Tierra Atacama

Designed by some of Chile’s leading architectural talent, this stylish desert hideaway is superbly luxe and has won awards for its sustainability initiatives. Tierra Atacama’s stellar looks have appeared on the covers of Conde Nast Traveller and BA High Life magazines. It sits in 5 rugged acres, punctuated by waving pampas grass and giant cacti, with the Licancabur volcano and Salt Mountains as a dramatic backdrop. The 32 bedrooms are beautiful: adobe walls, private terraces, outdoor showers and volcano views; meals in the restaurant are refined and varied. But it’s the desert adventures you’ll come here for: hikes and bike rides to salt flats studded with pink flamingos, turquoise lagoons, spurting geysers and the other-worldly Moon Valley. Then it’s back to the hotel for a massage in the Uma Spa or to sit by the firepit with a glass of wine as the sun goes down and the valley glows red.

Senderos Soul

The light, the light! It’s all about the light, from the first bright rays that peeked through my flowing white curtains, revealing the majestic Licancabur volcano, to the dusky pink Atacaman sunset shooting violet rays across the pool. Tierra Atacama is designed to make the very most of the light with airy bright rooms which conversely also offer respite from the heat of midday. Although you’ll often find this desert oasis in glossy magazine lists of the top hotels in the world, it's vibe is relaxed and informal. Tierra Atacma is an other-wordly paradise of active adventures in the desert combined with spa and wellness back at the hotel. Staying here made me feel incredibly healthy and alive! There’s something that feels essentially right about the kind of indoors-outdoors, active life that’s possible here. At night the famous dark skies are alive with stars and planets. A local guide not only showed them to us in great detail, but explained their meaning in the local Andean culture too. Tierra Atacama is also a leader in hotel sustainability so I felt assured that my visit left behind the lightest of footprints on this fragile landscape.

Naomi, Senderos

Key Facts

Please note that Tierra Atacama will be closed for a full refurbishment from April 2024 to November 2024. Please contact us or your DMC for more details.

No. of rooms: 32

Category of rooms:
Oriente (35m2): king or twin beds, ensuite bathroom with indoor and outdoor shower, private terrace with volcano view.
Poniente (37m2): king or twin beds, bathroom with tub, indoor and outdoor shower, private terrace with view of the volcano, gardens or Salt Mountains.
Family Rooms (97m2): split level suite with kingsize bedroom above and two twin/double bedrooms on the ground floor, all with ensuite shower bathroom; private terrace with views of the volcano or Salt Mountains.

Facilities and Amenities: Gastronomic restaurant and bar, Uma spa (outdoor pool, alfresco hot tub, indoor pool, steam room, private treatment/massage rooms); yoga and meditation spaces; outdoor lounges with open fires; bikes to borrow.

Internet: WiFi throughout.

Excursion min / max pax: 2HD or 1FD, no minimum, max 8 (in practice 4-6)

Dates of operation: All year.

Rates from: (2024) Approx US$1,570 - $1,870 per room per night (depending on month) on an all-inclusive basis.

For full rates see the Gallery and Resources box below.

Rates include: All inclusive (transfers, meals, drinks, daily excursions in a small group, use of pools and spa; treatments extra).

Min age: 10 years

Minimum stay: 2 nights (except 20/12/23 - 06/01/24 5 Nights)

Senderos recommends: 4+ nights, to acclimatise to the altitude slowly, then take advantage of the incredible excursions on offer and just being in this wonderful natural setting.

Affiliations: Traveller Made, Virtuoso, Safe Travels.

Awards:
Conde Nast Traveller Gold List 2020,
2021 Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Choice Awards 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Travel & Leisure World’s Best Awards 2021 - top 100 hotels in the world
Mr & Mrs Smith Awards 2018 - Best Pool View in the World
World Travel Awards 2019 - South America’s greenest hotel
World Travel Awards 2016 - Chile’s Best Spa Resort
LATA Sustainability Awards 2018 - Highly Commended.

Sustainability

The hotel was designed to have minimal impact on the land it occupies, and is at the forefront of the ‘renewable energy in tourist spheres’ movement in South America; their initiatives have won awards.
100% solar powered via on-site energy plant (emergency back-up generators); NASA designed water system to provide drinking water and no plastic bottles used on site; bathing water extracted from their own well and treated on-site; grey water is used to irrigate the gardens.
The hotel runs an apprenticeship scheme with a local technical college, to educate students in the fields of tourism, education and agriculture.
Details on the current redesign using recycled platic materials can be found on this blog.

Stories:

Senderos stories celebrate the positive impact that sustainable and regenerative tourism can bring to destinations, communities and the environment.

Click here to explore the fascinating interview with Annette (see below), the market manager for Tierra Atacama, part of the Tierra hotels collection.

"Tourism can make or break a destination when it comes to cultural expression. At Tierra there's a rich cultural exchange and closeness with the local communities."

Need to know

In the high-altitude setting of 7,900ft (2,407m), Tierra Atacama's small group adventures are tailored accordingly, to allow gradual acclimatisation. They feature thrilling desert hikes, walks, bike and horse rides, as well as vehicle tours to cultural and historic sites or stunning viewpoints
In addition to the published activities, there are many other available options, depending on guests' interests and activity levels, or if they're return visitors
Luxurious rooms with indoor/outdoor showers and views of the volcano and Salt Mountains
The incredible Uma Spa, whose treatments are based on local desert elements. Private outdoor hot tubs provide a blissfully romantic setting for desert sunsets
All inclusive, with a varied menu in the restaurant
Family friendly with fun-filled tailored adventures and family rooms which sleep up to 6. Children under 4 stay for free.

Getting there

Tierra Atacama is on the edge of San Pedro de Atacama, a charming, rustic village in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile.

BY ROAD

Reachable by road from Calama, Bolivia and Argentina.

BY AIR

Nearest airport: Calama (Daily flights from Santiago, 1 1/2 hour's drive from San Pedro de Atacama)

Gallery & Resources

Follow this link to Senderos Resources for Tierra Atacama to access

Images, our selection
Fact sheets
Presentations
Rack rates
Excursion lists
And other useful information.

Tierra has its own image library here.

Weather

The climate - it’s a desert, so expect it to be warm or hot and dry. Can be cold at night / early morning.
High Season (Nov-Feb): temperatures range from 12-27 degrees C
Mid Season (October, March, April, Jul-Sept): temperatures range from 8-20 degrees C.

Links

Tierra Atacama website

Tierra Hotels YouTube channel

Senderos Webinars:

Tierra Atacama, 2021

Tierra Atacama, 2022 (also includes Tierra Chiloe & Tierra Patagonia)

Tierra Hotels, May 2023, including a special focus on Tierra Atacama.

FIND OUT MORE

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