Fodor's Expert Review Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa

Camino Pukará, San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta, 1410000, Chile Fodor's Choice

No other hotel makes you feel quite as part of the Atacama Desert landscape as Alto; set in the middle of the Salt Mountains Range (Cordillera de la Sal), this 42-room luxury retreat is a surprising oasis in a desert that seems to extend endlessly in every direction. Guest rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated with local crafts and linens, large bathrooms, and private patios looking onto the attractively landscaped native gardens. Meals that showcase local cuisine and ingredients are served with Chilean wines in the main dining room or on one of two outdoor patios. Six outdoor pools and a world-class spa help make this a true getaway. The hotel organizes excursions tailored to all skill and fitness levels, from mountain biking and trekking to sightseeing and astronomy tours. Try the less conventional local gastronomy tour or an energetic walk through the cactus gorge. Rates might invoke some sticker shock, but prices do include all meals and drinks, daily excursions, transfers to and from Calama Airport, spa access, and use of mountain bikes. A bed-and-breakfast-only rate is also available. All water is taken from a well and later recycled, making this one of the most environmentally sustainable hotels in the area.

PROS

  • one-of-a-kind desert escape
  • excellent facilities
  • fantastic restaurant and service

CONS

  • expensive
  • far from town
  • weak Wi-Fi in rooms

QUICK FACTS

Resort
Countryside
Local Flavor
$$$$

HOTEL INFO

Phones: 1-844-865–2002-in U.S. | 56-2-2912–3900-in Chile

HOTEL DETAILS

42 rooms
Rate Includes: Free Breakfast

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