explora Atacama

amazinng expedition company with a fabolous hotel. The food is outstanding and the guides know everything about Atacama. The pool area is an oasis in the desert, all with a spectacular architecture.

10/10 . Incredible personal service , taking in consideration personal situations. We had just gotten off a “ butler” level cruise and the “ non butler “ service was as good as,,, A great experience . We stayed 5 days and enjoyed every minute . Four would have been enough if budget is a concern . Before going , based on reviews we read , and since I am a foodie , we did not expect much . The menu was diverse, and we always had something delicious to eat - every meal in 5 days was different .

We will start with the positives- wonderful scenery, caring general staff and guides, good food and wine (the reason the rating was 2 rather than 1) but sadly management demonstrated a lack of care for us as guests, no processes when things go wrong and a poor culture. So the first minor example- I cut my head during one of the explorations. Returning to the lodge I asked for a basic first aid kit so I could clean the wound with an antiseptic and put on a bandaid dressing. I was told that the policy was that Explora couldn’t provide anything and that I’d have to walk (no offer of a ride) to the pharmacy in town to obtain supplies, a 1 hour round trip with a cut head. The second more major example was when our van was driven off the road during an exploration, nearly rolling down a small hill, and getting stuck in deep sand. We were at 4200m, unsheltered, the wind was strong and temperatures dropping. The guide called for help that arrived 1.5 hours later, however Explora sent a team for the vehicle ignoring us as guests. The attempt to free the vehicle failed, there was no room in the small vehicle they sent for us as the guests, and we were recommended to flag down people to see if we could get a ride back. Luckily a delightful man did stop and give our guide and the two of us a lift back to the lodge. So in short the vehicle appeared to be more of the priority compared to the guide and guests who were essentially forced to hitch hike. Upon return to the lodge, our only request was for the manager to call the people who helped us when Explora failed and ideally recompense them for their trouble as a gesture. It has taken 3 weeks and multiple emails for Atacama to finally contact the people concerned and we have privately reimbursed them for their efforts as Explora hadn’t. What should have been a great experience was spoiled by the lack of care of guests when things went wrong, inadequate processes and disappointingly the poor culture where saying thank you to people who help appears to be too much trouble.

Didn't find out humidifiers were available until our last day. Ask when you check in! Really suffered with the altitude and how dry it was. Loved the excursions - especially to the geyser field and the mineral spring. Also loved seeing all the animals. and the observatory. Did not care for the food. Would like more options. Staff was very helpful and friendly and guides were knowledgeable and helpful.

Amazing staff. Very personal service to cater with my dietary requirements. They really went beyond any service I have had anywhere before. It is a lovely setting with amazing activities. It is expensive but great value for money given what is on offer.

Summary: This place is an unexpected surprise for being in the desert. The lodge is in a small town that’s over an hour away from the Calama airport. Getting here: This was a slight mess due to my delay from Atlanta to Santiago. It caused a domino effect of me missing my Calama connection and caused me to lose a night as part of my package. As I was able to finally connect with the hotel via WhatsApp and email they assured me they had my new flight info and would have someone meet me when I landed. This wasn’t the case. Luckily I spoke broken Spanish to a man who had a sign for Tierra Atacama and asked him if he knew anything about Explora. He said he drove for both lodges and called his boss who had to confirm with the Explora so I could hitch a ride. I wasn’t scheduled. When I got to the lodge everyone was already leaving for morning excursions so I was only scheduled for one in the afternoon. That gave me time to walk around the property to check it out. The explorations: All the excursions are included. Be mindful of the altitude. It can impact how you feel. Other guests were telling me about some med they were prescribed to help them acclimate faster? Not one for taking drugs u less absolutely necessary. I figured I was fine. These can start pretty early depending on the exploration. The UV is real so use plenty of sunblock. Layers are a must in winter as it can be chilly if not windy. It was really windy at Huayra. Bring your own Nalgene for water. They give you one but it’s metal and can be heavy. I didn’t get one here cu I think of the messed up flight and updated pickup. All good as I got one at my next lodge 😊 They have water fill stations which is nice and snacks. My favorite was going to Termas de Puritama because I liked the ending being in the hot springs and getting to see a vizchacha for the first time. Bring a swimsuit! The lodge has hot tubs and saunas even in winter to be used 😊 The hike to Volcán Blanco was hard but seeing vicuña was a great end. They have an in site observatory so if you get the chance please do this as you get to see the stars so clearly and you get some hot chocolate 😊 The guides: If you get an experienced guide this can be very informative. They have a few new guides so depending on your exploration it may be hit and miss when it came to the information provided. Example was when we went to the salt flats to see the flamingos. I asked a few very basic questions regarding migration patterns and general questions related to flamingos. Our guide didn’t know these basic questions. On other explorations such as Puritama when you get an experienced guide and you can tell how knowledgeable they are and it’s not just cookie cutter answers. Thanks Franco! The room: Nicely appointed with everything you need. There’s no tv for bed rot. This isn’t a place for it anyway. I even used the heater to dry socks. Works great! Highly recommended. Bring type C adapter. If you have a noisy neighbor you will hear them through the wall. It wasn’t too bad but I think I was lucky. The staff: The staff is very attentive and if there’s anything you need they will do their best to help. Maha the hostess was great and so was everyone else. The food: The buffet spread wasn’t bad. The food could use some work especially for those that are vegan. Not a ton of options. I didn’t go hungry but it was underwhelming.

What an other worldly location the Atacama is.!And the Explora Hotel was a fab location to explore this amazing area. The rooms are comfortable. The only downside was the bath opens to the bedroom design. Seems to be a design signature of the Explora. Also there was no information concerning the fact that the pool was not heated so a wintertime visit the pool is not a useable amenity . Activities guides were great with plenty of options including horseback riding and a small observatory on property.

Clean, spacious, excellent staff and the guides Flacco and Carolina were superb! Food and bar were great. The ability to unplug a bit was also welcome. I would go back today if I could!

We had a wonderful family experience. The food was delicious, the guides were kind and knowledgeable, and the places we visited were beautiful. The hotel service was excellent — very attentive and professional. Overall, a memorable trip

Explora Atacama is in an incredible location—truly one of the most beautiful and unique places we’ve ever visited. The team of expert guides made the experience even better. They are knowledgeable, friendly, and great at adjusting the activities to each person’s interests and fitness level. The excursions are well designed and there’s something for everyone—from relaxing walks to more active adventures. We loved the variety! The food was delicious, and the service throughout our stay was excellent. The only thing we would have loved is an extra night of astronomy—we had just one, and it left us wanting more. It was such a unique and magical experience. We’re now looking forward to discovering other Explora lodges—this was an unforgettable trip!