What to do in the Atacama Desert?

Outside of the North and South Poles, the Atacama Desert is the driest in the world. Departing from the desert town of San Pedro de Atacama (a small city of little adobe houses, unpaved streets and cozy restaurants), vast salt flats, active geysers and intense blue lagoons are waiting for travelers. Perhaps the most amazing attraction at all can be seen at night. Given the desert’s remote location and the lack of artificial light, this is one of the most incredible places for stargazing. With its crystal-clear skies, no light pollution and 300-plus cloud-free days, it is no surprise why San Pedro de Atacama is an absolute must-visit place for stargazing. Don’t miss out on any of these tours to the Atacama desert.

Destinations to combine with tours to the Atacama desert

• Santiago de Chile

Since colonial times, Santiago, founded in 1541 by the Spanish adventurer Pedro de Valdivia, has served as Chile’s capital. It’s located in the Central Valley and it features an amazing mixture of art deco and neo-gothic architecture with fantastic views of the Andes Mountain Range. Some of the attractions of Santiago are art collections of pre-Columbian and contemporary art, local markets, and beautiful parks like Cerro Santa Lucía. 

• Northern Argentina

Northern Argentina is known as a region of contrasts since it features historic plazas, red mountains, and green oases. Indigenous culture may still be found in the traditions and folklore of this region, which was once part of the Inca Kingdom. Salta is the starting point to explore Northern Argentina. Visit the Calchaquíes Valley and the city of Cafayate, the hometown of Torrontés wine. Take some days to explore the province of Jujuy, located at the north of Salta, which features the Humahuca Gorge, declared World Heritage by UNESCO and the Great Salt Flats, 

• Uyuni Salt Flats

Located in Bolivia, Uyuni Salt Flats are considered one of the most extreme in South America. Stretching more than 4,050 square miles of the Altiplano, it is the world’s largest salt flat, left behind by prehistoric lakes that evaporated long ago. Visiting Uyuni is different from anything you might have experienced before. The biggest Salt Flats in Southamerica offer wide wildlife experiences that include pink flamingos living in the highest lake on Earth and guanacos herding in a backdrop of colossal volcanos.

• Torres del Paine

Established in 1959, Torres del Paine National Park features Lakes, glaciers, and hiking paths in its 227.298 hectares of land. Paine means “blue” in the local Tehuelche language, while Torres means “towers.” Its first inhabitants, the Tehuelches, were a native community of skilled hunters which only survives today in Argentina. Explore the “W” trek, Patagonia’s most famous hiking route, and live a multi-day experience in the wild. The “Torres del Paine” name refers to the three distinctive granite peaks of the Paine Mountain Range that soar more than 6,500 feet (nearly 2,000 meters) into the sky.

Planning your trip to Atacama Desert

In these hand-picked articles from our blog you will find useful information for your next trip to the Atacama Desert:

• 4 Things about the Atacama Desert
• The Stargazing Sites in Argentina and Chile
• Top 6 Chile Destinations
• What animal can be found in the Atacama Desert?
• What are the Chilean flamingos like?