The Atacama Desert of Northern Chile is notably the driest non-polar place on Earth. As such, it is home to a distinct myriad of otherworldly landscapes – often compared by even
While its dry properties and size are definitely alluring, what is even more incredible about the Atacama are its various natural wonders, ranging from the sculpted valleys to the third largest geyser field in the world, the Atacama has it all!
Check out the top dynamic breathtaking sites you MUST see on your trip to the Atacama Desert:
1) Laguna Miscanti y Miñiques/ Miscanti and Miñiques lakes
At the south of an area marked as the
2) Laguna de Chaxa at Los Flamencos National Reserve/ The Flamingos National Reserve
A 740 square kilometer reserve home to the beautiful
3) El Pukará de Quitor/ Pukara Fortress
A 12th century archeological site, marked by the ruins of an impressive stone fortress. The fortress was built by the ancient Atacacameñan residents of the region
4) The vicuña pack dwelling across from the Piedras Rojas/Red Rocks
The Piedras Rojas site is marked by a vast extension of vibrant rocks,
5) El Tatio Geyser field
At 4,320 meters above sea level, it is the third largest geyser field in the world (and the largest in the Southern hemisphere). With over 80 active geysers spewing boiling liquid hot steam, it is truly astonishing to see this natural and
6) Valle de la Luna / Valley of the Moon
A giant valley terrain that is strikingly comparable to the weathered surface of the moon. With various stone and sand formations carved by the wind over time, and extensive sand dunes, caves, and mountains, you could explore this site forever! My best suggestion would be to rent a bicycle at the nearby town of San Pedro and ride the 16 km over there at your own pace. Once you arrive to the valley, the visitor’s center will provide you with a
7) San Pedro de Atacama
A Chilean town and commune, situated on an arid high plateau, where views of the surrounding Atacama desert are plenty, and as the sun sets, the gradients of the painted sky sit across a backdrop of mountainous and volcanic structures. This town is a
8) Night Sky
And at night, once the sun sets across the desert and the darkness takes over, you can look up at the clearest night sky there ever was. The Atacama is renowned as
So, what are you waiting for?!
The Atacama Desert of Northern Chile is always a perfect place to visit, as its atmosphere keeps the weather hot during the day, and tops each night off with a chilly breeze year-round. Just go and see for yourself! And along the way, make sure to visit these sites and experience their beauty firsthand!
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This is a guest post by Shayanne Gal.
Shayanne Gal is a passionate globe wanderer driven by a love for communications, cultural exchange, and making the world a smaller, more connected space through collective visual and written experiences. She is a photographer at