Chile Atacama Desert

Overview

Chile’s Atacama desert is the world’s driest desert and is at once both an inhospitable rugged environment and a stunning lunar landscape. Volcanoes and geysers steam and hiss into life. Pink flamingos haunt the featureless white salt flats, cacti stride towards the horizon and oases splash the tawny landscape with vigorous vegetation, especially after rare flash rainfall.

The culture and settlements of San Pedro de Atacama echo the legacy of the desert’s pre- and post-Columbian inhabitants, with ruined temples and dusty colonial villages. There are some top quality hotels and the area is becoming a favourite for adventure activities such as volcano climbing and horse riding. If coming from Santiago or Patagonia, you may notice the high altitude as you explore the Atacama desert: however, all hotels are in San Pedro – at a comfortable 2,450m.

When it comes to things to do in the Atacama Desert, this will depend on where you stay. Whether you embark straight from your accommodation or choose to drive further afield, exploring the valleys and wildlife is akin to walking around on another planet. The lunar landscapes make a perfect backdrop for seeing something extraordinary, like erupting geysers, thermal pools, or colourful flamingos. The clear skies and unpolluted surroundings make stargazing in the Atacama Desert a truly magical experience, with dazzling constellations overhead.