The Singular Patagonia, Puerto Bories Hotel

"While other luxury lodges in Patagonia are purpose-built, the Singular has a less glamorous history."

"Why did this hotel catch your attention? What's the vibe? The exposed pipes in brick reception area and the funicular that take you down to the main building feel steampunk without the whimsy. The surrounding landscape is windswept and harshly gorgeous. There's an honesty to the whole place. This hotel doesn't apologize for having once been a slaughterhouse, but instead mixes a dose of morbid fascination in with stark natural beauty and excellent service to yield an atmosphere that's not unctuous or fussy but forthright, almost tough. Even though the luxury is real, enough industrial spaces are left intact that you have a sense of camping out somewhere forbidden, of being in a secret world. What's the backstory? There are two Singular hotels, this one and a newer sister property in Santiago. They are privately owned. The main structures were built as a sheep-processing plant in 1915 and continued to function as such into the 1970s and then with limited capacity until the early 1990s, when they were abandoned. A descendant of one of the founders bought the property with the intention of preserving it as a museum (it was declared a national monument in 1996), but then an investor from Santiago came on board with the idea to convert it into a hotel. Information about the owners is scant, and I haven't encountered anything about famous past guests. Tell us all about the accommodations. Any tips on what to book? My room had two queens, as I was traveling with a friend. It was extremely comfortable but simple, with the main feature being a wall-sized window looking out onto Ultima Esperanza Sound. The bathroom was spacious and lovely. The tech was fine, as far as I can remember. All the rooms have the same view (the setup reminds me a little of a driving range), so I think any of them would be equally stunning. Is there a charge for Wi-Fi? It was included and was good. Drinking and dining—what are we looking at? The restaurant focuses on local proteins: lamb, guanaco, king crab, conger eel. It's good . . . Chilean food is not my favorite. The dining room's physical space is massive (and two-story) but broken up well enough not to feel overwhelming. Nice views onto the sound. The bar opens onto the dining room and is clubby and pleasant with great pisco sours. Breakfast (a very nice buffet) is included with the basic rate, and there are also half-board and full-board options with more meals included. And the service? Seamless. Everything was easy. The hotel offers a fairly extensive menu of excursions: for example, a 12 hour trek to the base of the Paine Massif or kayaking on the Sound or a cooking class with the executive chef. What type of travelers will you find here? Patagonia-wearing, Patagonia-curious elegant adventurers. Many guests I saw were Latin American. There were families and also couples ranging from 30s to 60s. It was a younger and more active clientele than at most luxury hotels I've seen. What about the neighborhood? Does the hotel fit in, make itself part of the scene? The hotel sits in grand isolation, all alone on the waterfront with a dock dating back to the sheep-processing days. You can easily ride a bike (provided by the hotel) into Puerto Natales, which is a pleasant little town, largely a staging area for people going to Torres del Paine. There are upscale outdoor gear and handicraft shops, restaurants, cafes, and a lively microbrewery. The Singular is by far the most spectacular option in the immediate area. Is there anything you'd change? I might spice up Chilean cuisine in general, but that's not specific to the Singular. Any other hotel features worth noting? The pool is indoor/outdoor—you can swim under a giant window looking out onto the Sound and be outside in the wind. The spa is also very lovely, and the sauna has the same spectacular view. Bottom line: Worth it? Why? Yes—it's just so unexpected. The roughness of the design and the ruggedness of the setting amplify each other. Staying at The Singular feels like an adventure in itself, which is a nifty trick, since it is fundamentally a luxury hotel." - Maggie Shipstead

"If there were ever a hotel with history, it’s the Singular Patagonia. Opened as a hotel in November 2011, the original building once served as a post-Victorian cold-storage factory built by the British in 1915 for the purpose of processing sheep’s wool and meat to be shipped back to England. Overlooking the waters of Last Hope Sound, the long, red-brick building is located just outside the town of Puerto Natales. After operating for almost 70 years as a factory, it was declared a national historic landmark before being transformed into a luxury hotel. History is by no means forgotten. The hallways are still stocked with brightly colored machinery—from steam condensers to boilers and forges—all stamped with the name of the British city in which they were built: Derby, Birmingham, London , or Glasgow. Designed by Chilean interior designer Enrique Concha and local architect Pedro Kovacic, the 57 bedrooms stretch along a new wing that was added to the original buildings, and these rooms are furnished with Victorian-inspired furniture."

"The drama of Patagonia's windswept plains, calving glaciers, and labyrinthine fjords at the southern tip of South America makes for a perfect backdrop for a honeymoon. The region is massive and there is so much to see, but The Singular Hotel is a sophisticated and spacious luxury property that is a must-see on any Patagonia circuit. Built out of a former cold storage plant, the hotel is a protected heritage site that has preserved many original industrial details, and the location on the outskirts of Chile's Torres Del Paine National Park can't be beat." - Travel + Leisure Editors