Chile’s Magnificent Atacama Desert

Used as a spectacular backdrop for the latest James Bond film, the Atacama desert represents a must see if you travel to Chile not only for the beauty of the vast and sandy landscapes, but for the sensation of being in another planet. Most scientists around the globe agree that this place is the closest environment on earth that resemblance the soil of Mars, a unique characteristic that makes it ideal for testing vehicles and even sophisticated robots. In the night, you can marvel with the outstanding view of the sky, extremely clear and pure, ideal for star watching or for a romantic and exquisite evening in one of the many quality hotel restaurants that the zone has to offer. But the driest desert in the world is more than sand dunes, cacti and clear skies.

There is the Salt Flats of Atacama where thick mineral crusts form a large field of salt and beautiful lagoons with exotic pink Flamingos complete the arid but unique landscape. North East of the Salt Flats, we can find the village of Tocanao, special for its architecture as the entire village was built using a special stone called Liparita, a mineral that keeps the constructions cool or warm depending on the season.    

Also interesting to see is the Archaeological Museum Gustavo Le Paige that features ceramics, artifacts and garments of the culture present in Atacama; the painteresque town of San Pedro -with a population that barely reaches the 5000 mark-, featuring landmarks like the Church of San Pedro, surrounded by an adobe wall built in 1774 that has three doors and a central arch and the Tatio Geysers with fumaroles that exceed 85 degrees Celsius.

The hotels that we recommend in this zone are Awasi, Explora Atacama, Tierra Atacama and Alto Atacama.