First Impressions
Have you ever walked into a hotel and felt instant relief and comfort, almost as if you were being welcomed into a friend’s home? That’s what it felt like to arrive at the recently renovated Tierra Atacama lodge earlier this year. I’m an Operations Specialist at Knowmad, and I was lucky enough to visit Tierra Atacama in June with my colleague and Knowmad Trip Specialist, Olivia. The level of warmth, comfort, and friendliness that we felt immediately upon arriving had us even more excited for our time at Tierra – not just because of the excursions we were about to do in the Atacama Desert, but because the property itself felt like an experience.
About the Lodge & Its Updates
Knowmad has worked with Tierra Atacama for many years, and we were really excited to see how the property had changed after its recent updates. It’s always been one of the primary all-inclusive lodges we recommend in the Atacama region for its level of service, excursion offerings, and excellent location. Over the years, as can happen in any property, the rooms had gotten a little worn and the common spaces a bit cramped after so much demand, so this revamp was one we were very much looking forward to happening so that our travelers continue to have a wonderful experience there. I can confirm after our stay that the renovations elevated almost every aspect of the property. Olivia and I both came away absolutely thrilled for our Knowmad travelers to get to experience a stay at Tierra Atacama on their own trip to South America.
Tierra Atacama officially opened its doors once again to receive guests on April 1st, 2025. From the layout and aesthetic to adding a new room category entirely (read on to find out more about their new Suite program), the whole property has had a full revamp. In fact, the only parts that remained untouched were the outdoor pool “and the view,” according to Tierra.
The care and effort that went into updating the property is evident everywhere you look. The design and charm of the main lodge areas, as well as each individual room, is subtle and lovely. You’ll feel embraced by calming color palettes and materials made from local resources; the textiles and marble are from the Calama area (not far from the property), and the wood is all Chilean. You can enjoy gazing at the interesting artwork from Chilean artists that mimic the mesmerizing starscapes in the Atacama Desert, or take in the breathtaking views of the Licancabur volcano, which stands tall and proud alongside the lodge. One of the extra-special touches, to add just a bit more comfort for guests, is the adjustable heated and cooling floors in each room – a dream for a MN-based traveler like myself!
Not only did the lodge undergo renovations and updates to each accommodation, but they also combined a handful of rooms to make their new category, the Suites. There are now 28 rooms total at Tierra Atacama:
- 4 Suites
The Suites are the newest and largest rooms. They are 753 square feet each and, along with the main amenities, also each feature a private plunge pool, bathtub, and fire pit.
While absolutely stunning rooms themselves, perhaps the bigger difference about staying in a Suite is that guests will have their own private guide and vehicle for all excursions, rather than doing excursions in a small group and sharing their guide with other guests. The Suites are intended for a totally different experience and, therefore, have a totally different price point. While the whole property now has a more luxurious feel for all guests in every room type, Tierra Atacama went one step further to accommodate the guests who prefer an even more exclusive experience with this newest category.
- 8 Oriente Rooms
The Oriente Rooms all have floor-to-ceiling windows that face the Licancabur volcano without any other buildings obstructing the view. They’re slightly smaller than the Poniente Rooms at 376 square feet, but otherwise feature the same elevated, cozy aesthetic and amenities. These rooms felt like getting a front row seat to the desert and volcano right outside.
- 14 Poniente Rooms
The Poniente Rooms are a bit higher up from the Oriente Rooms to allow for their own views of the Licancabur out a picture window – perfect for enjoying coffee in bed with the volcano stretched out in front. They are slightly larger than the Oriente Rooms at 398 square feet and have a different layout, with the private terrace tucked away on the other side of the room. We stayed in a Poniente Room and found that the private terrace on the back was really peaceful and enjoyed the slightly larger space as we were two colleagues traveling together. And I absolutely loved every time I stepped out of our room to be met with an immediate and perfectly lined-up view of Licancabur.
- 2 Apartments
Tierra’s Apartments are perfect for multi-generational families or small groups traveling together. They have two levels, with three bedrooms to sleep 6 guests, and each feature their own hot tub as well.
One of my favorite things about our stay at Tierra Atacama was actually the downtime I had in between excursions, just enjoying the lodge itself. Olivia and I both arranged for massages in Tierra’s new spa, which has shorter or longer options for spa services – perfect for fitting one in around an excursion or a meal. Even sitting inside the spa, waiting to begin my massage, was relaxing. I am not as active of a hiker, so I took a morning to stay back at the property and found that reading by one of their outside fire pits while enjoying a coffee was one of the best parts of the trip. The lodge itself is a perfectly soothing and relaxing complement to the excitement and activities you’ll be doing during your stay.
