Our Habitas Atacama

After eight nights at the hotel, I returned from a one-night camping trip with two confirmed bookings. Reception, a woman with many star tattoos, put me in the wrong room type without checking the reservation and dismissed the problem with “not my problem.” There was no apology. Check-in took over 30 minutes while I was visibly exhausted from trekking. For a place charging $300+ a night and presenting itself as experiential hospitality, the service fell short.

The pool was a dream, with comfortable loungers, couch beds, shaded spots, and fresh towels always available. We saw it carefully cleaned every morning, and the restaurant brought drinks and food right to us. The grounds felt like a little village, with pretty paths, lush landscaping, and lots of privacy around the rooms. We spent five full days here. It was lovely to wander over to the restaurant. The bar service was excellent, the menu had a decent range, and we especially liked the fresh guacamole and empanadas. Breakfast each day was outstanding. Service could be slow, probably because the kitchen was busy, but the staff were consistently caring and sincere. The complimentary Pilates and yoga classes were led by skilled instructors and were excellent. We also had a facial and massage on site, both from professional, capable practitioners. A local “shaman” offers a traditional ceremony in a small hut at the wellness centre. It involved a cleansing exercise, a very hot, smoky steam space over a thick fire, drumming, and singing. It was spectacular, though pretty hot and smoky. She opened the tent door, which helped me stick it out. You need to come with an open mind. It felt like a true indigenous experience, managed professionally on site. The staff also helped arrange excursions and connect us with trusted Uber drivers. We felt secure: tour operators had to ring for us, and the hotel noted when we were away, which gave us peace of mind. For a 6 am pickup, a guard waited with us at the gate. It wasn’t necessary, but in a remote place before dawn, it was nice. A couple of things to plan around: ask whether your room has AC, since not all of them do. We were surprised our first room didn’t, but the hotel offered to move us, and we were very grateful. In February, town’s traditional carnival can go all night with drumming and celebration. A carnival hall across from our room kept us awake for two nights. It was part of being there during the event, but next time we’ll time our visit better. We felt safe, valued, and cared for by a kind, professional team. We’d recommend staying here and would return.

The staff handled my multiple requests within minutes, and the service was direct and efficient. There are board games, plus complimentary activities such as yoga, sound baths, and stargazing. The pool area is wonderful, with plenty of loungers and places to relax in a nice atmosphere. Rooms and beds are comfortable, the restaurant is great, and breakfast has a good buffet. The hotel is perfectly located, around a 10-minute walk from San Pedro village. I recommend it.

We felt very comfortable here for our five nights. The cozy, beautifully decorated grounds, rooms, and restaurant made it a great base for exploring the Atacama Desert. The staff were friendly, though sometimes inattentive. In the restaurant, we waited a long time to order breakfast, and in the evenings we had to ask again for more drinks. Part of our order was forgotten. Breakfast barely changed, so it got repetitive after five days. We never received clean towels during our stay. All of them had stains, some quite large.