The lodge is located on a plain known as the Ayllu de Larache, once inhabited by an ancient Atacameño community. We have respected the original layout of the land and restored and maintained some of the buildings.

Opened in 1998, our lodge is situated on 17 hectares (42 acres) of grounds just a few minutes’ walk from the town of San Pedro de Atacama. In the area surrounding the lodge, we have maintained the ancient pathways and buildings which form a labyrinth that invites exploration.

Our Atacama hotel & lodge has 50 comfortable rooms, each designed to maximize silence and privacy. They are tastefully designed with wooden ceilings and floors made of stone and tiles. Each has a small living area, a hydromassage bath and beds designed for deep, pleasurable sleep after a day of exploration. Finally, we provide you with a unique treat: the rooms are television-free.

Catur Suite

4 Atacama lodge suites measuring 50 meters2 (538 feet2), all with balconies and views of the countryside.

Yali Room

Our Atacama desert hotel has 34 rooms measuring 33 meters2 (355 feet2), all with views of the countryside.

Swimming pool area

The lodge has an extensive patio area totaling 1,700 meters2 (18,298 feet2). Within this area are four interconnected, outdoor swimming pools, two of them heated by solar panels. So, for those looking for the best Atacama hotels let us just add that in addition, we have saunas, steam baths, heated open-air jacuzzis and a self-service bar. This area has beautiful views. The deep silence is broken now and then by the songs of local birds.

At explora Atacama we offer over 50 different explorations. On foot or horseback or by bicycle; a couple of hours to a full day; gentle or more physically demanding.

Our series of explorations will enable you to discover the ancient culture of Atacama, its singular wildlife, and get to know in-depth the natural landscapes of this vast terrain: from the brown of the Andean mountains and volcanos, to the white of the salt flats and the green of the oases.

Appropriate equipment

▪       A base layer of clothing: warm underwear, t-shirts or lightweight shirts ideally made from synthetic materials such as Capilene®.
▪       A second layer of clothing: trekking pants and a thin fleece
▪       A third layer of clothing: warm fleece or wool sweater
▪       A fourth layer of clothing: Windproof Jacket
▪       Comfortable trekking shoes
▪       Synthetic or Merino Wool blend socks
▪       UV filter sunglasses, ideally with a strap and side protection
▪       Sun hat
▪       Sunscreen
▪       Daypack

Anyone wishing to climb in the high, mountains should have:

▪       Mountain Hiking boots
▪       Down jacket
▪       Thick windproof mountain gloves
▪       Polar or wool hat that covers the ears
▪       Headlamp

Treks

Trekking makes it possible for you to contemplate your surroundings in an unhurried and meaningful way. It also means you are more likely to meet and talk with the descendents of the ancient Atacameño culture than you would be with other forms of exploration.

On foot, it is possible to get to places which would otherwise be inaccessible, whether through labyrinths of rocky formations or narrow gorges and ravines by which we descend to the very center of this land.

At explora Atacama we offer an array of different and amazing Atacama desert travel treks which will enable you to get to know the people descended from ancient cultures, salt flats, geysers, archaeological sites and the diverse wildlife of the area.

These treks can take you to altitudes of between 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) and 4,500 meters (14,763 feet). We always seek to adjust to the rhythm of each person, enjoying each step of the journey.

During your first and second days at explora Atacama, you can undertake explorations in San Pedro and the surrounding area at altitudes between 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) and 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) or a little higher. By the third day, if you are really up to tour Atacama, you will be ready to undertake explorations to 4,000 meters (13,100 feet) above sea level and on the fourth day to 4,500 meters (14,800 feet) above sea level. Only on the fifth day, and if you have not experienced any problems, is it possible to climb to altitudes of 5,000 to 6,000 meters (16,400 to 19,700 feet).

The following is a selection of the hikes we might offer, a full list and description of the daily explorations will be available to you once you arrive to the hotel. Each evening you will meet with one of our experienced guides to discuss and select from the options available to you on the following day; joining a group of up to 8 other travelers to discover the beauty and culture of Atacama.

The explorations can be modified without previous communication to the traveler.