Situated on 17 hectares of grounds and just a few minutes’ walk from the town of San Pedro de Atacama, Explora is the perfect place to experience these unique surroundings. Sensitively designed to respect the history and landscape of the area, the hotel boasts an extensive patio with four interconnected outdoor pools, a sauna, steam baths and open air Jacuzzis. There are a range of excursions available, including guided hikes, bike rides through the Andes highlands, horseback rides through the red soil esplanades and visits to the local hot springs. There is also an in-house observatory with guided star gazing observations. Cuisine focuses on high quality local produce and service levels and attention to detail is second to none. Guest rooms are simple yet comfortable and designed to maximise the peace and tranquillity of the area. Tulor Rooms face the hotel grounds, while Yali Rooms have views of the desert landscape. Suites Cator are larger with a balcony.
Flights
As we can offer you such a flexible choice of flights, we don't include international airfares with our hotel
prices.
The price you pay will be determined by the time of year you travel, your departure airport, airline and
availability.
Your Trailfinders travel consultant will be able to find the best flights to suit you. Please call for our latest
offers.
Trailfinders' Luke Morgan gives an insight into Explora Atacama
Explora Atacama Expert Review
Luke Morgan
Explora Atacama’s wow factor comes from its unbeatable emphasis on experience. Whilst there are a few higher-end luxury resorts in San Pedro, the sheer wealth of exclusive day tours (referred to as ‘explorations’) here put Explora in a category of its own. From private hot springs to leisurely overland excursions, to mountain expeditions that soar well over 5000m; anyone who prioritises getting out and about in comfort and with expert guidance won't go wrong here.
Understated luxury is the name of the game around the hotel itself. The combined bar, lounge and planning area is designed to bring travellers together and chatting about what they've seen and done, all with a stunning backdrop of dramatic volcanic peaks. Rooms are simple yet tasteful, and the lack of A/C wasn't an issue despite daytime highs of over 30°c. Staff go out of their way to deliver a friendly and personalised service - you're made to feel like family returning home after each exploration. Food and wine are of a very high standard, with each menu having been curated by Michelin-starred chef Virgilo Martinez using local Andean influence and ingredients.
Three night stays here are the minimum with good reason; if budget and time at all permit then an extension beyond this is a no-brainer. By the time tours, transfers, food and drink are taken into account, Explora can actually offer good value if higher-end accommodation is on the cards.
Top tip: Make no mistake - even a few moderate explorations in a row will leave you quite tired. Try to ensure you have at least half a day of your stay to soak up the spa facilities, free to use saunas, exceptional cocktail menu and swimming pools (possibly my favourite pool area ever!)
Reviewed October 2024
south & central america
chile
atacama desert
domingo atienza sn, san pedro de atacama, antofagasta, chile
south & central america
chile
chile
Trailfinders Hotel Classification Guide
Modest accommodation with basic facilities, representing good value where price is the main priority.
Simple, comfortable accommodation and facilities offering good value for the destination.
Good standard of accommodation and/or facilities and overall a higher level of service may be expected.
High international standards of accommodation and facilities where luxury and quality of service are priorities.
Indicates that the property offers a higher than average level of accommodation and facilities when compared to other properties of the same classification.
Unique, often smaller and sometimes historic properties, which offer individual charm and are consequently very popular. The offer the standards of accommodation indicated by their classification but rooms may be smaller than average and not all facilities may be available.
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