Explora Patagonia and Explora Atacama Luxury Vacation Package

Patagonia - Chile

Mythical Patagonia – a land synonymous with wilderness and exploration – and the breathtaking Atacama desert, nestled along the coast of Chile, are not the only highlights of this trip. You will experience this untamed nature while enjoying a time to rest and re-energize at two incomparable hotels conceived by Explora. Their simple yet daring architecture has been awarded several prizes at international biennials and architecture contests, while the hotels themselves are recognized by Conde Nast Traveller, Harpers & Queens, Travel + Leisure and many more leading up market travel publications as some of the best hotels in the world.

Punta Arenas (Chile) is the southern most city on Earth, overlooking the Straits of  Magellan across the island of 'Tierra del Fuego' (Land of Fire). Located about 250 km north of Punta Arenas, along side the 'Last Hope' fjord, is Puerto Natales, the primary transit point for travelers to Torres del Paine National Park, and 'Balmaceda' and 'Serrano' glaciers.

The Torres del Paine National Park is a great outdoors paradise, suitable for trekking, walking and camping around its many lakes: Pehoé (with crystal clear waters), Nordenskjold, Sarmiento, and Toro and Grey, which is bordered by a glacier going by the same name. The park is surrounded by the impressive Paine mountain range (Cordillera del Paine). With unusually-shaped granite peaks, glaciers, lakes and waterfalls, plus unique flora and fauna, Torres del Paine park is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1978. From the shore, visitors can enjoy the view of nearby icebergs. The many rivers are suitable for great fishing trips and the rock-faced mountains are a climber’s dream.

The Explora Salto Chico Patagonia hotel, located in a remote corner of the park, was conceived as an exploration base site. This is Explora’s top award-winning hotel for its architecture, design, and world-class service, featuring refined comfort for total relaxation (including a complete spa experience) and the best gear ideally suited for exploring Patagonia.

Atacama Desert - Chile

Our Explora Patagonia and Explora Atacama Luxury Vacation Package will also take you to the Atacama desert, the driest desert in the world. Situated in northern Chile, this fabled paradise is rich in natural wonders awaiting the adventurous travelers such as pictorial Andean cities, ‘salares’ and national parks. This vacation package includes 3 unforgettable nights at the Explora Hotel de Larache located on an ample site in the San Pedro oasis. Its accommodations include all you need for relaxation and the best programs and equipment to explore Atacama. Hotel de Larache has won Harpers & Queen’s best action spots award. The hotel includes four connected outdoor pools and saunas with a modern elegant design set like precious stones in the superb jewel-box formed by the surrounding nature.

Between the Pacific Ocean and the Cordillera de los Andes, Atacama is an immense extension of land and mystery. In the past, the pre-Columbian Andean cultures of South America have settled in its desert and oasis. Cordilleras, volcanoes, salt flats and hot springs add splendor to this culture. Above all, the altiplanos and its wildness make this area very unique in the world.

This luxury vacation package will allow you to become acquainted with the multiple aspects of the Atacama region: its geography, history, fauna, and geological features, volcanoes and ancient villages. Each day guests can join a variety of explorations: walking, horse back riding or biking. Some excursions take place in the vicinity of San Pedro, between 2,500 and 3,000 meters above sea level while the most demanding reach heights of up to 6,000 meters.

Further South of the Atacama desert, you will find the Atacama Salar, 300,000 hectares large, and the oasis-town of San Pedro de Atacama, which is the tourist capital of northern Chile because of its natural wonders like the Moon Valley, with its amazing rock formations, the geysers of Tatio, valleys and lakes in the Altiplano (at 4,000 meters above sea level), canyons and cities like Toconao. There is also an archeological museum that was built by a Belgian priest who gathered numerous archeological vestiges such as pottery and mummies, which are witnesses of the region’s past.

Our luxury vacation package is conceived as a unique experience which encompasses exciting guided explorations, spectacular hotels, gourmet food and what is most important, those unique moments shared with a great staff and the local people.

• Explora’s Awards

- Architectural Awards:

• III BIENAL IBEROAMERICANA
 October 2002, Santiago de Chile: Participated in the Bienal, alongside architectural masterpieces from Latin America, Spain and Portugal.

