About this hotel
General information
Awasi Atacama was the first of the Awasi lodges and remains one of the most intimate places to stay in the Atacama Desert: just 12 circular rooms of stone, adobe and wood beneath thatched roofs, within the oasis of San Pedro de Atacama. The name comes from the Quechua word “wasi”, meaning house, and the lodge is meant to feel like the home of an old friend who knows the land and wants to show it to you. It is a member of Relais & Châteaux.
The defining idea at Awasi is that every room has its own guide and 4×4 vehicle, so nobody explores the desert in a group. Before arrival guests fill in a questionnaire on their interests, fitness and preferences, and each day’s plan is shaped with the guide and adjusted to the weather and the mood. The fully hosted rate brings together the accommodation, private excursions, the lodge’s cuisine and airport transfers.
Location
The lodge stands on Tocopilla street in the village of San Pedro de Atacama, in the Antofagasta region, at about 2,450 m above sea level and within walking distance of the centre. The nearest airport is Calama (CJC), 100 km away and a little over two hours’ flight from Santiago; guests are met there by their private guide and driven to the lodge in a 4×4, with the transfer included. The Bolivian border at Hito Cajón is 45 km away, the Argentine crossing at Paso de Jama 155 km.
Spa
There is no spa at the lodge, but massages can be arranged in the room.
Sports & leisure
Every outing is private and built around the guest: walks and treks, salt flats, geysers, high-altitude lagoons, archaeological sites, horse riding, cycling, birdwatching and stargazing. Among the routes the lodge offers:
- Chaxa Lagoon on the Salar de Atacama – salt flats and three species of flamingo, 45 minutes from the lodge
- Rainbow Valley in the Domeyko range – coloured rock and petroglyphs
- the terrain between Valle de la Luna and the Cordillera de la Sal – dunes and wind-carved salt ridges
- the El Tatio geysers at more than 4,300 m
- the Altiplano lagoons, among them Miñiques, above 4,000 m – volcanoes, vicuñas and horned coots
- an ascent of Láscar volcano, one of the region’s most demanding routes
- the Salar de Aguas Calientes near the Argentine border, two hours’ drive away
- the villages of Caspana and Chiu-Chiu, where Lickan Antay traditions endure
- the Catarpe valley with the remains of an Inca administrative centre, the Pukará de Quitor fortress and the ancient village of Tulor
- horse rides through Valle de Marte and the Cordillera de la Sal
- a sunrise breakfast facing the Andes and Licancabur volcano
- an astronomy evening with a powerful telescope
- drives in an INEOS Grenadier into the desert’s more remote corners
For children
Children aged 14 and over are welcome; stays with younger children are arranged directly with the reservations team.
Restaurants & bars
The restaurant is reserved for Awasi guests and writes a fresh menu each day from the best local produce, adapting it to individual tastes and dietary needs. Lima-born chef Sebastián Prieto pairs Pacific seafood with ingredients of the desert and the Andes – several varieties of Andean potato, native corn, quinoa, chañar fruit and carob. On excursions a picnic or lunch is brought out to be eaten in the open desert.
Swimming
The lodge has an outdoor pool with loungers and umbrellas, a place to unwind after the day’s excursion.
Rooms
The lodge has 12 circular rooms: 10 Superior Round Suites and 2 Round Rooms. All are built of stone, adobe and wood under thatched roofs, and each has its own patio with an outdoor shower.
A private patio with an open-air shower and lounge chairs, a bathroom with a stone vanity, and Wi-Fi.
Superior Round Suite
A spacious round room with a walk-in wardrobe, desk and chaise longue, and a bathroom with both bathtub and shower. The private patio has an outdoor shower.
Round Room
A round room with a reading corner and comfortable armchair and a large bathroom with shower. Besides the private patio with outdoor shower, guests share a large furnished terrace.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.