The Atacama of northern Chile is one of the most sublimely bleak and stunning landscapes on this planet and possibly others — if they were making a movie about Mars they could do worse than this vast red desert. The inhospitability of the place demands an extra measure of luxury from its lodgings, and it’s this contrast, between harsh surroundings and luxe interiors, that makes Atacamadventure so inspiring.
Calling it a hotel is perhaps a stretch; there are just two units here, a two-bedroom and a one-bedroom suite. Capacity is seven at most, so there’s a chance of sharing the living room and the communal kitchen (and dedicated cook) with at most a small handful of strangers. Otherwise it’s all yours: each unit constitutes its own wing, and comes with its own jacuzzi in its own luxurious bathroom.
Creature comforts are only half the package in an Atacaman eco-lodge — the other half is about unearthly expeditions. From desert plains to high mountains to hot springs, by foot or horseback, the whole Atacama is at your feet. There are day trips tailored to anyone’s taste, but for the aspiring adventurer there’s an overland trek to Bolivia, a four-day 4×4 campaign that takes in salt flats, hidden lakes and high mountain volcanoes.
author watson@mouselink.net, source www.tablethotels.com
