SOUTH American eco-adventure operator explora will re-open its Hotel Salto Chico in Chile's Patagonia region on February 23 following recent forest fires which threatened the property.

The re-opening will be marked by the introduction of 11 new exploration activities involving trekking and horseback ranging over half days and full days.

explora chief executive Jesus Parrilla said, “During the 50 days that the lodge remained closed, our explorations manager and a group of guides exhaustively searched the Torres del Paine park to find new routes through one of the most beautiful places on Earth”, 

He added, "Miraculously, the flames in the national park in December and January did not damage the hotel, spa or stables, though the property was affected by smoke and ash for a few days at the height of the blaze.

Mr Parrilla said that the decision to keep the hotel closed until February 23 was to ensure it was ready to provide the high quality standards for which explora is well known around the globe.