Why explora. Sustainability, Explorations, Guides, Luxury

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Why explora

Why explora

We believe in the power of an experience, which is why for over 25 years, we have introduced our travelers to the remote areas of South America through meticulously planned exploration programs.

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Our hotels are a meeting point for travelers from all around the world who share a passion for nature, and a place where many unexpected friendships blossom.

A meeting point

We don’t believe in contemplating from afar, which is why we have been exploration experts for over 20 years, allowing our travelers to interact with our unique natural and cultural surroundings.

Exploration experts

In remote areas, we believe in providing our travelers with excellent cuisine, made from locally sourced products and recipes.

Local food

Our passion for the great outdoors has lead us to create our Travesías, a unique kind of journey in South America that only we offer. These nomadic journeys allow our travelers to discover the planet's most isolated territories, blurring the borders of Chile, Bolivia and Argentina and exploring areas of unparalleled beauty.

Travesías

Since we believe that it is important to leave all daily concerns behind, our hotels are all inclusive: explorations, food, beverage, and transport.

Everything is included

explora Atacama has over 40 different guided hikes, bike rides, high mountain ascents and horseback rides, in groups of maximum 8 travelers. All our explorations have different difficulty levels ranging from easy to expert, and different durations, half day or full day.

explorations

explora Atacama has its own in-house observatory, equipped with a professional telescope. At night –if weather permits– we organize guided star gazing observations.

Our own observatory

The Puritama Natural Reservoir is owned by explora, and is part of our conservation program. explora travelers have exclusive access to a private hotspring-pool within the reservoir.

Puritama Hotsprings

explora Atacama is located on a 17-hectare (39 acres) plot of land, which was once owned by local Atacameño families. We have carefully preserved the original layout of the grounds, as well as the native floral species which grow within the oasis.

Location

At explora Atacama we hold the Quincho experience, which consists on a traditional roasted lamb barbeque with assorted, locally produced meals such as Quinoa salad. As well as the meal itself, travelers enjoy a presentation of local music and dance presentations.

Quincho experience

explora Atacama has 4 outdoor swimming pools, 2 open air jacuzzis, 2 saunas, 2 steam rooms and a relaxation area. The Turi Puri, is an original 90 year-old adobe building, located within the hotel grounds.

SPA

explora Atacama is ideal for families, since it has interconnected rooms and outdoor activities which are suitable for all ages.

Family friendly

explora Rapa Nui is located in a quiet and peaceful area of Easter Island, close to the island's main town, Hanga Roa. The hotel has privileged views to the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding countryside.

Location

At explora Rapa Nui, there are over 30 different guided hikes, bike rides and snorkeling and scuba diving explorations, in groups of maximum 8 travelers. All our explorations have different difficulty levels ranging from easy to expert, and different durations, half day or full day.

Over 30 explorations

Most of explora Rapa Nui's staff is local, which allows our travelers to interact with authentic Rapa Nui who are extremely knowledgeable and proud about their heritage.

Local staff

explora Rapa Nui has an outdoor swimming pool and an open-air jacuzzi.

SPA

explora Rapa Nui carries the LEED Certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).

LEED Certification

Throughout the trip, we will stay in our various highland fields, whose construction varies, but always keep their extreme isolation from everything but nature in its purest and rawest form. Since refurbished sea containers, to old stone buildings, all camps have been renovated to explora standards.

Extreme isolation

In a world in which it is harder and harder to leave crowds behind, we have created a taylor-made journey across the Altiplano, following our own route, which no other company covers.

Exclusive route

The route for this Travesía takes travelers from sea level to approximately 5,100 meters above sea level (16,730 ft), during which you can see how nature manages to open its way through the sometimes inhospitable Altiplano.

Altitude climb

Depending on the route, we will cross the Chilean-Bolivian border at two points: Hito Cajón (4,400 m.a.s. l / 14,430 ft) and Colchane (4.700 m.a.s.l/ 15,420 ft).

Border crossings

All food and wine is of local origin, produced either in Bolivia or in Chile, and includes high altitude cereals such as Quinoa.

Local food and wine

Our route is the safest way of exploring the Uyuni Salt flat, as well as the Bolivian Altiplano.

Safety

All accompanying staff is trained to address unexpected weather, safety and migratory issues.

Trained Staff

The variation in altitude causes extreme variations in the wildlife which we will see throughout the journey.

Extreme contrasts

The Travesía allows travelers to truly interact with locals who harvest the land producing Quinoa, beans, and llama wool, providing a further understanding into their largely untouched traditions and way of life.

Human contact

In a world in which it is harder and harder to leave crowds behind, we have created a taylor-made journey over The Andes, following our own route, which no other company covers.

Exclusive route

Part of our route uses Argentina's mythical Route 40 highway, which spans across 5,000km (3,100 miles) from Patagonia to the Puna highlands. We will cross the Route in its highest point, called the Abra del Acay.

