Best New Hotels 2008:Awasi, San Pedro de Atacama

Awasi’s eight stone, wood and adobe cottages comprise a privileged sanctuary in the heart of the Atacama Desert. Indigenous materials and techniques combine with an urban sense of sophistication to create an enchantingly comfortable, secluded retreat. Guests mingle around the pool, bar and restaurant, which  serves Chilean cuisine with an Atacameñan twist. Thirty-five staff attend to a maximum 16 guests, so the hospitality is highly personalised yet discreet. A dedicated guide squires each couple through the wilderness, unveiling the wonders of ancient Incan settlements, jewel-coloured lakes and the spectacular El Tatio, one of the world’s highest geyser fields.

We love The glamorously rustic interiors, and touring the Atacama Desert in style.

Two-night packages from about $1100 per person, twin-share, including meals, drinks, outings and transfers, www.awasi.cl.
KENDALL HILL