Tierra Atacama is a sleek, yet laid-back lodge located in San Pedro de Atacama, in northern Chile.
Tierra Atacama has long been a beacon in Chile’s high desert; it’s a place where the bones of the Andes loom large and the light seems to come from another planet altogether. After a transformative multi-million-dollar reimagining, it is more elemental and exacting than ever.
Set just beyond the adobe sprawl of San Pedro de Atacama, this is a lodge that understands silence, scale, and story. Built atop the crumbling remains of a 150-year-old cattle corral, it retains the ancient mudbrick walls of the original bullpen as a nod to its working past, while its new incarnation gestures firmly toward the future of desert hospitality. Fewer suites, more space, and a renewed emphasis on local culture and craftsmanship, this is a thoughtfully placed outpost, shaped by landscape and light.
What we love about Tierra Atacama
- A masterclass in design, with travertine marble from Calama, handwoven rugs, and more than 40 local artists involved in the interiors. Nothing is ornamental; everything is considered.
- Just 28 suites, four of them with private plunge pools, dedicated guides and 4WDs, signifying a serious step up for those after privacy and proper independence.
- The culinary direction is simple, regional, unfussy. Dishes are cooked over open flame beside the restaurant, served with wines from a proudly Chilean cellar. A new open kitchen allows you to sit within arm’s reach of the flames.
- A palpable respect for place. Atacameño traditions are honoured in both material and method, with a tight-knit team drawn from the surrounding communities.
- The fire-lit spa and new sunken lounge are ideal spots to peel off the day and lean into the desert stillness, especially when the stars show up to do what they do best.
- Tierra’s quiet commitment to sustainability, involving local sourcing, native landscaping, intelligent systems, and cultural integrity at every turn.
This is where the Atacama opens up as a palette of salt, sand, wind and space. Excursions are small-scale, privately guided if you wish, and tailored to pace and mood.
Hike across the shale ridges of Vallecito or through the technicolour folds of Rainbow Valley, where ancient petroglyphs whisper across the stone. Float in the high-salinity waters of Cejar Lagoon, or visit the pastel-hued village of Toconao on your way to the flamingo-laced flats of the Salar de Atacama.
If you’re in one of the new suites, you’ll have your own vehicle and guide, which means you can strike out early, skip the groups, and lose yourself in the sheer scale of it all. Come nightfall, there are few better places on Earth to look up. No filters, no interference – just the cleanest sky in the world and a Milky Way you can practically hear.
When to Travel
We recommend visiting the Atacama Desert between May to September. Clear skies, dry air, and perfect visibility are ingredients of the high season, which brings sharp desert light by day and ink-black skies by night. Daytime highs are pleasant, while temperatures drop with the sun, offering a welcome excuse to end the day fireside or in the spa. Come either side of peak season for a quieter rhythm and the rare, green flush that follows desert rain.
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