Chile: Atacama Desert: Alto Atacama

The Atacama desert, at first sight harsh and inhospitable, was in fact home to a thriving pre-Columbian culture, of which many vestiges remain to this day. It stretches down the western flank of the Andes from Peru to northern Chile and has the reputation of being the driest in the world.

The small oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama is the main starting point for trips into the Atacama Desert with its dramatic and varied landscapes: vast sand dunes, glistening white expanses of salt flats, bubbling geysers and hot springs, rugged canyons and volcanoes.

This impressive all-inclusive new lodge sits beneath the 12th century Pukará de Quitor fortress, 10 minutes’ drive from the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama. The traditional adobe building blends almost seamlessly with its surroundings: the walls are the texture and colour of the red soil; the roofs are covered with native coligue wood; and the garden is dedicated to the Andean altiplano landscape, strewn with rocks, desert plants and cacti. Interiors are clean and simple in design and decorated with local weavings, tapestries and sculptures.

The 32 rooms are minimalist in style and are equipped with private bathroom and terrace. There are several small pool areas – a very welcome feature after a day of excursions in the desert. Other facilities include a restaurant, outside Jacuzzi and sauna.

The hotel offers a broad programme of guided excursions into the surreal Atacama desert by van, foot or mountain bike.