How to pack for the Atacama Desert in Chile

Style

How to pack for the Atacama Desert in Chile

A meditation maxi dress and a sand-ready silk bandana – we're headed to South America's other-worldly outpost in style

Amelia Mularz

BY Amelia Mularz1 August 2017

Sure, South America‘s superlative-inducing desert – the driest, the oldest in the world – is all about rugged adventure, with days of crunching across salt lakes and night’s spent wide-eyed beneath a spectre of stars. But that doesn’t mean you can’t try to outdress it. Time to show that show-off how it’s done…

THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS

Chill out on the flight over with a Chilean novel. Isabel Allende’s first book, The House of the Spirits, nabbed Best Novel of the Year in Chile in 1982, so it’s a local classic.

GUCCI FLASHTREK HIGH-TOP SNEAKER

Do you need to wear Gucci in the desert? Probably not. Are these the chicest hiking boots we’ve ever seen? Absolutely. Our advice: invest in footwear that you’ll actually wear again and park the Merrells safely at home (sorry).

CLARE V SANDY MESH BAG

A packable pouch like this one is ideal for carrying a book to the pool or your water bottle and room key to yoga class. Feeling zen just looking at it…

BKR TUTU 1L WATER BOTTLE

A bright bottle will remind you to keep sipping that H20, which is your best bet at battling the Atacama’s heat and altitude.

SILK BANDANA

Here’s a multi-purpose accessory: use a bandana to tie up your hair, or wrap it around your neck to shield your skin from the sand.

LOVE BINETTI MAXI DRESS

You’ll get a lot of mileage out of a kaftan or a maxi dress – it works as a pool cover-up, a comfy garb for meditation, plus you can dress it up with strappy sandals and jewellery for dinner. You’re welcome.

ADIDAS BY STELLA MCCARTNEY HOODIE

Even the desert gets cool at night, so lots of light layers are key for late-night stargazing.

EVERLANE BOATNECK TOP

If you’re heading to the Valle de la Luna to watch the sun set and the valley’s titular moon rise, you’ll appreciate the extra warmth from this cosy cotton top.

HAIGHT WAIST-TIE SWIMSUIT

Match the region’s terracotta-coloured Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountains) with swimwear in an earthy tone. Plus, Haight is a Brazilian label, so you’ll arrive with some pre-prepped South American flair.

SENSI STUDIO PANAMA HAT

Technically, the colourful jacquard trim on this head-topper is from Ecuador, but we think it’ll still fly in Chile.

DR ROEBUCK’S NOOSA NOURISHING CREME CLEANSER

Extreme climates mean extreme bad-times for your skin. So, this hydrating cleanser is packed with calendula and oat leaf to give your complexion sweet relief from the Atacama’s dry humour.

CLARINS SUN CARE OIL SPRAY SPF 30

And speaking of hydration, an oil sunscreen protects from the rays while also nourishing your skin. Plus, you can spritz it into your hair to shield your tresses, too.

ATELIER DORÉ CARNET DE DESSIN NOTEBOOK

The desert is a place of discovery – just don’t forget the adventures once home. Bring a journal to keep track of every moment, each constellation you spied – and every last Chilean wine you guzzled.

Continue your adventures by unpacking our boutique hotels in South America