Latest news with #SanPedrodeAtacama
Forbes
29-06-2025
- Forbes
In The World's Driest Desert, Chile's Tierra Atacama Debuts Next-Level Luxury
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
Associated Press
10-06-2025
- Associated Press
Fernwayer Introduces Chile Tours for Cultural Immersion
From photo safaris in the world's driest desert to storytelling-led walking tours, Fernwayer's experiences showcase Chile's natural wonders and living culture. 'Beyond the deserts, glaciers and valleys, it's the human stories that bring places to life. At Fernwayer, we honor Chile's natural beauty while amplifying the traditions of those who call it home.'— Vinitaa Jayson SAN FRANCISCO, CA, UNITED STATES, June 10, 2025 / / -- Fernwayer, the marketplace for curated travel experiences, announces the launch of immersive experiences in Chile—a land of extremes in Latin America where vineyards thrive amid the bone-dry northern deserts and the glacial ice fields of the south and art spills out of every urban crevice. Launching in Santiago, Valparaíso and San Pedro de Atacama, Fernwayer's private tours in Chile are led by passionate hosts with deep ties to their communities. Travelers will hear about the country's journey to independence, meet artisans preserving and reinventing traditional weaving and metalworking crafts, see cities through the eyes of photographers and architects, and share a sobremesa dining experience that feels like family. 'Even today, it's Chile's breathtaking landscapes that first capture travelers' imaginations,' says Vinitaa Jayson, Fernwayer's co-founder. 'But beyond the deserts, glaciers, and valleys, it's the human stories that bring these places to life. At Fernwayer, we honor Chile's natural beauty while amplifying the traditions of those who call it home. We invite travelers to slow down, travel deeper, and forge lasting connections—walking ancient desert paths, chasing the shifting light across salt flats, cooking ancestral recipes, and tracing craftsmanship shaped by centuries of resilience. Each experience uncovers a different layer of Chile's landscapes, living culture, and enduring spirit.' Bringing this philosophy to life, Fernwayer's Experience Makers in Chile create moments of genuine connection with everyday life and living culture. Travelers will exchange stories over Completos and Sopaipillas, hand-purchase fresh fish at Santiago's oldest market, and prepare a meal from scratch in the home of a local chef. They'll also experience Chile's creative pulse through independent galleries and private studios, guided by the artists shaping the country's evolving cultural landscape. EXPLORING CHILE'S MODERN MOUNTAIN CAPITAL Fernwayer's private experiences in Santiago de Chile offer travelers a deeper connection to the city's history and vibrant modern culture. Far beyond a gateway, Santiago reveals itself through the eyes of Fernwayer's Experience Makers. Travelers might share a meal at beloved local restaurants, bonding with their host over Chilean specialties, join artisans in intimate workshops blending ancient traditions with modern innovation or wander the 'Mosaic Capital of the Southern Hemisphere,' discovering how street art speaks for local communities. For those eager to explore the world's longest mountain range, curated cultural experiences in nearby Los Andes invite travelers to connect with nature, agriculture, and astronomy. IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES IN CHILE'S CULTURAL CAPITAL Fernwayer's intimate walking tours explore Valparaíso's layered past as a seaport, naval base, and center for arts, poetry and resistance. Travelers will meander through the colorful, narrow streets of Cerro Concepción and Cerro Alegre while a Porteño artist divulges the hidden meanings behind the murals and connects the dots between street art and street eats. Creative spirits can follow a photographer who frames the city's secret corners through a fresh lens, or shadow an architect who dissects Valparaíso's hilly blueprint and teaches budding artists to sketch its iconic facades. For a more hands-on experience, travelers can join craft workshops woven with local stories and mythology. PHOTOGRAPHIC TOURS IN THE ATACAMA DESERT The Martian terrain of the world's driest non-polar desert inspire awe—but capturing their surreal beauty can be a challenge for the average traveler without a guide. Fernwayer partners with local photography experts who mentor travelers through the creative process, offering insights into both technique and terrain. Private photo safari tours take place from sunrise to twilight, helping participants create striking images while discovering the region's unique geology, flora, and fauna. Travelers can choose between one-day photography experiences in the Atacama Desert or multi-day expeditions for a deeper exploration. SAVORING CHILE'S GASTRONOMIC HERITAGE Chilean cuisine is far richer and more diverse than the familiar asado and empanadas. Fernwayer's curated culinary experiences connect travelers with seasoned chefs, market vendors, and passionate food artisans. In Santiago, travelers can barter for the freshest ingredients at the city's oldest markets, meeting vendors who have manned their stalls for generations. They'll roll up their sleeves to prepare cherished dishes rarely seen on restaurant menus, learning their roots in Indigenous traditions. Fans of Pablo Neruda can even recreate the poet's favorite recipes in a rhythmic cooking class inspired by his love of Chilean flavors. Further experiences in Valparaíso spotlight the bohemian spirit of this historic seaport, where travelers share plates and sample local beers and spirits in lively, creative spaces. UNCORKING THE WINES OF CHILE No meal in Chile is complete without a glass of vino tinto or vino blanco and every Fernwayer Experience Maker is fluent in the language of wine. Travelers can explore Chilean wines through intimate tastings at boutique wineries, meeting the winemakers who both honor and reinvent tradition. Wine experiences from Santiago and Valparaíso highlight the Aconcagua Valley, where travelers learn how Chile claimed the Carménère grape as its own, and the youthful Casablanca Valley, where the cool Humboldt Currents yield some of the crispest Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc in South America. ABOUT FERNWAYER Fernwayer is a curated travel platform that connects curious explorers with distinctive, locally-driven experiences across Italy, Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Croatia, Greece, Türkiye, Mexico, and now Chile. Offering an alternative to mainstream tourism, Fernwayer fosters meaningful interactions through immersive cultural engagements. Inspired by the German word 'fernweh' (an aching for distant, unfamiliar places), Fernwayer is dedicated to designing transformative journeys that benefit both visitors and the communities they encounter. Founded by entrepreneurs committed to redefining travel, Fernwayer champions experiences that are deeply personal, culturally rich, and lasting. Angelo Zinna Fernwayer +1 (415) 275-1567 email us here Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
