AWASI ATACAMA
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
THE PERSONALITIES
Adventurers. Stargazers. Quiet seekers. Photographers. Desert dreamers.
MOMENTS
Steam rising at dawn from El Tatio geysers. Stars blanketing the desert night. Flamingos mirrored in salt flats. Silence echoing in Moon Valley.
BEST VISITING MONTHS
The Atacama Desert is a year-round destination, with each season casting a different spell. From December to February, warm days and clear skies make it ideal for stargazing. March to May brings cooler air and golden desert light, perfect for hiking and photography. Winter (June to August) sees crisp nights and surreal clarity in the skies, with fewer crowds. September to November is a sweet spot for pleasant temperatures, flamingo sightings, and vibrant desert blooms after rare rains.
COST
WHY STAY
Awasi Atacama is a desert sanctuary where luxury and authenticity meet in one of the world’s most otherworldly landscapes. Set in the heart of San Pedro, the retreat is defined by its deep connection to land, culture, and ecology. Each villa, crafted from adobe, stone, and wood, blends seamlessly into the desert terrain, offering privacy, stillness, and sweeping views of mountains and skies ablaze with stars. The experience is intimate and highly personal, with every detail rooted in honoring place.
The architecture here is an ode to the desert itself. Inspired by traditional Atacameño dwellings, the villas and common spaces echo the earthy tones of sand and clay, designed to merge into the landscape rather than stand apart. Rounded walls soften corners into curves, open-air courtyards channel desert breezes, and natural materials ground the interiors in authenticity. It is a design language of humility and harmony, proving that luxury can be found in simplicity and in respect for the land.
Awasi’s philosophy is built around balance: ecological responsibility, cultural respect, and wellbeing. Stargazing becomes meditation. Silence becomes wellness. Nights here dissolve into constellations, and days unfold in rhythm with the desert.
WHY WANDER
Every journey here is tailor-made. From the moment you arrive, a private guide and 4x4 vehicle are assigned to you, ensuring that your itinerary mirrors your curiosities. This means freedom: to bike across vast plains, to climb dunes and try sandboarding, to sit in the glow of Moon Valley or Death Valley as light transforms stone into fire.
Soak in the thermal pools of Puritama, watch geysers erupt at dawn at El Tatio, or share a picnic at Salar de Tara as flamingos drift across the salt flats. Trace the hues of Rainbow Valley, wander ancient lava fields, or circle the shadow of the Licancabur Volcano. Every outing feels expansive yet personal, balancing adrenaline with awe.
INDULGE IN
Dining at Awasi Atacama is a celebration of the desert’s hidden abundance. Menus are crafted with ingredients sourced from local producers and infused with Andean traditions, reinterpreted through contemporary techniques. Expect vibrant flavors born of quinoa, corn, purple potatoes, chañar (a meaty, sweet fruit). Meals are intimate and memorable, whether enjoyed in the shade of an adobe courtyard or beneath a canopy of stars and paired with Chilean wines from across the valleys and mountains.
GETTING THERE
Fly into Calama Airport (CJC), about a 90-minute drive from San Pedro de Atacama. From there, Awasi arranges private transfers through desert roads, leading you into the heart of the Atacama.
GREEN FACTOR
Awasi is a leader in conservation-focused hospitality. The property offsets the carbon footprint of each stay and protects over 300 hectares of native forest in Patagonia, creating wildlife corridors for endangered species like the puma. Locally, the hotel sources building materials, crafts, and cuisine from the Atacameño community, ensuring that cultural heritage and ecological balance remain at the heart of the guest experience.
*Images property of Awasi Atacama