“We were looking for a place to stay in a comfortable and intimate environment, where every detail would be in perfect harmony with its surroundings and would invite us to the contemplation of ancestral sceneries and cultures. As we did not find it, we decided to create it”. Thus was born Awasi (“house”, in the aymará language). It is not a traditional hotel, because the goal is to offer memorable travel experiences. To accomplish this it relies on three pillars: lodging, gastronomy and excursions, emphasizing the culture and the nature of the place, ensuring the comfort, the intimacy and the preferences of the guests.

In Chile, very close to Argentina and Bolivia, 1,670 km north of Santiago de Chile, Atacama (“Archeological Capital of Chile”) is the driest desert on Earth, a place of dramatic nature and great beauty, of landscapes as varied as they are surprising. There, in the San Pedro river basin, one can find the San Pedro de Atacama oasis, silent witness to the rigors of time and the passing of ancient cultures. Thousands of years of geologic transformations molded mountain ranges, salt marshes, lagoons and volcanoes, under an intense turquoise sky, and surrounded by spectacular landscape where unique species of flora and wildlife dwell. The zone has the magic of the highlands desert climate, with a marked thermal oscillation between day and night (in all seasons, bring a jacket and a swimming costume). During the summer it rains occasionally.

A few blocks from the Plaza, the old Church and the Museum, Awasi is immersed in this oasis, in the historical center of San Pedro de Atacama (5,000 inhabitants), which has always been the town where travelers stopped looking for water, food, refuge and rest. Awasi was created to host those who choose to live the experience of the desert, a house of stone, wood and mud. It is a unique place to contemplate immensity, enjoy the simplest details and gratify body and soul.

Awasi was built thinking about the intimacy and comfort of each guest, but respecting the natural surroundings, the culture and the local building style. There are eight stone, adobe and wood cabins, rooms over 50 m2 , straw roofs which shelter circular spaces, wooden floors, pure cotton sheets, alpaca blankets, reading armchairs, ample bathrooms which open their doors to private patios (with solarium and open air shower), unique spaces designed for relaxations and repairing rest. A myriad of details, which amaze hard to surprise guests.

The terraces, surrounded by wild trees, decorate the footpaths with a singular green. By day, the shade from the straw roofs lets through the warm morning light; at night, the tenuous lights celebrate the beauty of the skies of Atacama. A tranquil day of reading, a bath with salts from the Atacama, a drink around the fireplace...  the most important thing is to always take care of the essence of each moment. Owned by Territoria S.A., Awasi is a luxury boutique hotel, non traditional, centered on personalization and details.

With the aim of privileging the intimacy of the guests, the restaurant is not open for those who are not lodging at Awasi. The team of four professionals, who only cook for the 16 guests that can stay at one time, have designed a varied menu that permits getting to know new aromas, textures and flavors. The chef is Juan Pablo Mardones and the pastry chef is Maureen Jones. Only ingredients found in the region and which for years have been part of the native diet (purple potatoes, patasca, quinoa and chañar) are used. All the dishes are accompanied by high quality wines and drinks.

Everything is an adventure, in the middle of volcanoes, salt marshes, lagoons and mysterious gorges. Atacama shows the different facets of its incredible desert, its geography, its history and its villages, with thousand year long traditions. The excursions are tailor made for the most adventurous: the faithful walker, the lover of heights, the one that takes half an hour taking one photo and the one that is looking for surprises. The guests can count on a professional guide, and a four wheel drive vehicle to take these trips according to their preference. The fleet of jeeps is prepared for the difficult desert and altitude conditions, all equipped with GPS and communication systems, which lets them ride comfortably on off road circuits and have access to exclusive landscapes, operating always with maximum security.

Due to the limited capacity and the high demand on the hotel, it is recommended to do the reservation with at least five months in advance. Although guests that only want bed and breakfast without demanding a minimum stay are received, it is recommended that the visit is not shorter than two nights, in order to choose one of the programs that include lodging, food, excursions and transfers.

www.awasi.com