Hotel Indigo

Hotel Indigo in Puerto Natales is a great and inspiring boutique hotel with fantastic views, a rooftop spa, and even a pisco sour bar. There are 29 bedrooms all reached via a unique central network of walkways, ramps and stairs. Long windows offer glimpses of the great outdoors and hammock armchairs swing from the roof.

Indigo's three owners come from Spain, France and Chile and their plan for the hotel was to draw guests into the common spaces so that they are encouraged to chat and share travellers' tales. Priority is given to the common spaces and bedrooms are simpler, quieter (with no TV) private places to which to retreat after a busy day in the outdoors.

When you do slip off to sleep after overdosing fresh air, you will sink back into possibly the most comfortable bed you'll have slept in for some time: firm, yet soft, with crisp white linen, plenty of feather pillows and duvets. Lamps and subtle uplighters along the length of the wooden headboard create a cosy feel.

Bathrooms have been imaginatively integrated into the bedroom, raised onto a slate platform and separated with glass, a cunning use of the small space. There's a walk-in shower and a separate loo with sliding door. There is also good quality shampoo, shower gel and body milk in generous sized bottles. The whole effect is minimal, warm and welcoming and the design exciting and hip without being too much or intimidating.

“Indigo looks as if someone has dropped a stack of red steel shipping containers at the water's edge, right next to a traditional Chilean clapboard house. Inside, slate ramps and metal gantries ascend a central atrium to reach a dazzling rooftop spa. Bedrooms are small but beautifully designed, and there's an extensive menu of pisco sours to sharpen your tastebuds before tucking into ceviche and locally caught merluza (hake) in an airy restaurant overlooking the water.”

The Guardian, January 2008