Mallin Colorado Ecolodge

Mallin Colorado Ecolodge

Perched on a hillside above Lake General Carrera’s striking aquamarine water encircled by snow-capped mountains, the family-owned Mallin Colorado Ecolodge in Chile offers the most beautiful views in the region of the Carretera Austral, Patagonia. The secluded eco-lodge consists of four standalone cabins and six private rooms in an intimate lodge that was constructed using locally salvaged wood and designed in a way that didn’t disturb the surrounding forest. The lodge also undertakes ongoing reforestation work and so far, they’ve planted more than 500 trees on the property and surrounding trails.  

Guests are treated to exceptional farm-to-table cuisine during three-course dinners, made using ingredients sourced locally or grown on-site in the greenhouse. It’s the people that really make this spot special, however. After a couple of days here, the staff feel like family, so it’s no surprise that it’s a small, family-run enterprise. Manager Paula Christensen and her family opened the lodge 30 years ago after visiting from Santiago on a family camping trip and falling in love with the landscape. Since then, they’ve continued to employ the local community at the lodge and collaborate with local operators.

Mallin Colorado partners with small guiding companies to create bespoke trips in the area, taking travelers to the Marbles Caves by kayak, or trekking across Exploradores Glacier. Staying at a locally-owned lodge that invests in the community is crucial in ensuring tourism dollars benefit the development of a sustainable tourism-based economy in an emerging destination.

It’s the perfect base for exploration in the area. It’s an environment of great beauty, where you can enjoy silence and unspoiled nature. Note: They do not have internet—so it’s the ideal place for a digital detox.