Luxury lodge in one of the harshest environments on Earth reopens

Northern Chile’s Tierra Atacama has just reopened after a year-long, $US20 million ($32 million) transformation. All the work at the legendary luxurious hotel was designed to preserve its close connection to the local community, descendants of the Incas and Aymaras with living heritage that dates back 10,000 years.

An interior patio of Tierra Atacama with views to Licancabur Volcano.Credit: James Florio

Built in the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama, amid the driest non-polar desert on Earth, the lodge was conceived by Miguel Purcell, an Olympic skier and mountaineer. Tierra Atacama opened in 2008 with a mission to keep its environmental impact low while offering guests extraordinary experiences in one of the planet’s most amazing landscapes.

Panoramic windows of the Atacama guest suites.Credit: Diego Marin

The 32-room retreat was built around a centuries-old cattle corral using traditional methods. It was filled with a curation of culturally relevant art, objects and materials, and each room was set with views of the Licancabur Volcano.

The Purcell family went on to create Tierra Hotels, and now has two sister properties in the region under its umbrella. In 2022, it sold a majority shareholding in the company to Baillie Lodges. Founded by James and Hayley Baillie, Baillie Lodges owns and runs some of the world’s most esteemed luxury adventure properties, including Longitude 131° at Uluru-Kata Tjuta, Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island in South Australia and Silky Oaks Lodge in Queensland. Internationally it owns Huka Lodge in New Zealand and Clayoquot Wilderness Lodge on Canada’s Vancouver Island.

The fit is so strong that Purcell remains involved in the property and actually led the redesign project in person. He was joined by Tierra Atacama’s original Chilean architects – Rodrigo Searle and Matias Gonzalez – who again used the surrounding environment as the starting point for design.

The refurbished lodge’s infinity pool with volcano views.Credit: James Florio

Interior designer Carolina Delpiano, who has been responsible for the original interiors at all the Tierra properties since their inception, also took part. Chilean landscape architect Teresa Moller preserved the original walls and native vegetation while integrating changes to the built environment into the existing gardens and setting.

Where possible, local tradespeople and artisans were employed to realise the vision.

Return guests will find a new sunken lounge and that the number of suites has been reduced from 32 to 28, allowing more space and creating a more exclusive and intimate feel. Four new suites within that count feature private plunge pools, and guests will have a dedicated vehicle and guide at their disposal.

In addition to some subtly sumptuous decor upgrades, the dining experience now has open grills and a new wine cellar, as well as a new open kitchen where guests can sit and watch chefs at work.

See tierraatacama.com; baillielodges.com.au