Luxury Spa Review: Our Trip to the Puri Spa in Chile
After years of exploring spa days around the globe, I've finally landed in the heart of Chile, a country renowned for its breathtaking landscapes and luxurious retreats. In my latest spa review, I delve deep into the Puri Spa in the Nayara Alto Atacama Desert Lodge. This Chile hotel offers more than just a place to rest - it promises the spa breaks that luxury travellers dream of. From the comfortable and relaxing facilities to the rejuvenating spa treatments, every moment here is one worth treasuring.
Join me, The Private Traveler, as I recount my experience in one of the finest hotels in Chile, highlighting the peaks of my luxury spa break and offering a few insights for those considering their own luxury spa breaks in Chile.
One of many pools at Nayara’s Alto Atacama Desert property
Why choose Chile for a spa break?
This has been a long-awaited trip to Chile (probably now almost four years since first booking), with Covid cancellations and restrictions, but it has absolutely not disappointed. This Leading Hotels of the World property was an obvious choice for our stay in the Atacama Desert, and having the Puri Spa was a major attraction. It’s the first of two Nayara Resorts we’re staying at on the trip too (I’ve had my eye on them for some time in Costa Rica); after a brief stop back in Santiago (Pirque to be exact) we fly to Easter Island and Nayara Hangaroa.
Puri Spa, Nayara Alto Atacama, Chile: The Important Details
Location - The Puri Spa, at Nayara Alto Atacama, Chile.
Treatment - Fire: Hand Deep Tissue Massage (featured treatment)
Extra Treatments - Air: Reflexology (60mins); Cranium (30mins)
Cost - CLP $75.000 (about £75 , €85 or $90) - deep tissue
Time - 60 minutes
Spa website - https://nayaraaltoatacama.com/unwind/
Hotel website - https://nayaraaltoatacama.com/
Pool within our Chile Hotel
Spa facilities to enjoy during your stay
There was no gym here at the hotel, but with all the activities and trips nearby (the option of either a full-day or two half-day excursions with their ‘Full Experience’ program) there is no shortage of exercise options in the natural environment.
The spa building itself (great design and partially sunken into the landscape) housed the treatment rooms, changing facilities, a small reception and an outdoor (but shaded) relaxation area with outdoor Scottish Showers. Inside, side by side was both a sauna and steam room - I tend not to use saunas (the infra-red ones seem ok for some reason) as they give me headaches, but the steam room was great, albeit it seemed to get off to a slow start, just spluttering out hot water. Once it kicked in though, it was very effective and a good pre-treatment before the deep tissue massage.
Private reservable jacuzzi deck with valley views
Above the spa building itself was a roof terrace area, where a tented cabana was also used as outside treatment areas too. Next to the spa was the Puri Bar, which served a selection of drinks (everything from water to alcohol, soft drinks and cocktails) as well as food. Rather than having a full lunch in the restaurant every day (which was included in our package) we would often come here for a snack lunch instead. Surrounding the bar area (and the spa itself) were 6 separate pool areas, to use for relaxation at any time either to swim or sunbathe. I did wonder in advance of visiting the hotel why there were so many, but in actual fact it was a great idea having more individual areas rather than one bigger pool and same sun deck for everyone.
At the front, slightly elevated was a private jacuzzi area - outside and open-air, but you could reserve this for an hour per stay. I’d been looking forward to the outside mineral baths (in a separate area of the resort) but these were out of action, I assume under reconstruction/refurbishment or just hadn’t reopened post Covid.
Spa treatment selection at Puri Spa
The treatments at Puri Spa are grouped according to the four ancestral elements - fire, water, earth and air.
Using sounds, aromas and local artisanal organic products this creates an environment where guests can relax and disconnect. I went for the deep tissue massage, 60 minutes as opposed to the shorter 40 minute option on the first time available. With very limited availability, we thought we were having treatments back to back; one at 6pm and then another at 7pm but as it turned out both ‘Mrs’ The Private Traveller and I were taken together at 6pm in the couples treatment room with a jacuzzi for afterwards.
