Description
The Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa is a superb base for visiting the Atacama Desert and blends seamlessly into its surroundings very much like the typical dwellings of the area and is located 10 minutes outside of the oasis village of San Pedro.
The interior decoration is faithful to the local aesthetic; rustic yet elegant, with local crafts adding warmth and character. All guest rooms have a private terrace; the perfect spot to absorb the colour and silence of the valley. Guests can choose from over thirty cultural and adventure activities, with everything from a visit to the workshop of a local artisan or a meeting with a shaman, to bike rides, volcano treks and visiting high altitude salt lakes and geysers further afield.
The Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa also offers a myriad of drives into the most stunning landscape, unique locations for outdoor lunches, and unforgettable sunsets. At the hotel’s observatory the intimate, small-group star gazing experience has been designed to be more sensory than technical, focusing on the magnitude of the magnificent night sky of Chile’s north. For a more relaxing time, the ‘Puri’ spa has six outdoor pools, indoor and outdoor whirlpool baths, and a wide range of spa treatments.
Accommodation
Alto Atacama has 32 comfortable rooms (10 new rooms to be launched in spring 2012), designed in an elegant, rustic style featuring local crafts. All rooms have their own private terrace, perfect for enjoying a good book, or simply relaxing and admiring the views of the gardens and the mountains.
Childcare
Children are welcome at Alto Atacama. Triple rooms are available and extra bedding can be provided on request. It is important to note that small children may not always adapt easily to the high altitude.
Facilities
Alto Atacama has six small outdoor pools surrounded by extensive decked areas, an outdoor bar and restaurant, perfect for relaxing with a chilled glass of Chilean white and enjoying the desert mountain views. The cuisine at the hotel blends Mediterranean flavours with local organic ingredients, many of which are seen and collected during excursions in the area. There is also a spa featuring a Finnish Sauna, Turkish bath, Scottish showers and indoor & outdoor hot tubs. There is also a cosy indoor lounge area, library, and dining room decorated with local crafts and furniture.
Activities
Activities on offer from Alto Atacama include guided tours to the surrounding desert and mountains, climbing, trekking, mountain biking, and star gazing. Guests can also indulge in a variety of relaxing treatments at the hotel's onsite spa.
When to travel
Day time temperatures are luminous and agreeable all year round. A characteristic of the desert climate is the marked fluctuation in temperature between day and night. In winter (June, July and August) the average temperature is 22ºC during the day and at night it goes down to around 4ºC; temperatures can occasionally go below freezing. In summer (December to February) the temperature varies between 28ºC during the day and 16ºC at night. During these months the temperature can reach 32ºC. January-March can sometimes receive a little rainfall and cloudy skies.
On February 2, the biggest festival in San Pedro, Festival de la Candelaria, features a large parade of bands and dancers.
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Location and directions
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
In the shadow of the Pukará de Quitor ruins and near the San Pedro River. Alto Atacama is located 10 minutes outside the oasis of San Pedro de Atacama, in the North of Chile, in the Atacama Desert.
How to get there
17-hour flight from London to Santiago, via Madrid, Sao Paulo or Buenos Aires, followed by a 2-hour domestic flight to Calama and 1-hour car transfer to San Pedro de Atacama.
