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Explora Atacama

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Exceptional experience-driven hotel offering adventurous, unpretentious luxury and an included programme of tailormade activities in Chile's Atacama Desert.

Explora Atacama is surrounded by snow-capped volcanoes, shimmering salt plains and some of the world’s most advanced astronomical research centres.

Explora specialises in its own distinctly unpretentious brand of luxury. You can speed across salt flats on a mountain bike or relax by a pool watching the most vivid sunset you’ll probably ever see.

Your stay includes numerous excursions per day, tailored to your individual interests and fitness. Activities range from climbing and trekking to cycling and horse-riding in the sand dunes, to less strenuous pastimes archaeological tours and sunset trips to the Moon Valley with beautiful sandstone rock formations and striking colours.

The lodge even has its own observatory for night-time observation of the Atacama’s famously starry skies. In between adventures, the grounds are a wonderful place to relax and admire spectacular astronomy. The food is another highlight with menus based on intriguing local dishes using the freshest ingredients unique to this far-flung corner of Chile.

The property donates funds to the Andean Boarding School and Rapa Nui Terevaka Archaeological Outreach. Explora has conservation reserves in both the Atacama Desert and Torres del Paine to preserve endemic flora and fauna, and is planning further reserves in Chile.

What our clients say

"They have it just right in everything-rooms, service, guiding, activities and dining."
FL, Dewsbury Jan 2014
“Outstanding/worldbeating - totally enjoyed every single aspect. Although price is high, their priorities and values are spot on - it pressed all my buttons and would look to repeat the…
DH, Bigger Jul 2013
"Explora is probably the best kept secret of Latin America. It may seem expensive at first glance, but they take care of your every need once they receive you at…
YC, Singapore Jun 2012
"Explora en Atacama is vvvvv good. Atacama Desert - this was the most amazing place in the world and we have travelled a lot. The hotel was excellent thinking about…
GM, Woodford Green Dec 2013
“For me this was perfect and worth the money. I really appreciated being able to tailor the trips during the day and if necessary have a guide too. The food…
ME, Angel Sep 2013
"Restaurant and rooms good. Trips and horse riding excellent."
DB, London Jan 2014

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Our Expert's Opinion

Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert

Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

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Charlotte Daubeney - Travel Expert

Charlotte's fascination with Latin America began with a family holiday to Belize. She went on to study Spanish in school and at university before spending a year living in Santiago, Chile.
Alex Walker - Travel Expert

A globetrotter since her childhood, Alex spent a year studying abroad in Guadalajara and has returned to Latin America countless times since then.
Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.
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Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.
Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!