Explora and Nayara Alto: luxury lodges in the Atacama
By Val Garibotti on 19th July, 2024
Thinking of going to the Atacama Desert? Treat yourself to a luxury lodge.
Treat yourself to a stay in a luxury all inclusive Atacama lodge. This is by far the best way to experience this stunning area of Chile.
I have just come back from a few nights in both Explora and Nayara Alto, luxury lodges in the Atacama, and although different, I recommend them both highly, for different reasons. They are synonym of luxury in the desert and because they offer all inclusive packages, you don’t have to worry about anything.
But which luxury lodge should you choose… Explora and Nayara Alto?
Read on, to find out which lodge I think you should splash your cash on.
But first, why the Atacama?
Think stunning endless landscapes, this region offers some of the most diverse and striking picture perfect views in the world. The geological formations are unique and breathtaking. From the otherworldly Moon Valley, to the Tatjo Geysers and the salt flats, you will be in awe of the desert’s natural beauty. And the starry skies at night alone are worth the trip!
Explora Atacama Luxury Lodge
The Explora brand is synonymous with deep explorations, knowledgeable guides, luxury facilities and amazing gastronomy. And the company’s offering in Atacama did not disappoint.
The lodge is set within walking distance to the town (about 15/20 minutes), it has a main building, and a courtyard where all the rooms are located. There isn’t a traditional reception, so you will be greeted by members of staff for your check in and if you need assistance during your stay, there is always someone in the main building that you can call on.
I was in a Catarpe room, spacious, bright and overlooking the fields. The bed was extremely comfortable and I was offered a complimentary Explora insulated water bottle to use during the explorations and to keep. One big plus, you can drink the tap water!
First class guides and explorations menu
The highlight of the stay? Explora Atacama truly has some of the best guides in the region. They go through a 3 months training so they know the desert inside out and they are super knowledgeable and friendly.
You choose the night before what excursion(s) to do the following day, which I liked, because it gives you a bit of flexibility, rather than committing on the very first day what tours to do. You will meet with the guides before dinner and they will go through all the possibilities, taking into consideration your likes, your fitness level and anything else that might be relevant.
They also have in-house the best and most powerful observatory in the region. It was a really wonderful experience to take a short walk at night in Explora’s grounds to reach their observatory and admire the starry night skies with the explanations of a guide.
Finally, some explorations are only possible with Explora, and this highlights how much they strive to offer truly unique experiences to their guests.
Amazing gastronomy
All meals were simply delicious. Breakfast and lunch are mainly buffet style with plenty of choice but there are also some plates that you can order and made fresh. One of the highlight was the trout ceviche lunch. I absolutely love ceviche and this one was so yummy, I ordered it twice!
Dinner is a la carte, and everything I chose was delicious. I think the chef is from Peru and all the dishes had a wonderful Peruvian influence and mix of world gastronomies. You know that Peru is one of the gastronomic capitals in the world, so you are in good hands when the chef is from there!
If you are hungry during the day, you can always find plenty of nutritious, healthy snacks in the main building, in fact, you should always bring some with you before the explorations. You can also order sandwiches from the bar, if you need something more substantial.
Would I stay again? Yes please!
I would definitely stay again at Explora Atacama. The only criticism is that the room didn’t scream luxury and the bathroom looked a bit tired. The rooms have been renovated recently with the exception of the en-suite facilities.
Overall, Explora is a wonderful choice if your main reason to visit the Atacama Desert is to truly discover all its hidden beauty. You simply cannot fault Explora’s tours and guides, and you can tell this is the brand’s main focus.
Nayara Alto Atacama Luxury Lodge
After Explora, I was lucky enough to spend a few nights at Nayara Alto too, it is a hard job, I know!
The lodge is bit further out of town, around 10/15 minutes by vehicle. It has a more ‘traditional’ set up as you will be welcomed by the friendliest reception staff in an open plan area where you can find the bar and indoor restaurant.
Such a wonderful welcome! One of the guides will also come and greet you and whilst the staff takes your bags to your room, you can have a chat with them to explore all the excursions on offer and to have a tour of the lodge (if you are tired after travelling, you can have this introductory chat after resting of course).
Lots of advice on the tours
They do listen to you, and find out what you like and dislike and they recommend you the best excursions to suit your wants and fitness level. You do commit at the beginning for the next days’ tours but of course you can change them if you let them know in advance, the night before usually, as all tours have a maximum of 8 passengers so they can fill up.
The lodge also offers the all inclusive private experience stay, in this case all your experiences will be private but it will come at a higher cost.
The choice of tours was really exhaustive, maybe not as much as Explora, and the guides were wonderful, very attentive to clients’ needs and knowledgable.
First class luxury
Nayara Alto really felt like a luxury lodge. The service was exceptional, all the staff will refer you by your name throughout your stay.
My Catarpe room was beautifully appointed, spacious and light, with all the amenities you expect including a coffee pods machine (and for me this is very important!), and the outdoor patio was a very nice touch, something I had missed at Explora.
The gastronomy was a real highlight. The lodge also organises outdoor barbecues a couple of times a week for lunch and the meal choices are plentiful to cater for all dietary needs.
Other highlights
Location location location! I loved that it was out of town in a very privileged area, you feel you are immersed in the Atacama. The lodge offers a free shuttle service to San Pedro de Atacama so you can still easily visit the town, just remember to book it in advance.
The pool areas are elegant and feel private, they have llamas on the premises, and the Spa offers a great menu of treatments (at an extra cost).
Nayara Alto also has a telescope, although not as powerful as Explora, but the plus side here is that, due to the lodge’s location, there is less light pollution so that you can enjoy those beautiful Atacama starry skies!
The service, always with a smile, to make sure you are enjoying your stay and a general manager, who is often around and comes to greet and chat with the guests.
So, which luxury lodge you should stay in? Explora or Nayara Alto?
Unfortunately I cannot answer, as both Explora and Nayara Alto are exceptional, for different reasons.
My advice? If in depth explorations and the best guides are your main priority, go for Explora as you simply cannot fault the range of tours and the knowledge of their guides. If you want a bit of both, wonderful tours but also a bit more luxury and relaxation, then you cannot go wrong with Nayara Alto.
A final word from Val
The Atacama should be visited at least once in your life, its dramatic landscapes are worth your time and money, and if you are holidaying in Chile, they will be very different from other regions in the country.
Explora and Nayara Alto are two of the very best luxury lodges in the Atacama so whichever you choose, you’re bound to have an incredible time.
I leave you with a lovely legend, that the guide at Explora told me when we were visiting the salt lake, it is courtesy of another luxury lodge in the Atacama, AWASI. Read the story here, enjoy!
Written by Val Garibotti
Top Travel Tip
“Travel is about discovery and digging under the surface of a country. Take your time, go off the beaten track and plan ahead if you can.”
– Valeria Garibotti – Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador & Galapagos, and Uruguay expert
