Atacama Desert
One of the most barren yet beautiful areas of Chile is the arid north and at its heart is the Atacama Desert, the driest place on earth. It is a place of stark natural beauty and amazing sights. Unlike anything you have ever seen before this desert region holds some superb attractions and is a true highlight on a visit to Chile.
GOOD TIME TO VISIT: all year round
You can reach the desert by flying to Calama and then travel by road to San Pedro. Located deep in the heart of the desert this charming oasis town makes for an ideal base to explore the area. Some of the planet’s most provocative landscapes ring San Pedro, enticing thousands of tourists a year to its dusty little heart.
One of the most unusual landscapes and one of the country’s highlights is the altiplano with its dazzling lakes, salt flats and volcanoes.
The largest salt flat in the country lies just to the south of San Pedro and is home to a large colony of flamingos. Making for an unforgettable early morning excursion is a visit to the famous El Tatio geysers, that lie to the north and the aptly named desertscape of Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon). Best seen at sunset, the valley is transformed into a spellbinding palette of golds and reds, making for a magical end to a day in the desert.
The area is surprisingly abundant in wildlife with thousands of llamas and alpacas, vicuñas, flamingos and condors, offering a wonderful natural spectacle at high altitude.
