Refugio Torre Central, Torres del Paine 11-2016

With 6 nights of hiking and only 5 meals carried, I always intended to have one set at a refugio. I'd heard they only serve set 3 course meals which are average in quality, but serviceable enough. After 4 nights of dehydrated meals, the 5th seemed like a great time to have it, and Fantastico Sur seemed to have nicer facilities than their Vertice rivals so the timing worked well.

I knew there was a hotel and refugio at Las Torres but I didn't realise the hotel, refugio and camp site were all separate sites. I was hoping the dinner would be in the excellent and modern looking hotel, but was happy to settle for the impressive refugio. The refugio had a large dining room but also other sitting areas with fireplaces and boardgames. What luxury in the bush.

The set meal for CLP18,000 was a bargain considering the location and the general prices of food around Chile.

- Corn cream soup - a fantastic soup of creamed corn with delicious flavour and thick texture that was mopped up with the bread. I don't think it was just the change in quality of meal, the soup was genuinely excellent;
- Salmon with potatoes - a completed cooked salmon but still at least not dry with a load of potatoes. Ample fresh salad completed the main course;
- Roasted milk - a sweet dessert of rice pudding cooked with milk. Sweet, simple and nice.