Description
The striking Explora Atacama is the sister hotel of the fabulous and extremely successful Explora Salto Chico in the Torres del Paine National Park in southern Chile. Located on a plain known as the Ayllu de Larache, once inhabited by the ancient Atacameño community, in the driest desert on the earth, the hotel faithfully carries forward the same Explora concept of comfort and adventure in a unique landscape.
The 50 well-appointed guest rooms at the Explora Atacama have jacuzzis, custom designed furnishings and breathtaking views of the mountains, desert and volcanoes. There's not a television in sight. There is an extensive patio area with four interconnecting pools, saunas, steam baths, open-air jacuzzis and a bar. Delicious meals are served in the elegant hotel restaurant, accompanied by fine Chilean wines.
Everything is included during your stay at the Explora Atacama and with numerous guided tours and activities to choose from including visits to the salt flats, geysers and hot springs, you will never be short of things to do. The hotel also boasts it own observatory where you can look at the universe in striking detail in the consistently cloudless, moonlit sky.
Accommodation
The Explora Atacama has a total of 50 guest rooms comprising 34 Yali rooms measuring 33m2 with views of the surrounding countryside, 16 Tulur rooms measuring 33m2 with views of the Cordlillera de la Sal, and 4 Catur Suites measuring 50m2, with balconies and stunning views of the desert landscape. The rooms and suites all feature a small living area, hydromassage bath and wonderfully comfortable beds. There are no televisions in the rooms.
Childcare
Children are welcomed at the Explora Atacama. There are three Tulur family rooms (made up of two interconnecting Tulur rooms) and babysitting can be arranged on request. It is important to note that small children may not always adapt easily to the high altitude.
Facilities
The excellent facilities at Explora Atacama include a vast patio area featuring 4 outdoor swimming pools, saunas, open air jacuzzis and steam baths, a massage room, observatory, stables with thoroughbred horses, shop, WiFi access in the public area, games room and library. The hotel restaurant serves delicious cuisine, featuring many products native to the region and there is also a barbecue area where guests are often gathered to enjoy spit-roasted lamb and barbecued meat and fish, accompanied by live music and dance.
Activities
There is a wide variety of guided excursions on offer for guests at the Explora Atacama including horseback riding, trekking, volcano hikes, mountain biking and excursions to nearby villages and salt lakes. Guests can also visit the Termas de Puritama, located approximately 45 minutes away, where eight pools are fed by hot springs, a wonderful spot to relax and revitalize the soul amidst stunning scenery.
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
Explora Atacama is on the outskirts of San Pedro de Atacama in northern Chile, 1-hour drive from Calama.
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.
