EcoCamp Patagonia wins LATA Responsible Tourism Award

Exciting news! We’re proud to share that EcoCamp Patagonia has won the Gold Award in the “Managing Waste” category at the 2025 LATA Responsible Tourism Awards.

The Latin American Travel Association (LATA) brings together key players in the travel industry to promote tourism to Latin America. Each year, the organization celebrates sustainability leaders among its members through its Responsible Tourism Awards.

The organization honored us for our innovative and replicable approach to waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. In their words: “Awarding the gold award, the judges were really impressed by the comprehensive and thorough approach of EcoCamp Patagonia to dealing with its waste, which could easily be replicated widely.” 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Upcycle

Operating in Torres del Paine National Park comes with incredible rewards and unique challenges. In this remote location, there are no general waste treating systems for all organizations operating. Additionally, few companies or organizations dedicate themselves to waste processing in the region. 

Since its opening in 2001, EcoCamp has embraced those challenges by developing a wide range of waste management initiatives designed to reduce our environmental footprint.

Here’s how we do it:

• Recycling:  We separate our waste into designated bins. Vegetables, fruits, and other compostable organic waste are processed on-site.  The waste is mixed, moistened, and dried under plastic. Once dried, it becomes compost for our greenhouse, enriching the soil for our vegetables.
  
  Food scraps that cannot be composted, such as meat, rice, and pasta, are given to a local supplier who uses them to feed her pigs. Tetra Pak, glass, metal, plastic, and carboard are sent to a recycling center in Punta Arenas, which collaborates with other companies specializing in recycling specific materials. 
  

• Upcycling: We repurpose certain types of waste to add new value. For example, we use composting toilets. The resulting compost is used for soil regeneration and as fertilizer for our flowers.
  
  We also try to turn unused materials into new products. Old towels are repurposed as cleaning cloths, and worn-out curtains are transformed into reusable bags for transporting clothing. This helps us avoid using plastic bags.
  
  Additionally, we’ve partnered with a supplier who transforms recycled glass into candle holders and with Ecocitex. This organization repurposes our employees’ used clothing into new products such as blankets, stuffed animals, and hats.

• Reducing waste: We provide our guests with reusable lunchboxes. Each morning, they receive a metal lunchbox, which they can fill with delicious food at the hotel. After their excursion, they return the empty lunchbox so we can wash and reuse it the next day.
  
  For dinner, we offer three options for the starter, main course, and dessert. That allows us to prepare the exact number of portions needed and minimize food waste. We also weigh the waste we collect to monitor changes in the amount we produce.

Protecting natural ecosystems

Because we are located in such a remote area, we must find creative ways to process waste without significantly impacting the environment. That’s why guests use composting toilets.

Employees use conventional toilets, but we have a biofiltration system to treat wastewater. The water passes through a biofilter of multiple layers, including gravel, wood chips, and worms, to decontaminate the water. The cleaned water is then safely returned to the ground. We also provide biodegradable shampoo in all domes.

Inspiring change beyond EcoCamp

“This award is a great recognition of our team’s hard work every day at EcoCamp,” says Isabel Menendez, Sales Director of EcoCamp Patagonia and Cascada Expediciones. “Managing waste in a remote area like Torres del Paine is no easy task. It’s a continuous challenge that requires creativity and partnerships. We’re proud to receive this award and hope it inspires other organizations to take action as well.”

Would you like to see our sustainable practices? Discover EcoCamp yourself!