Wara

The hotel is surrounded on all sides by the desolate beauty of the Atacama Desert, and the hotel and its grounds have been designed in keeping with their surroundings. Prickly cacti rise up from the dry earth, traditional earthenware pots decorate the gardens, and the adobe walls and thatched roofs of the property blend in with the sand dunes and dry scrubland, which stretch out as far as the eye can see.

Hotel Wara is home to just seven guestrooms; they are individually designed, but all combine traditional décor with high levels of comfort. Polished stone floors meet rugged adobe walls, while the beautiful ceilings are made from thatch intertwined with wooden beams. Traditional pre-Hispanic textiles and rugs add bold splashes of colour, and comfy sofas sit in front of recessed fireplaces – perfect for curling up in front of on those chilly nights. The bathrooms have a similarly rustic aesthetic, with vanity units carved from huge blocks of dark wood.

The hotel might sit in the driest desert in the world, but that doesn’t hold back the fertile organic garden from providing fresh fruit and vegetables, which are served up alongside grilled meat, fish, and pasta dishes. The restaurant does a particularly fine line in classic Chilean dishes – including excellent ceviche – and food is accompanied by a selection of top Chilean wine. The restaurant has both indoor and outdoor sections, so it’s up to you whether to dine al fresco – you can also book a small dining area by the pool, for extra privacy.

The outdoor swimming pool, surrounded by thatched parasols, is the perfect place to cool off from the desert sun. Conversely, the clear skies can mean that the mornings and evenings are sometimes chilly here – if you need to warm up, the hot tub is just the thing.

The natural beauty of the Atacama and the surrounding area is the main attraction here, so we recommend trying a range of excursions into the wilderness. A trip into the desert to enjoy a secluded picnic lunch is a fantastic way to spend an afternoon, while visits to the vineyards of the Elqui Valley provide a remarkable insight into the production of world-class wine in such an unforgiving environment. If the dry desert air is getting too much, then trips to the beautiful beaches of the Pacific Coast are on hand to provide some welcome relief.