See inside a new hotel in Chile where you’ll feel you’re sleeping on Mars
Salt flats that sparkle. Volcanoes that poke through the sky. Teal lagoons with pink flamingos. These are the wonders that await visitors to San Pedro de Atacama, a resort town in northern Chile’s Atacama Desert, which is the driest (non-polar) place on Earth.
The 51-room Our Habitas Atacama, which opened on September 15, is the most recent addition to a destination that rarely sees them. “The timing for Habitas is perfect because the Atacama is red-hot right now,” says Harry Hastings, founder of Plan South America, a bespoke travel company. He claims it’s one of his most popular destinations.
What distinguishes the property, according to Hastings, is not so much the design as it is the culinary ambitions. It’s the only luxurious hotel in the area with rates starting at $300 per night that aren’t all-inclusive. Its rates are significantly lower than those of competitors such as Awasi, Nayara, and Explora, which can charge up to $1,000 per person per night.
Anyone who has flown on a low-cost airline knows that unbundled rates can quickly add up — especially when the point of visiting a desert is to get out and explore it, whether by horseback riding across towering sand dunes, hiking through geysers, or quad biking across the Valley of the Moon. Nonetheless, Hastings says he recommends the property to clients who want to explore the desert at their own pace.
The Atacama outpost is the latest location for Our Habitas, a company founded on the principles of sustainable design, cultural experiences, and community empowerment. It is the company’s first outpost in South America and exemplifies the brand’s rapid rise: Since 2016, Our Habitas has expanded from a single boho-chic hotel in Tulum, Mexico, to 11 locations on four continents. (Recently, the company raised eyebrows by announcing a $400 million expansion in Saudi Arabia, where it plans to build at least four individual lodges.)
According to Chief Executive Officer Oliver Ripley, a notable aspect of the property, which is a conversion of the former Altiplanico Hotel, is how it preserved the sturdy adobe bones while upgrading its interiors—a combination intended to reduce the carbon footprint (and cost) of building the new lodge.
Ripley says that when looking for new opportunities for Our Habitas, “there is always an emphasis on discovery, adventure (and) nature.” He found them all in the Atacama, thanks to the destination’s strong Atacameo identity and otherworldly landscapes where NASA tests instruments for use on Mars.
From a steamy sweat lodge to hyperlocal desert cuisine, here’s a look at some of the most unique features at the new Our Habitas property.
There are numerous local design touches.
The 51 rooms are designed to feel like traditional Atacama homes, with thick clay walls made of temperature-controlling adobe and grass roofs lined in brea, a native flowering plant. Pottery and wall tapestries are made by Atacameo artisans in neighboring ayllus (Indigenous-run communities), while the sturdy wood furnishings are made by Chilean artisans in the country’s forested south.
Recycled materials are incorporated into the design.
Our Habitas made a point of “reusing and relocating existing elements of the hotel in new and exciting ways,” according to Ripley. As a result, the former Altiplanico’s steel security gate now serves as the foundation for the new bar. Similarly, bricks from an exterior wall are now used to tile the restaurant, and clay sun blockers that were previously used to shade the parking area now serve as roofing for the wellness zone.
The spa emphasizes Atacameno practices.
The clay sweat lodge, or temazcal, which is common among Indigenous groups in the Americas, is a highlight of the Atacama property. As a trained guide from the Collasuyo Indigenous community pours herb-infused water atop fiery volcanic stones, heating the dome-like lodge with increasing levels of steam, users declare their intentions for the experience. The goal is to detoxify your body while also relieving mental stress. Other Indigenous-inspired wellness treatments include a holistic Willka Kuti massage named after an Indigenous Amyara solstice celebration, which uses energizing coca leaf oil. Another option is a Maqui Facial, which uses the antioxidant-rich endemic maqui berry. Chakra alignments and Andes-inspired meditation sessions round out the extensive wellness menu, which costs $100 for a 60-minute Maqui Facial and $170 for a 90-minute Willka Kuti massage.
Dishes have a tendency to tell a story.
