In-Depth Review of Tierra Atacama in Chile - AFAR

"Reopened in April 2025 after a $12 million renovation, I found this reimagined luxury lodge just outside San Pedro de Atacama to be a stylish, place-driven retreat that blends Indigenous Atacameño design with high-design modernism. The 28-room, Baillie Lodges property—set on a former cattle corral behind adobe walls—offers expansive suites (my 750-square-foot suite had floor-to-ceiling glass, a plunge pool, lenga wood paneling, travertine floors, a soaking tub, a suspended sculptural fireplace, and an indoor/outdoor shower) alongside smaller but cleverly designed rooms that make use of outdoor spaces. Curated Chilean and Indigenous artworks and crafts (volcanic liparite carvings, handwoven llama and sheep-wool textiles, ceramics, contemporary photography and installations) give the interiors cultural depth, and nightly turndown gifts like fig-scented candles and hand-knitted slippers add charm. All meals and house drinks are included in the rate (from $1,870 per person per night), with rotating three-course menus that highlight desert-foraged herbs and local proteins—standouts included guanaco loin, corvina ceviche, trout with abalone, and locally inspired items like chañar ice cream—while convivial events such as a backyard “Noche de Fuego” asado brought guests together. Service is attentive and enthusiastic, accessibility-conscious on property though not for off-site vehicles, and the lodge positions itself as a base for active desert excursions and deep engagement with the region’s culture and night skies." - Nicholas DeRenzo