In northern Chile, bordering Bolivia and Argentina, lies the driest non-polar zone on the planet: the Atacama Desert. This desert, with its red mountains, impressive geysers and endless fields of mauve, is one of Chile’s top tourist destinations. This magnificent place of extreme temperatures and landscapes will captivate you immediately. We invite you to read on so you can find out why.
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Characteristics of the Atacama Desert
The Atacama Desert is located in the Gran Norte area of Chile, in the Antofagasta region. It borders the Pacific coast and the Andes as well as Bolivia and Argentina. It is the second driest area on the planet, after the McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica. Its huge area of 105,000 km² is covered with mountains, valleys, volcanoes, lakes and geysers that are a real attraction for those interested in geology and extreme landscapes. In addition, its altitude of 3,000 metres and its very dry climate make the Atacama a veritable observatory where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the night sky.
Temperatures in the Atacama Desert are extreme, with highs of 50ºC in summer and lows of -25ºC in winter. As for rainfall, it can be said that it is practically non-existent. In its central regions, there have been periods of up to 400 years without documented rainfall, although in January and February there are frequent thunderstorms.
When it comes to wildlife, you can mainly find different bird species such as hummingbirds, flamingos and owls, as well as some foxes, such as the culpeo and the chilla, and guanacos. As for plant-life, due to the extreme aridity, the vegetation is almost exclusively cacti. Some species of flowers such as the malvilla bloom near the lagoons every 6 or 7 years from September – November.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
What to see in the Atacama Desert?
Tatio Geysers
El Tatio is the third largest geothermal field in the world, located in the north of the Atacama Desert. Here, at an altitude of 4,320 metres, you can see one of the great spectacles of this desert: 80 volcanic fissures spewing out jets of boiling water, up to 20 metres high. To witness this marvel, you have to get up early and be there at around six in the morning, when temperatures are still below freezing. The difference in temperature between the water from the underground reservoirs and the cold outside creates these impressive columns of steam that shroud the landscape in a mystical aura.
Chaxa Lagoon in the Atacama Desert
The Chaxa Lagoon in the Salar de Atacama is one of the most visited lagoons in the desert. It is a lagoon in the second most arid zone in the world, surrounded by mountains and volcanoes. However its main attraction is that it is home to the Los Flamencos National Reserve. From here you can observe how the majestic Parina Grande flamingos feed in the lagoon and live in freedom.
Cejar Lagoon
This lagoon is close to the Chaxa lagoon and also part of the Salar de Atacama. Its water is crystal clear and has a very high salt content, which will make you float in it. The lagoon is suitable for bathing, so you can test it out for yourself.
Atacama Desert Death Valley
The Valley of Death, or Valley of Mars due to the red colour of its terrain, is one of the most spectacular places in the Atacama Desert. This is because of the impressive rock formations and spiky mountains that look like something out of a sci-fi movie.
Valley of the Moon
In contrast to the Valley of Death or Valley of Mars, there is also the Valley of the Moon. Its name also comes from its resemblance to the satellite. The white colour of its terrain is due to the high salinity of the lakes that were once found here.
Lascar Volcano
Visiting the Lascar Volcano is an adventure. It is an ascent of almost 1,000 metres up an active volcano. The climb is arduous, but if you are in shape and enjoy this type of activity, the views from the top are worth the effort. At the top you can see the crater, which is 750 metres in diameter and 300 metres deep.
The Hand of the Desert
The Hand of the Desert is an 11-metre sculpture located 75 km south of the city of Antofagasta. The sculptor who created it is Mario Irrazabal and it was inaugurated in 1992. The sculpture is the same colour as the desert terrain and rises towards the sky. It is as if the Atacama Desert itself were inviting us to look towards the sky and admire its immensity.
Astronomy tour
As mentioned earlier, the combination of high altitude and a climate devoid of humidity makes the Atacama Desert one of the best places in the world to observe the night sky. The best place to do this is in Death Valley. There are guided tours that will take you there. With the help of a guide and a powerful telescope you can see the wonders of the universe and its stars.
How to get to the Atacama Desert?
The quickest way to get to the Atacama Desert is by plane. To do so, take a one-and-a-half hour flight from Santiago de Chile to the city of Calama. Once here, the trip to San Pedro de Atacama is about an hour by road. At the airport there are several companies that provide a transfer service to your accommodation. However, if you find it more convenient, you can also hire one beforehand. The cost of the transfer is around 13.000$ CLP one way (€14).
It is possible to drive, but the journey is much longer. From Santiago you can take buses directly to San Pedro. The journey time is 24 hours and the price starts at $36,000 CLP (approximately €38).
What to see around the Atacama Desert?
San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is the base town for visiting the Atacama Desert. It is a pretty town with low adobe houses that line the streets with brown bricks. The main street is Calle Caracoles, where you will find most of the shops, such as bars and restaurants and travel agencies where you can find organised tours to the Atacama Desert. One of the essential stops in town is the Plaza de Armas, a beautiful tree-lined square where you can relax in the shade after a stroll through the town and buy local products from the stalls. On one side of the square is the austere Church of San Pedro, a Chilean Historical Monument. It was built in the 17th century in accordance with the local stone and adobe architecture and cactus wood roofs. Free entry.
