"Wrap yourself in the remote beauty of the world’s driest desert with the reopening of explora Atacama. The hotel located at San Pedro oasis in the heart of the Atacama Desert reopened December 21, 2016. The reopening follows the hotel’s full reconstruction from a fire that occurred late last year. First-time and repeat visitors alike will find a warm welcome waiting at explora Atacama, with the hotel newly rebuilt to perfection and new offerings including a significantly larger outdoor terrace space with views of Licancabur volcano, as well as new explorations for experiencing the remote desert beauty at every turn. The latter include the challenging new Andes bike exploration with a full day of pedaling along the highest mountain bike route in the altiplano to 14,858 feet above sea level; the Gato Andino full-day trek with moderate hiking up to 14,304 feet; and the Ruta de Auga full-day trek up to 12,529 feet taking in part of the Puritama Natural Reserve where the Andean Cat once made its home and ending at hot springs. Travelers can also experience the thrill of desert exploration on horseback with the half-day Ayllus ride above 8,000 feet with a visit to a small oasis alive with local orchards, and the demanding full-day Guatin ride to a maximum elevation of 10,334 feet en route to the small town of Gatchi cluttered with volcanic formations. As previously, the Explora Atacama experience also includes exclusive hot springs in the Puritama Reserve; a private observatory with astronomical sessions for travelers to peer through the world’s clearest skies at the wonders of the universe; the Explorer’s Bar for planning explorations, well stocked with liquors and Chilean wine; a spa area with four interconnected outdoor pools; and a sauna and outdoor Jacuzzis. The hotel’s horses have been bred specifically for the region, while the onsite fleet of high-performance bicycles is ready for exploration of the Atacama and High Andean plains. Everything at Explora Atacama is offered under the guidance of a Wilderness First Responder-certified team of experts who graduated from Explora’s own School of Guides. Editor's Pick: Gold List 2018"
