Explora Atacama, Chile

Overview

Located on the edge of the town of San Pedro, but feeling miles from anywhere, Explora Atacama offers a thoughtful gateway to the world’s highest and driest desert. Designed as an oasis of exploration, the lodge sits within a 17-hectare private estate of desert gardens, ancient pathways, and clear-sky stargazing platforms.

The 50 rooms are built with adobe and stone, using traditional Atacameño techniques to regulate temperature naturally. Inside, rooms are free of televisions and unnecessary distractions – instead offering deep bathtubs, large windows to the desert, and quiet, minimalist comfort. Days begin with sunrises over volcanic ridgelines and end with astrophotography sessions in the on-site observatory.

Guests choose from over 50 guided excursions: bike rides through salt flats, hikes into desert canyons, dawn visits to geysers, and float sessions in mineral-rich lagoons. The lodge offers multiple plunge pools, a solar-heated bathhouse, and a dining experience rooted in regional ingredients – think quinoa risottos, Andean herbs, and ultra-fresh produce grown in Explora’s gardens. For those drawn to lunar landscapes, high-altitude adventures, and immersive design, Explora Atacama delivers the desert like nowhere else.