Tierra Hotels Chile

It’s a tough gig this travel agenting thing (hehe), but one of the key differences that separates me from the online sites and random travel resources on the world wide interweb is this….

• I travel so that I can be better at my job.
• I travel so that I can inspire you to visit new, interesting, outside of the box and just plain awesome destinations.
• I travel so that I can bring you first hand experiences, because I know that some destinations are very different on paper and need that little extra inside knowledge.

So, when opportunities come up for me to be able to do something epic, or something that I know my clients will love and at a destination that I know little (or nothing) about, I am always keen to get there.

That little intro brings me to my most recent journey…. to CHILE!

As an avid traveller, adventurer and experience seeker, there are a few key regions of the world that spring to mind as ‘must do’s. From hiking in the Himalaya to skiing in Europe, Kayaking in Antarctica or exploring the Fjords of Norway, there are some places that you HAVE to get to at least once in your lifetime.

For me trekking to the Three Towers in Patagonia Chile was definitely on the list, so when an opportunity came up to head across the Pacific to explore the diverse and foreign landscape of Chile, and check out the Tierra Hotels properties, I didn’t hesitate to jump at it (and my lucky hubby got to tag along too!).

With just 12 days on hand to traverse the country (which is no easy feat, given that it’s the longest country in the world!), I soon discovered that Chile is a land of contrasts. From the baron yet beautiful Atacama Desert in the North, to the expanses of Patagonia and the glaciers of Torres del Paine National Park in the South, there is so much to see and experience, and I’m certain that despite our limited time frame, we were able to make the most of it.

So, allow me to introduce you to Chile, Tierra Hotels, and the awesome excursions that we were able to experience along the way. (I’ve broken the post into part 1 and part 2, otherwise It was going to take an hour for you to read).

TIERRA HOTELS 

Set in Chile, Tierra Hotels are boutique family-run lodges that are inspired by nature.

Each of the three Tierra Hotel lodges (Tierra Atacama, Tierra Chiloé, and Tierra Patagonia) have been selected as a part of the ‘National Geographic’s Unique Lodges’ collection, which not only offer guests a truly luxurious stay, but also offer rare experiences, presenting guests intimate encounters with parts of the world not many get to know—and the chance to slow down and truly discover them. Each lodge is deeply rooted in its community and dedicated to protecting the surrounding habitats and cultures—and harnessing their magic to safeguard them for the future.

Tierra Atacama

Our journey began here in the North of Chile, and after travelling on a direct flight from Sydney to Santiago, and transferring to Calama Airport, we stepped out of the airport where we were instantly engulfed by a stifling dry desert heat, and glimpses of the Atacama’s stark landscape, which is truly awe-inspiring.

Fringed by the Andes mountains, The Atacama is the driest desert in the world, and as we drove the 1.5hrs to our lodge, the contrasting landscape in the Atacama alone was enough to make you feel as though you weren’t really on earth any more.

From the ragged and rocky moonscape-like surface, to towering volcanoes, it was certainly a sight to behold. (When we could keep our eyes open that is…. The 24hrs in transit, the hot desert sun, limited air conditioning and a cosy vehicle was the perfect recipe for a snooze on route).

Upon arrival at Tierra Atacama it was soon clear that we weren’t here to rough it.

The desert itself is a big draw card for adventure travellers who are looking to explore the lunar landscapes, the volcanoes, high altitude lagoons, salt flats and flamingo-filled lakes. Tierra Atacama sits here amidst it all, and caters to the ‘Luxventure’ traveller who is looking to combine all of those key experiences with a hot shower, a lavish meal, a comfortable bed and the perfectly mixed pisco sour.

The lodge itself is a serene desert oasis, and while it is certainly elegant and charming, it’s still incredibly inviting and eco-friendly, with a beautifully relaxed vibe.

As a guest you’re encouraged to make yourself at home. Settle in for the afternoon on one of the moon-shaped day beds by the pool, sink into one of the comfy couches inside by the fire, or take a seat at one of the many outdoor fire pits (with your pisco sour of course) and watch as the sun sets over the incredible Licancabur Volcano (which is the closest volcano, and creates the most surreal horizon views). Ahhmazing!

In terms of activities, there are endless once in a life time excursions to choose from, with everything that you’d want to do in the Atacama within reach, and Tierra Hotels run daily half day and full day excursions to it all.

There is also their signature Uma Spa, indoor and outdoor pool, massage treatments and more!

We enjoyed 3 nights here, but in all honestly you could do 4 or 5 nights easily. In hindsight we would have done exactly that, so that we’d have had time to climb the surrounding Volcano’s, which require you to have a longer stay, so that you can acclimatise. (The Atacama desert sits at 2408 m above sea level, and some of the excursions take you to well over 4000m!).