• 2001 WORLD ARCHITECTURE AWARDS
 June 2001. ‘Best construction in South America for explora´s Puritama Hot Springs in San Pedro de Atacama’. Runner up, explora´s Horse Stables in Atacama.

• XII BIENAL DE ARQUITECTURA
 September 2000, Santiago de Chile: explora en Atacama was acknowledged as winner this year.

• X ARCHITECTURE BIENNIAL September 1995, Santiago de Chile: explora en Patagonia obtained the first price in the category “ARCHITECTURE IN TRAVEL SERVICES”.

International Ranking

ANDREW HARPER’S HIDEAWAY REPORT (U.S.A.)
explora en Patagonia has been on the list of the Best Destinations and Hotels in Latin America from 1997 until today.

2005 GRAND AWARD WINNER explora en Patagonia – Chile January 2005.

• 2005 ANDREW HARPER’S HIDEAWAY REPORT
 ‘Best of Central / South America 2005: explora en Patagonia - explora en Atacama’

• 2005 ANDREW HARPER’S HIDEAWAY REPORT
 ‘Best of Central / South America 2005: explora en Patagonia - explora en Atacama’

• 2004 ANDREW HARPER’S HIDEAWAY REPORT
 ‘Best of Central / South America 2004: explora en Patagonia – explora en Atacama’

• 2003 ANDREW HARPER’S HIDEAWAY REPORT
‘Best of Central / South America 2003: explora en Patagonia – explora en Atacama’

• 2003 HARPERS & QUEEN Annual Travel Awards
explora en Atacama –  Winner of best action spots award

• 2000 GRAND AWARD WINNERS ‘Central / South America: explora en Patagonia’

• 1997 GRAND AWARD WINNERS
 ‘Latin America: explora en Patagonia’

International Magazines
TRAVEL + LEISURE

 • TOP 500 HOTELS – The best hotels in the world 2005
 ‘explora en Patagonia was recognized by T+L as one of the top 500 Hotels in the world.

 • T + L READER’S POLL-WORLD’S BEST HOTEL SERVICE 2005
  explora en Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile. Category; México and Central and South America.

• 2004 WORLD’S BEST AWARDS – TRAVEL + LEISURE (U.S.A.)
 recognized explora within the rankings ‘Best overall’ and ‘Top 25 Mexico and Central and South America’.

 • TOP 25 HOTELS IN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA
  #3  - explora  en Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile.

 • TOP 100 HOTELS IN THE WORLD
  #56  - explora en Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile.

GQ MAGAZINE –USA

 • 2004 GQ MAGAZINE (U.S.A.)
 98.64 points as ‘One of the best hotels in the world’.

 • June 2003 GQ – Travel Awards
 Coolest hotel chain – explora Hotels, Chile & Patagonia.

CONDÉ NAST TRAVELLER

 • 2006 THE GOLD STANDARD – CONDÉ NAST TRAVELLER (UK)
 ‘Our ultimate guide to the best hostels in the world’ explora en Patagonia Hotel Salto Chico, Chile.

• 2005 ‘EDITOR’S CHOICE GOLD LIST AWARDS’ TOP 108 – CONDÉ NAST TRAVELLER (U.K),
  Hotel Salto Chico - explora en Patagonia in the list 108 hotels featured from around the globe’. CONDÉ NAST TRAVELLER, UK.

• 2004 READERS’ TRAVEL AWARDS – CONDÉ NAST TRAVELLER (U.K),
 explora en Patagonia, within the category ‘The Americas & Caribbean: Hotel Salto Chico, Chile, 85.21 out of 100.

 • 2004 READERS’ TRAVEL AWARDS – CONDÉ NAST TRAVELLER (U.K),
  explora en Patagonia was given 90.12 points out of 100 for its Environmental Friendliness within the category Accommodation ‘Overseas Leisure Hotels’.

 • 2003 READERS’ TRAVEL AWARDS – CONDÉ NAST TRAVELLER (U.K), #4 explora en Patagonia within the category ‘The Americas & Caribbean’.

 • 2003 READERS’ TRAVEL AWARDS TOP 100 – CONDÉ NAST TRAVELLER (U.K),
#16  - explora en Patagonia.

• 2002 READERS’ TRAVEL AWARDS TOP 20  – CONDÉ NAST TRAVELLER (U.K)
 # 9 explora en Patagonia in the category ‘The Americas & Caribbean.