Explora en Atacama, at Hotel de Larache

Chile
Latin America

The Experience

An oasis of hip design and comfortable living on the edge of the Andes Mountains and the desert, Hotel de Larache is cobbled together from 20 small farming plots, drawing inspiration from the traditional estancias of northern Chile. Rooms are arranged around large patios and several inviting outdoor pools, where you can gawk at snow-capped volcanoes while floating on your back with cocktail in hand. It normally takes a couple of days to adjust to the altitude (10,000 feet), but once the heart and lungs are acclimatized, guests can dig into several dozen adventures that Explora undertakes in the area, including biking through the eerie Valle de la Luna, horseback riding through the Atacama dunes and flamingo-watching along the edge of local salt lakes. One caveat: Getting here requires a two-hour flight from Santiago and a 90-minute drive straight through the Atacama.

The Rooms

The overall effect is "rustic chic"—earthy handmade furniture and rich tartan fabrics set against whitewashed brick walls and wood-beam ceilings. For a place in the middle of nowhere, the rooms aren't big, coming in at around 335 square feet. Still, you're here for the nature, and outdoor sitting areas provide incredible views of mountains and desert, while private whirlpool tubs provide a venue for romance or recuperation from the day's physical activity.

The Service

Given the extreme seclusion, the service at Hotel de Larache is actually pretty good. The management tries to go that extra mile, especially when it comes to special requests, but the logistics of the remote locations may preclude certain desires at certain times. The adventure guides are great, but request one of the veterans—they tend to know a lot more than the rookies.

The Highlights

With the nearest restaurant about 20 minutes away, you're basically stuck with what the hotel offers in the way of grub. But count your blessings because it's not half bad; there's a choice of two entrées for lunch and dinner, plus a rather lavish breakfast buffet. When guests aren't gallivanting through the local countryside or exploring destinations like Argentinean Patagonia, they can grab a quick massage beside the hotel's own natural hot springs, learn more about the region by browsing maps and books in the Explorer's Room, watch Discovery Channel documentaries on the one TV, or sip Chilean cabernet on the patio overlooking 18,300-foot Cerro Láscar volcano.

 

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