History of Fantastico Sur Lodges
A history of effort and vision, that began three decades ago, marked the beginning of one of the most emblematic endeavors in Torres del Paine National Park. We invite you to learn about it.
Beloging to a traditional Croatian family, the Kusanovic, Estancia Cerro Paine of 4400 hectares (11000 acres), is the only private property in Torres del Paine National Park. The patriarch of the family purchased them in 1979, when the area was still unexplored, with the simple purpose of exploting the land as pasture for cattle. However, the tourism boom since the mid-80s broadened the business.
The location of the estancia is privileged. A strategic enclave: at the base of the Torres del Paine and the not less majestic Almirante Nieto mountain besides.
When Antonio Kusanovic Senkovic, bought the estancia cerro Paine in 1979 - where is now located Hotel Las Torres and a few steps away of lodges Torre Central and Torre Norte -, tourists were out of his mind. He was thinking of cattle, following the family tradition.
His beginnings as an entepreneur were full of effort and vision. Antonio Kusanovic Jersic was one of so many Croatian immigrants that arrived to Punta Arenas at the dawn of the twentieth century. Like all immigrants he began from scratch, working in different menial tasks as a butcher assistant. He then sold cattle, rented estancias and when conditions improved, he bought his own land.
In 1977, the Italian count Guido Monzino, one of the first to make Torres del Paine known - which he climbed in the 60s, - donated over 12.000 hectares to the Chilean government, from which the current borders of the park were established.
By then estancia Cerro Paine was in the hands of privates. It has been private property since 1960. Its previous owner was Juan Radic, one of the first settlers in those lands, and who named the valley after his old business partner Bader, place located between the Cuernos and the Almirante Nieto mountain, just above the lodge Cuernos.
From 1986, without further promotion but word of mouth between Americans and Europeans, tourist flow grew considerably and the Kusanovic family, that still dedicated to cattling, adapted to the new times. And so they installed the first camping. And so, almost without intending it, went from cattling to the hotel business.
Fantastico Sur, as a company, is focused on a specific niche: the backpacker. Currently as two lodges (Torre Norte Y Torre Central) and camping Las Torres, 2 mountain lodges (Cuernos Y Chileno), also with their respective camping areas, and the Cuernos lodge has cabins for 2 persons and a camping area called Seron, at the start of the big O circuit.
Capacity is large. Only in lodge Torre Norte there are 62 beds, in Torre CEntral 60 beds, El Chileno 32 beds, Los Cuernos 32 beds, 8 cabins for 2 persons, and all with the basic amenities for the backpacker, thought out for people that privilege contact with nature and other people.
RESERVATIONS
reservas@fantasticosur.com
Telephones:
+56-61-614 184
+56-61-614 185
Reservasfsur