explora Atacama

This was the most amazing experience. Everything was five star., from the excursions which they accommodated upon your level of fitness and desirability, to the level of accommodation, customer service, food and general ambience. It was lovely to meet so many people from couples to families to individuals who are all very much like-minded and generally great fun. I was thoroughly recommend this experience. We stayed for four nights and had the most wonderful days with the tour guides and drivers

“Amazing“ can’t even begin to describe our experience at Explora lodge in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.

Super comfortable room with a view to the desert… Fantastic food… All meals and snacks and drinks are included in the total package…

We hiked in the valley of the moon… We saw flamingos in the salt flats… We climbed through a canyon to a hot Springs… We walked among geysers at 14,000 feet…

They offer everything from short van tours to short hikes to half-day hikes to all day hikes to multi day camping and hiking… Horseback riding is available… The staff is fantastic and incredibly knowledgeable and they are always waiting to take care of you…

We can’t wait to return to Explora… highly recommend

This was my 3rd visit to the property but the first time as a vacationing guest vs. business retreat. The lodge is comfortable but not plush and the food is nourishing but not over the top.
The stand outs are the guides and property staff, multilingual and graciously accommodating. Some excursions are a tad more taxing than advertised due to the high altitude but worth the effort. Confirm in advance suitability - it has nothing to do with fitness but everything to do with altitude adjustment.

Explora Atacama lodge is a fantastic way to experience the amazing Atacama Desert. All guides were hugely knowledgeable about aspects of the geology of the landscape and the flora and fauna of the area. The excursions were well thought out and planned.

We had the most wonderful time at Explora Atacama. We arrived from Calama and were picked up from the airport. The van was new and well maintained, as all of their transport was. The registration seamless and after lunch we signed up for a variety of explorations. We hadn't stayed at an all inclusive resort before but it made the trip so easy. We were concerned about altitude but we had no problems and did many hikes over 4 full days as well as a trip to the altiplano lakes. Explora own a reserve around the Puritama springs and only they have hikes within it. We thought Atacama was a quiet part of the world until we went on a trip to the lakes which was crowded. Who knew there were so many tourists!
Nothing was too much trouble for the staff. A huge shout out to them all and particularly Chris (and Max) and Eric.
Explora Atacama was quiet, relaxed and restrained luxury at its best.

The worst customer service experience we've ever had and we've traveled to over 100 countries.

One week before our scheduled departure, my father experienced a sudden cardiac emergency. He was hospitalized, required surgery, and was explicitly advised by his physicians not to travel for several weeks during his recovery. We provided medical documentation and doctor’s notes promptly.

Explora’s response, however, was deeply disappointing. We were initially told that 100% of our payment would be forfeited and that we could rebook only by paying again in full. While that position was later softened, the process was marked by an extraordinary lack of communication: 40 unanswered phone calls and approximately 25 unanswered emails. The only call we received from Explora was to request additional payment - not to respond to repeated inquiries about rescheduling options, timelines, or consideration for an unforeseen medical emergency.

This was, without question, the most frustrating and disheartening travel experience our family has ever had. Sadly, based on this experience, we will no longer be recommending the Explora brand.

Explora Atacama was the first stop of our Explora Travesía and it set the bar extremely high. The lodge is beautiful, peaceful, and impeccably run—everything feels intentional, from the design to the service to how smoothly each day flows.
What made it special for us:
    •    People: Our guide Mattias and driver David were amazing—friendly, capable, and truly cared that we had a great time.
    •    Excursions: We did a mix of hikes and scenic outings (geyser area, wildlife viewing, Valle de la Luna) and every single one felt “can’t miss.”
    •    Service & comfort: The staff at the lodge were excellent—kind, quick to help, and consistently on top of details.
    •    Overall vibe: Luxurious without being stuffy; adventurous without feeling exhausting.
It’s hard to describe how effortless Explora makes an experience that could otherwise be complicated. We left Atacama already feeling like the trip was going to be something we’d talk about for the rest of our lives.

We stayed at Explora Atacama as part of the Explora Travesía (Atacama → Bolivia → Uyuni) and it was an incredible start to an unforgettable trip. From the moment we arrived, the lodge felt calm, polished, and deeply thoughtful—beautiful grounds, comfortable rooms, and service that’s both warm and highly professional.

A huge shout-out to our guide Mattias and our driver David. They were outstanding: knowledgeable, upbeat, and seamlessly organized. The days were packed with unforgettable experiences—hiking near geysers, spotting wildlife, and exploring Valle de la Luna—and everything ran smoothly without ever feeling rushed. Mattias added so much context to what we were seeing, and David made logistics effortless.

The lodge staff also deserves real praise. Meals were consistently excellent, staff were attentive and proactive, and the overall operation felt genuinely world-class. If you’re considering Explora in the Atacama—especially as part of the Travesía—this is one of those rare “worth it in every way” experiences. Ask for Mattias + David if you can.

Absolutely amazing experience. It wasn’t just the setting, the food, and the service, although these were spectacular. It was the model: it’s all about the excursions. We have very different levels of interest and activity in the family, which has made “nature” vacations difficult previously. With Explora we could tailor each day to our individual levels and interests. This really worked for us. The Atacama Desert was awe-inspiring. I will say, though, it's a tough environment. Between the heat, the UV, the dust, the dryness, and above all the altitude, it takes a toll on the body. It's completely worth it, but be prepared and drink a ton of water.

We stayed at Explora Atacama for 4 nights and we had a fantastic time. Here are a few things worth knowing if you want to stay here.

1. For us, this was not a relaxing vacation. When you arrive, they give you a schedule, and your day is full of events. You rarely sleep in, and often need to wake up early. Here is a typical day: wake up at 6AM, eat breakfast at 7AM, morning guided tour at 8AM, eat lunch at 12PM, meet the exploration team at 3PM, afternoon guided tour at 4PM, eat dinner at 8PM. It feels like you are always going from one event to the next.

2. Overall, the food was fantastic. The menu uses fresh ingredients (fruits, vegetables, salads, ceviches), and local plants and fruits that are found in the Atacama region. The dishes were simple, but they were always well prepared. We also really enjoyed the fresh juices and ice creams made with local ingredients. That said, some of the food was a little salty - almost as if two different kitchens were preparing the meals. And both of us got an upset stomach after one meal, but this was just a minor issue.

3. We thought the facilities were beautiful. People complain about "outdated" rooms, but we thought they were very well designed, with remarkable attention to detail. While it is not exactly luxurious, it feels more like staying in a Frank Lloyd Wright house. The beds are very comfortable, and the tub and shower were great.

4. We had mixed opinions about the pool facilities. The hotel has 4 pools, 2 hot tubs, and 4 saunas, which means you can get private (or secluded) access to them. However, the pools and the hot tubs were very cold and very few people used them. This was the first hot tub that I had to leave because the temperature was too cold.

5. The explorations were great. We really enjoyed our trips with Paolu, who was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic, but not all guides had the same depth of expertise. It seems like they encourage everyone to do the same set of "popular" explorations. When we wanted to do a less popular one (the Camino del Agua), we couldn't do it because they did not know if the road was open.

A few other notes:

1. If you want to see the night sky, check the lunar calendar before you plan your trip! You will not see the stars during a full moon.

2. If you have a late departing flight, it can be quite expensive to eat lunch that day (~$120 per person). Your only other option is to walk into town.

3. If you visit in the spring, the pool and hot tub might be too cold to use.

4. There is no air conditioning. (It seems like it would get hot in the summer)

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!