In The World's Driest Desert, Chile's Tierra Atacama Debuts Next-Level Luxury

Forbes

a day ago

Sunset over the desert at Tierra Atacama Diego Marin
Studded with snow-capped volcanoes and vibrant, technicolor lagoons tinted by the mineral richness of untouched soils, the landscapes of Chile's Atacama Desert feel more Martian than earthly.
It's amidst this desolate yet dreamy environment—the driest non-polar desert on the planet—that the renowned Tierra Atacama unveils an ambitious renovation, and a luxurious experience intrepid travelers might not expect from such a spot.
Tierra Atacama first debuted in this remote region of northern Chile in 2008, repurposing age-old adobe mud walls within a modern design spearheaded by Chilean architects Rodrigo Searle and Matías González. From the start, the award-winning hotel has felt transformative in a destination that feels totally raw and removed. Located on the edge of the tiny town of San Pedro de Atacama, it sits on the outskirts of one of the few outposts in the expanses of the Atacama Desert, once referred to by Charles Darwin as 'a barrier far worse than the most turbulent ocean,' for its unforgiving and impassible expanses.
After a twelve-month closure, the luxury property now welcomes guests back to a new experience unique to a destination brimming with unexpected appeal. Rather than go bigger, Tierra Atacama went more intentional and more intimate, reducing the number of suites from 32 to 28 to create a more exclusive and expansive feel. Four of the transformed suites at the property now feature private plunge pools and offer a dedicated vehicle and guide ready to whisk visitors away on bespoke expeditions and customized activities across the remote region.
In addition to updated suites, the property also added thoughtful features like enhanced common spaces like a sunken lounge space featuring front-row views of the untouched areas around the property. A renovated spa now offers an oversized treatment room for couples and an enhanced menu of wellness experiences, a pillar of the Tierra Atacama experience.
Freshly redesigned rooms at Tierra Atacama pay homage to local landscapes, textures, and design Tierra Atacama
Dining has always been a focus at Tierra Atacama, and with the addition of new culinary spaces and experiences for guests, it's even more memorable. Menus highlight dishes deeply influenced by regional cooking traditions and techniques, served in dining rooms that look out onto sweeping plains and soaring volcanoes. A new wine cellar houses an impressive collection of Chilean wines, themselves an increasingly popular draw to the country from visitors from all parts of the world.
It's just one way that with the property's renovation, deep local roots and connection have come first, even in the smallest of ways. "We have been very deliberate in choosing to use local materials, furnishings and arts and crafts," said Miguel Purcell, the founder of Tierra Hotels and a leader in the property's redesign. "Construction services from the region as part of the works [also] benefit and involve the community at every stage of the process."
The property's new color palette pulls from the neutral, earthy tones of the landscape and the deep blues of the daytime and evening sky so emblematic of the remote destination. Natural materials sourced locally were prioritized throughout. As part of the project, more than 40 local artisans and designers contributed decor, artwork and design aspects to the property's interior. Rather than an escape from the Atacama Desert, Tierra Atacama becomes an extension of it —an homage to it.
Tierra Atacama sits amidst the dramatic landscapes of Chile's Atacama Desert Tierra Atacama The Atacama Desert
It is the destination, after all, that has long drawn intrepid travelers to reach this remote destination. Despite the area being so remote, it's arguably one of the most stunning in the world, home to sites like Laguna Colorada with bright red waters where brilliant pink flamingos feed and a stretch of desert that looks so surreal it is named after Salvador Dalí. Just across the border with Bolivia sit the Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats, famous for flooding over during the rainy season and creating a perfect mirror of the bright blue sky above.
The Atacama Desert is known for its inky black skies, considered one of the best on Earth for stargazing. The combination of the desert's high altitude, remote location and crystal-clear, cloudless skies is so enviable that it's home to some of the world's most important telescopes, with even more coming soon.
Tierra Atacama guests don't have to go far to get close to some of the area's most impressive landscapes; after all, the stunning Licancabur Volcano overlooks the property. However, the property's thoughtfully planned and locally led excursions range from bike tours to jeep excursions and are each designed to highlight the best of this beautiful, bare region.
The debut of Tierra Atacama's remarkable renovation is, therefore, more than just an aesthetic change; it is a significant experiential one.
Tierra Atacama overlooking Licancabur Volcano on the border between Chile and Bolivia Tierra Atacama Luxury Redefined
"It has been a privilege to have been entrusted with the stewardship of Tierra Atacama's legacy, while taking the property to a leading position of luxury experiential lodging in Chile," says Purcell. Together with its Chilean sister property, Tierra Patagonia, and the rest Baillie Lodges' growing portfolio of lodges in remote regions around the world, Tierra Atacama feels set to redefine luxury. Here, luxury as more than just a laundry list of amenities, but a one-of-a-kind connection to one of the world's most beautiful places