I was able to book again for a couple of days after, this time I opted for the hour’s reflexology followed by a 30 minute Cranium massage. ‘Mrs’ The Private Traveller hates reflexology so he didn’t opt for the reflexology session, but did join again in the couple’s treatment room once I was having the head massage.
Couples spa treatment suite - Puri Spa
Puri Spa Review
So, without further ado let us dive into the nitty gritty of the Puri Spa, an excellent luxury spa break option in Chile.
In the following sections I'll describe every part of the Luxury Spa experienced at Puri Spa, including the changing facilities, the treatment room, the types of spa treatments involved and my own personal highlights and advice. Let us see why the Puri Spa stands out as an ideal luxury spa break in Chile.
Changing facilities
Small, but extremely nice with separate facilities for both men and women. Designed with dark/black slate walls and floor, there was a vanity area, locker area, toilets and a couple of rain shower glass cubicles. As with everywhere in the resort, the spa was no exception, everything was spotless.
The spa treatment room
The main (double/couples) treatment room was on the lower ground floor at the back, with huge windows onto a rock garden at the rear. Completely private once the blinds were down, as it backed onto the outside relaxation area, this again was quite dark on the inside with dark walls and floor, but bright looking out onto the enclosed area outside (completely private).
There was a huge jacuzzi at the rear of the room, which we used after the massages, two double massage beds and a sofa etc.
Luxury Spa Treatments at the Puri Spa
Great treatments - the massage therapists were both excellent during the two sessions I had; the deep tissue was indeed therapeutic and good muscle release, as was the reflexology and cranium session a couple of days after. During the cranium massage, it wasn’t necessarily just a head massage (albeit they did at one point also use one of the spidery metal tools to massage points over the skull, not sure what they’re officially called!) but also covering the back and shoulders too, which was great.
Chile Hotel: My review of the Nayara Alto Atacama
You can read my full hotel review on the website. We really loved our stay, and yet again as a member of Leading Hotels of the World, this property did not disappoint. It was so easy to get to Nayara Alto Atacama - there are multiple flights a day with LATAM Airlines - you fly to Calama [CJC] airport then it’s only about an hour and 15 minutes to the resort. With only 32 rooms (Catarpe) and 10 (Tilo) suites; it’s a small intimate resort so never felt busy, albeit it was full during our time there. There are so many activities to take part in, from walks through mountain valleys, a trip to the Geysers Del Tatio or to the salt flats with flamingos; these were all included in our package and the guides/transport were all excellent.
Puri Spa: The Highlights
Loved the resort and the couple’s massage suite was excellent.
Good therapists and treatments.
Steam room was slow to get going, but once it did it was very effective and even I could get the strength of the eucalyptus fragrance (lost sense of smell during Covid).
Areas for improvement
It was hard to get appointments, that’s really the only thing I would say was negative. Even when we thought we were making confirmed bookings at reception, these still only seemed to be provisional and perhaps confirmation could have been clearer and easier. Also not sure why we were being advised that couple treatments would be back to back as opposed to together, when in fact we were actually taken together which was ideal.
Was disappointing the thermal baths were out of action; I’d been looking forward to trying these.
The surrounding lunar landscape of Atacama
Final thoughts on the Puri Spa in Chile
I’ve enjoyed every part of our Chile trip so far, though it has been hard to get spa appointments pretty much at every hotel we’ve stayed at, and indeed at our first hotel in Santiago (The Singular) we weren’t able to get a treatment at all.
It hasn’t spoiled our trip though (as much as I love spa treatments) and Chile has been a great new country, and a set of experiences. From a busy city centre like Santiago, to the cooler mountainous weather of Patagonia and then onto the desert climate here at Nayara Alto Atacama; I’ve loved it all - the hotels, the scenery, the people.
Have you visited the Puti Spa before? I’d love to hear your own thoughts and opinions on it as well as your impression of Chile in general as a travel destination!
Comment below to share your thoughts and opinions.
Let me know which spa I should review next!
