving the distinct shape after which the park was named.
EcoCamp is located at the foot of the Torres, with a spectacular
view of the granite spires. Paine Grande has the park’s highest
peak while French Valley is home to some of the massif’s most
beautiful rock formations such as Los Cuernos del Paine (Paine
Horns) - easily identifiable with their dark sedimentary rock
atop lighter granite, dominating the view from the southern
sector of the park.
Bariloche
Peak
(2.600 m)
Paine Grande
Main Peak
Central (3.050 m)
Peak
(2.730 m)
Tronco Blanco
(2.197 m)
Aleta del
Tiburón
(2.197 m)
PAINE GRANDE
FRENCH
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Torre Sur
(2.850m)
Torre Central
(2.800m)
Torre Norte
(2.600m)
TORRES DEL PAINE
Cuerno
Norte
(2.400 m)
Cerro Cabeza
del Indio
(2.230 m)
Cuerno
Oriental
(2.200 m)
Cerro Almirante
Nieto
(2.640 m)
Cuerno
Principal
(2.600 m)
CUE RNOS DEL PAINE
VALLEY
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Field Guide EcoCamp
Glaciers
Perito
Moreno
CAMPOS
DE
HIELO SUR
Grey
Tyndall/Geike
Glaciers in the
Paine Massif:
- Los Perros
- Olguín
- French Glacier
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History
roo ts
&
modern
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Field Guide EcoCamp
Kawésqar
roots
The history of inhabitants in Torres del Paine dates back to
over a thousand years ago, when the first indigenous groups
arrived in the region. The Tehuelche (Aonikenk) were nomadic
hunter-gatherers and as they migrated north through Patagonia
they saw the silhouette of a incredible rock formation in the
distance and named it ‘Paine’, meaning ‘blue’ in their language
(the predominant colour they saw in the distance). Other ancient
indigenous inhabitants include the nomadic hunters Selk’nam
(Ona) and the Yaghan (Yamana) people, who canoed between
islands to collect food.
The Kaweskars (Alacalufes) were another group of nomadic
Patagonian inhabitants whose presence in Torres del Paine was
to have a very special legacy over 500 years later at EcoCamp
Patagonia. They arrived by canoe in the 15th century and made
no demands on natural resources as they travelled from place
to place, setting up and dismantling their semi-circular huts
built from simple materials, leaving no trace behind. To keep
warm, they lit fires inside the domes. EcoCamp’s domes are a
tribute to the Kaweskar’s way of life in the park.
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Kawésqar Hut
Kawésqar women
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Field Guide EcoCamp
Torres del
Paine
and
Ecocamp
timeline
1959
Creation of the National Park
1970
The park is named
Torres del Paine
1879
Lady Florence Dixie is
the first tourist to enter
the park
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2011
2003
A man-made fire burns
about 176 km2 (68 sq mi)
of the reserve
Construction of
EcoCamp Patagonia
1975
Park Administration is
taken over by Chile’s
National Forestry
Administration
(CONAF)
2015
Biggest Revamp in
EcoCamp history!
1978
Torres del Paine
is declared World
Biosphere Reserve by
UNESCO
2013
2008
Construction of the Suite
Domes at EcoCamp
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Construction of the
Yoga Dome at EcoCamp
Field Guide EcoCamp
Notes
RECORD
YOUR
ADVENTURES
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Field Guide EcoCamp
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