Seen Resort Overview: Regulate Atacama, San Pedro de Atacama
There’s an environment contained inside the partitions of Awasi Atacama that’s exhausting to elucidate.
A sort of calm which means you might breathe deeper and refresh.
A heat that makes you feel at dwelling amongst fastidiously curated décor, delicacies and design.
Then there’s the enticing stability of immersive journey, work and leisure.
It’s the kind of place you’ll eternally be grateful you stayed, someplace so in distinction to wherever else. For me, it was an inventive escape, an opportunity to search out the wildlife and pure wonders of the desert and Andean Altiplano, whereas specializing in my inventive course of, slowing factors down and actually taking the time to let all of it soak in. Locations like this are few and much between, and the Atacama Desert has continued to be someplace that fuels my creativity, a protect at Awasi took that one step additional.
Take a peek at my expertise beneath…
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Let’s skip to the primary night, for which we’d organized with our information and personal driver, Cecilia, to spend overlooking Lincancabur Volcano and the Mars Valley, merely exterior San Pedro de Atacama.
Photographing sundown is one issue I all the time try to do on the primary night time of a go to, since you by no means know what number of probabilities you’ll get at good situations, and correctly, the extra sunsets the higher…right?
After just a bit bit off roading, we arrived to the escarpment, with intensive views into the valley and within the course of the volcano. Having beforehand visited the Atacama Desert ahead of, I knew what to anticipate by way of the expansive scene nonetheless had questioned if I’d nonetheless be wowed the second time, the reality is, I needn’t have apprehensive.
Whereas photographing the pastel tones displaying all by the sky and patterns contained within the rocky panorama beneath, I turned to see Cecilia organising most certainly in all probability essentially the most stunning unfold of cheese, wine, and snacks full with a private desk and chairs.
Normally, after I’m out photographing landscapes, I’m a muesli bar on-the-go sort of gal, nonetheless this, was particular, it felt opulent even, nonetheless in most certainly in all probability essentially the most relaxed method, creating a beautiful setting to check out the photograph voltaic set and {{{photograph}}} till darkness took over.
This being our first day, meant we had been in for a mighty deal with over the following six days exploring the Atacama Desert and Altiplano.
THE LOCATION
Regulate the Atacama is positioned in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, contained in the coronary coronary coronary heart of the Atacama Desert. The closest airport is Calama, and it’s correct proper right here you’ll be collected from after arriving, with transfers on to the gates of Awasi. The journey takes merely over an hour and as well as you’ll have your eyes glued to the setting exterior, it’s like touchdown on one completely different planet…one which is ready to get bigger the nearer you arrive to your journey spot!
The property is an intimate retreat contained within the township of San Pedro de Atacama, and when you step contained inside the gates, you’re welcomed into an opulent desert oasis the place birdsong blends with the soothing sounds of water.
Nestled amidst the uncooked fantastic factor in regards to the desert, the driest, non-polar desert on this planet, Awasi Atacama instantly immerses you contained in the essence of the Atacama Desert’s distinctive geography. The drive from Calama Airport takes you by way of stretches of purple rock and salt flats, with the mighty Licancabur Volcano standing sentinel on the horizon.
Awasi is completely positioned for these searching for shut by web pages similar to the Valle de la Luna, Salar de Atacama, and El Tatio Geysers. Nonetheless, its secluded location furthermore ensures a peaceable escape after a day of journey.
THE DESIGN
With solely ten private suites, Awasi Atacama feels additional like a fantastically particular desert hideaway than a typical resort. The spherical rooms are designed with rustic magnificence, that options native picket, stone, and woven textiles that replicate the realm’s customized.
The furnishings and bedding are each bit as snug as they’re opulent. My favorite piece contained in the room was a surprising armchair, with plush cushions and picket detailing, it was perched and ready for anybody to sit down down down and write a e e-book, the simplest library chair!
Each suite comes with a spacious lavatory, walk-up bathtub tub, plus an indoor and an open-air bathe, good for stargazing whereas washing off the desert mud. I opted for an out of doors bathe and sprinkle contained in the sunshine after a swim ahead of having fulfilling with the snug private courtyard, full with deck chairs and umbrellas, ie. very afternoon nap worthy.
The communal areas are equally inviting, with the primary lodge providing an ethereal, open-plan consuming home and lounge that overlooks the pool. The design ethos correct proper right here is simple nonetheless refined, bringing the floor in with big dwelling house home windows and delicate, earthy tones.
Furthermore, I want to uncover the inventive elements weaved all by way of the reservation course of, the arrival paperwork, maps, wildlife guides and web site. The enticing watercolour work and design elements that popped up all by way of my protect had been so inspiring! I’ve saved every little little bit of paper and map as all of them felt like artworks, aligning with the ethos and environmental focus of Awasi.
THE LITTLE LUXURIES
When staying at a five-star resort or resort, a degree of luxurious and good service is to be anticipated, nonetheless at Awasi Atacama, the problem that surpassed all of my expectations was the seemingly pure and countless circulate into of surprises, part, and shock.
