Our recent trip to Chile’s Atacama Desert exceeded expectations on all fronts! The eye-popping landscapes, geothermal wonders, infinite night skies, luxurious lodges, and endless options for exploration kept us in a constant state of WOW! I thought the Atacama was just as beautiful, raw, and rugged as Patagonia, with fewer visitors and a lot more sunshine. Ready to be inspired? Check out our photos and travel advice below!
Why Visit the Atacama?
Chile’s Atacama Desert is a bucket-list destination for avid hikers, photographers, and naturalists looking to escape the crowds while hiking, biking, stargazing, and hot-springs soaking in one of planet Earth’s most surreal and stunning landscapes. Situated on a high-altitude plateau sandwiched between the Andes Mountains to the East and Chile’s Coastal Mountains to the west, the Atacama’s 41,000 square miles feature rugged canyons, expansive salt flats, drifting dunes, and Mars-like landscapes. Although it is the driest non-polar desert in the world, with an average annual precipitation of just .6” per year and some weather stations having never recorded rain (!!), the Atacama still bursts with life. Flamingoes flock by the thousands in salty lagoons and vicunas wander the arid, volcano-studded plains. Over 500 species of desert-adapted plants cling to life in this barrenly beautiful wonderland. Visitors will be enchanted by the Atacama’s serene and surreal landscapes, unique geothermal features, and endless opportunities for quiet contemplation in nature.
When Is the Best Time to Visit the Atacama?
The Atacama can be visited year-round, with the high season for visitors being during Chile’s summer months of December to February. Winter (May to September) brings chilly nights but pleasant days and fewer crowds, while the spring (September - November) and fall (March - April) are the ideal blend of perfect temperatures and fewer people.
How Do You Get to the Atacama?
San Pedro de Atacama in Chile is the main town to base your Atacama explorations from, and it is easily accessible from the airport in Calama, which is just a two-hour flight from Santiago.
Our Favorite Atacama Hotels and Lodges
We were highly impressed by the luxury hotels and lodges in San Pedro de Atacama, with several options offering stylish accommodations, excellent cuisine, and exceptional guiding and service. Some of our favorite properties were Explora Atacama, which boasts its own private hot spring and an on-site high-power telescope; Awasi Atacama, a smaller and more exclusive, 12-suite Relais & Chateaux retreat with spacious, private villas that integrate into the environment; and Tierra Atacama, which is re-opening spring 2025 after a major renovation.
Best Things to Do in the Atacama
We spent five days based out of San Pedro de Atacama and it still wasn’t enough time to see it all! There is just SO MUCH to explore in every direction. Here are some of our favorite experiences:
Hike, Bike, or Horseback Ride the Valley’s Lunar Landscapes
Given the high altitude of San Pedro de Atacama (7,900’), you will want to begin your explorations by sticking to the lowland valleys close to town. The luxury lodges excel at avoiding some of the over-touristed sites, and you can explore the desert’s salt formations, lunar valleys, and shifting dunes by vehicle, foot, e-bike, or horseback ride.
Soak in Puritama Hot Springs
There is no better way to end a scenic desert hike than by soaking in a perfectly warm hot spring, surrounded by the soothing sounds of rustling grasses and trickling water. We loved having our own private pool in this divine desert oasis.
Marvel at the Geothermal Wonders of El Tatio Geysers
At 14,000 feet above sea level, the El Tatio Geysers are one of the highest geyser fields in the world, offering a breathtaking display of steaming fumaroles set against the backdrop of the Andes mountains. Our guide timed our day perfectly to escape the crowds, and the five-mile hike we did nearby was like having our own, private Yellowstone National Park. I took over 600 photos in one day and could not put the camera down! Make sure you spend at least four nights in the Atacama so that you are acclimatized enough to visit this must-see natural wonder.
Roam the Rainbow Valley
Our afternoon hike through the Rainbow Valley (Valle de Arcoiris) revealed vibrant, multicolored hillsides formed by mineral-rich rocks, creating a surreal landscape that was constantly changing in the evening light. We were astonished not to see a single other person during our four-hour hike and sundowner here!
Stargaze the Sparkling Night Skies
The Atacama's night skies are renowned for their clarity, offering some of the world’s best stargazing against a backdrop of unique desert landscapes. We did a midnight astronomy session at Explora’s impressive onsite observatory, and I have never seen the storms on Jupiter so clearly, nor the rings of Saturn in such detail. I’m not a night owl but this experience was worth staying up past my bedtime for!
What Other Destinations Combine Well with the Atacama?
While the Atacama can be a trip unto itself, active travelers looking to see more of the Chilean countryside may also want to include time in Chile’s Lakes District and/or Patagonia - check out this sample itinerary if you want to do it all! An Atacama and Easter Island combo is another great option, merging active explorations in the Atacama with one-of-a-kind culture, fascinating history, and some sunbathing and snorkeling. We chose to combine our visit to the Atacama with an overland traverse through Bolivia to end up at the otherworldly Uyuni Salt Flats, and we can’t recommend that option enough. The exclusive accommodations, authentic cultural encounters, and remote and stunning landscapes made it one of my top-five favorite trips of all time. After spending several days getting acclimated to the altitude in the Atacama, it makes sense to head into Bolivia (or Peru!) while your lungs are feeling good at altitude.
When you are ready to brainstorm your own custom, dream trip to the Atacama and beyond, give us a shout to help make that dream a reality!
Your Wild Adventure Aficionado,
