Hotel Kimal

They were so helpful with our bags, storing them for four days while we went on the Uyuni tour. For early departures, including trips to the Geysers or the Uyuni salt flats, they can pack a small breakfast to take along. Breakfast itself was great, and we really liked the onsite restaurant too. The food was excellent and the prices reasonable. The location is on a quiet side street, only steps from the main strip with restaurants, shops, tour operators, a pharmacy, and a laundromat. The grounds are spotless, modern, and charming. Our room had a rustic San Pedro feel but was still comfortable and modern, with a mini-fridge that’s essential in the hot, dry climate. There’s air conditioning, though you have to ask staff to turn it on because they keep the remote. The staff were welcoming and genuinely helpful from the start. My only real gripe was the missing hair dryer, which was a big inconvenience since every other hotel I’ve stayed at on my travels had one. The kindness and service here were hard to beat. I highly recommend it.

The noise is the main reason I wouldn’t recommend this hotel. It’s at the edge of town, close to a restaurant with a live band playing loudly past midnight on weekends. We were puzzled by the earplugs on the nightstands when we checked in. If you’re a light sleeper, avoid rooms near the spa reception, or Friday and Saturday nights may keep you awake. Rooms farther away aren’t affected. We stayed at Hotel Kimal for five nights in December 2025, mainly because it’s an easy walk into town. The room was nice as expected, and fresh cold water is available at the restaurant, so there’s no need to buy it at stores. There are two pools, though we didn’t use either. The reception setup was confusing. The photo on the website shows the spa reception, which rarely seems to have customers. It connects to the rooms and one pool, while the actual reception, restaurant, and second pool are across the street. The actual desk is small and staffed around the clock, but most early morning staff don’t speak English well. Crossing a fairly busy street to reach reception, then using a separate key to get back through the gate by the rooms, was inconvenient.

The free breakfast was great, though the dinner choices felt limited, so I’d try the many restaurants nearby. The place has a cute setup that fits the Atacama desert feel, and it’s very close to Main Street. Rooms and common areas are well maintained. Great vibe, and the staff are super friendly. Shout out to Sevla at the front desk for amazing hospitality.

The atmosphere is stunning, and this was easily the best hotel of the several we stayed at up and down Chile, despite having the lowest star rating. The restaurant on site is good value and the food was good. We shared a meat platter for three at 24000 pesos total, and the house wine was amazing. There’s also a discount at the attached spa, two pools, and parking. The parking is opposite reception, and Google seems to be wrong because it looks like they’ve bought out the hotel across the way. Stop briefly outside and ask them to open the gate. Space is tight if lots of guests have cars. If you’re leaving for an excursion, you can swap breakfast for a nice packed lunch. Great location and amazing staff. Can’t recommend it enough.