A luxury cruise line is entering the hotel business with plans to build a 150-room lodge in Puerto Williams, Chile, which will be the southernmost hotel in the world. The property is designed to support travelers heading to Antarctica and will be the company’s first hotel. According to the president, it will simplify logistics for guests by offering a stopover point before they fly over the Drake Passage, reducing travel time by 40%.
The new lodge aims to improve the guest experience by providing a centralized location for briefings and preparations, eliminating the need for guests to stay in different hotels around town. The president also hopes the lodge will showcase Puerto Williams' natural beauty and Indigenous culture, expanding its purpose beyond serving as a transit hub. The hotel is scheduled to open for the 2025/2026 Antarctic season and will be built on the site of the existing Lakutaia Lodge, with a significant investment from the parent company and a Chilean partner specializing in Antarctic operations.