Hotel de Larache
 

explora ATACAMA

Hotel de Larache

Our lodge is located on a plain known as the Ayllu de Larache, once inhabited by an ancient Atacameño community. We have respected the original layout of the land and restored and maintained some of the buildings.

Opened in 1998, our lodge is situated on 17 hectares (42 acres) of grounds just a few minutes’ walk from the town of San Pedro de Atacama. In the area surrounding the lodge, we have maintained the ancient pathways and buildings which form a labyrinth that invites exploration.

There are 50 rooms housed in three long buildings, positioned to form a central square planted with large trees for ample shade. On the fourth side of the square is the building which houses the lodge’s public spaces. The views from the lodge’s broad terraces enable you to enjoy Atacama’s vast chain of volcanic mountains.

In 2008, we set ourselves the challenge of intensifying your explora Atacama experience, remodeling the furnishings and the indoor and outdoor spaces. Now that the work is complete, we are pleased to be able to offer you new facilities and services.

 
StablesStables

Stables

Hotel de Larache is the only lodge in Atacama with its own horses, which have been bred and trained specially for our travelers to ride.

Our stables are situated at the lodge entrance in an area of 875 meters² (9,418 feet²). They are home to 26 horses of different breeds and mixes, especially trained by explora for riding in this area. In this arid land with little grass, we have planted 13 hectares (32 acres) of alfalfa to provide food for the horses.

The horses were bred at the stud farm belonging to the Ibáñez family, in Chile's central valley. A team led by veterinary horse specialist Gaela Hourcq is responsible for feeding and grooming the horses. The horses are constantly cared for by Gaela, together with two stable managers, a blacksmith and three stable hands.

Gaela Hourcq, horse expert

Gaela is from France and has 15 years of professional experience with horses, spanning prestigous stud farms and stables in the UK, Ireland, France, the USA, Canada and Japan.

She has been working at explora for five years, supervising the breeding, raising, breaking-in, feeding and care of the horses, as well as training our stable personnel.

She is also an expert rider. She has participated in English thoroughbred races in the USA, France and Canada. In 2005, she won the first endurance race carried out in Torres del Paine National Park.

Characteristics of our horses at Atacama

Quarter horse with Argentine criollo: strong, tough, fast, docile and low in stature.
Quarter horse with English: elegant and well-proportioned.
Chilean criollo with English: docile, tough, fast and well-proportioned.
English with Belgian and percheron: tough, strong, firm-footed and large, Patagonian criollo: tough, robust and good-humored.

 
 
 
  • US Toll Free Number +1 866 750 6699
  • U.S. Customer Inquiry +1 310 913 6747
  • Brazil Local Number +55 11 3755 1216
  • Europe Local Number +34 672 228972