Tierra Atacama — Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama

Tierra Atacama felt like a hotel that may have been excellent in the past but is going downhill. Overall, our experience was mediocre and the price-quality ratio is unbalanced (especially in comparison to other Chilean hotels within this category).

The room was one of the best parts of the hotel. Bright and clean, comfortable beds, well-appointed bathroom, and some thoughtful touches such as beautiful bags and handy water bottles. However, there are some early signs of aging that you wouldn’t expect in a luxury hotel (e.g. cracks in the bath tub with some rust and ants coming through the cracks, chipped paint on the terrace).

The spa area is nice but in need of some love. The public outdoor jacuzzi no longer works and the private jacuzzi (which you can book at an additional cost or may be offered as part of your trip) has a bee infestation (= bees live inside the jets) and is full of chipped paint. The outdoor seating by the pool was comfortable but many seats were covered with bird poop.

While breakfast was excellent (with a wide variety of food including healthy options such as fresh muesli, delicious smoothies, and eggs made to your preference), the lunch and dinner food was most often not good. The basics (such as sandwiches or salads) were pretty good, but the three courses menu often had plates that were poorly executed or flavorless. Servers were friendly but service sometimes felt rushed and servers seemed to be lingering, making it hard at times to have a private conversation over dinner. Finally, we did not expect to receive a bill to tip at the end of every meal considering that we were on an all-inclusive package (it’d be smoother to just tip once at the end of the trip as done in other hotels).

The activities were solid but lacked attention to detail, especially in comparison to other Chilean hotels within this price category. For instance, the guide at the astronomy tour was uninterested and rushed through a poorly-put-together presentation at such speed that it was hard to understand him. (Still worth the trip if you’d like to see constellations and planets through an impressive telescope!) We were promised that tea and coffee would be available but nothing was offered and the bar at the hotel was closed upon arrival post activity. We did love that the hotel offers bikes and rides to the nearby town so you can venture out by yourself as well.

Last but not least, what stood out the most were the gaps in the customer experience across the board. When our flight got cancelled and we had to rush to the airport to ensure that we could make our (pricy) international connections, the girl at the front desk was uninterested and unhelpful. She claimed that no drivers were available and could not call a taxi without having to research cab companies first (delaying us even further). A solution was only offered once we requested for the third time to speak to the hotel’s manager. In case of a true emergency, you’d be left at your own devices in this hotel. Further, twice house-keeping came after 9:30pm while we were unwinding from the day. Nobody needs fresh towels twice a day, especially not that late at night and in a hotel that claims to be eco-friendly.

In short, this hotel is not worth its...

Be ready for one of the best experiences possible. Everything, from the hotel's conception to the smallest treat delivered to guests, seems carefully thought out to maximize feelings of well-being, warmth, and comfort. The hotel is enclosed by walls, following the traditional adobe and clay construction style typical of the region. The entrance is a beautiful walkway with gardens, water channels, and benches made of the clearest travertine marble, sourced from a nearby quarry.||||The main building, entirely made of wood, metal, and glass, features a cozy central fireplace and has just the right level of comfort. The common areas, swimming pool, and spa are equally excellent. The rooms need no further comment — they exude comfort, coziness, and sophistication.||||The hotel is committed to sustainability, whether through policies that minimize plastic use or by relying on renewable energy sources to generate electricity and heat water, a highly valued resource in the region.||||But the greatest asset of Tierra Atacama lies in its staff. The team is multilingual, extremely friendly, highly skilled, and truly, truly attentive. They will go above and beyond to ensure guests’ comfort and well-being. At all times, a smiling staff member will check in with you, asking if everything is okay, if you enjoyed a particular excursion, or if you liked your last experience at the hotel — and, most importantly, if there is anything else they can do to make you feel even better. The care and genuine kindness shown by the staff make the experience truly unforgettable.||||The service at the restaurant and bar is impeccable. At all times, they will offer you a drink or suggest something delicious for your next meal. The meals are exquisite, and the menu offers options to suit all tastes and dietary preferences. Vegan guests or those with ingredient restrictions will have no trouble enjoying their stay at Tierra Atacama.||||The housekeeping team is precise and meticulous. Every day, a small gift is left in the room for the guest — usually a carefully selected local product such as handmade wool items from local communities, desert salt, rica-rica (a typical Atacama herb), cosmetics derived from native plants, and even clothing pieces.||||Thanks to the hotel team, you won’t need to open a single door yourself. The concierges are attentive and carefully plan excursions to ensure guests acclimatize properly to the region’s altitude, allowing them to enjoy each outing comfortably and without discomfort. The guides are warm, highly prepared professionals — a true highlight of the experience. Their contagious enthusiasm elevates every tour, enriching the experience for guests from all backgrounds and cultures.||||The spa… what can be said about the spa? Perfect. Relaxation on a stellar level.||||There was not a single weak point, flaw, or shortcoming I could identify during my stay at Tierra Atacama. In short, if I had to sum it up in one...

Quite possibly the best hotel we’ve stayed at anywhere in the world. We were greeted at the airport by our driver, who had snack and water goodie bags waiting for us. When we got to the beautiful property, we were greeted by Asst. Manager Chris, who’s warmth and positive energy make it impossible to not be in a better mood after interacting with him. We were given a tour of the property and shown to our very spacious room, the highlights of which were both the heated floors and the outdoor shower. I now have a core memory of being able to stargaze while taking a shower one night. There is wifi throught the property, and while fast, the firewall and ssl settings need some attentions. Many apps just didn’t work because of SSL issues (they worked fine after turning a VPN on), and the content filter blocked me from accessing the website of a liquor store at home when I was checked to see if they carried the wine we had at dinner. ||We then met with the excursion team, who helped us plan out our itinerary from the many included excursions they have. There is a wide variety of excursions from laid back and scenic to adventurous hiking. Our crew prefers the former. The hot springs are a must visit. On an unforgettable excursion to the Tatio Geysers, upon returning to the van after a brief bathroom stop, we found a fox had made it’s way into our van, and had to be coaxed out by the park staff. The excursions are shared with other hotel guests, but they are still quite small. I think are largest group was 5 people in addition to our family. The guides and drivers are very knowledgeable and accommodating resulting in a great experience. We had to modify the itinerary a few times, once because of a rare thunderstorm and the other because of a local holiday which closed the national parks. The excursion team was great and reprogramming and keeping us informed. ||All meals are included as well. Breakfast is buffet style with eggs/pancakes made to order. Lunch and dinner are both three course with three options available for each, generally one meat, one fish, and one vegetarian. There is also an “alternative menu” with standard fare if you aren’t feeling the pre fixe options. The restaurant staff is excellent and friendly. Server Benjamin took special attention at learning about our family.||During the thunderstorm day, we took full advantage of the spa, with it’s heated indoor pool and amazing massages (massage was not included, but was very reasonably priced). The highlight of our stay stargazing with Adrian. We ended up going twice because the first time was fairly cloudy from storm that was rolling in. Both times we were the only ones there, which was shocking because it was an amazing experience. Adrian sets up a high quality telescope and explains all the things you’re able to see, how they were formed, and how far away they are. ||We will definitely miss Tierra Atacama. They’ve ruined us for every hotel stay...