San Pedro de Atacama has two interesting museums: the Archaeological Museum R.P Gustavo Le Paige and the Meteorite Museum. The R.P. Gustavo Le Paige Archaeological Museum has an exhibition hall, a laboratory, research, library and documentation pavilion. It contains the most important collection of archaeological pieces of the Atacama culture. To visit you must make an appointment by email: reservasmuseospa@ucn.cl. The price is 2500$ CLP (approx €3.23), 1000$ for pensioners and students (approx €1.30) and free for Atacameños. Visiting hours are from Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 to 10:00 and from 11:00 to 12:00, and in the afternoon from 15:00 to 16:00 and from 17:00 to 18:00.
The Meteorite Museum, one of Chile’s top ten museums, has an exhibition of meteorites found in the Atacama Desert. Besides the interesting exhibition that even allows you to touch the space rocks, the museum offers two excursions: a tour to the Monturaquí crater and a “meteorite hunt” in the Atacama Desert. The entrance fee is 3500$CLP (approx €4.52) and children 2500$ (approx €3.23 €). The prices of the tours are:
Crater of Monturaqui: 1 Person $ 348.000 (€418.65) /2 Persons $ 200.000 each (€213.60) / 3 Persons $ 151.000 (€161.27) each.
Meteorite hunt: 1 Person $ 392.000 (€418.65) / 2 Persons $ 255.000 each (€272.34) / 3 Persons $ 210.000 each (€224.28)
Where to stay in the Atacama Desert?
In San Pedro de Atacama you can find a wide range of accommodation options, from five-star hotels to campsites. Below, we recommend some of the best so you can find the right accommodation for your needs.
- Nayara Alto Atacama: A beautiful 5-star hotel with all kinds of comforts in the middle of the desert. Besides its beautiful structure which totally integrates with the environment, the beautiful patio with swimming pool and the luxurious rooms, one of its main attractions is its location in front of the ruins of Pucará de Quitor. These are the ruins of an ancient pre-Hispanic citadel built in the 12th century. Prices do not go below €500 per night.
- La Aldea Lodge: This is a beautiful eco-hotel built in adobe, which gives it a rustic charm. It has two types of rooms and breakfast is included. The price of the double room is €128.49 per night and the family room (up to 6 people) is €188.81.
- Hostal Puritama: Right in the centre of San Pedro de Atacama, on Caracoles Street, you will find this cosy hostel. Built in adobe with thatched roofs and typical local decorations, it’s the perfect way to immerse yourself in local culture. There are rooms with and without private bathrooms and garden views are available at different prices (€40-70). Breakfast included.
- Hostal Nuevo Amanecer: A 10-minute walk from the centre of San Pedro and 100 metres from the bus station, this pleasant hostel stands out for its location, tranquillity and the cleanliness and comfort of the rooms. It has rooms with private and shared bathrooms and nice views of the courtyard. The price of a double room is €42.
- Gamping Altos de Quitor: A glamping site with beautiful circular thatched-roof cabins. It is 1 km from Pukará de Quitor and 2.2 km from San Pedro Church. Rooms have beds, private bathrooms and toiletries, and some rooms also include a shared kitchen and lounge. Prices range from €26 for a single tent to €140 for a quadruple room with private bathroom. Free cancellation up to a few days before and breakfast included.
Where to eat in the Atacama Desert?
It is highly recommended to take your own food on your excursions into the desert, as once you get into there you won’t find places to buy food. But if one day on your trip you feel like discovering the local gastronomy, tasting the Pisco Sour or simply sitting down to eat in a restaurant, we recommend the following in San Pedro de Atacama:
- Adobe: This is the busiest and most cosmopolitan café-restaurant in San Pedro. Here you can try typical Chilean dishes and products from the high plateau as well as international cuisine. It also has an open-air patio where you can enjoy one of the clearest and most beautiful skies in the world, under the warmth of a central bonfire. In addition, you can see an exhibition of ceramics by La Mano Arte, inspired by indigenous art.
- La Casona: This traditional Chilean food restaurant has live music concerts. Must-try dishes include pastel de choclo and pastel de jaiba (corn and crab cakes) and empanadas de horno (baked empanadas), as well as the grill, where you can taste the best meats.
- Agua Loca: Its cuisine fuses Atacameño traditions with the modern techniques of international cuisine.
- Jardín Meraki: This restaurant offers a unique experience: it combines the best local products, grown in the driest desert in the world, with a beautiful garden terrace where you can enjoy the best atmosphere in San Pedro.
Tips for your trip to the Atacama Desert
- Always carry water and something to eat. Temperatures are extreme and you won’t find anywhere to shop in the middle of the desert.
- Bring sneakers and thin, long-sleeved, light-coloured clothing to protect you from the sun during the day.
- Also, remember to bring thermal clothing for the evenings, as temperatures can drop as low as -25ºC depending on the time of year.
- Don’t forget sun protection, as well as hats and sunglasses.
- Help conserve this natural area: don’t throw rubbish on the ground and respect the flora and fauna at all times.
- Change your money into Chilean pesos beforehand. Currency exchanges at airports are very expensive.
- Travel in the months of April to September (autumn and winter) if you are looking for lower prices and fewer tourists.
How to organise your trip?
- Get inspiration from the experiences of other travellers.
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions to it.
- Add the spots you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organise your itinerary by days and according to their location (you can take inspiration from the routes presented in the post).
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Then make the necessary modifications and you are ready for your trip.
- Finally, share your experience. Upload photos of each of the places you have visited to the app so you can inspire other users.
If you have any doubts about how to plan your itinerary, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
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