Our Habitas Atacama perches high on an arid plateau in the Andes Mountains, on the outskirts of oasis-town-turned-tourist-hub San Pedro de Atacama. This holistic retreat looks out over a dramatic, almost Martian landscape that glistens with salt flats, volcanoes, and hot springs, calling to adventurers everywhere. Rarely does a getaway get you this far away.
The hotel itself is a fusion of the contemporary and the traditional, with its 51 lodgings (a mix of cosy rooms, spacious suites and studios) beautifully decorated in earthy tones and featuring stonework, tapestries, ceramics, and furniture sourced from regional artisans. There’s an onsite restaurant, a tranquility pool, and a wellness area offering everything from sound baths and massages to meditation and sweat lodges. Daily activities are designed to encompass art, culture, learning and food. And once you have unplugged and detoxed, the site becomes a base camp from which to explore and experience the jaw-dropping landscape which is one of the driest on earth – hiking, mountain biking, sandboarding and guided excursions are only a few of the choices on offer. At night, a communal feel takes over, with guests mingling, dining and sharing their adventures, often to live music from local bands and under a spectacular blanket of stars that feel almost within reach.
Highs
- That night sky – with 300 cloudless nights a year and zero light pollution, the Atacama is the best stargazing spot on the planet
- A great range of (often complimentary) daily activities, from astronomy classes to morning yoga, crafts and workshops, with cultural events most evenings
- The treatments and rituals in the wonderful spa
- The restaurant and bar take centre stage with a focus on local and seasonal ingredients
- The commitment to sustainability: water management, no single-use plastics, the menu is half plant-based, locally sourced materials and a tree-planting scheme all contribute to low impact
Lows
- The Atacama is remote and inhospitable, so opportunities to get out and about on your own are extremely limited. And it's 100km to the nearest airport
- You're at a high altitude in a desert renowned for bright sunlight and arid air, be prepared for these conditions
- The pool isn’t heated
- The rooms don’t have black-out curtains/blinds
Best time to go
The Atacama is a year-round destination, although September to December brings fewer tourists, warmer temperatures, and plenty of stargazing opportunities. During winter (April-August) the skies are clearer; in summer (Sept-March) there’s more flora and fauna. Avoid January and February if you’re into stargazing – it’s the rainy season. Remember that temperatures can change considerably during the day; it can be as hot as 35ºC during the day in summer and drop to 10ºC at night.
Our top tips
For an adrenaline rush, try a sandboarding tour from San Pedro to the Valle de la Muerte (which means Death Valley but is actually a mistranslation from the French marte, meaning Martian). Shimmering sands and red rock abound in this adventure moonscape, and the climb to the summit of the slopes provides a burst of cardio and the chance to see the desert from another perspective. We recommend the 4pm tour because the evening light is gorgeous.
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 1 independent review from i-escape guests
The location is unique and beautiful, the staff are all so kind and helpful and well organized. The company they use to arrange the excursions are excellent, strongly recommend. Room was excellent. well designed, nice mix of indoor and outdoor space, well lit, great materials. Fridge, shower, all excellent. Pillows were too soft and big and a bit uncomfortable but that may be personal preference. Food was good. We are vegan and so we expect more limited options when traveling and Habitas made sure that we always had options to eat, it wasn’t repetitive over 4 days and certainly one of the more considered food selections we had when traveling. We did have two meals (an expensive Christmas dinner and a risotto) which were very undercooked and we couldn’t really eat as a result. Not a big deal in the context of having available vegan options but not great either. Service was excellent. Staff were so kind and friendly and helpful. WhatsApp communication was very fast and informative and reliable. Great facilities on offer and felt that they went out of their way to make things happen for you. Overall a really unique experience in a stunning setting. Take part in the excursions organised with Trekana. They have amazing guides. The star gazing and the geysers at El Tatio were our favourites but they were all great. We loved meeting the farmer at Hiertos de Tocanao as part of the Salar excursion. Also make time to visit the town of San Pedro. It’s small and doesn’t need a lot of time but is worth seeing.
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