SmarterTravel Spotlight: Rio Serrano Hotel & Spa

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After hiking along the rugged W Trek in Torres del Paine National Park, you’ll want to relax comfortably (and not in a tent) at night. Rio Serrano Hotel & Spa is like a warm, comforting embrace to return to at the end of each day. 

You don’t have to leave the views on the trail either—lined with picture windows, Rio Serrano offers a stunning vantage of the Paine Massif from every spot on the property. As you soak in the heated pool, dine on a three-course gourmet meal, or wake up in the morning, you’ll watch the mountains as they change with the light throughout the day. The famous Patagonian horses grazing outside the windows only add to the appeal. 

The Location

Nestled on the banks of the Serrano River, the hotel overlooks Torres del Paine National Park but is not actually on parkland. The entrance to the park is a quick five-minute drive away. 

The hotel’s location is peaceful, with sweeping views of the mountains and river, and well positions guests to explore nearby Lago Grey. Other popular trailheads are within a 30- or 45-minute drive. 

All-Inclusive Program

Guests can either book a room (with breakfast included) at Rio Serrano or participate in the hotel’s all-inclusive program. The all-inclusive program includes:

• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
• Beverages including juices, water, soft drinks, house wine, and alcohol (some premium alcohol is excluded)
• In-room minibar stocked with snacks and drinks

Excursions

Visit the in-house excursion center at Rio Serrano to plan your day of adventure. The hotel offers a number of full and half-day guided tours, which include transportation and lunch. Rio Serrano’s guides are knowledgeable and engaging, and the hotel goes above and beyond to make every expedition memorable—after returning from an all-day hike, our group was surprised with a charcuterie picnic before the drive back to the property.

Spa

Rio Serrano’s spa is the best in Torres del Paine. Walk down the hallway lit by candles and emerge in a heated oasis where you can relax and recover from a tough day in the mountains. The spa’s perfectly heated pool features a wall of windows overlooking the mountains, waterfall massagers, and jacuzzi chairs to help soothe tired muscles. 

Two saunas (one wet and one dry) provide the perfect place to warm up from Patagonia’s notoriously bone-chilling wind. 

Treat yourself to a facial or body treatment, massage, or pedicure for a truly indulgent end to your vacation. 

The Rooms

Decorated in calming earth tones that blend into the environment, the Rooms at Rio Serrano are almost as relaxing as the spa. Three room types are available: superior, standard plus, and standard. 

All rooms feature regional touches like bedframes made from local wood and leather that firmly ground the hotel into the surroundings. 

No matter which room you choose, you’ll wake up to stunning mountain views—the superior and standard plus categories overlook the Paine Massif, and the standard rooms look out on Mount Balmaceda.

Dining

Rio Serrano offers two options: Kaienk, located upstairs, which serves fine dining amid white tablecloths and a backdrop of the Paine Massif, and a downstairs bar, which features more casual bites and a lounge-type atmosphere. 

Kainek is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. When staying in Torres del Paine, to say restaurant options are limited would be an understatement—you’re pretty much limited to what’s in your hotel unless you want to drive almost an hour to eat at a different hotel. Which is why it’s so fortunate that Kainek has such a wide and varied menu. Chef Walter Leal uses local ingredients that change based on the season to craft dishes that showcase regional cuisine.

Enjoy a modern spin on proveleta, a traditional dish from nearby Argentina, that’s found here topped with savory popcorn, or try the local guanaco meat. The dining staff is warm, attentive, and happy to customize the menu to accommodate any allergies or aversions. 

If you’re looking for a quick snack or fast meal (or just want to watch your craft cocktail being made), the lounge space draws a livelier crowd throughout the day. Serving up homey comfort food like hamburgers and hearty sandwiches, the lounge is the best place for a post-hike snack and cocktail – don’t miss the hotel’s signature Calafate sour, a take on the traditional pisco sour that uses a Patagonian berry. 

Price and How to Book

Room rates start at around $350 per night on Expedia and include bed and breakfast. 

We arranged our tour through Journeysmiths, a custom tour operator, which handled the hotel booking and trip arrangements for a seamless trip.

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