The honest review of Explora Atacama

We brought the kids and there was genuinely enough to keep everyone busy for days.

Between hiking, horseback riding, hot springs, eBiking and wildlife spotting (flamingos, guanacos, viscachas), our kids never ran out of things to do. The connecting rooms made logistics easy, and the kids' discount was a nice surprise given how expensive this region can get.

Even in a region that's getting more attention, Explora managed to keep us away from the crowds.

San Pedro de Atacama itself gets busier than you'd expect, but our guides consistently steered us toward quieter spots away from the main tourist sites. It's a much lower-crowd experience than Patagonia, even around the holidays.

This felt like being let in on a secret rather than a packaged tour.

The explorations gave us real wildlife encounters and huge dunes without feeling like a group tour at all. Food was consistently good and the bar was always ready when we got back. Staff went out of their way to remember small preferences and even made off-menu things happen for us.

“Explorations felt like us entering into a closely guarded secret”in their words

I kept a running list of names because so many people went out of their way for me.

Diego seemed to be everywhere and holding the whole place together. My guide Juliana was careful, knowledgeable and made sure I felt safe on every outing. Even the housekeeping team and drivers went well beyond what I expected.

My third visit, and this time as a paying guest rather than a business trip, told me exactly what this place is and isn't.

The lodge is comfortable but not plush, and the food is nourishing rather than showy. The real standouts are the guides and property staff, who are multilingual and genuinely accommodating. Some excursions are tougher than advertised because of the altitude rather than fitness, so it's worth confirming your acclimatization plan in advance.

The setting alone, a low-slung lodge half-hidden in pampas grass, is worth the drive out from San Pedro.

Travel + Leisure·Jul 2023·

The property holds around 50 rooms alongside an observatory, two saunas and four lap pools, all tucked into swaying grasslands on the edge of the desert. It reads as a serious piece of architecture rather than a standard resort build.

After doing Awasi first, Explora's group format and food felt like a step down.

I've stayed at a few Explora lodges now and dining is consistently the weak link across the brand. The group excursion format here doesn't give you the one-on-one attention you get at Awasi. If personalization and food quality matter more to you than raw exploration depth, I'd look elsewhere in Atacama first.

Management confirmed on an AMA that a room refresh is planned, just not imminent.

The Atacama rooms are rustic and worn compared to Tierra's, which is clearly newer. I think of this place as an expedition company with a lodge attached rather than a five-star stay, and once you frame it that way the rooms bother you less. Food was fine for me since they handled my dietary restrictions well, though I get why some call it bland.

Five nights in and we were still saying we couldn't believe how good this was.

We never had more than 6-8 people on any excursion, which made a real difference. The food was consistently excellent and the property itself is beautiful. Every staff member made an effort to make us feel looked after.

I'm 6'2" and the bike fleet plus the paper-thin rooms made for a rough first day.

None of the bikes fit me properly for our cycling excursion, and back in the room things got worse: the plumbing is shared between rooms, so a neighbor's shower woke us early, then maintenance equipment and staff radios right outside our door kept us from napping. There's a visible gap under the door that lets every hallway sound through. Our guide Celeste and the dining staff were genuinely lovely, but the building itself undercuts a lot of that goodwill.

Bucket-list scenery, but I wouldn't call anything about the room or food luxury.

Non-working outlets, no functioning fan, no maintenance staff to fix any of it despite daily housekeeping. Food was mediocre and slow to arrive. The vans had broken AC and were, in my opinion, driven unsafely — wear your seatbelt. The Altiplano and Andes views are genuinely stunning, but don't come expecting a polished experience.

This was quiet, relaxed luxury done right, and the all-inclusive format made everything effortless.

We were nervous about altitude but had no problems across four full days of hiking and a trip to the altiplano lakes. Explora holds exclusive access to hikes within their Puritama springs reserve, which felt special. Staff, especially Chris, Max and Eric, went out of their way for us the whole trip. Ironically the lakes excursion itself was the one crowded spot we found in an otherwise quiet corner of the world.

“Explora Atacama was quiet, relaxed and restrained luxury at its best.”in their words

We've traveled to over 100 countries and this was the worst customer service experience we've had.

A week before our trip, my father had a cardiac emergency requiring surgery, and his doctors told him not to travel. We sent medical documentation immediately. Explora initially said we'd forfeit the full payment and could only rebook by paying again, and even after that position softened, we sent roughly 40 unanswered calls and 25 unanswered emails. The only call we ever got back from them was to ask for more money.

“The only call we received from Explora was to request additional payment”in their words

This was the first stop of a longer trip and it set an impossibly high bar for everything after.

Our guide Mattias and driver David were friendly, capable and clearly cared that we had a great time. We mixed hikes and scenic outings across the geyser area, wildlife viewing and Valle de la Luna, and every single one felt worth doing. The lodge itself is beautiful and peaceful, and every detail from the design to the daily flow felt intentional.

This was our first stop on a longer Explora trip through Bolivia, and it started things off perfectly.

The lodge felt calm and polished from the moment we arrived, with comfortable rooms and grounds that clearly get looked after. Our guide Mattias and driver David made the logistics effortless while packing in geysers, wildlife and Valle de la Luna without ever feeling rushed. Meals were consistently excellent and the whole operation felt properly professional, not just well-intentioned.

For a family with wildly different fitness levels, this was the first nature trip that actually worked for everyone.

We could tailor each day to individual interest and ability, which had never been possible on previous nature vacations. The setting, food and service were all genuinely excellent. The desert itself is punishing though: heat, UV, dust and especially the altitude took a real toll on us, so go in prepared and drink constantly.

You pay a lot up front, but between food, drinks and every excursion being included, I felt like I basically couldn't afford not to go.

The staff arranges everything to your preference, and your excursion schedule gets planned the night you arrive and can be changed anytime. Maureen the manager made a real effort to understand what I actually wanted from the trip, and that same personal touch ran through the whole team. Spa treatments aren't included but the massages were great, and by day two everyone on staff knew me by name.

“By the second day everyone knows you by name!”in their words

This was active luxury, not pool-lounging luxury, and I was up at 7am most days without regret.

Four days, three nights, eight tours including stargazing twice, and I never felt over-scheduled. The guides worked with me to build a version of the desert experience that matched what I actually wanted. Food leaned into local products and herbs, some dishes landing better than others, and turndown service came with a sweet and a note every night.

“I felt appreciated for my presence and not my money”in their words