Exploring with Explora Lodges in Chile and Bolivia

by Gabrielle Warncke, Senior Luxury Travel Advisor

My lifelong quest to visit remote, off-the-beaten-path destinations took a big leap forward this fall with three remarkable stops: Easter Island, the Atacama Desert, and the Uyuni Salt Flats. I’ve always believed the best way to truly understand a place is to immerse yourself in its history, culture, and landscape- and this journey was filled with adventure and discovery at every turn.

I began my trip on the remote island of Rapa Nui- better known as Easter Island- located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean between Chile and French Polynesia. During my stay, I was fortunate to experience Explora Rapa Nui, the most luxurious property in this isolated and adventurous destination.

Ever since I saw photographs of the famous Moai statues in a book as a child, I’ve been fascinated by them. How were they carved? What did they represent? How were they transported across the island, and why were they placed where they are? I was especially curious about the red “pukao” that sits atop some of the statues.

Over five days on the island, I learned the answers to these questions and so much more. I loved immersing myself in the island’s rich history and culture, but my favorite day was visiting the quarry at Rano Raraku. Seeing partially carved Moai still embedded in the mountainside brought the scale and grandeur of these statues to life. Standing there, I couldn’t help but marvel at the ingenuity of the Polynesian people who moved these massive monoliths without modern equipment.

From there, I continued back to mainland Chile before connecting through Calama to the Atacama Desert- the driest place on earth. I had heard that description many times, but experiencing it firsthand made it clear just how accurate it is. I intentionally included this stop as an acclimation point before heading to Uyuni, and it proved to be a perfect transition.

While in Atacama, I took a full-day excursion to the El Tatio geysers and the Puritama hot springs. The highlight of my time there, however, was riding an electric bike through the stunning landscapes of Moon Valley- an unforgettable way to experience this surreal terrain.

My journey then continued through the Bolivian Andes to the Uyuni Salt Flats as part of Explora’s Travesía program. Simply crossing the Andes was an adventure in itself. At times the landscape felt completely otherworldly- vast, untouched, and with no visible roads. It was remarkable to watch my driver navigate such remote terrain with complete confidence.

The basic Travesía program includes stays at three small Explora lodges along the route: one night at Ramaditas (just four rooms), one night at Chituca (also four rooms), and two nights at Jirira at Uyuni (six rooms). The two days in transit were filled with exploration- desert landscapes, geysers, remote lakes, and incredible wildlife, including vicuñas, viscachas, and three species of flamingoes.

Of course, the highlight of this portion of the trip was the Uyuni Salt Flats themselves. The views from the lodge were spectacular- an endless expanse of white stretching to the horizon, punctuated by a few cactus-covered islands. I hiked Isla Pescado for panoramic views of the flats and enjoyed a gourmet lunch set up in the middle of the salt. Walking across the surface was surprisingly crunchy, almost like stepping on frozen snow during a Midwest winter.

With the help of my driver and guide, I also participated in the classic perspective photos that visitors love to take on the flats. Because I traveled in the fall, however, I wasn’t able to capture the famous “mirror effect” that appears when the flats are covered with a thin layer of water. Still, biking across the salt flats in the late afternoon and ending the day with cocktails while watching a brilliant sunset over the white landscape was an unforgettable experience.

This was truly an incredible journey- one filled with moments where expectations and reality intertwined in the best possible way. I always love crossing destinations off my personal bucket list, but equally important is learning the nuances of each place so I can help my clients create their own perfect travel experiences.

After all, no two trips are ever the same. Here’s to planning your own adventure to these extraordinary destinations.