Lakeside boutique hotel offers private guides and newly expanded excursions to immerse travelers in Chile’s Lake Region

Every journey starts somewhere, and for those bound for the northern reaches of Chilean Patagonia, the best place to start is Hotel AWA. Nestled along the banks of Lake Llanquihue where the Carretera Austral heads off to Vincente Pérez Rosales Park and the Andean Pass, Hotel AWA is a destination for wide-eyed wanderers of nature and travelers who prefer to accent adventure by stretching out and relaxing alike. With an All-Inclusive Rate featuring the dedicated services of a private guide as well as newly expanded programming of wilderness excursions and hands-on experiences with local artisans, Hotel AWA offers rewards for every traveler to the beauty of southernmost South America.

Laid out within a private 20-hectare estate surrounded by lakes, volcanoes, rivers, and fjords, Hotel AWA is a welcoming spot for a getaway. Bright and airy interiors are arrayed with handsome wood floors and ceilings, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows with sweeping views of the Osorno Volcano. Rooms and suites are stylish, comfortable, and thoughtfully arrayed with fireplaces, contemporary furnishings, and full baths. A separate Private Villa located steps from the hotel is sized for 8 guests with 4 bedrooms and dedicated service in keeping with standards throughout the property.

Wherever they reside, guests of Hotel AWA enjoy personalized service and amenities, including a pool, spa, fitness center, and private beachfront on the lake. There is also AWA Restaurant serving contemporary farm-to-table cuisine inspired by ingredients from the Lake District’s cultural heritage, sourced locally and from the hotel’s organic garden. Imagine Sopaipilla (pumpkin flat bread) paired with mushroom pâté and homemade murta fruit jam unique to the region, Braised Lamb Stew, Trakal Budino infused with regional liqueur, and a superb selection of Chilean wines to accompany all of the above.

Hotel AWA is also a standard bearer of sustainability, ranking high among today’s travelers’ priorities. It is the first hotel in Chile certified as a B Corporation, having met the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance per the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change. Already carbon neutral, Hotel AWA also aims to cut fossil fuel usage by 80% by 2030.

Private Guides and Expanded Programming

For most travelers, the key selling point of Hotel AWA’s All Inclusive Rate is the offer of bespoke excursion plans, with a private guide assigned to guests for their entire stay. Expanded programming ensures personal exploration throughout the region with new excursions to natural wonders and new hands-on experiences created in partnership with local artisans. New among 27 available excursions:

Teamed with a private guide, guests can hike the Llanquihue National Reserve, only recently reopened following the 2015 eruption of Calbuco Volcano, with a mountain hut remodeled by Chilean architect and mountaineer Juan Pablo Mohr as the destination for learning about volcanism and admiring iconic views. A road biking excursion to Lago Todos los Santos rolls through breathtaking landscapes and views of Saltos del Petrohué and the Petrohué River. Another excursion to Cayetué Lagoon in Vincente Pérez Rosales National Park via hike, bike, or e-bike proceeds through the pristine native rainforest with terrific views of Puntiagudo Volcano and a stop at a colonial herd barn. Intense mountain biking at Cerro Pichijuan is rewarded with incredible summit views of Llanquihue Lake and the Osorno Volcano.

Guests can also dive into the creativity of the region with new hands-on experiences with local artisans. Work with the Mapuche artisans from El Ranco who crafted wool bed covers that keep guests snug at Hotel AWA, and create sculptures with the artisans that worked with long-lived Alerce trees to fashioned roots sculptures on display in common areas of the property. A guided visit to a boat builder in Puerto Octay includes a hands-on woodworking in a workshop. And there will be more to come, thanks to Hotel AWA’s new connection with a local artisan arts and crafts researcher.