What an experience. The heart of the driest desert in the whole world.
We stayed 2 nights in huts in a small resort called Planeta Atacama, just outside of the small village (which had lots of backpackers). We loved that it was away from the touristic area and perfect for what we wanted.
It was made up of little huts, with a communal kitchen, terrace, and everything you need from a stay here, even a great, off-road parking spot for the pickup. The owner, Juan, was incredible. The moment we arrived he took the time to get to know us and what we wanted from our experience there. He also without hesitation offered to fix Michiel’s broken bike, which he did so in minutes (we felt a little stupid…). He also gave us a map with some scenic routes for both biking and running and offered his own bikes that he has for guests use, which was great!
We couldn’t wait to get going, and took to our rooms for some well needed rest. The rooms were amazing – all this was built with Juan’s bare hands – all hand crafted, wooden, sticks – so rustic – but with all the modern amenities – perfect. The only downfall, the breakfast wasn’t vegan friendly, which we kind of come to expect now. So we made our own from our stash of fruit & vegetables!
