Why travelers pick it
Kimal has been doing the adobe-boutique thing since the 1990s, and it shows in the good way: mature gardens, llama-wool blankets, handcrafted details that later hotels imitate. The location is quietly excellent — two blocks from the plaza, so restaurants and agencies are a stroll, but the block is residential enough to sleep.
The courtyard pool is small and unheated, more a splash-cooler than a swimming pool, but the loungers around it catch afternoon sun beautifully. If you are torn between Kimal and Hotel Terrantai, the shorthand is: Kimal for the pool and slightly larger rooms, Terrantai for square-side romance.
Good to know
Noise: mostly calm; the block hosts other hostels, so weekends can carry voices late — upper rooms facing the garden are the quiet picks.
Heating: rooms heat well and thick walls buffer the swing, but June–August mornings start near 0°C — layers until the sun arrives.
Water: hot showers run on solar with backup; in winter expect "hot with patience" rather than instant.
Pool honesty: unheated and shaded for part of the day — treat it as a bonus, not a reason to book.
Check-in reality: most guests arrive via transfer from Calama (about 1 h 15 min); the desk holds luggage happily if you land before rooms free up.
Booking tips
Book 6–10 weeks ahead for high season; Kimal's fair pricing makes it one of the first boutiques to fill each July and January.
High-season doubles typically run US$ 150–280 — solid value given the location and pool; prices drop noticeably in shoulder months.
Landing at Calama on an early flight? Ask for early check-in or at least a shower-before-check-in note; transfers time out well with our arrival guide.
Hotel Kimal on the map — and what is within a 20-minute walk
Your pin (orange) plus the real traveler services around it: ATMs, food, Carabineros, health and the bus terminal. Positions are approximate — San Pedro's streets are short, so the marker orients, it does not navigate.
- Hotels & lodging
- Health & pharmacy
- Carabineros (police)
- ATMs & exchange
- Fuel station
- Transport
- Tourist info & CONAF
- Markets & shops
- Food & cafés
