Three generations, one story and one shared challenge: to help Puyuhuapi evolve without losing what makes it different.
In 1986, while sailing south with his family from Puerto Montt, Eberhard Kossmann (1936–2023)—naval architect, mechanical engineer, and founder of ASENAV—arrived in Bahía Dorita for the first time. Three years later, with no prior experience in tourism, he decided to take on the challenge of developing a project in a place where isolation, climate, and distance demanded vision, perseverance, and the ability to find solutions.
His naval experience was essential: the sea stopped being a barrier and became the route. Boats made it possible to connect Puyuhuapi and, years later, ASENAV built the Patagonia Express, a catamaran that made it easier for passengers to arrive from Puerto Chacabuco.
What began as a family initiative grew alongside Aysén and the Carretera Austral, maintaining to this day an essential link to its origins: the final stretch to reach the Lodge is still by water.
Eberhard’s legacy continues through his family. Christine Kossmann, his daughter and current General Manager, has accompanied Puyuhuapi’s evolution for much of its history. Today, a third generation joins with Germán Schacht Kossmann, Eberhard’s grandson and current Executive Director, bringing a new perspective for the future.
Three generations, one story and one shared challenge: to help Puyuhuapi evolve without losing what makes it different.
Designed by Chilean architects Helmuth Dörner and José Miguel Oyarzún, Puyuhuapi Lodge & Spa draws inspiration from the traditional architecture of Chiloé and southern Chile, with wood as the main feature.
Building in Bahía Dorita more than 30 years ago was a challenge: much of the material arrived by sea from Puerto Montt. The project grew in stages, from the first cabins to new rooms and spaces, always seeking to prioritize the views and the connection with the surroundings.
This evolution also gave rise to a unique Thermal Spa in Patagonia, conceived around the convergence of three waters—thermal, waterfall, and sea—and incorporating French expertise and technology linked to thermalism.
