Atacama Hotel & Spa
Desert modernist — low-slung single-storey architecture in local stone, adobe and rough-hewn wood that recedes into the landscape rather than competing with it. Interiors lean minimalist but warm, with handwoven Atacameño textiles, travertine marble from nearby salt flats, chañar seed curtains, and locally commissioned artwork. The post-2025 renovation sharpened everything. More 'serene Chilean wilderness lodge' than 'flashy hotel'.
Book spa treatments in advance — Uma Spa is for in-house guests only and slots fill up
Why It Matters
One MICHELIN Key. Travel + Leisure's #1 Resort in South America 2024 and one of their Top 100 Hotels in the World. Robb Report's 50 Greatest Luxury Hotels on Earth 2025. Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice winner multiple years running. It's also been consistently recognised as a sustainability pioneer — one of the first hotels in South America to run on hybrid solar power, with a reverse osmosis water plant on site. The all-inclusive model is genuinely generous: excursions to Tatio Geysers, Moon Valley, Piedras Rojas Lagoon and salt flats are all baked in.
Tierra Atacama sits on the edge of San Pedro de Atacama on an arid high-altitude plateau, staring directly at the snow-capped cone of Licancabur Volcano (5,916m). Built on a 150-year-old cattle corral — the original adobe mud walls are still visible at the entrance — it's now a 28-room all-inclusive lodge designed by Chilean architects Rodrigo Searle and Matías González. The sticker price is steep, but everything is included: three meals daily, an open bar with Chilean wines, two half-day excursions per day, spa access, and shared airport transfers. That changes the math considerably.
Where You'll Stay
4 room types available
Apartment
A split-level apartment sleeping up to six. Master bedroom with king bed and ensuite upstairs; two smaller rooms with twin beds and ensuite bathrooms downstairs. The private south-facing terrace upstairs looks out over the Atacama Salt Flat. Best option for families or groups traveling together who want separate spaces but shared communal areas.
King (master) + twin beds (two additional rooms) · 72 sqm
Oriente Room
The entry-level room and still no slouch. Intimate and moody, the Oriente opens seamlessly from inside to out. A canopy bed faces picture-window views of the desert and Licancabur Volcano. The real party trick is the outdoor rain shower — standing under it with the Milky Way overhead is the kind of thing you'll talk about for years. Interiors are cocooned in local materials: Atacameño blankets, handwoven textiles, curtains threaded with chañar seeds, and travertine marble from Calama.
King or twin · 35 sqm
Poniente Room
Slightly roomier than the Oriente at 37m², the Poniente leans into minimalist desert design with a proper living area and tall picture window. The sundrenched outdoor terrace is a strong suit. Kids aged 10-17 can join adults here on a rollaway — the only room type where an extra person rate applies.
King · 37 sqmSuite
At 70m² the Suite doubles the space of a standard room. Refined and contemporary with an expansive living area that frames uninterrupted Licancabur Volcano views. Suite guests get a notable perk: private excursions in a dedicated vehicle rather than the standard small-group format. That means flexible timing and a personal guide.
King · 70 sqmThe Property
Eat & Drink
2 venues on property
Restaurant
Spa & Wellness
Treatment Menu
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
Visit a historic indigenous estate in the Andean foothills to explore ancestral Atacameñan sites and traditions, closing with sunset views and a tasting of authentic Andean flavours prepared by local hosts.
Guided photography session with a professional across iconic Atacama landscapes. Includes optional drone content, llamas, and horseback elements. Bespoke at additional cost.
Guided rides with local expert baqueanos — from 1-hour ambles through San Pedro to half-day journeys toward the Salt Mountains. Tailored to rider ability.
Guided cycling excursions across desert plains and through canyons. Vallecito crosses salt mines and sculpted dunes. Standard and electric bikes available.
Float effortlessly in the hyper-saline waters of Cejar Lagoon on the edge of the Atacama Salt Flat. Afternoon light turns the desert pink around you. Dead Sea-level buoyancy; no effort required.
Full-day rare excursion visiting Piedras Rojas, Miscanti, and Miñiques Lagoons in the high Altiplano — refuges for Andean wildlife including flamingos and vicuñas. Lunch in Socaire village. Additional charges apply.
Morning walk through the Cordillera de la Sal into surreal wind and water-sculpted formations. Early morning visits find you almost alone in the silence — a stark contrast to afternoon tourist buses. Ancient salt caves, huge sand dunes, and constantly shifting light.
Full-day trip to one of the Atacama's most visually arresting spots — vivid red rock formations reflected in turquoise high-altitude waters, against colour-shifting mountain ranges. Includes visits to additional lagoons en route.
Journey to the salt flat and Chaxa Lagoon — home to three Andean flamingo species amid the shimmering white expanse. Includes the village of Toconao.
Pre-dawn departure to El Tatio geothermal field at 4,300m — over 80 active geysers shooting steam columns into the cold morning air. Best in June-August when the steam is most dramatic. Wildlife spottings of vicuñas, foxes, vizcachas, and Andean ostriches on the return via Machuca village.
Canyon sanctuary of warm mineral-rich thermal pools surrounded by native desert vegetation. Bespoke at additional cost.
Mineral-painted Domeyko Mountains producing vivid colour gradients, followed by pre-Columbian petroglyph panels at Hierbas Buenas.
Guided stargazing with a professional telescope under some of the clearest, darkest skies on Earth. Atacameñan cosmology is woven into the experience alongside conventional astronomy.
Hot air balloon over the Atacama at dawn as the sun rises behind Licancabur Volcano. Bespoke excursion at additional cost.
Multiple guided trek options ranging from easy valley walks to more challenging canyon and altiplano routes. Quebrada del Diablo winds through dry riverbeds with petroglyphs; Guatin Gatchi Valley passes through a forest of giant cacti and waterfalls.
Bespoke ascent of Cerro Toco starting at 5,000m, summiting at 5,600m. Panoramic views over Laguna Blanca and Salar de Atacama from the top. Additional charges apply.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
Single-storey, flat-floored design throughout the property.
Dedicated indoor studio plus outdoor yoga spaces. Guided sessions available (additional cost).
Dedicated map room with staff on hand to help plan excursion itineraries. A genuine working space — not just decor.
Communal lounge areas have working fireplaces. Oriente Room terraces also have clean-burning fireplaces.
Outdoor terrace with fire pit — popular for evening aperitifs watching the volcano turn red at sunset.
Crescent-moon-shaped pool positioned for direct Licancabur Volcano views. Wicker sun loungers line the deck. Central to the Uma Spa complex.
Stone-clad indoor pool with water jets and bubble beds at Uma Spa.
Adjacent to the infinity pool, also with volcano views.
One of the first hotels in South America to produce solar-powered electricity. The hybrid system covers daily energy demand and reduces carbon footprint by over 240 tons of CO2 per year.
All water extracted from an on-site well and treated by reverse osmosis, ensuring self-sufficiency without tapping the town's supply. Grey water reused for garden irrigation.
Orchard, alfalfa fields, and medicinal herb garden supply the restaurant kitchen with indigenous plants including rica rica and chañar.
Complimentary shared return transfers between Calama Airport (CJC) and the hotel. Private transfers available at additional cost.
Standard and electric bikes available for excursions.
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