After the atrocity that was Hotel Takha Takha in Atacama, the bar was set real low. But Hotel Tayka El Desierto turned out to be a real gem. Despite being in an extremely isolated location, it is self-sustainable and well-run. The hotel is powered by solar energy.
The room was rustic but very clean. There was a note in the room advising us to maximise our electrical usage during daylight hours. Hence, we jumped into the shower the minute we unpacked. The shower was a joy to use. The water was hot and the water pressure, strong. If it weren’t for the fact that we were in the middle of the desert and water was precious, I would have stayed in there a lot longer. 😉
The hallways and lobby were outfitted with motion sensor lights.
Dinner was a surprisingly posh affair, with pristine white table clothes and smartly dressed waiters attending to our every need. When we first stepped into the restaurant, we were greeted by a crackling fire, which provided a welcome warmth. The restaurant was packed and the air was filled with boisterous conversations. Although I was starting to feel a little under the weather from the altitude, I had a great time with Oscar and Chino. The food was really good, which was lucky as it was a fixed set menu. We were served quinoa soup, beef and mash potatoes, and a raspberry dessert. I particularly liked the quinoa soup, very light on the palette but tasty.
Customer service was impeccable. The staff was kind enough to send a bowl of soup to my room, upon my request, for X who was still too sick to get up for dinner. The hotel also had oxygen tanks, which was a huge lifesaver. After a dose of oxygen the next morning, X recovered sufficiently to set off for the day’s activities.
We were too late for breakfast, which was a pity, as it smelt great when I walked by earlier to look for Oscar. Thankfully, there was still yummy freshly baked bread left. We packed a few for the road.
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