A

hotel in an inhospitable location — and for all its stark charms, the Atacama Desert is certainly that — generally requires some serious comfort, simply in the name of balance. And a hotel in a visually striking environment — again, a fitting description for the Atacama’s Martian landscape — needs to pay extra attention to its design, or risk disappearing anonymously into its surroundings. Of course, if you know us well, then you know what we’re going to say next: Tierra Atacama, a 32-room boutique hotel in a modern minimalist style, satisfies both of the above conditions, and then some.

The building more than holds its own against the views of the volcano in the distance, the clean modernist lines rendered in the humblest materials, local stone, adobe and rough-hewn wood. The rooms are very much up to the latest luxury standard, and today’s high-end audiences are well aware that there’s no contradiction between the visual severity of these sparsely decorated spaces and the warm embrace of their tactile comforts.

One thing Tierra Atacama is most decidedly not is cheap — but everything’s included, and we mean everything; and when you’re talking about an experience this extraordinary, the upshot is that it’s a surprisingly good value, once you’ve recovered from the sticker shock. All-inclusive used to mean corner-cutting, but these days it’s more often a marker of luxury — specifically the luxury of never having to worry about the price, from the complimentary airport transfer to the multi-course meals, the open bar, and the long list of activities, from birdwatching walks to volcano climbs.

Please note: Tierra Atacama has a 2 night minimum stay requirement.

How to get there:
Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa is located 100km (1h 15 min) from Calama Airport (CJC). Airport transfers are included in the rates and flights arriving and departing between 10am and 8pm are recommended.