There’s such a excessive diploma of care and a highlight taken in service all by all fields, all the protect felt utterly carefree from a buyer perspective, like we had been in the most effective of palms it doesn’t matter what the practice or expertise. From the freshly baked gluten free rolls and breads every morning (that I by no means wished to request after noting my allergy earlier to arriving), to the small handmade dolls positioned at every desk setting, the picnic lunches, the night tales on the pillow, the present self-discipline with just a bit bit shock each single day, and the faultless cleansing and room refreshing.
Each single part contained in the room, meal on the restaurant, drink from the bar, or expertise open air was impeccable, with the staff going about their duties and day with such a relaxed perspective that it by no means feels akin to you’re an issue, their gorgeous perspective and good nature made all the protect really actually really feel so particular.
THE FOOD
Now, I’ve talked about it ahead of, nonetheless I’ll observe it as quickly as additional, I’m not a foodie and wrestle to organize dinner dinner heaps earlier toast or the occasional stir-fry. Nonetheless, I’ve been fortunate to eat at numerous excellent consuming areas world huge, and couldn’t publish this analysis with out discussing the meals at Awasi, my goodness, it was gorgeous. The consuming expertise at Awasi Atacama is as distinctive as its excursions. With a menu that modifications each single day, impressed by native elements and conventional flavours, meals listed beneath are a journey by way of the tastes of northern Chile and former. The group crafts every dish with a updated twist, from quinoa-based starters to octopus and succulent slow-cooked meats.
Awasi’s dedication to sustainability shines by way of its take into consideration regionally sourced produce, quite a lot of which is grown of their very private pure yard.
One completely different little deal with, you’re provided with a personalised menu at first of your protect, and may add every night’s menu pages to it, creating your non-public booklet of inspiring dishes to strive making at dwelling!
THE ADVENTURES
The hallmark of Awasi Atacama is its one-on-one method to buyer experiences. Every room is assigned a private information and a 4WD car, available on the market to whisk you away to wherever you want contained in the home, guaranteeing tailored adventures based totally completely on private preferences and pursuits. Upon arrival, the group will focus on journey picks in your protect, with an infinite map to share the place and what’s attainable. You may regulate to their lead, or do it’s important to’ve obtained particular spots you might see, they’ll do their most fascinating to weave an itinerary that’ll wow you.
Having visited the realm ahead of, I had an thought of the place I wished to go, and was so excited when Cecilia was eager to make it occur. Whereas I wished to revisit the nearer areas like Valle de la Luna and Laguna Chaxa, I had been scouring Google Maps to hunt out each vibrant and minimal landscapes.
My wishlist? Piedras Rojas and Monjes de La Pacana, each excessive on the Altiplano the place there’s quite a lot of minimal landscapes to {{{photograph}}} and wildlife!
With 48hrs to play with on the decrease altitudes, Cecilia advisable we furthermore go to Valle de Arcoiris (Rainbow Valley), and I’m so totally completely satisfied she did due to the images I captured there have been amongst my favorite of the journey.
*On account of altitude, it’s advisable to base your self spherical San Pedro de Atacama for the primary 24-48hrs, ahead of venturing just a bit bit greater the next day, then greater as quickly as additional do it’s important to’re feeling environment friendly. Altitude illness can hit anybody no matter age, nicely being diploma and so forth, be sure you take it easy and schedule enough days to benefit from adventures at a decrease altitude, then furthermore these just a bit bit greater must you could.
Let’s take a peek at among the many many footage areas I visited over 5 days.
Valley of the Moon
Mars Valley
Rainbow Valley
Crimson Stones
Chaxa Lagoon
Monks of La Pacana
Andean Altiplano Landscapes (taken at roadside stops)
Awasi Atacama affords a peculiar mixture of luxurious lodging and bespoke journey in one in every of many important photogenic areas on earth. Its combination of personalised service, consideration to part, and the sheer fantastic factor in regards to the desert make it a standout journey spot for these on the lookout for higher than solely a resort protect—an precise escape into the center of Atacama.
Whether or not or not or not you’re planning to immerse your self in outdoors adventures, {{{photograph}}} each dawn and sundown, or unwind contained in the tranquil setting, Awasi Atacama will depart you with unforgettable recollections of Chile’s desert wonderland. Oh, and to say, do it’s important to’re planning on travelling to Patagonia too, you in all probability can mix areas with thought-about one amongst their packages to furthermore embody Awasi Patagonia in Torres del Paine Nationwide Park.
E-book a preserve + research further proper right here.
Take a peek at some imagery from my protect beneath…
Hey! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens.
With 17+yrs expertise as an skilled journey and panorama photographer, all suggestion discovered on this site is from my private expertise on the freeway. I hope it’s helpful in your non-public travels and wish to be all ears to contained in the ideas about your journeys and experiences world huge.
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