Our Habitas Atacama

Our Habitas Atacama: A Comprehensive Review of the Michelin Key Selected Property

Our Habitas Atacama, a Michelin Key Selected property in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, generally offers a unique and immersive experience that blends with the natural and cultural essence of the Atacama Desert. While many guests praise its distinctive design, focus on wellness and adventure, and dedicated staff, some recurring issues prevent a uniformly luxurious experience.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general sentiment for Our Habitas Atacama is largely positive, with guests often highlighting the beautiful property, tranquil atmosphere, and friendly staff. It garners a "Very Good" rating on Booking.com with a score of 8.2 based on over 500 reviews, and an 8.6/10 for cleanliness and 8.7/10 for staff. However, mixed reviews indicate that while it excels in certain aspects, it falls short for some luxury travelers, particularly regarding consistency in service and certain amenities.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently love Our Habitas Atacama for its unique approach to hospitality, centered around nature, culture, wellness, adventure, learning, food and beverage, and music.

• Design & Ambiance: The hotel's design is deeply inspired by its desert surroundings, featuring adobe walls, local textiles, and traditional decor, creating a rustic yet minimalist vibe. Communal spaces are described as lovely, providing a peaceful oasis. The property is noted for its beautiful gardens and integration with the natural landscaping.
• Amenities & Experiences: A significant draw is the comprehensive array of complimentary activities, including yoga, Pilates, sound healing, stargazing, and traditional Temazcal rituals. The outdoor pool area is appreciated, though the water temperature is sometimes a point of contention. Other amenities include a wellness area, a rustic outdoor gym, and free Wi-Fi in rooms and common areas.
• Connection to Nature: The hotel emphasizes connecting guests with the awe-inspiring landscapes of the Atacama Desert, offering breathtaking sunsets and stargazing experiences under some of the world's clearest skies.

3. Room Quality

The 51 rooms, including studios, standard rooms, suites, and a villa, are designed to immerse guests in nature, featuring earth-toned colors, local textiles, decor, and furnishings.

• Comfort & Design: Rooms are generally described as comfortable and tastefully designed, with private bathrooms, terraces, and minibars. Some rooms offer views of the Licancabur volcano. The "rustic feeling" is intentional, with adobe and stone walls and small windows to keep out the heat, aligning with local traditions.
• Amenities: Rooms come with free bottled water and organic bath products. However, some guests note that smaller rooms can feel cramped, and there have been complaints about the absence of Nespresso machines, TVs, and air conditioning/fans in all rooms, which can be an issue during heat waves. Lighting in guest rooms, including bathrooms, can also be dim. An outdoor shower is a feature in some rooms, like the Trekker Villa.

4. Dining Experience

The on-site restaurant, Almas (meaning "souls" in Spanish), aims to offer a refined yet rustic culinary journey rooted in regional traditions, using locally sourced, seasonal ingredients and wood-fired techniques.

• Breakfast: Complimentary full breakfast is served daily and is generally well-received, featuring homemade breads and cakes, fresh fruit, cold cuts, cheeses, homemade jams, fresh juice, and eggs to order.
• Lunch & Dinner: Reviews for lunch and dinner are mixed. Some guests praise the creative, well-executed, and delicious dishes, highlighting options like the Farm Bowl and Pil Pil. Others find the menu limited, with small portions and a lack of simple options for children or vegetarians. There have been criticisms regarding slow service, cold dishes, and issues with accurately labeling gluten-free options. Espresso coffee may incur an extra charge and is not always highly rated.

5. Service & Staff

The staff at Our Habitas Atacama frequently receives high praise for being friendly, welcoming, attentive, and helpful. Many guests appreciate the staff's dedication to making them feel like "friends" and their focus on "connection." Most staff members encountered speak strong English.

However, there are inconsistencies reported, with some experiences of inefficient front desk service, misleading information about attractions, and slow restaurant service. Some guests felt that staff lacked motivation or were preoccupied, requiring guests to seek them out for requests.

6. Location & Accessibility

Our Habitas Atacama is located on the outskirts of San Pedro de Atacama, about a 10-minute walk to the town center (Caracoles Street).

• Neighborhood & Attractions: The hotel offers a tranquil and silent location. It provides good access to the region's unique landscapes, including salt flats, lunar landscapes, and ancient Andean heritage sites. Nearby attractions include the Meteorite Museum and Plaza de San Pedro de Atacama.
• Transport: The nearest airport is Calama (CJC), approximately an hour's drive away. Private transportation can be arranged, though airport transfers can be expensive. While car rental is available, navigating the desert can be challenging. The hotel also offers bicycles for rent. The terrain surrounding the hotel is noted as not particularly suitable for wheelchair users.

7. Value & Pricing

Our Habitas Atacama is considered a luxury property, and pricing reflects this. Room rates can start from around US$170 to US$270 per night, with more spacious options like the Deluxe room at around $290 and Trekker Villa being more expensive.

• Inclusions: Rates usually include a buffet and à la carte breakfast, as well as personalized weekly itineraries and a variety of complimentary activities.
• Perception of Value: While some guests feel it offers good value for its unique design and services, others find certain aspects overpriced, such as tours offered by the hotel compared to local suppliers, and the charge for bottled water despite a no-plastic-bottle policy. The value for money is rated 7.4/10 on Booking.com.

8. Common Complaints

Several recurring issues appear in guest feedback:

• Odors: A significant and frequent complaint is a sewage-like smell that occasionally wafts over the exterior, particularly near the pool and outdoor eating areas. This is attributed by some to a canal next to the hotel used for waste and the hotel recycling brown water for garden irrigation. This can make terraces unusable and necessitate keeping doors and windows closed.
• Room Issues: Beyond the lack of AC/fans and dim lighting, some guests report small, cramped rooms with insufficient space for belongings and a lack of privacy due to direct visibility from the street. Noise from fans and mini-fridges in small spaces has also been mentioned.
• Service Inconsistency: While staff are often praised, instances of slow service in the restaurant, misleading information, and a perceived lack of attentiveness or motivation from some team members have been noted.
• Cold Pool Water: Despite having an outdoor pool, many guests report the water being unheated or too cold, even in November, making it largely unusable for swimming.
• Food Quality/Menu Limitations: The restaurant receives mixed feedback, with some finding the menu limited, portions small, and issues with food temperature or accuracy of dietary information.
• "Charging Extra" Perception: Some guests feel that the hotel frequently seeks to charge extra for services or amenities, such as airport transfers, premium coffee at breakfast, and even bottled water.
• Facility Maintenance: Some reviews mention old, damaged facilities, such as chipped sinks and patched-up walls, not aligning with the luxury image.

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