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Explora Atacama

  • Jamie Swan ©
  • Explora Atacama
  • Explora Atacama
  • Explora Atacama
  • EXPLORA ©
  • Explora Atacama
  • Explora Atacama
  • Explora Atacama
  • 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.

Bartolome, Galápagos

What our clients say

  • Highlight of our trip! Very well run set up, with a wide choice of activities, that were always available (the hotel was about half full, so there was no issue…

    ND Bristol Feb 2015
  • "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
  • “Explora en Atacama just fantastic.”

    CS, Exmouth Nov 2013
  • “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
  • “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
  • "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
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Our Expert's Opinion

Kathryn
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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Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Hannah
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

  • Paul Winrow Giffin
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

  • Lina
    Lina Fuller - Travel Expert

    Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba (Argentina) to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.

  • Juliet
    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!

  • Carrie
    Carrie Gallagher - Travel Expert

    A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours department.

  • Sallly
    Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

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