Tierra Atacama in San Pedro de Atacama has reopened following a twelve-month multi-million dollar refurbishment.
Set in a lush oasis high in the Altiplano in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile – famous as the world’s driest nonpolar desert – Tierra Atacama, part of Australia-based Baillie Lodges, places guests amongst a breathtaking landscape where panoramic views of the shifting sand dunes, towering Licancabur Volcano and the Andes mountains are welcomed to the main lodge and suites via floor-to-ceiling windows.
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Originally designed by esteemed Chilean architects Rodrigo Searle and Matías González in 2008, Tierra Atacama was built on the site of a long-abandoned cattle corral and retains the ancient adobe mud brick walls of the original 150-year-old bullpen at its entrance. Appealing to the world’s curious, active and discerning travellers, Tierra Atacama’s significant transformation is designed to preserve the luxury lodge’s rich history and close connection to the local community of San Pedro de Atacama, whose people are descendants of the Incas and Aymarás and whose living heritage dates some 10,000 years.
Baillie Lodges has been pleased to partner once again with Matías González for the 2025 refurbishment, introducing clever, contemporary features and taking the property to a new level of luxury in design and hospitality whilst retaining its rich local history and sense of place in the desert. Also, an essential part of the refurbishment’s creative team was interior designer Carolina Delpiano, who was responsible for the original interiors of all the Tierra properties since their inception.
The original walls and native vegetation on site have been preserved and mindfully integrated with the lodge design by Chilean landscape architect Teresa Moller, who has created a true sense of place in this desert oasis.
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Guests arriving at Tierra Atacama from this month will delight in the luxury lodge’s newly streamlined spaces. Upon entering, guests will appreciate traditional décor and craftsmanship that pay homage to the natural beauty and history of the Atacama Desert and its people, while considered architecture welcomes the outdoors in, offering a seamless connection with the lunar-like landscape.
As part of the refurbishment, the number of suites has been reduced from 32 to 28, allowing for more space and creating a more exclusive and intimate feel, while four new exclusive suites feature private plunge pools and a dedicated vehicle and guide at guests’ disposal to offer a new level of privacy, luxury and freedom.
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Among the design highlights is the use of the little-known travertine marble sourced from nearby Calama in the guest lounging areas, while deep blue tones create a rustic elegance that connects with the desert landscape. More than 40 local artists and designers have created unique pieces for the interiors, adding quality, beauty, and a sense of cultural belonging to the hotel’s narrative.
The dining offering has also been transformed, with the addition of open grill areas next to the main restaurant, where diners can enjoy dishes influenced by regional traditions while taking in views of the Andes mountains rising on the horizon. A new wine cellar houses a generous selection of the finest exponents of Chilean viticulture, while a new open kitchen places guests in the front row seats to enjoy the culinary theatre in action, creating an atmosphere of intimacy, fun and warmth.
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Located in a serene setting, the renovated spa now features a double treatment room for couples, complementing the overarching wellness experience that characterises Tierra Atacama. Meanwhile, a newly created sunken lounge area has been designed to foster guest connections while they take in the awe-inspiring views of the desert and the starry skies of Atacama, renowned as one of the world’s premier locations for stargazing.
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