5 reasons why exploring Atacama is a unique experience

The safety and wellbeing of its travelers is fundamental for Explora, winner of the "World's Leading Expedition Company 2021" prize at the World Travel Awards for the third year running, which is why we've worked hard to strengthen our safety protocols to receive you in the best way possible and ensure that you have an unparalleled experience.

This is why we invite you to get to know San Pedro de Atacama and its surroundings, one of Chile's most enigmatic territories. The oasis, the altiplano, and the desert surprise us with landscapes that seem to be taken from another world, offering us endless exploration horizons. Here we give you five reasons why you have to experience the Explora lodge in Atacama.

1. All-inclusive experience

At Explora we want to help you have your dream vacation, which is why our lodge offers an all-inclusive experience where we take responsibility for your accommodation, meals, transfers to and from the airport,* and, naturally, all of the explorations you go on, be they hikes, bike or horseback tours, or expeditions, among others, always accompanied by your Explora guide.

The lodge has four swimming pools, as well as a sauna, steam baths and outdoor hot tubs for you to enjoy and so you can connect not just with nature, but with yourself.

San Pedro de Atacama is 100 kilometers (an hour-and-a-half trip) from Calama's El Loa airport and you will begin to connect with the landscapes of the Chilean altiplano on the way.

*Depending on your Explora program.

2. Observe the stars in the clearest skies in the world from our observatory

The sky above San Pedro de Atacama is one of the clearest in the world, ideal for observing the stars, planets, and all sorts of astronomical phenomena, and at Explora we have the privilege of being able to observe them in detail from our own observatory located in our lands. Inside a dome, the observatory has a powerful Meade 16” f/10 LX200R Advanced RD telescope with advanced optics and a 40 cm-diameter main mirror with high resolution and sharpness. Depending on weather conditions, you will be able to participate in a nocturnal observation of one of the most amazing shows nature has to offer.

3. Enjoy an exclusive pool in the Puritama Hot Springs

Covering 7,500 hectares, the Puritama Nature Reserve is a unique territory in the middle of the desert. It is a place that - unlike the rest of the region - does not stand out for its aridity, but rather for the opposite: the presence of water. Our travelers can explore its corners between the river and the walls that form the gorge, passing through the habitat of the Andean Cat, one of the least studied endangered animals in the world. After the hike our travelers enjoy exclusive access to the first of the eight pools in the Puritama Hot Springs. Contact with these waters at 32°C is a revitalizing experience for both the body and the spirit.

4. Special lessons for exploring on horseback

Horses are an important part of the Explora experience and have been our faithful companions in the history of exploration. Touring the desert and its landscapes on horseback gives different perspectives and sensations from those obtained on foot, which is why we offer our travelers horses especially trained to explore the geography of the desert. If you're a beginner, we offer special classes that will allow you to participate in the appropriate horseback exploration programs for new riders.

5. Biking through the altiplano

At Explora we believe that exploration possibilities are infinite and that is why we are constantly looking for new routes along which to expand our horizons. As part of this search, this year we created the first bike route through the altiplano, offering our travelers a unique and exclusive experience touring the area.

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