Tierra Atacama Reopens After $20 Million Refurbishment

All-inclusive, eco-friendly, desert hotel, Tierra Atacama, reopens on April 1st 2025 after undergoing a year-long, $20 million renovation.

Located just outside the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama in northern Chile, Tierra Atacama originally opened in January 2008. Built around a centuries-old cattle coral, Tierra Atacama was the first in Tierra Hotels’ collection of boutique luxury sustainably-led lodges located in Chile. It was created by architect Matias González and Miguel Purcell, the founder of Tierra Hotels using traditional adobe walls and rammed earth.

2025 sees a new vision for the hotel, making it both more intimate and elevated. Many of the original creative team returned to generate a new, contemporary feel while honoring the site and history of the hotel, which delivers seamless and unforgettable experiences in an incredible setting.Key design inspiration came from the travertine representing the “Salar”(salt flat) and the midnight blue of the “cosmos” and night sky/heavens. True to the spirit of Tierra, the new colour palette is inspired by the surrounding nature, with tones of subdued greens and browns reflecting the desert vegetation, and a deep blue is inspired by the night skies. Superb local materials such as travertine stone have been sourced from local quarries and unique pieces commissioned from more than 40 local craftspeople adds harmony and a sense of cultural belonging to the design narrative.

Miguel Purcell says the time was right for change at Tierra Atacama,

“Hospitality is a living entity which is constantly changing and flowing. Since the hotel was first built, a lot has changed. We were able to improve the infrastructure, both physically but also in the way the guest will experience the spaces. We are confident that the hotel’s design is prepared for the future, with cutting edge technology behind the scenes and measures for sustainable operations in every department. Even the smallest details will contribute to creating a better guest experience, sometimes without them even realising it.”

Accommodation

The total number of welcoming and spacious rooms, where spectacular views of the beautiful pink coloured Licancabur volcano come as standard, has been reduced from 32 to just 28, including four large new private service suites. These 70m2 / 544 sq. suites feature framed king beds, large bathrooms, a living space for lounging, fireplaces and each has a double fronted terrace with a private plunge pool. Services for the suites include private transfers and each has a dedicated vehicle with their own guide-driver for private excursions.
Two 3 bedroom family apartments measure 97m2/1044 sq. and have private, south facing terraces with jacuzzis.
8 east-facing Oriente rooms are 35m2/337 sq. and offer indoor and outdoor showers, framed beds and outdoor terraces – these are ideal for couples.
14 west-facing Poniente rooms are 35m2/377 sq. with bay windows offering views to the east and a terrace looking out across the gardens and the Salt Mountain range. These rooms are accessed by a small flight of stairs.

Design

Interior designer Carolina Delpiano took inspiration from the local communities around San Pedro to hand-pick and curate decor with artifacts, stone carvings, hand-painted maps, handwoven blankets from village weavers and more.

Carolina says,

“We wanted to be true to the “Tierra” philosophy. The background was the local stone and wood which was already there. The colours had to reflect the outside, the trees, the plants, so we chose trees and plants which are in the grounds of the hotel. For the decoration we returned to the community and artisans who worked on the original hotel, and commissioned new pieces, as well as repairing our valuable collection of fabrics and throws made from alpaca and llama wool. The discovery of the local travertine quarry was a revelation, and really sealed the concepts of cosmos/heaven/earth/night skies we were evaluating.”

Activities

Tierra Atacama operates an adventure / spa philosophy, encouraging guests to go outside and make the most of the wild and beautiful Atacaman landscape. Guided activities include hiking, horseback riding, e-bikes and a new stargazing activity.

Uma Spa

Guests return from outdoor adventures to a cocoon of warmth and wellness, often focused on Tierra Atacama’s Uma Spa. Treatments are inspired by Andean and Mapuche traditions, and the upgraded spa now includes a new double cabin for treatments, and spacious relaxation areas. The indoor pool is heated to 30° C, whilst the iconic outdoor pool is a refreshing 15° C. There’s a steam room, sauna, outdoor jacuzzi and full range of treatments and massages, including a new cryotherapy experience which complements the other therapies.
Yoga is available Monday to Friday and the gym features a treadmill, stationary bike, elliptical bike, training machine, multi station weights machine, abdominal bench, free weights and yoga mats.

Cuisine

The new head chef Andrés Donoso has created an innovative take on northern Chilean cuisine with locally sourced produce. All dishes are expertly prepared in the new kitchen, a sensory delight for hungry guests dining in the 70 person capacity restaurant.

Lighting

In keeping with the deep respect for the land and local people that has always characterized Tierra, the renovation has incorporated the latest energy efficient fixtures, including LED lighting and modern insulation to reduce energy consumption. Lighting designer Barbara Greene carefully crafted solar powered exterior lighting, designed to eliminate extra “brightness” and lower light contamination of the night sky.

Landscaping

The planting and landscaping offers much to delight guests, including 1600 trees which act as a seed-bank for indigenous species. The desert oasis garden planting will evolve as it matures, fed by the hotel’s careful grey water management system.

Landscape Designer Teresa Moller says:

“We included many sustainable design features in the gardens at Tierra Atacama. Herbs and vegetation generate sensations for the guests. The irrigation system is state of the art and has helped optimize water, so none is wasted. We are also participating in a project which protects native flora, in collaboration with the Chilean ‘Safe Sites Conservation Project’ and the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, which forms part of the new “sense of arrival” at the hotel.”

Barbara Greene, who is an architect and the specialist who crafted the lighting in the hotel, is also a trained horticulturist and landscape gardener. She is the coordinator of the “Safe Sites for Conservation ” initiative, and together with Teresa proposed the radical changes in the entrance of the hotel, turning it from a barren space, originally preserved in “homage” to the history of San Pedro, to a space alive with native flora and featuring a fountain made from the travertine stone, generating the sound of trickling water to soothe guests as they arrive, together with the leafy shade which will only increase as the trees grow.

Sustainability and environment

The hotel’s mission to minimize its impact on the environment is exhibited by its sustainability strategy, which includes efforts of renewable and solar energy, protecting national resourcing, overseeing waste management and fostering strong relationships with the local communities. During the refurbishment, many items of furniture have been renovated and upcycled, the upgraded solar energy system is now more efficient and modern insulation has been installed to reduce energy consumption.
Much of the work at Tierra Atacama has been carried out with the local community, infusing the project with a true Atacameñan feel while supporting local small businesses.

How to get there:

Fly from Santiago airport to Calama. 2 hours
Tierra Atacama provides shared transfers for all guests and private transfers for guests staying in suites. 1 hour 15 mins.
Regular shared transfers operate 10am – 6pm. For services outside these times please contact the hotel.

Rates

From USD $1,870 / GBP £1,447 per night for two people in low season (May – September) – includes transfers, accommodation, all meals, open bar, daily excursions, use of Uma Spa facilities.

-BreakingTravelNews