Torres del Paine, April 2026. Hotel Las Torres has once again been nominated for the World Travel Awards (WTA)—known as the “tourism Oscars”—in the category of South America’s Leading Green Hotel. The year 2026 marks a milestone for the company, which has earned its fourth consecutive nomination and enters the competition as the category’s reigning champion, reflecting its sustainable tourism leadership in South America.
The family business, founded over 30 years ago in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park, continues to make Chile a global leader in responsible tourism thanks to a comprehensive strategy that combines conservation, education, science, and the circular economy.
Over the past year, Las Torres Patagonia has made significant improvements to its environmental impact through a number of specific projects. One of the most notable is the scientific monitoring of native wildlife using camera traps, including iconic species such as the puma and Geoffroy’s cat—with more than 294 puma sightings and 165 sightings of Geoffroy’s cat. These cameras provide key information for the animals’ conservation and coexistence with visitors.
The organization has also made progress on prevention and restoration initiatives, such as founding the park’s first fire brigade, building a fire station, and strengthening its team of park rangers, who last season educated and engaged more than 94,000 people through outreach and prevention efforts.
In terms of sustainability and the circular economy, the hotel continues to cultivate its biointensive garden, which produced more than 330 kilograms of food in the 2024–2025 season, reducing the carbon footprint linked to transportation and supplying part of its food service operations. This is complemented by exemplary waste management, in which 100% of organic waste (more than 6,400 kg) was recycled through composting.
A commitment to environmental education has also been key. Through its eco-education program, the company signed a 10-year agreement that will enable 5,000 students from the Magallanes Region to visit the park, thereby fostering a connection with nature and environmental awareness from an early age.
In addition to these initiatives, there are ongoing flagship projects such as rebuilding the trail to Base Torres, along with science programs and international volunteering that have attracted hundreds of participants from abroad and boosted collaborative conservation.
“This nomination is especially meaningful because it reflects not only a year’s worth of work, but also a long-term vision. Winning in 2025 and being nominated again motivates us to continue leading the way for sustainable tourism in South America,” said Josian Yaksic, CEO of Las Torres Patagonia.
The winners will be chosen through an open vote on the World Travel Awards website.
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