The onsite restaurant Almas (“souls,” in Spanish) takes a “earth-to-table” approach, attempting to share the history of the Atacama through flavor by incorporating as many endemic ingredients as possible. A red quinoa risotto with salty cachiyuyo leaves or fresh razor clams from the Atacama coast sprinkled with minty and citrusy rica-rica are two dishes that feature native herbs. (It also works well in pisco sours.) Others, such as the lamb chop baked in a traditional clay oven, highlight regional cooking techniques. Chef Guillermo Riviera Reyes’ menu includes kalamata-like olives from the nearby Azapa Valley, plates strewn with Socoroma’s prized high-altitude oregano, salad dressings based on the hazelnut-like legume chaar, and a flan made with the tamarind-shaped pods of the algarrobo trees that tower above the property.
Excursions reveal strange sights
Our Habitas is unique among San Pedro’s upmarket hotels in that its (much lower) room rates do not include guided adventures. Guests can choose from a variety of excursions (ranging from $100 to 275 USD per person), including hikes and scenic drives up to the high-altitude plateau, or Altiplano, on the border with Bolivia and Argentina. Visitors will find flamingo-filled lakes, blinding-white salt flats, and lagoons so saline that swimmers bob on the surface like human ice cubes in parks such as Los Flamencos National Reserve. El Tatio, the largest geyser field in the Southern Hemisphere, is located further north and is filled with gurgling mud puddles, sputtering fountains, and prismatic pools.
Cultural encounters are free.
Although the hotel is not all-inclusive, some wellness activities (such as yoga classes) and the majority of cultural programming are free of charge — all part of the hotel’s plan to “emphasize the importance of experience,” according to Ripley. Sound baths and movement classes assist visitors in tuning in to their surroundings and tuning out unnecessary noise. By night, the Atacama sky, which is studied by astronomers all over the world due to its near complete lack of cloud cover, moisture, and light pollution, provides a priceless spectacle. In the evenings, local Atacameno musicians perform Andean music (think panpipes and flutes). Workshops on ceramics and medicinal plants help guests appreciate local arts and traditional wisdom, despite the fact that only two Indigenous people work on the staff. (Ripley and hotel staff declined to comment on how much the Indigenous community influenced the cultural programming; the programs are typically offered multiple times per week.)
The setting combines village life with breathtaking views.
The hotel’s location on the outskirts of San Pedro (population 5,000, roughly the size of Moab, Utah) allows guests to walk to village museums, cafes, and craft markets — the main plaza is only a 12-minute walk down dusty roads — while also enjoying serene desert views that properties in town cannot provide. “I think you’ve gotten the best of both worlds,” Hastings says. “There’s easy access to town and easy access to get out of it.”
The grounds are meant for walking
Outdoor pathways wind through the property, past spiky cacti, feathery foxtail grasses, and a newly planted herb garden. The hotel, according to Ripley, “encourages guests to wander around and take different daily routes to explore and discover new corners.” He goes on to say that the ultimate goal is “total immersion into the natural world.” Nonetheless, there is plenty of space for guests to connect and communicate with one another.
Cocktails by the pool include a view. Guests tan by an L-shaped pool overlooking a bushy tapestry of desert flora while sipping pisco cocktails and sauvignon blancs or semillons from Chilean valleys with cooler climates, such as Itata or Casablanca. The poolside menu includes light plates like ceviches and lamb-filled empanadas.
The rooms are distinct. The hotel has four distinct room types, all of which are designed to soothe sunburned eyes with soothing earth tones. The Pioneer Studio (starting at $300) is the smallest and sleeps two people in a plush, king-sized bed. The Adventure Room (from $345) is slightly larger and includes an extra lounge chair. The Explorer Suite (starting at $360) is nearly twice the size of the Pioneer Studio and includes a desk for remote work. The Trekker Villa (starting at $450) is the largest option, with a private terrace that comes in handy after sundown as the Milky Way flickers in the dark sky. Wood-carved floor lamps with hand-woven shades and outdoor rain showers are standout room features that are ideal for washing away the dust of the desert.
