Guest User
December 16, 2024
My third Explora brings some mixed feelings. I still love the business model. Show up with some version of a wish list and they will sort things out with you. Daily excursions were great and spanned a variety of skill levels. Most trips are half-day (8-11a & 4-7p +/-) to avoid the midday heat. My favorite hikes were slot canyons (Domeyko), walking along the small river beds (Punta del Inca), and the White Volcano (with geysers). Elevation can be extreme and you should manage your trips to work up higher if you want. My last hike was >18,000’. The rooms are modern and spotless. Bed very comfortable. Humidifiers available on request. Explora doesn’t seem to attract a young party crowd, but they could still use more sound insulation. The lodge feels remote, but it is in the town with sometimes noisy neighbors. Staff was generally very friendly and helpful. Some clearly enjoy chatting with guests and/or showing off Atacama’s plants and wildlife. There were a few standouts that I hope to see at future Exploras, but also a few that seemed ready to move on. The food is mediocre. Good enough that I wasn’t compelled to leave the lodge … but I did consider it. Dinner was chronically under seasoned, the menu was repetitive, and there were execution errors. Lunch and breakfast are primarily a buffet. Food at Explora Peru was spectacular so the food here, from the same executive chef, really hit hard. Food pulls the overall rating down.