Food & Drink
The food and beverages at Tierra Atacama are excellent with a range of options, and Olivia and I were both very impressed with their impeccable service. One thing I really appreciated is that they have a chef-curated menu with delicious, new fare for each dinner which is presented beautifully, but also offer a ‘traditional’ menu should guests be more in the mood for a burger or chicken sandwich. I liked the option to do one or the other because sometimes, after several days of new and exciting food, french fries can be just the ticket. It also makes it more family-friendly!
The bar takes up residence in the corner of the main lodge, with a large, round seating area in front of it. There’s a sort of family-style invitation in that design, where guests can sit and mingle with others who also want to do so; or, you can enjoy your drink privately at your table or outside on the patio. A great example of how the lodge offers comfort and luxury within the same space.
Excursions
Just like at Tierra’s Patagonia lodge, the experience of planning your activities during your stay is customized to your interests, activity level, and time at the property. Guests will meet with the excursions coordinator and go over the many options, including hiking, biking, stargazing, and more. They are able to pair half-day options together, so you can fit in different types of excursions in the morning and afternoon, or opt for a full-day option for the more extensive activities in the area. There are some specific excursions that I want to go a bit deeper into, so that you know Tierra’s unique offerings for these:
Stargazing
Thanks to its high altitude and an average of 300 days of cloudless skies a year, the Atacama Desert is the best location in the world for deep-space viewing. In fact, it’s home to one of the world’s best telescopes, and will be hosting two more top-tier space projects in the coming years.
Tierra Atacama’s stargazing excursion is currently done outside the property at a location about 10 minutes out of town, where there’s an impressive and very high-quality telescope; however, they have plans to move their stargazing activity to an on-site area dedicated to stargazing in the near future.
If observing the night sky is an important element to your trip, be sure to mention it to your Knowmad Trip Specialist during the planning process, as Tierra currently doesn’t offer a stargazing activity for the 9 days around the full moon. Depending on your dates, they may suggest one of the other luxury Atacama lodges that does offer it every day.
**Knowmad Tip: For the serious stargazers, you’ll want to check the lunar cycle around your dates of travel, as the stars are easier to view when the moon is not as bright. We’d recommend planning for the days around or close to a new moon for the best stargazing.
Forest Bathing – Only at Tierra Atacama
One of my favorite activities that I did while at Tierra is one that’s done on the property itself, actually: Forest Bathing. It was just a handful of other guests, myself, and our incredible guide. We walked beyond the main lodge, past their spa area, and down a wooden path until we found a cluster of trees that offered some shade. Our guide had set up several cushions to sit on and had some snacks and tea available. After sitting down on the cushions, our guide began to do a guided meditation.
Over the next hour (typically, their forest bathing is a two-hour experience), our guide taught us about the practice of forest bathing, its naturally relaxing and restorative benefits, and explained how she would give us several invitations to become more in touch with the local flora and with ourselves as we practiced mindfulness and being present in nature.
I loved this activity as it was not only incredibly relaxing, but also another great example of Tierra’s focus and commitment to sustainability and being in harmony with its surrounding natural environment. While perhaps not the activity the Atacama is known for, it allowed me to be present and left me delighted at being in such an incredible place in the world. I’d recommend it to anyone curious about it, and you can only do it at Tierra Atacama.
How to Fit the Atacama into Your Trip
A visit to the Atacama Desert is worth the trip to Chile in itself, and it’s also a fantastic destination for travelers who’ve been before and want to return for another visit. As the Atacama Desert is a year-round destination, it makes an excellent addition to a trip involving other places in Chile or South America. If you have around two weeks, you can pair the Atacama with Patagonia and see the extremes of Chile, combining the two regions with a bit of Santiago / Central Chile in there as well. Another fantastic destination to pair with the Atacama is Easter Island, which will give some really neat variety and cultural experiences to your trip. Chilean wine country is just a couple of hours outside of Santiago, so it also complements a stay in the Atacama as a lovely way to cap off an amazing adventure before flying home internationally from Santiago. These are just a few ideas, and once you know how you want to fit the Atacama into your trip, the next step is finding the best accommodations for you when you’re there.
Getting a firsthand experience of Tierra Atacama’s recent updates was not only an absolute pleasure, but helps us to provide better information and planning for our travelers. Olivia and I both came away from this visit very impressed and excited to share our experiences at Tierra with our team and travelers. The property has blended luxury and comfort so seamlessly – offering excellent service while making a stay there feel personal and exciting at the same time. Simply put: I didn’t want to leave.
Give one of Knowmad’s Trip Specialists a call today at 612-315-2894, or email us at [email protected] to begin discussing your visit to Chile’s Atacama Desert. We’ll work with you to put together the perfect itinerary for your Atacama adventure – one you won’t want to leave either.
Carmen is an Operations Specialist at Knowmad Adventures. Originally from Minnesota, she fell in love with travel while studying and backpacking through Europe and Central America. She still loves discovering new places, from big trips abroad to everyday adventures around Minneapolis and St. Paul.
