Adventure Domes

Part of us was here because we wanted to see the big, beautiful, jaw-dropping glacier across the water - and wouldn’t have otherwise discovered Adventure Domes - and the other part wanted to find out if all the other reviews were true. We are a family of four - 2 adults and two kids (3 & 5) - who took a risk as much as Billy and his amazing team took a risk on us. Apparently we were the first young family and we hope that others will follow. We were the second group of the season and had the place to ourselves. It was strange to wander through the camp and imagine the 6 or so other domes occupied by other nature and adventure lovers. It is true that getting to the camp after the meeting point (itself about 45 mins from El Calafate along a gritty, gravelly road) is an adventure in itself, though we immediately doubted Billy when he said “it’s only 20 minutes to the camp from here”. After driving directly up from Punta Arenas that morning we hoped more than believed. But it was certainly a fun ride. Note - if you’re renting a car and have an option for an SUV or car with higher clearance, take it. We crossed some water courses and muddy sections at times. It is true that the location is incredible. The domes and the camp itself are hidden amongst low lying trees with beautiful greeny spiderweb looking moss that hangs down from the limbs, giving you maximum relief from any wintry wind that whips across the glacial water, but only a few steps into the clearing and you’ll be sure to lose your breath when you catch your first sight of the immense Perito Moreno glacier more than 15km away. Before long we were invited into the dining tent where a nice warm stove was burning, and we met Mathias and Matteo who made up the team. Billy had cooked the most amazing dinner - the “best steak ever” (in the middle of nowhere!) for the carnivore and delicious roast vegetables and spinach pie for the vegetarians. A delicious lentil stew, which even the carnivore found irresistible, awaited us the following night. The multiple bedding layers ensured we were very comfortable for sleep - even if the bed sloped down towards our feet due to the positioning of the dome on the ground. The next night we remembered to ask for hot water bottles (we had retired too quickly for Billy!) and this made it top notch. Billy and Mathias took us on a huge walk on the full day, and here they both shined. We ourselves weren’t sure how far our kids’ legs would carry them across the at-times rocky and marshy peninsular but the team was quick to assist / coax / distract / hold hands with our little walkers when they needed it and we would otherwise had turned back. What could’ve been a short stroll for an hour ended up an 8km adventure for much of the day, stopping to watch birds, rabbits, wild horses and learn a lot about the local flora throughout the varied terrain. Billy and Mathias were superstars and our kids had a wonderful time. Being early in the season (mid Oct) we were then treated to something we had only dreamed of before now: a light snowfall on our last morning. For any other families considering this trip, do it. However for young kids we believe only one full day (2 nights) at the camp is enough. We were glad to be heading directly to the glacier on our third day to see it up close.