During our stay we chose a range of different activities…

We headed off to hike Guatin Gatchi Valley (the valley of Cactus!) and Valle de la Luna or ‘Moon Valley. We also biked to Cejar Lagoon, which are salty lagoons, where the salt concentration is so incredibly high that you can float!

We also enjoyed some of their specialty experiences, including the incredible Salar de Atacama (Salt Flats), which is home to Flamingo and Andean Gull populations. And, as the Atacama Desert boasts clear, unpolluted skies that allow for the most incredible, unforgettable stargazing, it would be a miss not to experience this whilst we were there.

All in all it was a serious WOW experience, and Tierra Atacama was the perfect base for exploring this iconic region.

Hot Tip: My suggestion would be to do at least 4 or 5 nights here. Not only so that you could hike the volcano’s, but to simply slow down the pace, and allow time to enjoy the lodge. With all of the activities on offer, it’s hard not to want to go out exploring every day, but with an extra night or two on your itinerary, you can simply choose to enjoy the luxuries of the lodge, sit in awe of the landscape and really take it all in.

Tierra Chiloé

 

After 3 blissful days exploring the desert it was time to get moving.

With a transfer, 2 flights, a car, a ferry and another car journey to reach Tierra Chiloé , it was a long travel day and it’s safe to say that I was not my husband’s favourite person…. I forget that he’s 6’3′ and loathes sitting down for long periods of time.(Opps!) and I would certainly plan things a little differently for my clients.

Chiloe is an archipelago towards the south of Chile. Separated by water from the stark Atacama in the north and desolate Patagonia in the south, and despite the crazy long (12hr journey) to travel between the two lodges, I have to say that the reward was well worth it.

As we pulled up the gravel driveaway to the entrance of Tierra Chiloé, we were greeted by an architectural stunner. The lodge is perched on top of rolling green hills, at the edge of the sea and in-step with its breathtaking surroundings.

It even comes complete with its own boat, the “Williche”, for navigating the inland waters.

As with the other Tierra Lodges, we were greeted on arrival by their warm and friendly team, who helped us map out our activities for the coming days (whilst we eagerly awaited dinner time).

Have I mentioned the meals at the Tierra lodges yet? It’s All-Inclusive! So with three course lunches and dinners prepared for you daily, with local ingredients and Chilean specialties  (including wine, local beers and cocktails too!), meal times are as much a part of the experience as the excursions themselves.

With minimalist, contemporary interiors, and built with a sustainable geometric design and decorated with local hand-made textiles and wood carvings, the lodge certainly made it hard to head off exploring for the day. Staying in to enjoy the beautiful spa, thermal pools and cosy fire places could certainly have been an option – but not with my husband. It was time to get active.

Whilst Chiloé is known more for it’s UNESCO listed churches, and is a land of myths, legends, unique folklore and culinary traditions (with plenty of excursions to choose from that will allow you to immerse yourself and learn all about those), we were keen to take a more active approach to our exploration of the island.

We started off with a run before breakfast through the green pastures surrounding the hotel. We then kayaked with a local guide, where we explored some of the local mussel farms, birdlife and the occasional Chilean sea lion. We also took our selves off on a self-guided bike ride to explore some of the local communities (all just on day 1!).

Day two was spent on a longer full day hike from Duhatao – Chepu. It was a misty, rainy day, but since the hike took us from twisting coastal cliffs, into the surrounding rainforest, it made little difference.

We were knee deep in mud, and taking on some steep climbs through the woods, but there were some beautiful panoramic vantage points along the way. Eventually we emerged onto the islet of Aulen, where we took a slower stroll along the beach, before boarding a local fishing boat back to the car – whilst enjoying a local brew as our reward of course.

All in all Chiloé is a watery wonderland, and a destination that is a world away from the rest of mainland Chile – A true ‘choose your own adventure’ destination.

You could venture off on the active excursions like we did, or you could take a more relaxed approach, by taking in gentle boat rides, slow paced, cultural experiences. Either way, mythical Chiloé was a surprise addition to our Chilean journey and one that I’m glad I had the opportunity to uncover.

Hot Tip: You can arrange to have your evening dinner on Tierra Chiloé ‘s in house boat ‘Williche’, which is just an extension of the lodge after all. Imagine, your 3 course, locally sourced meal served on the water, just out from the hotel. Quite an interesting experience, and a way to make meal times a little extra special.

So, that’s part one of our journey. Next up I’ll share the second part of our trip, where we headed down to the ultimate bucket list destination  ‘Tierra Patagonia’, and our city stay in Santiago, so stay tuned for more.

xxx