Mythical Route 40

We cross the Andes Mountains at 5,000 meters above sea level (16,400 ft), entering Argentina or Chile, depending on the starting and finishing points.

Crossing the Andes

Throughout the journey, we will stay at our remote Andean camps, which vary in their construction, but always ensure absolute isolation from everything but nature in its raw, naked form. From shipping containers to our Finca Rancagua, all camps have been renovated to explora standards.

Andean camps

This journey can also be combined with the city of Salta in Argentina, and with connecting flights to Buenos Aires.

Connecting destinations

The journey allows travelers to see the rich biodiversity of the Andes Mountains, which evolves with the change in altitude.

Biodiversity

All hikes are of moderate difficulty and will depend on each traveler's interest and disposition. The only goal is to reach each camp by sunset.

Hikes and explorations

Part of our team always goes ahead of the group, preparing each camp for the group's arrival, ensuring everything is fit to explora standards: from chilled white wine, to perfect temperature within each room, to hot running water and deliciously rewarding meals.

explora standards

All food and wine is of local origin, produced in the province of Salta.

Local food and wine

All accompanying staff is trained to address unexpected weather, safety and migratory issues.

Trained staff

In a world in which it is harder and harder to leave crowds behind, we have created a tailor-made journey across both sides of Patagonia, especially design to explore the region.

Taylor- made route

This route is the best way of grasping just how vast and diverse this region is, and how sometimes, country borders mean nothing at all.

Patagonia's wonders

This Travesía allows travelers to discover both sides of Patagonia, a land of contrasts shaped by mountains, weather and ice. The journey allows us to witness the similarities and differences between both sides, gaining further understanding into the gauchos' way of life.

Beyond borders

One of the many highlights of this journey are the glaciers on either side of the border: in Torres del Paine National Park and the Mount Fitz Roy.

Glaciers

We will cross the border in Cerro Castillo, entering Chile or Argentina depending on the route.

Border crossing

We use hotels on each side of the border as our base from which to hike, so little time is spent driving. Hikes vary in difficulty, but can have duration of up to 8 hours.

Explorations

explora Patagonia is the only luxury hotel located within the Torres del Paine National Park, often called the heart of Patagonia.

Location

Due to its privileged location within the park, explora Patagonia has breathtaking views to the Paine Massif.

Breathtaking views

explora Patagonia is located on the shores of turquoise Pehoé Lake, which was chosen by The Huffington Post as one of the world's most beautiful lakes.

Pehoé Lake

explora Patagonia has over 40 different guided explorations. All of them are led by our guides or gauchos and can be selected as halfday or full day, with different levels of difficulty and either as hikes or horseback rides.

Over 40 explorations

The Quincho is a typical Patagonia experience available to our travellers from September to April –as weather permits– in which our gauchos prepare a spit-roasted lamb in a privileged location with panoramic views to Torres del Paine.

The Quincho experience

explora Patagonia's architecture has received numerous awards, such as the first prize in the Tourism Services category, in the X Bienal de Arquitectura in Santiago, Chile.

Awarded architecture

explora Patagonia has its own catamaran, which is used exclusively by explora travelers to cross the turquoise waters of the Pehoé Lake towards the Grey Glacier and the French Valley.

Our own catamaran

The Ona Bathhouse, located 100 meters from the main building, is equipped with an indoor heated pool, a sauna, and four outdoor Jacuzzis with views to the Paine River.

SPA

The Estancia 2 de Enero is a huge Patagonian ranch, property of explora, which is particularly ideal for advanced horse-riders.

Patagonian ranch

explora Valle Sagrado is located on an old corn plantation established in one of the most retreated farms of the valley. It is sheltered and surrounded by mighty mountains that were once the home of the great Inca Empire.

Location

Pumacahua House is an old colonial house located on one side of the hotel’s corn terraces. Rescued by our restoration and archeology team, it contains the hotel’s spa where our guests can enjoy massages, the swimming pool and saunas.

Bath House Pumacahua

Some of the areas we will be visiting in Valle Sagrado include Machu Picchu, Ollantaytambo, Zapacto, Maras, Quimsacocha, Pisac, Cusco, Moray, and many others.

Privileged views

explora Valle Sagrado offers our guests more than 20 exploration activities, either on foot or bicycle. Our guides will take our travelers to experience the area’s unique geography and Andean culture in all it richness.

Explorations

Given the region's outstanding ancestral and cultural heritage, the commissioning and construction of the Valle Sagrado project was done in the most responsible way, working in close coordination with the Peruvian archeology institute. At the same time, we worked with the area's communities and we hope – starting as from this year – to establish a conservation and social responsibility program.

Sustainability

Since we believe that it is important to leave all daily concerns behind, our hotels are all inclusive: explorations, food, beverage, and transport.

All inclusive