Casino Sol Calama

In the Atacama Desert in the northern part of Chile is Calama, capital of the El Loa province and part of the Antofagasto region. Primarily a mining city, this isn’t generally a destination for tourists, but rather, a stop-over between other cities. There are however a few interesting geological features worth checking out while here. Rent a truck and drive through Lasana Canyon or visit the Tatio geysers. In Cordillera de la Sal you can check out Moon Valley. For thermal pools, there’s Puritama. There are also lagoons in the area worth visiting and some small ruins.

gaming

The Casino Sol Calama (or Calama Sun Casino) has 440 video and classic slots machines as well as video poker terminals. There are also an additional 21 table games which include Caribbean poker, craps, mini punto banco, blackjack and roulette. If you’re interested in a session of bingo, there’s a 136 seat bingo parlour. The city is one of the driest around, so after afternoons baking out in the hot Chilean sun, pop into casino and try your luck with some slots, cards and bingo. A nice win could pay for that truck rental to go 4X4-ing through the canyon and desert. Be sure to use your members card to get discounts at various venues around the city.

Hotel/Accommodations

Stay at the Sonesta Hotel Calama with their 148 rooms. Standard rooms come with 37” LCD tvs, free wi-fi, have king or 2 double beds and overlook the city or pool. Facilities and amenities include a fitness centre, spa, swimming pool, restaurant and 2,625 sq ft. of meeting space. The casino is near a few attractions so ask for information about where to go, what to do and how to go about renting a vehicle.

Dining

When not dining at the hotel, check out the Wednesday Mexican buffet in the bingo hall. Alternately head into the city looking for venues dishing up authentic Chilean cusine. Ask hotel and casino staffs for recommendations on nearby eateries popular with locals and tourists.

Attractions/NightLife

The casino runs live entertainment so be sure to ask about the events calendar. During your days check out some of the cool geographical features in and around the area like the Lasana Canyon, Cejar Lagoon, the Tatio geysers, the Puritama thermal pools and Moon Valley. Consider renting an off-road vehicle for the out of the way and rough-terrain areas. For archaeological or historical sites, check the ruins in Chiu-Chiu, local museums and churches or the largest open-cut mine in the world, Chuquicamata. After a long day, hang poolside back at the hotel or pamper yourself in the spa.

Rewards/Deals

The casino uses the Sol Club Card with levels classic, gold and platinum. Ask casino staff about benefits associated with each level and where you can redeem points. Some discounts include toward the hotel, shopping, dining and bowling.